Taiga is a significant forest area. The geographical position of the taiga is quite extensive - it occupies the northern part of Asia, Canada, the Far East and Europe. The climate, flora and fauna in this natural area are quite diverse. The extreme southern border of the taiga is located in the northern part of Hokkaido Island (Japan), and the northern one on the Taimyr Peninsula.
Temperature mode
The region is characterized by severe, long winters and warm, but short summers. In winter, the temperature can drop to -50 ° C in Yakutia and Canada and to -25 ° C in the Ussuri taiga. Winter is cold with loose deep snow, and summers are rather sultry with lots of mosquitoes and midges. In the summer, in Canada and the Far East, 27-30 ° C of heat is observed. In the Far East, summers are quite stuffy and rainy, and winters are windy. In Western Siberia, winters are snowy and summers are mostly dry.
Spring in such regions comes late. Only in the beginning of April the snow begins to melt. When it seems that heat is approaching, the next day the weather may suddenly go bad and cold again and snow falls. Leaves on trees usually appear only in late May or early June.
The geographical position of the taiga contributes to the fact that summer here begins only in June and ends in August. But at the same time it can be quite hot. In this regard, forest fires often occur. Less commonly, summer can be rainy and cold. In early June, snow sometimes falls.
Types and features of taiga
There are 2 types of taiga:
- light coniferous;
- dark coniferous (the most common).
Features of the geographical position of the taiga are that it is located in the humid temperate zone. The basis of its vegetation is conifers. The taiga zone was formed even before the onset of the ice age. Taiga is also divided into subzones: northern, middle and southern. By latitudinal extent, this region is considered one of the largest climatic zones on the planet.
The geographical position of taiga in Russia
The largest natural area of the Russian Federation is precisely the taiga. It stretched the widest and continuous strip through the entire state right up to the Pacific Ocean. Its greatest width is in Western Siberia (about 2000 km). In this place, the flat taiga will connect with the mountain taiga of the Baikal region and the Sayan Mountains. If you pay attention to the geographical position of the natural zone of the taiga in Russia, it becomes clear why it is so beautiful.
The Russian taiga is characterized by sufficient as well as excess humidity. There are many lakes and swamps. The surface runoff in this zone is higher than in other natural zones. The density of the river network is quite significant. The rivers feed mainly on melt snow waters. In connection with this fact, almost every spring there is a flood.
Taiga is a huge space where coniferous forests are located. To the west of the Yenisei River sod-podzolic and podzolic soils formed, and to the east - permafrost-taiga soils.
Vegetation
The geographical position of the taiga also affects the diversity of the animal and plant world. Temperate and subpolar climatic zones are characterized by boreal coniferous forests. In general, there are about 30 endemic families of vascular plants, which, as a rule, consist of one species and most often monotypic.
In the region there are forests of larch, spruce, fir, pine and Siberian cedar. Hardwood species such as birch, alder and aspen are also found in taiga.
Animal world
In general, the animal world of the taiga is much richer than in the tundra zone. In North America, a family of pronghorn and a family of rodents are common. In Central Asia, there are selevinovye. Families of mole, rabbit, mouse, squirrel, leather, hamster, field vole, and marten are widespread in the subarctic belt. Gophers, gray voles, shrews, hares, beavers, snow sheep, ermine, polar and brown bears, red deer, elk, snow sheep and others live in northern Eurasia and North America.
The geographical position of the taiga zone, covering the shores of the Arctic Ocean, has a beneficial effect on the life of the following animals and birds in this region: walrus, loon, seal, polar bear, and gulls. A wolf, a lemming, a partridge, a hare, a white owl live in the tundra. Taiga is a native home for migratory birds: swans, geese, terns, ducks, waders. They nest in these regions during the short northern summers. In the spring, the reindeer migrates to the northern regions, where it gives offspring, and returns to the taiga for the winter. This is due to the fact that in winter in these places there is a relatively thin layer of snow, which facilitates the extraction of animal feed.
The geographical location of taiga in Russia contributes to the fact that there is a lynx, wolf, wolverine, brown bear, sable, marten, ermine, arctic fox, elk, musk deer. There is also a beaver, squirrels, field voles, raccoon dog, chipmunk, flying squirrel, pikas. Among the birds, woodpeckers, various species of owls, pine nut, jay, crossbill, and black grouse should be noted.
To the south, in broad-leaved and mixed forests, all large animals were almost completely destroyed as a result of human development of these territories. To date, only small populations of beaver, wild boar, deer, brown bear, moose, red deer, mink and badger have been preserved.
Taiga guard
The Siberian arrays of taiga and taiga of Eurasia are called the "lungs" of our planet. In fact, the carbon and oxygen balance of the surface atmospheric layer depends on the state of these forests. Human activities constantly harm these unique natural landscapes. To protect these zones in Eurasia and North America, many national parks and reserves have been created.
Taiga is a severe and at the same time very picturesque region. Its main wealth is forest, rivers, animals and minerals. It produces oil, coal and gas. Humanity is simply obliged to closely guard and protect these territories.