They are not located on the territory of the Russian plain. Geography of Russia - relief, seas, rivers, lakes. East European Plain - waterways

NATURAL AREAS OF RUSSIA

EASTERN EUROPEAN (RUSSIAN) PLAIN

See photographs of the nature of the East European Plain: Curonian Spit, Moscow Region, Kerzhensky Nature Reserve and the Middle Volga in the Nature of the World section of our website.

The East European (Russian) Plain is one of the largest plains in the world by area. Among all the plains of our Motherland, only it opens to two oceans. Russia is located in the central and eastern parts of the plain. It extends from the coast of the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains, from the Barents and White Seas to the Azov and Caspian Seas.

The East European Plain has the highest density of rural population, large cities and many small towns and urban-type settlements, and a variety of natural resources. The plain has long been developed by man.

The justification for its determination to the rank of a physical-geographical country is the following features: 1) an elevated strata plain formed on the plate of the ancient East European Platform; 2) Atlantic-continental, predominantly moderate and insufficiently humid climate, formed largely under the influence of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans; 3) clearly defined natural zones, the structure of which was greatly influenced by the flat terrain and neighboring territories - Central Europe, Northern and Central Asia. This led to the interpenetration of European and Asian species of plants and animals, as well as to a deviation from the latitudinal position natural areas in the east to the north.

Relief and geological structure

The East European Elevated Plain consists of hills with heights of 200-300 m above sea level and lowlands along which large rivers flow. The average height of the plain is 170 m, and the highest - 479 m - on Bugulma-Belebeevskaya Upland in the Urals part. Maximum mark Timan Ridge somewhat less (471 m).

According to the characteristics of the orographic pattern within the East European Plain, three stripes are clearly distinguished: central, northern and southern. A strip of alternating large hills and lowlands runs through the central part of the plain: Central Russian, Volga, Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya uplands And General Syrt separated Oka-Don lowland and the Low Trans-Volga region, along which the Don and Volga rivers flow, carrying their waters to the south.

To the north of this strip, low plains predominate, on the surface of which smaller hills are scattered here and there in garlands and individually. From west to east-northeast they stretch here, replacing each other, Smolensk-Moscow, Valdai Uplands And Northern Uvaly. They mainly serve as watersheds between the Arctic, Atlantic and internal (drainless Aral-Caspian) basins. From the Northern Uvals the territory descends to the White and Barents Seas. This part of the Russian Plain A.A. Borzov called it northern slope. Large rivers flow along it - Onega, Northern Dvina, Pechora with numerous high-water tributaries.

The southern part of the East European Plain is occupied by lowlands, of which only the Caspian is located on Russian territory.

Rice. 25. Geological profiles across the Russian Plain

The East European Plain has a typical platform topography, which is predetermined by the tectonic features of the platform: the heterogeneity of its structure (the presence of deep faults, ring structures, aulacogens, anteclises, syneclises and other smaller structures) with the unequal manifestation of recent tectonic movements.

Almost all large hills and lowlands of the plain are of tectonic origin, with a significant part inherited from the structure of the crystalline basement. In the process of a long and complex development path, they formed as a single territory in morphostructural, orographic and genetic terms.

At the base of the East European Plain lie Russian stove with Precambrian crystalline basement and in the south the northern edge Scythian plate with a Paleozoic folded basement. The boundary between the plates is not expressed in the relief. On the uneven surface of the Precambrian foundation of the Russian plate there are strata of Precambrian (Vendian, in places Riphean) and Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks with weakly disturbed occurrence. Their thickness is not the same and is due to the unevenness of the foundation relief (Fig. 25), which determines the main geostructures of the plate. These include syneclises - areas of deep foundation (Moscow, Pechora, Caspian, Glazov), anteclises - areas of shallow foundation (Voronezh, Volga-Ural), aulacogens - deep tectonic ditches, in the place of which syneclises subsequently arose (Kresttsovsky, Soligalichsky, Moscow, etc.), protrusions of the Baikal basement - Timan.

The Moscow syneclise is one of the oldest and most complex internal structures of the Russian plate with a deep crystalline foundation. It is based on the Central Russian and Moscow aulacogens, filled with thick Riphean strata, above which lies the sedimentary cover of the Vendian and Phanerozoic (from Cambrian to Cretaceous). In the Neogene-Quaternary time, it experienced uneven uplifts and is expressed in relief by fairly large elevations - Valdai, Smolensk-Moscow and lowlands - Upper Volga, North Dvina.

The Pechora syneclise is located wedge-shaped in the northeast of the Russian Plate, between the Timan Ridge and the Urals. Its uneven block foundation is lowered to varying depths - up to 5000-6000 m in the east. The syneclise is filled with a thick layer of Paleozoic rocks, overlain by Meso-Cenozoic sediments. In its northeastern part there is the Usinsky (Bolshezemelsky) arch.

In the center of the Russian plate there are two large anteclises - Voronezh and Volga-Ural, separated Pachelma aulacogen. The Voronezh anteclise gently descends to the north into the Moscow syneclise. The surface of its basement is covered with thin sediments of the Ordovician, Devonian and Carboniferous. Carboniferous, Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks occur on the southern steep slope. The Volga-Ural anteclise consists of large uplifts (vaults) and depressions (aulacogens), on the slopes of which flexures are located. The thickness of the sedimentary cover here is at least 800 m within the highest arches (Tokmovsky).

The Caspian marginal syneclise is a vast area of deep (up to 18-20 km) subsidence of the crystalline basement and belongs to the structures of ancient origin; the syneclise is limited on almost all sides by flexures and faults and has angular outlines. From the west it is framed by the Ergeninskaya and Volgograd flexures, from the north - flexures of General Syrt. In places they are complicated by young faults. In Neogene-Quaternary time, further subsidence (up to 500 m) and accumulation of a thick layer of marine and continental sediments occurred. These processes are combined with fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

The southern part of the East European Plain is located on the Scythian epi-Hercynian plate, lying between the southern edge of the Russian plate and the alpine folded structures of the Caucasus.

