Many consider the south of Russia an ideal place to live and work. Here there are unique resorts, and beautiful mountain peaks, and endless plains, and dense forests.
This diversity is due to various natural areas. There are three of them in the Krasnodar Territory. Consider the features of each of them, which areas of the region are located in them, how they change under the influence of man.
General information on territorial formation
Krasnodar Territory is one of the subjects of Russia, spread in the south-west of the country. It was created in 1937 in a modern status, but its history began long before our era. In the Paleolithic era, the first people already lived here.
The geographical position of the object is interesting: it stands at the junction of two opposing reliefs - the Prikuban lowland and the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Due to this, the natural zones of the Krasnodar Territory are so different.
Its territory is washed by two seas - Black and Azov, which is a climate-forming factor.
The total area of the Krasnodar Territory is more than 75 square kilometers, most of which is occupied by agricultural land.
The climate here is temperate continental, and on the coast goes from Mediterranean to subtropical.
One of the main treasures of the territory is chernozem soil, which gives the bulk of the crop of the total volume produced in Russia.
More than 5.5 million people live in this area, a large number of which are determined by Russians, Armenians and Ukrainians.
Features of the steppe zone of the Krasnodar Territory
Due to the unique geographical position in the region, there are three natural zones: steppe, mountain and foothill.
The first of them makes up most of the territory.
The steppe areas are mainly used for agricultural land, there are about 4 million hectares.
This natural zone of the Krasnodar Territory, a photo of which can be found in almost every geography textbook as an example of the steppes, is the main carrier of black soil (in some places more than 4-5 meters in height).
In this territorial formation, there are practically no sharp elevations - the landscapes are flat to the horizon.
Grassy vegetation predominates in the steppe zone. The climate is temperate, arid, very often rainfall is not enough.
Characteristics of the foothill zone of the region
Gradually, the Prikubanskaya lowland begins to rise and passes into the Caucasus Mountains, however, between these two large geological objects there is a transition zone - a foothill zone. Closer to the steppe, it is due to shrubbery, and closer to the mountains appear large forests.
The predominant trees: oak, hornbeam, hazel, dogwood, maple. Roe deer, bears, wolves, jackals are found in oak forests. In general, the territory occupies a very small area, very often its borders are practically erased.
What constitutes the mountainous territory of the subject
The name of the natural zone of the Krasnodar Territory speaks for itself - it is completely located in the mountains. High points stretched along the coast in the southern part of the territory. On the largest hills there is even a zone of glaciers - the westernmost point in the Caucasus.
The climate in this territory varies from temperate continental to alpine.
The health benefits of the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory are also due to vegetation. Vast forests consist of conifers, which have a healing effect in combination with clean air.
Examples of regions of the region by zone
Depending on which relief prevails in the municipality, all its activities are built. For example, the natural zone of the Slavic region of the Krasnodar Territory is steppe, more than 69% of the territory is occupied by arable land.
Mostovskoy district is the foothills and mountains. There is a huge forest area Bolshoi Thach and the highest point of the region - Mount Tsakhvoa.
The mountainous terrain boasts all coastal municipalities: Temryuk, Anapa, Tuapse, districts of the cities of Sochi and Gelendzhik. All these are ideal places to promote health.
The natural zones of the Crimean region of the Krasnodar Territory combine steppes and foothills, so a huge amount of minerals obtained through geological processes have been found in this territory. Gold, oil, building sands and much more are of industrial importance.
Sights of the natural areas of the Krasnodar Territory
The steppe zone is not distinguished by special natural exclusives, but ancient people lived in these places. At the moment, more than 170 barrows are included in the historical values of the Krasnodar Territory, and they are mainly located on the plain. There are also many man-made monuments and cultural sites.
The foothill zone is of interest for its relict forests, dolmens (buildings of ancient people made of stone), water bodies, natural complexes, for example, the Sochi National Park, Lake Abrau, the Berendeevo Tsarstvo Park and much more.
The mountain natural zone of the Krasnodar Territory is an array of interesting places that are associated with the relief of the territory.
Firstly, there is a huge number of high waterfalls: Sultan, Gegsky, Bezymyanny (consist of 3 cascades), Zmeykovsky (two-cascade), Orekhovsky, Yavorov and the highest waterfall in Russia under Mount Pshekho-Su, 165 meters high. In total, in the mountainous zone of the Krasnodar Territory, there are more than 80 high-altitude water bodies.
Secondly, the chain of mountain gorges, cracks: Papaya, Cold, Akhtsu, Wolf's Gate, Kyzylbek, Grishkin Yam and Uryvka and many others.
Thirdly, the mountains themselves, lakes and caves, which are local attractions.
Human influence on the natural zones of the Krasnodar Territory
In general, the territory is environmentally stable, since most of the territories are specially protected resort facilities. Industrial facilities cannot be placed here.
However, in large cities, for example, Novorossiysk, Anapa, Yeysk, Krasnodar, the environment is not quite favorable, which is associated with road transport. Another scourge of large settlements - unauthorized landfills. The environmentalists of the region are constantly fighting with them, the problem of garbage accumulations remains. In many respects this is influenced by a large influx of tourists who annually come to the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory.
There is also the problem of coastal water pollution near large port cities - Novorossiysk and Tuapse.
Despite these adverse features, one of the best environmental situations in the country is observed in the region.
Krasnodar Territory is a unique natural site, which consists of several natural zones. Each of them has its own characteristics that create the appearance of the entire region.