How the climate of the Russian plain is formed. East European Plain: climate, natural zones, geographic location

The climate of the Russian Plain is very peculiar, because a variety of factors influence its formation. To better understand the main climatic features of a given region, first of all, it is necessary to consider in detail its geographical location and relief.

Geographical position

The Russian or East European Plain is located in the east of Europe.

On its vast lands are the following countries:

• Russia;
• Kazakhstan;
• Estonia;
• Lithuania;
• Latvia;
• Bulgaria;
• Romania;
• Finland;
• Ukraine;
• Moldova;
• Poland.

The total area is about 4 million km 2. This is the largest plain on the Eurasian continent. The total length from north to south is 2,500 km, and from west to east - over 1,000 km.

In size, this territory is second only to the Amazonian lowland in South America. The average height above sea level is 170 m, and the maximum reaches 479 m on the Bugulma-Belebey Upland in the Cis-Urals. The lowest elevations are observed on the Caspian coast, where they are only 27.6 m.

In the northwest, the borders of the flat terrain are guarded by the Scandinavian mountains. In the north, the plain is washed by the White and Barents Seas. In the west and south-west, it peacefully neighbors with the mountains of Central Europe and the Carpathians, and in the south and south-east - with the mountain ranges of the Caucasus. The Ural is the natural eastern border.

Relief and climate

The entire territory is dominated by gently undulating or hilly relief.

The largest hills include:

• Bugulma-Belebeevskaya;
• Central Russian;
• Valdai;
• Stavropolskaya and others.

Among the lowlands, the most prominent are the Caspian, Prichernomorskaya, Dnieper, Oksko-Don. The spelling is not uniform. The central, northern and southern stripes are clearly traced on it.

The maximum height of the Central Russian Upland is 305 m, and the Bugulminsko-Belebeevskaya - 479 m. The lowest areas are concentrated in the south in the Caspian Sea region. In the central part, various forms of relief are observed, since here the folded foundation of an ancient platform protrudes to the surface, forming various hills, plateaus and ridges.

The hilly relief is largely due to the peculiarities of the geological structure. The tectonic structure is mainly confined to the Russian platform with an ancient Precambrian basement. The southern part is located on the northern edge of the Scythian plate with a Paleozoic folded base. The estimated age of the Lower Proterozoic layer is 2550-1600 Ma.

Almost all folding processes are of deep tectonic origin. The uneven relief of the Precambrian basement includes strata of Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks. Glaciation had a significant impact on the formation of the relief.

After the passage of the glacier, many lakes were formed, among which the most famous are:

• White;
• Pskov;
• Chudskoe and others.

Numerous deep bays of the Kola Peninsula also have glacial origin.

Due to the peculiarities of the relief and the complete absence of active volcanoes on the flat terrain, strong earthquakes are completely excluded, but such dangerous natural phenomena as floods and tornadoes are possible.

The climate is temperate continental with distinct cold and warm seasons. Unlike the Central Siberian Plateau and the entire West Siberian region, the climatic conditions in the Eastern European part of Russia are less severe. The milder winters are due to the features of the relief and the special geographic location.

Average summer temperatures range from + 8 ° С in the far north to + 24 ° С in the Caspian lowland. The lowest winter rates are observed in the northern and eastern latitudes. There they can sometimes reach below -25 ° С. In the western and southern regions, winters are often milder with an average January temperature of about -4 ° C.

The snow cover is established everywhere. Whereas in the south the duration of snow occurrence is on average 60 days, in colder northern regions it increases by about 3-4 times.

The distribution of precipitation is uneven. Abundant rain and fog are most typical for the northwestern part. The southern and southeastern regions are more prone to spring, summer and autumn droughts. Rainy and cloudy weather is mainly set in the autumn-winter period. The maximum amount of summer precipitation in the south falls in June, and in the middle lane in July.

