In the heart of the chernozem region of Russia, on both banks of the Voronezh reservoir, lies the ancient Russian city of Voronezh. The climate of the regional center has moderate continental characteristics. The average temperature in the midst of the winter months ranges from -8 ... -10 ° .
Climatic conditions
Summer brings the climate hot and dry to Voronezh. The thermometer column often exceeds +30 ° , the average temperature varies in the range + 19 ... + 21 ° . Within one year, more than five hundred millimeters of precipitation falls on the territory of the city.
At the very end of December, and sometimes in January, the long-awaited snow arrives in Voronezh. The climate in the city in winter is marked by the influence of south and west winds.
In summer, the northern and eastern air currents dominate in the territory of the municipality, which often bring severe cooling at the end of June. The windiest season is winter.
Winter
About one hundred and twenty days, winter lasts in the city of Voronezh. The climate in these parts often presents surprises to residents. The winter season is unstable.
Periods of severe frost give way to a thaw. The air temperature is rapidly changing. The daily difference in the readings of the thermometer can be ten, or even all twenty degrees.
Spring
Weather in Voronezh in the spring is just as unpredictable. March is characterized by heavy snowmelt. The thermometer column rushes to the divisions with a plus sign.
April gives the inhabitants of the metropolis warmth so desired after a long winter, but it is also deceiving in these places. Day temperature +20 ° C can easily be replaced by night frost with snow and snowstorm.
Summer
Weather in Voronezh in the summer is directly influenced by Kazakhstani air masses. They bring dry and sultry days to the region. A systematic decrease in temperature occurs in the second half of August. Thus, the nature of Voronezh begins to prepare for the upcoming autumn.
Fall
Already in September in the regional center it becomes noticeably cooler, the difference between day and night air temperatures increases.
According to a geographical reference, Voronezh is a climatic zone, which includes the city itself and its region. It occupies the territory between the Lipetsk, Tambov, Belgorod, Volgograd, Saratov, Kursk and Rostov regions. In addition, the region has a common border with Ukraine.
Ecological situation
The ecology of Voronezh is recognized as relatively prosperous compared to the natural conditions of other settlements of the Russian Federation. In the region there are several reserves and nature reserves. Some of them were given the international status of biosphere reserves.
Raw material base
In various areas of the Voronezh region, mining of minerals and minerals is carried out. Granites and special refractory clays are mined in quarries. Sands, limestones, clays, mineral pigments, loams and sandstones are present almost everywhere in the region.
The official status of deposits has been assigned to hundreds of quarries. More than half of them are under active development.
Ponds
The main river of the region is the Don. One way or another, all rivers and rivulets that carry their waters through the lands of the Voronezh region belong to its single basin. In addition to the Don River, other large bodies of water flow near Voronezh. We are talking about the rivers Voronezh and Bityug, Khoper, Damsel, Black Kalitva, Crow.
The Voronezh River is partially dammed and is used as a city reservoir, which divides the regional center into two parts: the left and right banks of the city.
Forests and steppes
The Voronezh region can be reliably attributed to both regions with abundant forest stands, and those characterized by the presence of a steppe landscape. The north of the region is predominantly forest, but the south is steppe.
Forest tracts occupy about five hundred thousand hectares. Exploited or potentially exploited forests are represented by plantations in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand hectares.
The number of coniferous and forest stands is almost equal. Softwoods occupy one hundred and three thousand hectares, and hardwoods - one hundred eighty thousand. About two hundred thousand hectares are exposed to fires and forest fires annually.
Voronezh Reserve
Voronezh Reserve stretches along the northern tip of the Voronezh region towards Lipetsk. The status of a state-protected natural zone was assigned to him in 1927.
The biosphere reserve area exceeds thirty thousand hectares, of which twenty eight thousand are represented by forest stands. On the territory of the reserve, small rivers Chava, Usman and Ivnica flow.
The basis of the reserve is coniferous forests, in particular pine. The age of the oldest trees has exceeded one hundred and thirty years. There are also oaks, mountain ash, birch, and broom. The soil in the forest is almost completely covered with mosses. Near the rivers and near wetlands stretched meadows overgrown with nettles, sedges, meadowsweet. In the swamps wild berries grow.
Animal world
In total, more than one hundred and fifty different species of birds, fifty mammals and eight types of reptiles are registered in the reserve. The largest numbers of beavers, deer, wild boars and elks, otters, roe deer, and muskrat are found in the forest. Ornithologists distinguish heron, eagle, crane, owl, osprey from birds.
The wildlife of another reserve of the Voronezh region is no less rich and diverse . Wolves and hares, foxes, badgers, weasels and minks, ferrets, ground squirrels, jerboas, squirrels and water rats live in the Khopersky Biosphere Reserve.