Planet Earth strikes us with a “pattern” of its surface, a variety of relief forms. What are the reasons for this diversity? Why do deep canyons coexist on our planet with the highest mountain peaks? And what explains the diversity of the relief of Russia?
A little about the "architects" and "sculptors" of the earth's surface
Before explaining the diversity of the relief of Russia, it is important to familiarize yourself with the processes of relief formation in general. What is it and what are they called?
The formation of the earth's surface can be compared with the creation of monumental sculptures. In both the first and second cases, architects and sculptors are working on them.
Two groups of forces (processes) take part in the formation of the Earth's relief : endogenous (or internal) and exogenous (external). The former include volcanism, earthquakes, tectonic movements of the earth's crust, the latter include the work of wind, water, glaciers, etc.
Endogenous processes form all the relief macroforms: mountains and plains, plateaus and rocky ridges. They are architects of the earth's surface. And exogenous processes act as “sculptors”, and their work is no less important. They destroy, crush, transfer and accumulate geological material in new places, creating completely new in essence and appearance relief forms.
It is the close interaction of the above processes that creates that incredibly diverse picture of the earth's surface.
What explains the diversity of the relief of Russia?
Russia is the largest country in the world in area. It stretched 4,000 kilometers from north to south and approximately 10,000 kilometers from west to east. That is what explains the diversity of the relief of Russia in the first place.
The second reason for this diversity lies in the rather complex geological structure of the country. The territory of Russia is located within two large platforms - the Siberian and East European. In the vast expanses of the country there are also areas of all existing foldings. In Russia, one can find traces of ancient Precambrian structures, as well as young, well-developed mountain systems of the Cenozoic period.
In addition, each large landform within our country has its own set of smaller forms. An example is the mountain system of the Caucasus. After all, here you can see erosion, and glacial, and aeolian relief forms. And each of them is absolutely unique and original!
Thus, the reasons for the diversity of the relief of Russia are as follows:
- vast area of the country;
- complex geological and tectonic structure ;
- a wealth of small landforms created by the work of wind, flowing waters and glaciers.
General characteristics of the country's topography
The main features of the relief of Russia: diversity, heterogeneity and contrast of its forms. Powerful mountain systems here are adjacent to flat marshy lowlands and deepest river canyons.
In the orographic plan, the territory of Russia can be conditionally divided into two parts: western (mainly flat) and eastern (more elevated). The border between them runs along the Yenisei River. Although in that, and in another part there are mountains.
We list the largest orographic structures of the country:
- Russian plain.
- West Siberian Plain.
- Central Siberian Plateau.
- Ural mountains.
- Altai.
- Greater Caucasus and others.
It is important to note that about 70% of the territory of Russia is occupied precisely by the plains.
The highest point in the country is the peak of Elbrus in the Caucasus (5642 m), and the lowest is on the Caspian coast (–28 m).
The diversity of the relief of Russia: from the mountain spiers of the Caucasus to the deep ravines of the Kuban
The largest mountain system in Russia is the Greater Caucasus. It is here that Mount Elbrus and seven other "five-thousandth peaks" are located. In the Caucasus, one can see classic glacial landforms - punishment, circuses, trough valleys and moraines.
But in the extreme east of the country there are real volcanoes! In particular, in Kamchatka there are several hundred of them. The highest among them is Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4750 meters).
There are other forms of relief in Russia. For example, karst. The richest regions of the country with these landforms are Crimea, the Caucasus and the Urals. The longest cave in Russia is considered to be Batovskaya, and the most beautiful - Kungurskaya cave. But the Kapova cave in Bashkiria is known for its ancient cave paintings.
On the territory of Russia, almost all relief forms known to geomorphologists are found. In the expanses of the Kuban you can find deep ravines and gullies, on the Curonian Spit in the Kaliningrad Region - real sand dunes, and on the Taman Peninsula - unusual mud volcanoes.
Finally…
Now you know what explains the diversity of the relief of Russia. The culprits of this amazing variety are endogenous and exogenous processes that have worked tirelessly for millions of years in a row, creating a unique picture of the earth's surface.