Tectonic movements of the Urals and the Caucasus led to some disruption of the occurrence of sedimentary deposits of plates. This is expressed in the form of dome-shaped uplifts, significant along the length of the shafts ( Oksko-Tsniksky, Zhigulevsky, Vyatsky etc.), individual flexural bends of layers, salt domes, which are clearly visible in the modern relief. Ancient and young deep faults, as well as ring structures, determined the block structure of plates, the direction of river valleys and the activity of neotectonic movements. The predominant direction of the faults is northwestern.

A brief description of the tectonics of the East European Plain and a comparison of the tectonic map with the hypsometric and neotectonic ones allows us to conclude that the modern relief, which has undergone a long and complex history, turns out to be in most cases inherited and dependent on the nature of the ancient structure and manifestations of neotectonic movements.

Neotectonic movements on the East European Plain manifested themselves with different intensity and direction: in most of the territory they are expressed by weak and moderate uplifts, weak mobility, and the Caspian and Pechora lowlands experience weak subsidence (Fig. 6).

The development of the morphostructure of the northwestern plain is associated with movements of the marginal part of the Baltic shield and the Moscow syneclise, therefore monoclinal (sloping) strata plains, expressed in orography in the form of hills (Valdai, Smolensk-Moscow, Belarusian, Northern Uvaly, etc.), and strata plains occupying a lower position (Verkhnevolzhskaya, Meshcherskaya). The central part of the Russian Plain was influenced by intense uplifts of the Voronezh and Volga-Ural anteclises, as well as subsidence of neighboring aulacogens and troughs. These processes contributed to the formation strata-tiered, stepped hills(Central Russian and Volga) and stratal Oka-Don plain. The eastern part developed in connection with the movements of the Urals and the edge of the Russian plate, so a mosaic of morphostructures is observed here. Developed in the north and south accumulative lowlands marginal syneclises of the plate (Pechora and Caspian). They alternate between strata-tiered hills(Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya, Obshchiy Syrt), monoclinal-stratal uplands (Verkhnekamsk) and intraplatform folded Timan ridge.

During the Quaternary, climate cooling in the northern hemisphere contributed to the spread of glaciation. Glaciers had a significant impact on the formation of relief, Quaternary deposits, permafrost, as well as on changes in natural zones - their position, floristic composition, wildlife and the migration of plants and animals within the East European Plain.

There are three glaciations on the East European Plain: Oka, Dnieper with the Moscow stage and Valdai. Glaciers and fluvioglacial waters created two types of plains - moraine and outwash. In the wide periglacial (pre-glacial) zone, permafrost processes dominated for a long time. Snowfields had a particularly intense impact on the relief during the period of reduced glaciation.

Moraine of the most ancient glaciation - Oksky- was studied on the Oka River, 80 km south of Kaluga. The lower, heavily washed Oka moraine with Karelian crystalline boulders is separated from the overlying Dnieper moraine by typical interglacial deposits. In a number of other sections to the north of this section, under the Dnieper moraine, the Oka moraine was also discovered.

Obviously, the moraine relief that arose during the Oka Ice Age has not been preserved to this day, since it was first washed away by the waters of the Dnieper (Middle Pleistocene) glacier, and then it was covered by its bottom moraine.

Southern limit of maximum distribution Dneprovsky integumentary glaciation crossed the Central Russian Upland in the Tula region, then descended along the Don valley - to the mouth of the Khopr and Medveditsa, crossed the Volga Upland, then the Volga near the mouth of the Sura River, then went to the upper reaches of the Vyatka and Kama and crossed the Urals in the region of 60 ° N. In the Upper Volga basin (in Chukhloma and Galich), as well as in the Upper Dnieper basin, above the Dnieper moraine lies the upper moraine, which is attributed to the Moscow stage of the Dnieper glaciation*.

Before the last Valdai glaciation During the interglacial era, the vegetation of the middle zone of the East European Plain had a more heat-loving composition than the modern one. This indicates the complete disappearance of its glaciers in the north. During the interglacial era, peat bogs with brazenia flora were deposited in lake basins that arose in depressions of the moraine relief.

In the north of the East European Plain, boreal ingression arose during this era, the level of which was 70-80 m above modern sea level. The sea penetrated through the valleys of the Northern Dvina, Mezen, and Pechora rivers, creating wide branching bays. Then came the Valdai glaciation. The edge of the Valdai ice sheet was located 60 km north of Minsk and went northeast, reaching Nyandoma.

Changes occurred in the climate of more southern regions due to glaciation. At this time, in the more southern regions of the East European Plain, the remnants of seasonal snow cover and snow patches contributed to the intensive development of nivation, solifluction, and the formation of asymmetric slopes near erosive landforms (ravines, gullies, etc.).

Thus, if ice existed within the distribution of the Valdai glaciation, then nival relief and sediments (boulder-free loams) were formed in the periglacial zone. The non-glacial, southern parts of the plain are covered by thick layers of loess and loess-like loams, synchronous with the ice ages. At this time, due to climate humidification, which caused glaciation, and also, possibly, with neotectonic movements, marine transgressions occurred in the Caspian Sea basin.

The East European (Russian) Plain is one of the largest plains in the world by area; It extends from the coast of the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains, from the Barents and White Seas to the Azov and Caspian Seas.

Relief and geological structure

The East European Elevated Plain consists of hills with heights of 200-300 m above sea level and lowlands along which large rivers flow. The average height of the plain is 170 m, and the highest - 479 m - is on the Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya Upland in the Ural part. The maximum elevation of the Timan Ridge is somewhat lower (471 m).

