Mountain system of Russia: description and features. The largest mountain systems in Russia

The Russian territory is very diverse in geological structure. If the western part of it is a plain, then the mountains and the south are taken by the south and east. By age and structure, they are very different. Sayans, Altai, Caucasus is the name of mountain systems. They are well known. However, these are not all the mountains that are on the territory of Russia. Let's look at some of them.

Caucasus Mountains

The youngest mountain system, it is located between the three seas: Caspian, Azov and Black. The Caucasus relief is very diverse: steep rocky peaks covered with glaciers are replaced by slightly gentle slopes overgrown with dense forests. Alpine meadows smoothly pass into the feather grass steppes, and the magnificent gardens and vineyards of the Black Earth region are adjacent to arid areas. Caucasian mountains consist of two systems: the Great Caucasus and the Lesser.

According to the number of glaciers, these peaks are champions. Meltwater from them nourish the mountain rivers, famous for their "violent" temper. The most famous of them are Terek and Kuban. In the mountains and foothills, mineral springs are beaten.

Despite the presence of glaciers, the weather conditions here are mild and warm. Velvety summer lasts up to six months, winter, on the contrary, is rather short. Such conditions attract tourists. There are a large number of resorts. The Greater Caucasus unites the Central, Western and Eastern parts. And the largest mountains of the Elbrus and Kazbek regions are the goal of climbers from all over the world.

Flora, fauna, minerals of the Caucasus

Plants and animals of the Caucasus because of the difference in terrain and climatic conditions, are divided into habitats. In the mountains you can find mountain goats, chamois, lynx, bear, and on the plain live boars, foxes, wolves and steppe birds.

The Caucasus Mountains are a major mountain system in Europe and Russia. Famous for these lands and minerals. There are rich deposits of non-ferrous metals and ores, oil and gas deposits. In the mountains, marble and limestone are mined.

The Ural Mountains

The stone belt, dividing Russia into Europe and Asia, stretched from the north to the south. This mountain system of Russia has a length of about 2400 km. The mighty Ural ridge is very old. Despite the age, this ridge still impresses with its grandeur and stateness. The highest point is the People's Hill, located in the circumpolar Urals.

Demidov's merchants are responsible for their industrial and economic growth. With the blessing of Peter I, active entrepreneurs in a short time created weapons and mining in the province. And to this day the Urals is a large industrial area.

Its length the Ural mountain system of Russia crosses several climatic zones: from polar to moderate. Weather background, mostly continental. Winter is frosty, long, with snow. Summer is moderately warm.

Flora, fauna and minerals of the Ural Mountains

The slopes of the mountains cover mixed forests, many species of coniferous trees grow next to the birch, maple, and oak. Places you can see relict plants.

The largest animals are the bear and moose. In the forests there are squirrels, hares, wolves, badgers, roe deer and deer. Beavers and otters have chosen water expanses. This is the edge of rivers and lakes, there are a lot of them in the Urals.

The region is rich in minerals. Everyone knows the Ural emerald and malachite, gold, silver and platinum are actively mined. The mountains of the Urals are famous for their iron ore and non-ferrous metals.

The Ural ridge is a paradise for cave lovers. Speleologists from all over the world come here to visit the magnificent and mysterious Sikiyaz-Tamak, Ignatyevskaya, Kungur and other caves. There are many nature reserves and national parks on the territory of the region.

Mountains of South Siberia

This mountain belt stretched to 4,500 km. The largest mountain systems in Russia that are part of the South Siberian mountains are the Baikal and Transbaikalia, the Eastern and Western Sayans, and the Altai. The highest point is the Altai mountain Belukha. The entire massif is located on mobile plateaus, so earthquakes are not uncommon here.

The mountain wall is located inside the continent, therefore the climate is defined as continental. Winter is sunny and cold, in some gorges the temperature drops to -55 ° C. Only in Altai the climate is milder, since this region is characterized by high clouds. It protects the array from freezing. Summer is short and not very warm.

Water system, fauna and flora

The South Siberian mountain system of Russia is rich in rivers. Here are the sources of the largest watercourses in the region. This Irtysh, Lena, Ob, Amur and others. The largest and most beautiful lakes are the Teletskoye and Baikal. The latter takes in 54 rivers, and produces only the Angara. This lake is considered one of the largest reservoirs of fresh water on the planet.

Because of the great extent, mountain forests and tundra are combined here with forest-steppe and steppe segments. The animal and plant world is diverse. Here there are animals and plants of the taiga, steppes and semi-deserts. For example, wood grouse and black grouse, thrush, lynx, snow leopard, chipmunk, ermine and others. The richest minerals, mostly ore, coal and copper.

Hibiny

This is the oldest mountain system in Russia. The massif is located on the Kola Peninsula. The highest point is Yudichvumchorr Mountain. Surprisingly, the Khibins have not yet been thoroughly studied.

The climatic background is formed by the proximity of the Atlantic and the Gulf Stream, as well as the influence of the Arctic. Such a mixture creates completely unique and complex weather conditions. Meteorologists joke that quiet days on the Khibiny can be counted on the fingers.

The region has a long winter (almost 8 months), accompanied by strong winds and a short, cool summer. All the ponds of the edge are formed from thawed waters and sediments.

The natural zone of the Khibiny is tundra, so the animal and plant world is not rich.
Here live deer, martens, Norwegian lemmings, arctic fox, hazel grouses, polar owls. The whole vegetation of the complex is divided into three zones: tundra, forest-tundra and taiga. The vegetation cover decreases as it moves to the tops. Various minerals are mined in the Khibiny. These are apatites, calcium and magnesium carbonates, iron and aluminum silicates and many others.