Landform of the West Siberian Plain. Physical Geography - Western Siberia (West Siberian Plain)
Geographical location of the West Siberian Plain
Note 1
The West Siberian Plain is a vast plain that makes up almost 80% of the territory of Western Siberia. Its total area is almost $2 million km²$. It is limited in the west by the Ural Mountains, and in the east by the Yenisei Valley. The northern coast of the plain is washed by the waters of the seas of the Arctic Ocean. The Kazakh small hills are considered the southern border.
From north to south the plain extends for almost $2000$ km. Most of it is located in temperate latitudes. But the northern outskirts are located beyond the Arctic Circle. The general slope of the relief determines the predominant influence of the Arctic Ocean on the formation of the climate and nature of the plain. Due to its remoteness and protection from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, continental air masses dominate over the territory of the West Siberian Plain.
History of the formation of the plain
For a long time, the territory of modern Western Siberia was the bottom of an ancient paleoocean. Therefore, the crystalline foundation of the platform is covered with a thick layer of sedimentary rocks. Due to the large thickness of the foundation and difficult local conditions (swampy areas and harsh climate), the tectonic structure has not yet been fully studied.
Some scientists believe that the plate is based not on one lithospheric block, but on several geoblocks separated by deep tectonic faults.
Even in the Mesozoic, the territory of the plain was covered with seas. At the beginning of the Cenozoic, the sea retreated. But during the Ice Age, the northern territories of the plain were covered by continental glaciation. Therefore, after the ice melted, a significant area of the plain was covered with moraine deposits. Since the West Siberian Plain was flooded by the sea for a long time, its surface has an almost flat topography.
Tectonic structures of Western Siberia
The following tectonic structures are distinguished on the territory of the West Siberian Plain:
- Yamalo-Gydan syneclise;
- Nadym-Tazovskaya syneclise;;
- Khantei anteclise;
- Ket-Vakh anteclise;
- Khantymansi syneclise;
- Chulym syneclise;
- Messoyakha megaswell;
- Pursky Trench;
- Khudoseisky gutter;
- Koltogorsk-Urengoy rift zone.
Features of the tectonic structure include the fact that between the cover of sedimentary rocks and the pre-Paleozoic crystalline foundation of the West Siberian plate lies a transitional layer of Triassic and Jurassic rocks. Geologists believe that its formation is associated with movements of the foundation. As a result of these movements, a unique intracontinental rift zone was formed. It has graben-like depressions in which sedimentary and volcanogenic coal-bearing horizons of considerable thickness (up to $5$ km) accumulated. But further development of the rift zone did not spread. Therefore, a new ocean did not form.
The influence of tectonics on relief and minerals
Note 2
Thanks to the peculiarities of the geological history of the formation of the West Siberian Plain, an almost flat relief was formed over a vast territory. The processes of accumulation of thick loose deposits predominate. Accumulative processes contribute to the leveling of the epihercynian basement.
The insignificant amplitude of tectonic movements was the reason for the low-lying hypsometric status of the plain. The total elevation difference does not exceed $150 $ m. On the territory of the plain, areas with low and high relief are distinguished. Due to the structure of the foundation, there is a general decrease in relief from south to north. The West Siberian Plain is characterized by uniform relief
Horizons of fresh, mineralized water were discovered in the sedimentary rocks. There are hot springs. The main wealth of the region is oil and gas deposits.
The West Siberian Lowland covers an area of about 3 million square kilometers. It covers 1/7 of the entire territory of Russia. The width of the plain varies. In the northern part it is about 800 km, and in the southern part it reaches 1900 km.
Regions
The West Siberian Lowland is considered the most densely populated part of Siberia. On its territory there are several large regions, such as Omsk, Tyumen and Kurgan, as well as Novosibirsk and Tomsk. The greatest development of the lowland is observed in its southern part.
Climatic conditions
The climate in the lowlands is predominantly continental and quite harsh. Due to the large extent of the West Siberian Plain from north to south, there are significant differences in the climate of the southern part from the northern part. The proximity of the Arctic Ocean plays a big role in the formation of weather conditions, as well as the fact that on the plain there are no obstacles to the movement of air masses from north to south and their mixing.
In the cold season, an area of high pressure appears over the southern part of the lowland, while in the north it decreases. Cyclones form at the boundary of air masses. Because of this, in regions located on the coast, the weather in winter is very unstable. can reach 40 meters per second. Winter throughout the entire territory of such a plain as the West Siberian Lowland is characterized by stable subzero temperatures, the minimum can reach -52 o C. Spring comes late and is cold and dry, warming occurs only in May.
In the warm season the situation is reversed. Pressure increases over the Arctic Ocean, causing northerly winds to blow throughout the summer. But they are quite weak. The hottest time within the boundaries of the plain, called the West Siberian Lowland, is considered to be July. During this period, in its northern part the maximum temperature reaches 21 o C, and in the southern part - 40 o C. Such high levels in the south are quite explainable by the fact that the border with Kazakhstan and Central Asia passes here. This is where the heated air masses come from.