According to the characteristics of the orographic pattern within the East European Plain, three stripes are clearly distinguished: central, northern and southern. A strip of alternating large uplands and lowlands passes through the central part of the plain: the Central Russian, Volga, Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya uplands and General Syrt are separated by the Oka-Don lowland and the Low Trans-Volga region, along which the Don and Volga rivers flow, carrying their waters to the south.

To the north of this strip, low plains predominate, on the surface of which smaller hills are scattered here and there in garlands and individually. From west to east-northeast, the Smolensk-Moscow, Valdai Uplands and Northern Uvals stretch here, replacing each other. They mainly serve as watersheds between the Arctic, Atlantic and internal (drainless Aral-Caspian) basins. From the Northern Uvals the territory descends to the White and Barents Seas. This part of the Russian Plain A.A. Borzov called it northern slope. Large rivers flow along it - Onega, Northern Dvina, Pechora with numerous high-water tributaries.

The southern part of the East European Plain is occupied by lowlands, of which only the Caspian is located on Russian territory.

At the base of the East European Plain lie the Russian plate with a Precambrian crystalline foundation and in the south the northern edge of the Scythian plate with a Paleozoic folded foundation. These include syneclises - areas of deep foundation (Moscow, Pechora, Caspian, Glazov), anteclises - areas of shallow foundation (Voronezh, Volgo-Ural), aulacogens - deep tectonic ditches, in the place of which syneclises subsequently arose (Kresttsovsky, So-ligalichsky, Moskovsky, etc.), protrusions of the Baikal foundation - Timan.

The Moscow syneclise is one of the oldest and most complex internal structures of the Russian plate with a deep crystalline foundation. It is based on the Central Russian and Moscow aulacogens, filled with thick strata of the Riphean and is expressed in relief by fairly large uplands - Valdai, Smolensk-Moscow and lowlands - Upper Volga, North Dvina.

In the center of the Russian plate there are two large anteclises - the Voronezh and the Volga-Ural, separated by the Pachelma aulacogen.

The southern part of the East European Plain is located on the Scythian epi-Hercynian plate, lying between the southern edge of the Russian plate and the alpine folded structures of the Caucasus.

Modern relief, which has undergone a long and complex history, turns out to be in most cases inherited and dependent on the nature of the ancient structure and manifestations of neotectonic movements.

The development of the morphostructure of the northwestern plain is associated with the movements of the marginal part of the Baltic shield and the Moscow syneclise, therefore monoclinal (sloping) strata plains are developed here, expressed in orography in the form of hills (Valdai, Smolensk-Moscow, Belorussian, Northern Uvaly, etc.), and strata plains occupying a lower position (Verkhnevolzhskaya, Meshcherskaya). The central part of the Russian Plain was influenced by intense uplifts of the Voronezh and Volga-Ural anteclises, as well as subsidence of neighboring aulacogens and troughs. These processes contributed to the formation of layered, stepwise uplands (Central Russian and Volga) and the layered Oka-Don plain. The eastern part developed in connection with the movements of the Urals and the edge of the Russian plate, so a mosaic of morphostructures is observed here. In the north and south, accumulative lowlands of the marginal syneclises of the plate (Pechora and Caspian) are developed. Between them alternate stratified-tiered uplands (Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya, Obshchiy Syrt), monoclinal-stratified uplands (Verkhnekamskaya) and the intraplatform folded Timan Ridge.

During the Quaternary, climate cooling in the northern hemisphere contributed to the spread of glaciation.

There are three glaciations on the East European Plain: Oka, Dnieper with the Moscow stage and Valdai. Glaciers and fluvioglacial waters created two types of plains - moraine and outwash.

The southern border of the maximum distribution of the Dnieper cover glaciation crossed the Central Russian Upland in the Tula region, then descended along the Don valley - to the mouth of the Khopr and Medveditsa, crossed the Volga Upland, then the Volga near the mouth of the Sura River, then went to the upper reaches of the Vyatka and Kama and crossed the Urals in area 60° N. Then came the Valdai glaciation. The edge of the Valdai ice sheet was located 60 km north of Minsk and went northeast, reaching Nyandoma.

Natural processes of the Neogene-Quaternary time and modern climatic conditions on the territory of the East European Plain determined various types of morphosculptures, which are zonal in their distribution: on the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean, marine and moraine plains with cryogenic relief forms are common. To the south lie moraine plains, transformed at various stages by erosion and periglacial processes. Along the southern periphery of the Moscow glaciation there is a strip of outwash plains, interrupted by remnant elevated plains covered with loess-like loams, dissected by ravines and ravines. To the south there is a strip of fluvial ancient and modern landforms on highlands and lowlands. On the coast of the Azov and Caspian Seas there are Neogene-Quaternary plains with erosional, depression-subsidence and aeolian relief.

The long geological history of the largest geostructure - the ancient platform - predetermined the accumulation of various minerals on the East European Plain. The richest deposits of iron ore (Kursk magnetic anomaly) are concentrated in the foundation of the platform. Associated with the sedimentary cover of the platform are deposits of coal (eastern part of Donbass, Moscow basin), oil and gas in Paleozoic and Mesozoic deposits (Ural-Volga basin), and oil shale (near Syzran). Building materials (songs, gravel, clays, limestones) are widely used. Brown iron ores (near Lipetsk), bauxites (near Tikhvin), phosphorites (in a number of areas) and salts (Caspian region) are also associated with the sedimentary cover.