Water resources and impact on climate

The lake-river system is very developed. Due to the features of the relief, plain rivers with a mixed or snow type of food predominantly dominate. Many lakes are of glacial origin, especially on the territory of Karelia, Finland and the Kola Peninsula. Most of the Eastern European water bodies are characterized by spring floods, the main reason for which is the intense melting of the snow cover.

Almost all river arteries belong to the basins of two large oceans: the Arctic and Atlantic. In addition, there is also an internal runoff belonging to the Caspian Sea.

The largest rivers are:

• Volga;
• Pechora;
• Ural;
• Dnieper;
• Western and Northern Dvina;
• Kama;
• Vyatka.

The main watershed junction runs along the Valdai and Lithuanian-Belarusian Uplands.

Among the lakes, the most distinguished by their size:

• Ladoga;
• Onega;
• Ilmensky;
• Chudskoe;
• Pskov.

Most of the lake basins are located in the northwest. Groundwater is distributed evenly throughout the territory. In the northern regions of the tundra and forest-tundra, there are many swamps.

The abundance of water resources has a significant impact on the formation of the local climate. Evaporation from the surface of open water bodies not only significantly humidifies the air, but also contributes to the cooling of warm air masses in the hot summer months.

Weather

Depending on the season, the weather pattern differs markedly. To a greater extent, it is under the influence of the Atlantic cyclones, which annually bring both sharp cold snaps and sudden warming.

In winter, winds from the Atlantic usually set warm weather, and in summer, on the contrary, they saturate the air with coolness. Cyclones from the southwestern Arctic also have a great influence on the weather. They almost always contribute to a sharp drop in air temperature.

Winter

The temperate continental climate prevails throughout the entire Eastern European region, so winters are quite cold and snowy here. Heavy snowfalls and thirty-degree frosts are characteristic, sometimes replaced by a sudden thaw down to -5 ˚С. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow. The depth of the cover in the northern and eastern regions reaches 60-70 cm, while in the south it is usually no more than 10-20 cm.

In the northern regions, the winter season is longer and more severe, since the predominantly subarctic climatic zone dominates here. The average January temperature is at least -20 ˚С.

Spring

The spring months usually represent a transitional time of the year, when daylight hours gradually increase and temperatures begin to rise. The air humidity drops to 70-80%, as the snow cover is slowly breaking down. The soil thaws, the flora and fauna awakens.

Since the end of April, stable warm weather has been established, however, with the arrival of anticyclones, frosts and sharp cold snaps are possible. In the northern regions, spring is usually colder and longer than in the central and southern regions. This time of the year is also characterized by intermittent rains and thunderstorms.

Summer

The calendar summer begins on June 1, when stable sunny weather with temperatures above +10 ˚С is established almost everywhere. The main characteristic feature of the summer season is the predominance of rather warm and comfortable weather, which largely contributes to the active growth of plants and the general revitalization of nature.

Average monthly temperatures in July are about +20 ˚С, but in the far north they are significantly lower. Thus, the distribution of heat is uneven, and in accordance with the geographical latitude.

Fall

With the arrival of autumn, the air temperature gradually begins to decrease. If in September in the central regions it averages at least +16 ° C, then by the end of November the air in some areas warms up only to +2 ° C.

This time of the year is characterized by frequent drizzling rains, sometimes accompanied by strong chilly winds. Due to the high humidity, fog is often formed in the morning. Daylight hours are getting much shorter. At the end of November, many water bodies are covered with ice, and a stable snow cover begins to form on the soil.

Minerals

Due to the special geological structure, the mineral resources of the Eastern European region are characterized by great diversity.

A short list of the largest deposits:

• Iron ore - Mikhailovskoe, Lebedinskoe, Stoilenskoe, Gubkinskoe;
• Coal - Pechora Basin;
• Potassium-rock salts - Verkhnekamsky and Iletsky basins.

There are significant oil and gas deposits in the Caspian lowland and the Volga-Ural region. In addition, popular building materials such as gravel, clay, sand and limestone are ubiquitous.