The West Siberian Lowland, whose height varies from 140 to 250 m, is characterized by winters with little precipitation. At this time of year, only about 5-20 millimeters falls. The same cannot be said about the warm season, when 70% of annual precipitation falls on the ground.
Permafrost is widespread in the northern part of the lowland. The ground freezes to a depth of 600 meters.
Rivers
So, compare the West Siberian Lowland and the Central Siberian Plateau. A fairly strong difference is that the plateau is cut by a huge number of rivers. There are practically no wetlands here. However, there are also a lot of rivers on the plain. There are about 2 thousand of them. All of them together contribute up to 1,200 cubic kilometers of water to the Kara Sea every year. That's an amazing amount. After all, one cubic kilometer contains 1,000,000,000,000 (trillion) liters. Most rivers in Western Siberia are fed by meltwater or precipitation that falls in summer. Most of the water drains during the warm season. When a thaw occurs, the level in the rivers can rise by more than 15 meters, and in winter they are frozen. Therefore, during the cold period, the flow is only 10%.
The rivers of this part of Siberia are characterized by slow currents. This is due to the flat terrain and slight slopes. For example, the Ob River drops only 90 m over 3 thousand km. Because of this, its flow speed does not exceed half a meter per second.
Lakes
There are even more lakes in these parts than rivers. And many times more. There are about a million of them. But almost all of them are small in size. A special feature of the local lakes is that many of them are filled with salt water. They also overflow very heavily in the spring. But over the summer they can significantly decrease in size, and by autumn they can disappear completely. Over the last period, thanks to precipitation, the lakes fill with water again, freeze in winter, and the cycle repeats. This happens not with all reservoirs, but with the so-called “fog” lakes, which occupy the territory of this lowland - the West Siberian Plain. It is also characterized by another type of lake. They occupy natural uneven terrain, various pits and depressions.
Swamps
Another feature of Western Siberia is that it breaks all records for the number of swamps. It was within the boundaries of this lowland that the floods, which are considered one of the largest in the entire globe, spilled. Increased waterlogging is explained by the high content of peat in the ground. The substance is capable of holding a lot of water, which is why “dead” areas appear. The area itself also contributes to the formation of swamps. A plain without drops does not allow water to drain, and it remains in an almost motionless state, eroding and softening the soil.
Natural areas
Due to the fact that Western Siberia is strongly stretched from north to south, transitions are observed in it. They change from tundra in the north to deserts and semi-deserts in the south. Part of the lowland is occupied by the tundra zone, which is explained by the general northern position of the entire territory of the plain. To the south, the tundra gradually turns into forest-tundra, and then into the forest-swamp zone. The latter occupies 60% of the entire territory of Western Siberia.
There is a rather sharp transition to the steppe regions. The most common trees here are birch and aspen. In addition to them, there is also a plowed steppe zone that occupies the extreme southern position in the plain. The West Siberian Lowland, the geographical location of which is directly related to the distribution of zones, also creates favorable conditions for pine forests located on low sandy spits.
The region is rich in fauna. For example, about 99 species of mammals live here. Among them are fur-bearing animals such as arctic foxes, weasel and sable. There are large predators - bears and lynxes. There are also many birds living in this area. Peregrine falcons, hawks and golden eagles are found in the reserves. There are also birds listed in the Red Book. For example, a black stork or a white-tailed eagle.
Mineral Resources
Compare the geographical location of the West Siberian Lowland with any other, and it will become clear that about 70% of oil production is concentrated in the described plain. The plain is also rich in coal deposits. The total area of land rich in these resources is estimated at 2 million square meters. km. The timber industry is also well developed. The greatest advantage is given to coal mining in Kuzbass.
Central Siberian Plateau
Compared to the West Siberian Lowland, the Central Siberian Plateau is not swampy due to the fact that it is located on a hill. However, there is a denser river system that is also fed by rain and melting snow. Permafrost is widespread everywhere. The climate on the plateau is sharply continental, which is why, as in the West Siberian Lowland, there are large temperature differences in winter. The average in the north reaches -44 o C, and in the south -22 o C. This is also typical for the summer period. There is less variety of animals, but bears, reindeer and hares are also found. The plateau is also rich in oil and gas deposits. To this are added various ores and
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1. West Siberian Lowland
2.
The West Siberian Lowland is the third largest
largest plain on our planet after
Amazonian and Russian. Its area is about 2.6
millions
square
kilometers.
Length
West Siberian
lowlands from north to south (from the coast
Kara Sea to the mountains of Southern Siberia and
semi-deserts of Kazakhstan) is about 2.5
thousand kilometers, and from west to east (from
The West Siberian Plain is the most
the inhabited and developed (especially in the south) part of the Urals to the Yenisei) - 1.9 thousand kilometers.
Siberia. Within its boundaries are located
Tyumen, Kurgan, Omsk, Novosibirsk
and Tomsk region, eastern regions
Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions,
a significant part of the Altai Territory, western
regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory as well as northern and
northeastern regions of Kazakhstan
3.