Climate

The climate of the East European Plain is influenced by its position in temperate and high latitudes, as well as neighboring territories (Western Europe and Northern Asia) and the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The total solar radiation per year in the north of the plain, in the Pechora basin, reaches 2700 mJ/m2 (65 kcal/cm2), and in the south, in the Caspian lowland, 4800-5050 mJ/m2 (115-120 kcal/cm2). The distribution of radiation across the plain changes dramatically with the seasons. In winter, radiation is much less than in summer, and more than 60% of it is reflected by snow cover. In January, the total solar radiation at the latitude Kaliningrad - Moscow - Perm is 50 mJ/m2 (about 1 kcal/cm2), and in the southeast of the Caspian lowland it is about 120 mJ/m2 (3 kcal/cm2). Radiation reaches its greatest value in summer and July; its total values in the north of the plain are about 550 mJ/m2 (13 kcal/cm2), and in the south - 700 mJ/m2 (17 kcal/cm2). All year round Western transport of air masses dominates over the East European Plain. Atlantic air brings coolness and precipitation in summer, and warmth and precipitation in winter. When moving east, it transforms: in summer it becomes warmer and drier in the ground layer, and in winter - colder, but also loses moisture

During the warm period of the year, from April, cyclonic activity occurs along the lines of the Arctic and polar fronts, shifting to the north. Cyclonic weather is most typical for the northwest of the plain, so cool sea air from temperate latitudes often flows into these areas from the Atlantic. It lowers the temperature, but at the same time it heats up from the underlying surface and is additionally saturated with moisture due to evaporation from the moistened surface.

The position of January isotherms in the northern half of the East European Plain is submeridional, which is associated with greater frequency of occurrence in the western regions of the Atlantic air and its lesser transformation. The average January temperature in the Kaliningrad region is -4°C, in the western part of the compact territory of Russia about -10°C, and in the northeast -20°C. In the southern part of the country, isotherms deviate to the southeast, amounting to -5...-6°C in the area of the lower reaches of the Don and Volga.

In summer, almost everywhere on the plain, the most important factor in the distribution of temperature is solar radiation, so isotherms, unlike in winter, are located mainly in accordance with geographic latitude. In the far north of the plain, the average July temperature rises to 8°C, which is associated with the transformation of air coming from the Arctic. The average July isotherm of 20°C goes through Voronezh to Cheboksary, approximately coinciding with the border between forest and forest-steppe, and the Caspian lowland is crossed by an isotherm of 24°C.

The distribution of precipitation over the territory of the East European Plain depends primarily on circulation factors (westerly transport of air masses, the position of the Arctic and polar fronts and cyclonic activity). Especially many cyclones move from west to east between 55-60° N. latitude. (Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow uplands). This strip is the most humidified part of the Russian Plain: the annual precipitation here reaches 700-800 mm in the west and 600-700 mm in the east.

Relief has an important influence on the increase in annual precipitation: on the western slopes of the hills, 150-200 mm more precipitation falls than on the underlying lowlands. In the southern part of the plain, maximum precipitation occurs in June, and in the middle zone - in July.

The degree of moisture in an area is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture. It is expressed in various quantities: a) the moisture coefficient, which on the East European Plain varies from 0.35 in the Caspian Lowland to 1.33 or more in the Pechora Lowland; b) the dryness index, which varies from 3 in the deserts of the Caspian lowland to 0.45 in the tundra of the Pechora lowland; c) average annual difference in precipitation and evaporation (mm). In the northern part of the plain, moisture is excessive, since precipitation exceeds evaporation by 200 mm or more. In the band of transitional moisture from the upper reaches of the Dniester, Don and Kama rivers, the amount of precipitation is approximately equal to evaporation, and the further south of this band, the more evaporation exceeds precipitation (from 100 to 700 mm), i.e., moisture becomes insufficient.

Differences in the climate of the East European Plain affect the nature of vegetation and the presence of fairly clearly defined soil and plant zonation.

A plain is an area of land whose slope does not exceed 50°, and the heights do not differ by more than 200 meters. This is the most common type of relief on the planet, occupying about 64% of the territory. In the territory Russian Federation there are about 30 plains, the most famous of which is the East European one. In area it is second only to the Amazonian lowland and is the second in the world.

For Russia, plains are of great importance, because almost 75% of the country is located on this type of terrain. Historically, it was on the flat areas that the Slavic civilization developed: ancient cities and roads were built, political revolutions and wars took place. The fertile soils of the plains not only provided people with food, but also introduced unique features into culture and fishing.

East European Plain (4 million km2)

One of the largest plains on the planet, covering most Eastern Europe received a second name - Russian. The distance between the northern and southern borders exceeds 2500 km. And from west to east it extends for 2700 km. Borders:

In the northwest are the Scandinavian Mountains;
In the southwest are the mountains of Central Europe (Sudetes);
In the southeast - Caucasus Mountains;
In the west is the Vistula River;
In the north - the White and Barents Seas;
In the east are the Ural Mountains and Mugodzhary.

The height of the plain above sea level is not uniform. Frequently occurring elevations are located at levels of 200-300 m, and large rivers such as the Volga, Dnieper, Danube, Don, Western Dvina and Vistula flow through the lowlands. The origin of the vast majority of highlands and lowlands is tectonic.

At the base of the plain lie two plates: Russian with a Precambrian crystalline foundation and Scythian with a Paleozoic folded foundation. The relief does not express the intertile boundary.

Glaciation had a significant impact on the process of relief formation, especially changing the surface of the northern areas. The passage of the glacier gave rise to the formation of many lakes for which the area is famous. This is how the Beloe, Peipus and Pskov lakes were formed. In the southern part, glaciation activity is weak due to erosion processes.

Central Siberian Plateau (about 3.5 million km2)

In the eastern part of Russia there is another largest flat area - the Central Siberian Plateau. It covers the territories of the Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk Territory and Yakutia.

In the south - the Eastern Sayan mountain system, as well as the mountain regions of the Baikal region and Transbaikalia;
In the west is the valley of the Yenisei River;
In the north - the North Siberian Lowland;
In the east is the Lena River valley.