Flora and fauna

Due to the well-pronounced latitudinal zoning and different natural conditions, the most diverse representatives of flora and fauna are found in the territory of the Eastern European region. The table shows the most common ecosystems.

The most impressive area is the forest zone. It occupies a vast area in the central and southern parts. Steppe and semi-desert areas are found only in the extreme south and east.

Test

1. What natural areas are most typical for Eastern Europe?

• Tropical deserts and semi-deserts
• Tundra, taiga, mixed, coniferous and deciduous forests
• Savannah and variable wet forests.

Answer: Tundra, taiga, mixed, coniferous and deciduous forests

2. What is the prevailing climate in the Eastern European region?

• Moderate continental
• Tropical
• Equatorial.

Answer: Moderate continental

3. What is the largest flat area on the Eurasian continent?

• East European;
• West Siberian;
• Central Yakutsk.

Answer: Eastern European

4. What is the maximum height of the Bugulma-Belebey Upland?

• 694 m;
• 479 m;
• 257 m.

Answer: 479 m. you will find the answer here.

Video

From this video you can learn about the various natural features of the Eastern European region.

East European (aka Russian) has the second largest area in the world, second only to the Amazon lowland. It is classified as a low plain. In the north, the area is washed by the Barents and White seas, in the south - by the Azov, Caspian and Black seas. In the west and south-west, the plain is adjacent to the mountains of Central Europe (Carpathians, Sudetes, etc.), in the north-west - with the Scandinavian mountains, in the east - with the Urals and Mugodzhars, and in the southeast - with the Crimean mountains and The Caucasus.

The length of the East European Plain from west to east is about 2500 km, from north to south - about 2750 km, the area is 5.5 million km². The average height is 170 m, the maximum was recorded in the Khibiny (Mount Yudychvumchorr) on the Kola Peninsula - 1191 m, the minimum height is noted on the coast of the Caspian Sea, it has a minus value of -27 m.The following countries are located on the territory of the plain in whole or in part: Belarus, Kazakhstan , Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Estonia.

The Russian Plain almost completely coincides with the East European Platform, which explains its relief with a predominance of planes. This geographical location is characterized by very rare and manifestations of volcanic activity.

Such a relief was formed due to tectonic movements and faults. Platform deposits on this plain lie almost horizontally, but in some places they exceed 20 km. Uplands in this area are quite rare and mainly represent ridges (Donetsk, Timansky, etc.), in these areas the folded foundation protrudes to the surface.

Hydrographic characteristics of the East European Plain

In terms of hydrography, the East European Plain can be divided into two parts. Most of the waters of the plain have an outlet to the ocean. The western and southern rivers belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin, while the northern ones belong to the Arctic Ocean. From the northern rivers on the Russian Plain there are: Mezen, Onega, Pechora and Northern Dvina. Western and southern water streams flow into the Baltic Sea (Vistula, Western Dvina, Neva, Neman, etc.), as well as the Black (Dnieper, Dniester and Southern Bug) and Azov (Don).

Climatic characteristics of the East European Plain

The temperate continental climate prevails on the East European Plain. Summer average recorded temperatures range from 12 (near the Barents Sea) to 25 degrees (near the Caspian lowland). The highest winter average temperatures are observed in the west, there in winter about -

In geography, the Russian plain is considered to be an area that is the eastern, predominant part of the East European plain, which is located on the territory of the Russian state. The plain is represented by a combination of elevations (hills) and lowlands replacing each other. The channels of large rivers are confined to the latter.

The climate of the territory under consideration is determined by a combination of the following factors:

• great length from north to south;
• terrain features: on a flat territory there are practically no natural obstacles to the free movement of air masses;
• close proximity of two oceans.

The peculiarity of the climate of the Russian Plain owes its formation to two aspects: the uneven distribution of the level of solar radiation, which is associated with the meridional elongation of the territory, and the unhindered advection of oceanic air masses.

