The Caspian lowland, the geographical location of which is determined by the bottom of the ancient sea, is a flat area with flat sections of land, slightly inclined to the largest salt lake on the planet - the Caspian Sea. On the plain there are many attractions of various origins. The indigenous people are Kalmyks.
Short description
This area is practically waterless, in places small mountains and hills are visible. These are Small and Big Bogdo, Inder Mountains. The territory of the Caspian lowland extends 700 km in length and 500 km in width. It occupies about 200 square meters. km of total area. On several sides it is surrounded by the hills of the Volga region, the Ural plateau, as well as hills. The coast of the Caspian Sea in the north, the Russian plain on the southeast side and Kazakhstan in the west are the borders of the territory called the Caspian Lowland. On the map of the hemispheres, its location can be seen more accurately.
The river and ravine network are poorly developed. The lowland consists of clay and sand. The terrain is characterized by the movement of the earth's crust, which is accompanied by the growth of ravines, craters, landslides.
Inland waters
Six large rivers (Ural, Volga, Terek, Emba, Kuma, Sulak) and several small watercourses cross the Caspian lowland. The latter in the summer season often completely dry up, forming many pits. The Volga is the deepest and longest river of the plain. All water flows are fed by snow and groundwater. Most of these ponds are fresh, but salted. The most famous salt lake of those places is Inder Lake, its area is 75 square meters. km
Structural features
The Caspian lowland, the height of which varies mainly within 100 m, also has a minimum indicator, namely, on the south side it rises only 25 m. The geological structure of the territory consists of several large tectonic structures: the Ergeninsky Upland, the Caspian Deep Depression, and the Nogai , Tersky. Once the territory of the plains was constantly flooded with the waters of the sea, as a result of which clay and loam deposits from the north and sand deposits from the south remained.
Unique Baire hillocks
The Caspian lowland has small and large hollows, estuaries, spits, hollows, and Baire hillocks stretching along the seashore stretch a strip. They begin between the mouths of the rivers Kuma and Emba. Their height varies from 10 to 45 m, the length is about 25 km, and the width is 200-300 m. The distance between the ridges of the Baer mounds is 1-2 km. This relief formation is similar to artificially made sea waves. Their peaks are wide, and the slopes are gentle. They can be described in different ways, due to the heterogeneity of addition. In the first case, they are composed of Late Khvalynsky sand, and in the second - early Khvalynsky clay covered by sand.
The question of the origin of these hillocks is still unclear. There are a number of hypotheses:
- The first of which is the result of some shallowing of the Caspian.
- The second refers to tectonic origin.
- The third indicates glacial lakes.
But there are allegations of insolvency of these versions. In connection with the location of the Baer mounds near the coast, a change in their structure and clarity is observed. Losing their forms closer to the north, they are replaced by other reliefs.
Climate
The Caspian lowland is a place where the regular "guests" are anticyclones that come from the depths of Asia. But with cyclones it is more difficult, because of this there is a very dry climate. In winter, it is relatively severe and lightly snowy; the temperature regime varies from -8 ° C to -14 ° C. Summer is hot enough for this area. July temperature: + 22 ... +23 ° C. From the south-eastern side, 150-200 mm of precipitation falls, and from the north-western side - 350 mm. Evaporation 1000 mm. Humidification is extremely insufficient. Dry winds and dust storms are characteristic . They form hills called dunes.
Soil features
The Caspian lowland, or rather its land, has several colors: from light chestnut to brown desert steppe. The soil here is very saline. In the north are steppes with cereals and wormwood, and to the south are semi-deserts and deserts, where wormwood mainly grows. Among land, pastures prevail. Arable land occupies less than 20% of the entire territory, mainly near the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. Gourds are grown here , they are engaged in horticulture and vegetable growing. Oil and gas production has been established in the Ural-Emba oil and gas region, and table salt is produced in lakes Elton and Baskunchak. Baskunchak is also rich in gypsum and limestone, whose annual production is about 50 tons.
Animal world
The fauna is affected by European fauna. The Caspian lowland in the north is inhabited by ferrets, marmots, raccoons, and water rats. Well-developed fishing: sturgeon, stellate sturgeon and others. The most valuable animals are local seals. Along the coast, in the Turgai thickets, there are many birds, also gazelles, foxes, eared hedgehogs, jerboas, mice, and larks live there.