The plateau is located on the Siberian platform. A characteristic feature is alternating plateaus and ridges. The highest peak is Mount Kamen (height 1701 m above ground level), which belongs to the middle mountains of Putorana. The western edge of the plateau is covered by the dissected hills of the Yenisei Ridge (the highest point is Mount Enashimsky Polkan, 1104 m high). The territory of the Central Siberian Plateau is distinguished by the largest permafrost rocks in the world, the height of which reaches 1500 km.

West Siberian Plain (2.6 million km²)

The plain is located in the northern part of Asia and covers the entire territory of western Siberia. It has a characteristic trapezoidal shape, which tapers towards the north. The length from south to north is about 2500 km, and from west to east it varies from 800 to 1950 km. Borders:

In the west - the Ural Mountains;
In the east - the Central Siberian Plateau;
In the north - the Kara Sea;
In the south - the Kazakh small hills;
In the southeast - the West Siberian Plain and the foothills of Altai.

The surface of the plain is relatively uniform with a slight difference in elevation. Lowland areas are concentrated in the central and northern parts, and low elevations are located along the eastern, southern and western outskirts (height does not exceed 250 m).

Baraba Lowland (117 thousand km2)

The Barabinskaya stele is located in the southern part Western Siberia, between the Irtysh and Ob rivers. It is an undulating plain, in the southern part of which there are ridges (parallel elevations). The Novosibirsk and Omsk regions are located in the lowlands. It is composed of thick deposits of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age.

In low areas (height 80-100 m), fresh (Ubinskoe) and salt (Chany, Tandovo and Sartlan) lakes, swamps filled with peat moss and saline fields were formed. During geological exploration activities, deposits of oil and natural gas were discovered in the north of the plain.

Kulunda Plain (100 thousand km²)

The Kuluda Plain is the southern part of the West Siberian Plain and covers the Altai and Pavlodar regions. Its appearance is associated with the accumulative activity of large rivers - the Irtysh and Ob. The southeast of the plain adjoins the Altai foothills. The highest point does not exceed 250m, low-lying areas mainly occupy the central part (100-120 m above sea level).

The relief is distinguished by the alternation of elevated ridges (50-60m) and low areas separating them. The valleys of the Burla, Kuchuk and Kulunda rivers pass through the lowlands. For the industry of Western Siberia, the plain is of significant importance due to the endorheic lakes, from which table and Glauber's salt (Kuchukskoe and Kulundinskoe lakes), as well as soda (Petukhovskoe lakes) are extracted.

Azov-Kuban (Kuban-Azov lowland) plain (about 50 thousand km2)

The lowland is located in the Western part of the Ciscaucasia and covers the territories of the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory and Rostov region. The height of the plain above sea level does not exceed 300 m.

In the south - the Kuban River;
In the west - the Sea of Azov;
In the east - the Kumo-Manych depression;
In the north is the Yegorlyk River.

The main part of the plain is located within the Scythian plate. Rocks of Meso-Cenozoic age, predominantly of sedimentary origin. The lowland area adjacent to the Black Sea is divided big amount branches of the Kuban River. In the marshy areas of the plain there are floodplains (flooded floodplains of rivers) and estuaries (bays that arise when a river flows into the sea).

Relief of the East European (Russian) Plain

Relief and geological structure

The East European Elevated Plain consists of hills with heights of 200-300 m above sea level and lowlands along which large rivers flow. The average height of the plain is 170 m, and the highest - 479 m - is on the Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya Upland in the Ural part. The maximum elevation of the Timan Ridge is somewhat lower (471 m).

According to the characteristics of the orographic pattern within the East European Plain, three stripes are clearly distinguished: central, northern and southern. A strip of alternating large uplands and lowlands passes through the central part of the plain: the Central Russian, Volga, Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya uplands and General Syrt are separated by the Oka-Don lowland and the Low Trans-Volga region, along which the Don and Volga rivers flow, carrying their waters to the south.

The southern part of the East European Plain is occupied by lowlands, of which only the Caspian is located on Russian territory.

Figure 1 – Geological profiles across the Russian Plain

At the base of the East European Plain lie the Russian plate with a Precambrian crystalline foundation and in the south the northern edge of the Scythian plate with a Paleozoic folded foundation. The boundary between the plates is not expressed in the relief. On the uneven surface of the Precambrian foundation of the Russian plate there are strata of Precambrian (Vendian, in places Riphean) and Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks with weakly disturbed occurrence. Their thickness is not the same and is due to the unevenness of the foundation topography (Fig. 1), which determines the main geostructures of the plate. These include syneclises - areas of deep foundation (Moscow, Pechora, Caspian, Glazov), anteclises - areas of shallow foundation (Voronezh, Volga-Ural), aulacogens - deep tectonic ditches, in the place of which syneclises subsequently arose (Kresttsovsky, Soligalichsky, Moskovsky, etc.), protrusions of the Baikal foundation - Timan.

In the center of the Russian plate there are two large anteclises - the Voronezh and Volga-Urals, separated by the Pachelma aulacogen. The Voronezh anteclise gently descends to the north into the Moscow syneclise. The surface of its basement is covered with thin sediments of the Ordovician, Devonian and Carboniferous. Carboniferous, Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks occur on the southern steep slope. The Volga-Ural anteclise consists of large uplifts (vaults) and depressions (aulacogens), on the slopes of which flexures are located. The thickness of the sedimentary cover here is at least 800 m within the highest arches (Tokmovsky).