Air masses of the Arctic marine type are formed over the surface of the northern seas (Kara, Barents), and the sea air of temperate latitudes owes its formation to the seas of the Atlantic basin (Baltic, White).

Scientific geography distinguishes the Russian Plain into a separate physical and geographical area based on:

• location on a single plate of the Precambrian East European platform;
• the temperate continental climatic type is united with the characteristic features of the influence of the Atlantic seas;
• throughout the territory, there is a clear latitudinal zoning: from tundra to steppe, natural zones successively replace themselves from north to south.

The climate of the plain is dominated by air masses of the continental type, the influence of the advection of sea masses of the sea type on it is most characteristic of the winter months, when they bring a characteristic warming, accompanied by a large amount of precipitation. In the summer season, the arrival of sea air masses from the seas of the Atlantic basin brings, in addition to an increase in humidity and precipitation, a cooling. Characteristic is the movement of air masses from east to west, or - a westerly movement. The continentality of the air masses naturally increases as it moves eastward.

Cyclonic activity also depends on the time of year: in winter, cyclones are located, as a rule, along the Arctic front, however, without encountering relief obstacles in their path, they often go quite far southward. In the summer, several areas of cyclones are formed: the arctic, polar-arctic occlusal zones in the north and the temperate-tropical - in the south of the plain.

Scientific geography within the Russian Plain, based on the criteria of an integrated zonal-azonal approach, additionally identifies 2 large natural areas: northern and southern.

Northern climatic region

The climate of the northern part of the Russian Plain consists mainly of three components: the influence of the Arctic and polar air masses, the western movement of the Atlantic air masses and the direct influence of the flat territory, which determines the formation of continental-type air masses. Sometimes, mainly in summer, tropical air masses get here.

Cold arctic air moves freely to the south, gradually warming up and transforming into the air of temperate latitudes. It is extremely rare, in the summer period, provided that the anticyclone stands for a long time in the south of a given geographical area, it can be successively transformed into tropical air.

This climatic region is characterized by long, rather cold winters with a large amount of precipitation in the form of snow. Average January temperatures range from -20 0 С in the north-east of the territory to -10 0 С in the south-western part.

As already noted, the Atlantic exerts a significant influence over the climate of the territory in winter, therefore the west of the region is characterized by a much warmer winter than its east: for example, in Kaliningrad, the average January temperature does not reach -5 0 C.

In summer, the solar radiation factor dominates the climate of the northern region. In the north, its lack causes a short cold summer with an average July temperature of about -8 -10 0 C. In the south of the allocated area, the air warms up much better, and the summer here is naturally much longer and warmer.

Southern climatic region

The difference between the southern climatic region of the Russian Plain and the northern one is due to the stable power of anticyclones, which causes a lesser influence of the Atlantic masses on the climate, a sharper increase in the continentality of the climate in the west-east direction and constant transformational dynamics occurring here between the air masses of temperate latitudes and marine tropical masses, which the plains practically do not penetrate into the northern region and have no significant effect on the climate.

Marine tropical masses, invading the territory of the southern part of the Russian plain in the winter season, causing periods of sharp warming to positive temperatures with a large amount of precipitation.

In summer, their arrival is also marked by an increase in humidity and precipitation, however, their transformation occurs very quickly, the influence of a high level of solar radiation is great, therefore, for the south of the Russian plain, an alternation of short rainy episodes with squally winds and thunderstorms with rather long hot dry periods is typical. Average annual rainfall is estimated to be low.

Irregular precipitation in summer is a problem of agricultural activities here, despite the warm climate and flat relief, the fields need to find ways of irrigation in case of drought.

Average temperatures in the selected area: January - from -10 0 С in the north to - 5 0 С in the south, July - from + 18 0 С in the north to + 24 0 С in the south.

Climatic features of the nature of the Russian Plain

Within the arctic, subarctic and temperate climatic zones of the northern climatic region of the Russian Plain, typical natural complexes of tundra, forest-tundra, taiga and mixed forests successively replace each other.

The tundra is formed under conditions of low average annual temperatures and high humidity with a large amount of precipitation; it stretches from the coast of the Barents Sea to the Polar Urals.

The forest-tundra, which replaces the tundra, passes into the so-called forest zone of the Russian plain. It was formed in a warm and humid climate and is conditionally subdivided into subzones: taiga and mixed forests The taiga zone of the Russian Plain, formed in a milder and humid temperate climate, differs significantly from the natural zone of the same name located east of the Ural ridge: flora and fauna of the European taiga is much more diverse and has more similarities with the zone of mixed forests, into which it directly passes, than with the taiga of the West Siberian type, with its peculiar, nowhere else repeating biogeocenosis.

The forest-steppe zone was also formed under conditions of warmth and sufficient moisture, as evidenced by the abundance of moraine lakes here, which are the remnants of the once-gigantic Valdai glacier that melted.

The steppe zone, located in the southern part of the plain, is characterized by a more pronounced continental climate, especially in summer, however, sudden warming in winter and short-term cooling in summer with a large amount of precipitation influenced its formation. There are less droughts here, the flora and fauna are much richer in comparison with the Asian regions.

Thus, on the territory of the Russian Plain, it is possible to conditionally distinguish the arctic and temperate climatic zones and five climatic natural zones within them.

The climate is one of the most important physical and geographical characteristics of the territory. Climate is a long-term weather regime characteristic of a particular locality on Earth. In this case, the multiyear regime is understood as the totality of all weather conditions in a given area over a period of several tens of years; typical annual change of these conditions and possible deviations from it in individual years; combinations of weather characteristic of its various anomalies (droughts, rainy periods, cold snaps, etc.).

The climate of the East European Plain is influenced by its position in temperate and high latitudes, as well as the connection of the territory (Western Europe and North Asia) and the water area (Atlantic and Arctic Oceans) (Appendix 4).

The Russian Plain is located in temperate and high latitudes, where seasonal differences in the arrival of solar radiation are especially large. The distribution of radiation across the plain varies dramatically with the seasons. In winter, radiation is much less than in summer, and more than 60% of it is reflected by the snow cover. The radiation balance in winter, with the exception of the extreme southern regions, is negative. It falls in the direction from southwest to northeast and depends mainly on the amount of cloud cover. In summer, the radiation balance is positive everywhere. It reaches its highest value in July in the south of Ukraine, in the Crimea and the Azov region. The total solar radiation increases from north to south from 66 to 130 kcal / cm 2 per year. In January, the total solar radiation at the latitude Kaliningrad-Moscow-Perm is 50, and the Ciscaucasia and the southeast of the Caspian lowland are about 150 MJ / m2.

All year round, the western transport of air masses dominates over the East European Plain, and the Atlantic air of temperate latitudes brings coolness and precipitation in summer, and warm and precipitation in winter. When moving to the east, it transforms: in summer it becomes warmer and drier in the surface layer, and colder in winter, but it also loses moisture. During the cold season, from 8 to 12 cyclones come from different parts of the Atlantic to the East European Plain. When they move to the east or northeast, a sharp change in air masses occurs, contributing to either warming or cooling. With the arrival of southwestern cyclones (Atlantic-Mediterranean), and there are up to six of them in a season, warm air of subtropical latitudes invades the south of the plain. Then in January the air temperature can rise to + 5 ° - 7 ° C and, of course, thaws come.

With the arrival of cyclones from the North Atlantic and Southwestern Arctic on the Russian Plain, the invasion of cold air is associated. Anticyclones are often repeated in the southeast of the plain, due to the influence of the Asian High.