The Caspian marginal syneclise is a vast area of deep (up to 18-20 km) subsidence of the crystalline basement and belongs to the structures of ancient origin; the syneclise is limited on almost all sides by flexures and faults and has angular outlines. From the west it is framed by the Ergeninskaya and Volgograd flexures, from the north by the flexures of General Syrt. In places they are complicated by young faults. In Neogene-Quaternary time, further subsidence (up to 500 m) and accumulation of a thick layer of marine and continental sediments occurred. These processes are combined with fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

The southern part of the East European Plain is located on the Scythian epi-Hercynian plate, lying between the southern edge of the Russian plate and the alpine folded structures of the Caucasus.

Tectonic movements of the Urals and the Caucasus led to some disruption of the occurrence of sedimentary deposits of plates. This is expressed in the form of dome-shaped uplifts, significant swells (Oka-Tsniksky, Zhigulevsky, Vyatsky, etc.), individual flexural bends of layers, salt domes, which are clearly visible in the modern relief. Ancient and young deep faults, as well as ring structures, determined the block structure of plates, the direction of river valleys and the activity of neotectonic movements. The predominant direction of the faults is northwestern.

A brief description of the tectonics of the East European Plain and a comparison of the tectonic map with the hypsometric and neotectonic ones allows us to conclude that the modern relief, which has undergone a long and complex history, is in most cases inherited and dependent on the nature of the ancient structure and manifestations of neotectonic movements.

Lesson objectives.

1. Find out the features of the nature of the plain as a factor in the formation of the most populated and developed region.

2. Develop research skills.

3. Develop a moral and aesthetic attitude towards nature.

Lesson objectives.

1. Formation of ideas and knowledge about the features of the natural area - the Russian Plain, its role in the formation of the Russian state.

2. Study of the nature and resources of the Russian Plain.

3. Deepening and expanding knowledge about the components of the plain PTC.

Equipment: maps of Russia - physical, climatic, vegetation of natural zones, contour maps, video film, books, mobile classroom, multimedia projector, interactive whiteboard.

Forms of work: group with elements of role-playing game.

Lesson type:

for didactic purposes - learning new material;

according to teaching methods - role-playing game.

Lesson Plan

1. Organization of the lesson.

2. Updating students' knowledge. Setting educational objectives. Studying a new topic.

3. Students work in groups. Student answers. Relaxation.

4. Lesson summary. Evaluating student responses. Achieving the goal.

5. Test solutions when using laptops. Practical part, completing tasks in contour maps.

6. Homework.

1. Stage - organizational.

Greetings. Ready for the lesson. Mark those absent in the log.

2. Stage - updating students' knowledge.

Teacher. We are beginning to study the physical and geographical regions of Russia.

Question No. 1. Name and show all these areas on the physical map of Russia.

Lesson topic. Russian (East European) Plain. Geographical location and natural features.

Teacher. Guys, we have to find out what in the nature of the Russian Plain enchants a person, gives him spiritual and physical strength, and influences economic activity.

To solve the problems, you need to explore the following questions.

1. Geographical location and relief of the Russian Plain.

2. Climate and inland waters.

3. Natural areas of the Russian Plain.

4. Natural resources and their use.

5. Ecological problems Russian (East European) Plain.

We begin our study of the Russian Plain by determining the geographical location of the area, as it determines the characteristics of the PTC.

Give a definition of the concept “geographical location”.

Geographical location is the position of any object or point on the earth's surface in relation to other objects or territories.

Updating knowledge

Question No. 2. What underlies the division of Russia into regions or physical-geographical areas?

Answer. The division is based on relief and geological structure - azonal components.

Question No. 3. The first PTC (physiographic region) that we will get acquainted with is the Russian Plain, or as it is also called the East European Plain.

Why do you think this plain has such names?

Answer. Russian - because here is the center of Russia, Ancient Rus' was located on the plain. Most Russians in Russia live here.

Question No. 4. Why Eastern European?

Answer. The plain is located in eastern Europe.

3. Stage. Work in groups.

Today we work in groups, you receive tasks and instructions for completing tasks, for which 5 minutes are allotted.

Students are divided into groups of 4-5 people, consultants are assigned, cards with research tasks are distributed (as the students work, they draw up an outline of their answer on separate sheets of paper), and they receive evaluation sheets.

Evaluation paper

No.	Last name, first name	Score for answers	Score for test	Final mark

Student Research.

Group No. 1

Problematic question: How does the geographical location determine the nature of the Russian Plain?

1. The seas washing the territory of the Russian Plain.

2. Which ocean basin do they belong to?

3. Which ocean has the greatest influence on the natural features of the plain?

4. The length of the plain from north to south along 40 degrees east. (1 degree=111 km.).

Conclusion. The plain occupies the western part of Russia. The area is about 3 million sq. km. The Arctic and Atlantic oceans influence the characteristics of nature.

The Russian Plain occupies almost the entire western, European part of Russia. It extends from the coasts of the Barents and White Seas in the north to the Azov and Caspian Seas in the south; from the western borders of the country to the Ural Mountains. The length of the territories from north to south exceeds 2500 km, the area of the plain within Russia is about 3 million sq. km.

WITH geographical location The plain is associated with the influence on the features of its nature of the seas of the Atlantic and the least severe seas of the Arctic oceans. The Russian Plain has the most complete set of natural zones (from tundra to temperate deserts). In most of its territory, natural conditions are quite favorable for the life and economic activities of the population.

Group No. 2

Problematic question: How was the modern relief of the plain formed?

1. Comparing the physical and tectonic maps, draw the following conclusion:

How does tectonic structure affect the relief of the plain? What is an ancient platform?

2. Which territories have the highest and lowest absolute altitudes?

3. The relief of the plain is varied. Why? What external processes shaped the relief of the plain?

Conclusion. The Russian Plain is located on the ancient Russian platform. The highest height is the Khibiny Mountains 1191 m, the lowest is the Caspian Lowland - 28 m. The relief is varied, the glacier in the north had a strong influence, and flowing waters in the south.