In the warm period of the year, from April, cyclonic activity proceeds 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 the cool sea air of temperate latitudes often comes to these areas from the Atlantic. It lowers the temperature, but at the same time heats up from the underlying surface and is additionally saturated with moisture due to evaporation from the moistened surface.

Cyclones contribute to the transfer of cold air, sometimes arctic, from the north to more southerly latitudes and cause a cold snap and sometimes frost in the soil.

The distribution of precipitation over the territory of the Russian Plain is primarily dependent on circulation factors. Cyclonic activity is observed mainly in the west, in the Barents Sea region. On the mainland, atmospheric pressure is distributed in such a way that arctic and Atlantic air flows into the plain, which is associated with large clouds and significant precipitation. The western transport of air masses prevailing here is enhanced by the frequent recurrence of cyclones of the Arctic and polar fronts. Especially often cyclones move from west to east between 55-60 ° N. sh. (Baltic, Valdai, upper reaches of the Dnieper). This strip is the most humid part of the Russian Plain: the annual precipitation here reaches 600-700 mm. in the west and 500-600 mm in the east.

Winter cyclonic precipitation forms a snow cover with a height of 60-70 cm, which lays up to 220 days a year, to the southwest the duration of snow cover is reduced to 3-4 months a year, and its average long-term height is reduced to 10-20 cm. As we move into the interior of the continent, cyclonic activity and the associated western transport in the south of the East European Plain weaken. Instead, the frequency of anticyclones increases. Under the conditions of stable anticyclones, the processes of transformation of air masses intensify, as a result of which the humid western air is rapidly transformed into continental air. Due to this, atmospheric precipitation in the southern part of the plain falls out 500-300 mm per year and their amount rapidly decreases in the southeast direction to 200 mm. and sometimes less. The snow cover is thin and lies for a short time: 2-3 months in the southwest. The relief influences the increase in annual precipitation. For example, in the Donetsk ridge, 450 mm falls. precipitation, and in the surrounding steppe - 400 mm. The difference in the annual amount of precipitation between the Volga Upland and the low-lying Trans-Volga region is about 100 mm. In the southern half of the plain, maximum precipitation occurs in June, and in the middle lane, in July. The southern half is characterized by the lowest and the northern half by the highest relative humidity. Moisture index in the north of the territory is more than 0.60, and in the south is 0.10.

Almost precipitation falls out of all air masses, but most of it is associated with the Atlantic air of temperate latitudes. To the southwest, tropical air brings a lot of moisture. Precipitation is mainly due to the circulation of air masses on the Arctic and polar fronts, and only 10% of them are produced by intramass processes in the summer.

The degree of moistening of the territory is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture. It is expressed in various quantities:

• a) moisture coefficient. On the East European Plain, it reaches a value from 0.55 (Crimean plain) to 1.33 and more (in the Pechora Lowland);
• b) dryness index - from 3 (in the deserts of the Caspian lowland) to 0.45 (in the tundra of the Pechora lowland);
• c) the 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 zone of transitional moisture from the headwaters of the Dniester, Don and the mouth of the Kama, the amount of precipitation is approximately equal to the evaporation rate, and the further south from this strip, the more and more evaporation exceeds precipitation (from 100 to 700 mm), i.e., insufficient moisture occurs.

Differences in the climate of the East European Plain affect the nature of vegetation and the presence of a fairly clearly pronounced soil-vegetation zoning.

B.P. Alisov, taking into account the radiation balance and atmospheric circulation (transfer of air masses, their transformation, cyclonic activity), distinguishes three climatic regions in the European part:

• 1) the northern Atlantic-Arctic;
• 2) the middle Atlantic-continental region;
• 3) southern continental region.

For centuries, the Russian plain served as a territory connecting the western and eastern civilizations by trade routes. Historically, two lively trade arteries have run through these lands. The first is known as “the way from the Varangians to the Greeks”. According to it, as is known from school history, medieval trade in goods of the peoples of the East and Russia with the states of Western Europe was carried out.

The second was the route along the Volga, which made it possible to transport goods by ships to southern Europe from China, India and Central Asia and in the opposite direction. The first Russian cities were built along the trade routes - Kiev, Smolensk, Rostov. Veliky Novgorod became the northern gateway of the route from the Varangians, protecting the safety of trade.

Now the Russian Plain is still a territory of strategic importance. The capital of the country and the largest cities are located on its lands. The most important administrative centers for the life of the state are concentrated here.

Geographical location of the plain

The East European Plain, or Russian, occupies territories in the east of Europe. In Russia, these are the extreme western lands. In the northwest and west, it is bounded by the Scandinavian Mountains, the Barents and White Seas, the Baltic coast and the Vistula River. In the east and southeast, it is adjacent to the Ural Mountains and the Caucasus. In the south, the plain is bounded by the shores of the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas.

Features of the relief and landscape

The East European Plain is represented by a flat-to-plain relief formed as a result of faults in tectonic rocks. On the basis of relief features, the massif can be divided into three bands: central, southern and northern. The center of the plain consists of extensive highlands and lowlands alternating between themselves. The north and south are mostly lowlands with rare low elevations.

Although the relief is formed in a tectonic manner and minor tremors are possible on the territory, there are no tangible earthquakes here.

Natural areas and regions

(The plain has planes with characteristic smooth gradients)

The East European Plain includes all natural zones found on the territory of Russia:

• Tundra and forest-tundra are represented by the nature of the north of the Kola Peninsula and occupy a small part of the territory, slightly expanding to the east. The vegetation of the tundra, namely, shrubs, mosses and lichens, is replaced by birch forests of the forest-tundra.
• The taiga, with its pine and spruce forests, occupies the north and center of the plain. On the borders with mixed deciduous forests, the places are often swampy. A typical Eastern European landscape - coniferous and mixed forests and swamps are replaced by small rivers and lakes.
• In the forest-steppe zone, you can see alternating hills and lowlands. This zone is characterized by oak and ash forests. You can often find birch-aspen forests.
• The steppe is represented by valleys, where oak forests and groves, forests of alder and elm grow near the banks of rivers, and tulips and sage bloom in the fields.
• On the Caspian lowland, there are semi-deserts and deserts, where the climate is harsh and the soil is saline, but even there you can find vegetation in the form of various varieties of cacti, wormwood and plants that adapt well to a sharp change in daily temperatures.

Rivers and lakes plains

(River on the flat terrain of the Ryazan region)

The rivers of the "Russian Valley" are majestic and slowly carry their waters in one of two directions - to the north or south, to the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, or to the southern inland seas of the mainland. The rivers of the northern direction flow into the Barents, White or Baltic seas. Rivers of the southern direction - to the Black, Azov or Caspian seas. The largest river in Europe, the Volga, also “flows lazily” through the lands of the East European Plain.

The Russian plain is the kingdom of natural water in all its manifestations. The glacier, which passed through the plain thousands of years ago, formed many lakes on its territory. There are especially many of them in Karelia. The consequences of the presence of the glacier were the emergence in the North-West of such large lakes as Ladoga, Onega, Pskov-Peipsi reservoir.

Under the layer of earth in the localization of the Russian Plain, reserves of artesian water are stored in the amount of three underground basins of huge volumes and many located at a shallower depth.

Climate of the East European Plain

(Flat terrain with slight drops near Pskov)

The Atlantic dictates the weather regime on the Russian Plain. Westerly winds, air masses that move moisture, make summer on the plain warm and humid, winter cold and windy. In the cold season, winds from the Atlantic bring about ten cyclones, contributing to changeable heat and cold. But the air masses from the Arctic Ocean also tend to the plain.

Therefore, the climate becomes continental only in the interior of the massif, closer to the south and southeast. The East European Plain has two climatic zones - subarctic and temperate, increasing continentality to the east.