The Russian Plain is located on an ancient Precambrian platform. This determines the main feature of its relief – flatness. The folded foundation of the Russian Plain lies at different depths and comes to the surface in Russia only on the Kola Peninsula and Karelia (Baltic Shield). In the rest of the territory, the foundation is covered by a sedimentary cover of varying thickness.

The cover smoothes out the unevenness of the foundation, but still, as in an x-ray, they “shine through” through the thickness of sedimentary rocks and predetermine the location of the largest hills and lowlands. The Khibiny Mountains on the Kola Peninsula have the highest height, they are located on the shield, the lowest is the Caspian Lowland - 28 m, i.e. 28 m below sea level.

The Central Russian Upland and the Timan Ridge are confined to basement uplifts. The Caspian and Pechora lowlands correspond to depressions.

The relief of the plain is quite varied. In most of the territory it is rugged and picturesque. In the northern part, small hills and ridges are scattered against the general background of a low-lying plain. Here, through the Valdai Upland and Northern Uvaly, there is a watershed between rivers carrying their waters to the north and northwest (Western and Northern Dvina, Pechora) and flowing to the south (Dnieper, Don and Volga with their fairly numerous tributaries).

The northern part of the Russian Plain was formed by ancient glaciers. The Kola Peninsula and Karelia are located where the destructive activity of the glacier was intense. Here, strong bedrock with traces of glacial processing often comes to the surface. To the south, where the accumulation of material brought by the glacier took place, moraine ridges and hilly moraine relief were formed. Moraine hills alternate with depressions occupied by lakes or wetlands.

Along the southern edge of the glaciation, glacial meltwater deposited masses of sandy material. Flat or slightly concave sandy plains arose here. Currently, they are crossed by weakly incised river valleys.

To the south, large hills and lowlands alternate. The Central Russian, Volga Uplands and General Syrt are separated by lowlands along which the Don and Volga flow. Erosive terrain is common here. The hills are especially densely and deeply dissected by ravines and gullies.

The extreme south of the Russian Plain, which was flooded by seas in the Neogene and Quaternary times, is distinguished by weak dissection and a slightly wavy, almost flat surface. The Russian Plain is located in a temperate climate zone. Only its extreme north is in the subarctic zone.

Relaxation. The guys look at slides with natural landscapes and musical accompaniment.

Group No. 3

Problematic question: Why did a temperate continental climate form on the Russian Plain?

1. Name the climate-forming factors that determine the climate of the plain.

2. How does the Atlantic Ocean affect the climate of the plain?

3. What kind of weather do cyclones bring?

4. Based on the climate map: determine the average temperatures in January and July, the annual amount of precipitation in Petrozavodsk, Moscow, Voronezh, Volgograd.

Conclusion. The climate is temperate continental, continentality increases towards the southeast. The Atlantic has the greatest influence.

The climate of the Russian Plain is temperate continental. Continentality increases to the east and especially to the southeast. The nature of the relief ensures free penetration of Atlantic air masses to the eastern edges of the plain, and Arctic air masses far to the south. During transition periods, the advance of arctic air causes a sharp drop in temperature and frost, and in summer – drought.

The Russian Plain receives the most precipitation compared to other large plains in our country. It is influenced by the westerly transport of air masses and cyclones moving from the Atlantic. This influence is especially strong in the northern and middle parts of the Russian Plain. The passage of cyclones is associated with precipitation. The moisture here is abundant and sufficient, so there are many rivers, lakes and swamps. In the zone of maximum quantity there are the sources of the largest rivers of the Russian Plain: the Volga, Northern Dvina. The northwest of the plain is one of the lake regions of the country. Along with large lakes - Ladoga, Onega, Chudskoye, Ilmen - there are many small ones located in depressions between moraine hills.

In the southern part of the plain, where cyclones rarely pass, there is less precipitation than can evaporate. Insufficient hydration. In summer there are often droughts and hot winds. The climate becomes increasingly dry to the southeast.

Group No. 4

Problematic question: How do you explain the words of A.I. Voeikov: “Rivers are a product of climate”?

1. Find and name the large rivers of the plain; which ocean basins do they belong to?

2. Why do rivers flow in different directions?

3. Climate affects rivers. What does it mean?

4. There are many large lakes on the territory of the Russian Plain. Most of them are located in the northwest of the plain. Why?

Conclusion. The rivers have spring floods, and the food supply is mixed.

Most of the lakes are located in the northwest of the plain. The basins are glacial-tectonic and dammed, i.e. influence of an ancient glacier.

All rivers of the Russian Plain are predominantly snow-fed and spring floods. But the rivers of the northern part of the plain differ significantly from the rivers of the southern part in terms of the amount of flow and its distribution over the seasons. Northern rivers are full of water. Rainfall and rainfall play a significant role in their nutrition. groundwater, therefore the flow is more evenly distributed throughout the year than that of southern rivers.

In the southern part of the plain, where moisture is insufficient, the rivers have low water. The share of rain and groundwater in their nutrition is sharply reduced, so the overwhelming majority of the runoff occurs during a short period of spring floods.

The longest and most abundant river of the Russian Plain and all of Europe is the Volga.

The Volga is one of the main riches and decorations of the Russian Plain. Starting from a small swamp on the Valdai Hills, the river carries its waters to the Caspian Sea. It has absorbed the waters of hundreds of rivers and streams flowing from the Ural Mountains and emerging on the plain. The main sources of nutrition for the Volga are snow (60%) and groundwater (30%). In winter the river freezes.

Crossing several natural zones on its way, it reflects in the water surface large cities, majestic forests, high slopes of the right banks, and coastal sands of the Caspian deserts.

Nowadays the Volga has turned into a grand staircase with mirrored steps of reservoirs regulating its flow. Water falling from dams provides electricity to the cities and villages of the Russian Plain. The river is connected by canals to five seas. The Volga is a river - a worker, an artery of life, the mother of Russian rivers, glorified by our people.

Of the lakes on the Russian Plain, Lake Ladoga is the largest. Its area is 18,100 km. The lake stretches from north to south for 219 km with a maximum width of 124 km. The average depth is 51 m. The lake reaches its greatest depths (203 m) in its northern part. The northern shore of Lake Ladoga is rocky, indented by long, narrow bays. The remaining banks are low and flat. There are many islands on the lake (about 650), most of which are located near the northern shore.

The lake freezes completely only by mid-February. The ice thickness reaches 0.7–1 m. The lake opens in April, but ice floes float on its water surface for a long time. Only in the second half of May the lake is completely free of ice.

On Lake Ladoga there are hours of fog making navigation difficult. Strong, prolonged storms often occur, with waves reaching a height of 3 meters. According to navigation conditions, Ladoga is equated to the seas. The lake is connected via the Neva to the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea; through the Svir River, Lake Onega and the White Sea - Baltic Canal - with the White and Barents Seas; through the Volga-Baltic Canal - with the Volga and Caspian Sea. In recent years, there has been severe pollution of the water of Lake Ladoga by industrial activities in its basin. The problem of maintaining the cleanliness of the lake is acute, since the city of St. Petersburg receives water from Ladoga. In 1988, a special resolution was adopted to protect Lake Ladoga.

4. Stage. Lesson summary. Evaluating student responses.

Conclusion on the topic studied

The East European (Russian) Plain has extremely diverse natural conditions and resources. This is due to the geological history of development and geographical location. The Russian land began from these places; for a long time, the plain was populated and developed by people. It is no coincidence that the capital of the country, Moscow, and the most developed economic region, Central Russia, with the highest population density, are located on the Russian plain.

The nature of the Russian Plain enchants with its beauty. It gives a person spiritual and physical strength, calms, and restores health. The unique charm of Russian nature is sung by A.S. Pushkin,

M.Yu. Lermontov, reflected in the paintings of I.I. Levitan, I.I. Shishkina, V.D. Polenova. People passed on the skills of decorative and applied arts from generation to generation, using natural resources and the very spirit of Russian culture.

5. Stage. Practical part of the lesson. To consolidate and assimilate the educational material, the children perform a test on laptops (exercises with eyes); at the teacher’s command, press the “result” key.

Summing up, preparing evaluation sheets.

Practical part in workbooks p. 49 (task No. 2).

Giving grades in diaries.

6. Stage. Homework: paragraph 27, workbook page 49 (task No. 1).

Self-analysis of a geography lesson

The lesson was held in a classroom with good learning opportunities, a developmental education class.

Students have analytical thinking skills.

Lesson type - combined, with elements of role-playing game. Based on the topic and type of lesson, the characteristics of the student group, the following lesson goals were determined:

Identify the features of the nature of the plain as a factor in the formation of the most populated and developed region;

Improve the ability to work with atlas maps, textbook text, a computer, and draw up logical support diagrams;

Ensure the development of abilities for evaluative actions and express judgments;

Develop research skills;

Develop the ability to work in a team, develop mutual assistance;

Develop a moral and aesthetic attitude towards nature.

To achieve these goals, various methods training:

1. By sources of transmission and perception of information:

- verbal- formulation of targets, explanation of methods of activity;

- visual- cards, interactive whiteboard, multimedia projector, mobile classroom;

- practical- work with atlas maps, textbook, workbook, using laptops.

2. By the nature of cognitive activity:

- reproductive- the student worked with terms;

- research- identified features, established cause and effect;

- compared, explained, analyzed problematic issues.

The following were used in the lesson forms of organization educational activities:

1. Individual - each student worked with the text of the textbook, atlas maps, and completed control tasks.

2. Pairs - discussions, mutual control.

3. Group - creative work.

When developing the lesson, I adhered to principles:

1. The principle of motivation is the creation of passion and interest in knowledge.

2. The principle of a conscious learning process.

3. The principle of collectivism.

Used techniques mental thinking activity:

1. Method of comparison - favorable and unfavorable conditions.

2. Technique of analysis and synthesis - determining the features of the placement of natural resources.

3. The technique of generalization when formulating conclusions and summing up.

Lesson steps

Stage 1 – organizational.

The task of this stage is to provide a favorable psychological environment for learning activities.

Stage 2 – updating of background knowledge.

At this stage, the teacher ensures the reproduction of the knowledge and skills on the basis of which new content will be built. Implementation of goals, formation of skills to determine goals, plan one’s educational activities.

Stage 3 – learning new material, working in groups.

The objectives of the stage are to ensure perception and understanding of the concepts acquired by students, creating conditions for students to master knowledge in the form of activity.

1. Creating problematic situations.

2. Using the research method of teaching to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

3. Improving skills in text analysis and diagramming.

4. Working with the textbook text in order to develop scientific thinking.

5. The creative task is aimed at strengthening the ability to analyze atlas maps, as well as at developing mental thinking activity. development of logic.

Stage 4 – the result of the lesson, consolidation of new knowledge and methods of activity.

The task of the stage is to ensure an increase in the level of comprehension of the studied material. Improving assessment activities.

Stage 5 – practical part, logical conclusion of the lesson.

Stage 6 – information about homework.

The form of the lesson made it possible to combine traditional and non-traditional forms of work: a combined lesson with elements of role-playing game. The psychological regime was supported by the teacher’s benevolent attitude towards students. The feasibility of tasks for each student, the atmosphere of business cooperation. The high density, pace of the lesson, and the combination of different types of work made it possible to implement the entire volume of the proposed material and solve the assigned tasks.