The surface of the West Siberian Lowland is flat with quite
slight elevation difference. However, the relief of the plain is quite
diverse. The lowest areas of the plain (50-100 m) are located
mainly in the central and northern parts. Along the western, southern and
On the eastern outskirts there are low (up to 200-250 m) hills.
A clearly defined strip of hills is formed in the inner part
Siberian Uvaly plains (average height - 140-150 m), extending from the west
from the Ob to the east to the Yenisei, and the Vasyugan Plain parallel to them.
The foundation of the West Siberian plate is covered with a cover of loose marine and
continental rocks (clays, sandstones) with a total thickness of over 1000 m (in
foundation depressions up to 3000-4000 m).
There are industrial oil and natural gas fields (West Siberian
oil and gas basin). In the area of Khanty-Mansiysk, Krasnoselsky,
Salym and Surgut regions, in the layers of the Bazhenov formation at a depth of 2 km
Russia has the largest shale oil reserves.
4.
The climate of Western Siberia is continental and quite harsh.
4 main reasons shaped the climatic conditions of the territory:
1 reason - the amount of solar radiation received by the territory;
Reason 2 - the distance from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans determined
continentality
3rd reason – the flatness of the territory, allowing penetration
air masses from the north and south;
4th reason - mountains that fenced off Western Siberia from the Atlantic and
Central Asian air masses.
The north has a climate with cold, windy winters and cool summers, with
moving from north to south, the continental climate increases.
This is expressed in an increase in temperature, a decrease in the amount
precipitation, shortening the duration of the transition seasons of the year, due to
low temperatures here are excessive, but in the southern part they are sufficient
moisture and in combination with low altitudes of the territory and weak
drainage leads to severe swampiness - almost up to 70%.
The average January temperature decreases from -15(C in the southwest to -30(C)
in the northeast of Western Siberia. Average temperature in July
increases from +5(C in the north to +20(C) in the south.
5.
On the territory of the West Siberian Lowland
More than 2000 rivers flow through it. Their total length is about 250 thousand
kilometers. The largest are the Ob, Yenisei and
Irtysh. Not only are they navigable, but also
are used to produce energy. They feed in
mainly due to melt water and rain (in summer-autumn
period). There are also a large number of lakes here.
In the southern regions they are filled with salt water. The West Siberian Lowland holds the world record for
number of swamps per unit area (area
wetland area of about 800 thousand square
kilometers). The reasons for this phenomenon are
the following factors: excess moisture, flat
relief, permafrost and peat capacity,
available here in large quantities, keep
significant mass of water.
6.
7.
Natural zones of the West Siberian Plain
Due to the large extent of the West Siberian Lowland with
north to south and the uniformity of the relief in its aisles is present
five natural zones: tundra, forest-tundra, forest, forest-steppe and
steppe. In all zones, fairly large areas are occupied by lakes and
swamps. Broad-leaved and coniferous-deciduous forests here
are absent, and the forest-steppe zone is quite insignificant.
The tundra zone occupies a large area, which is explained by the northern
position of the West Siberian Plain.
Located further south
forest-tundra zone. As mentioned above, the forests in this area
mostly conifers.
The forest-swamp zone occupies about 60% of the territory of the West Siberian Lowland. The strip of coniferous forests is followed by a narrow zone
small-leaved (mainly birch) forests. Forest-steppe zone
is formed in conditions of flat-flat relief. Lying here on
at shallow depths, groundwater is the cause of large
number of swamps. In the extreme southern part of West Siberian
lowlands there is a steppe zone, which for the most part
plowed
8.
Ancient glaciation greatly influenced the flora and fauna
Western Siberia. When the glacier retreated, the north of the plain was conquered
tundra and taiga, although previously there were broad-leaved forests, in
inhabited by mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and giant deer. By
the remains of tree trunks in the swamps indicate that the forest boundary
was located several hundred kilometers further north than at present
time.
The lowest diversity in all zonal areas of Western
The plants of Siberia are different. On average, the flora of Western Siberia is poorer
compared to adjacent regions by about 1.5 times, especially large
gap for taiga and tundra zones. Higher relative
The fauna of Western Siberia is characterized by diversity. Yes, at four
There are 80 main orders of mammals in Western Siberia
species. The bird fauna is most diverse, the main
Some of the species in Western Siberia are migratory. In general
number of bird species in Western Siberia in any zonal area
is not significantly inferior to adjacent regions, and in terms of waterfowl and
semi-aquatic is superior to them.
9.
The fauna of the plain is presented as
forest and steppe species. Here
there are elk, roe deer, wolves, etc.
Representatives of the world also meet
birds (ptarmigan, gull). In Northern Kazakhstan and forests
There were brown bears in Kostanay. Now they
no, apparently they went to safer places
habitats. Rarely in recent years
There are moose and Siberian roe deer.
The reason for this is poaching. IN
local rivers and lakes have released muskrats,
brought from America. Gradually she
is taking root. Favorable natural
conditions allow large animals to live here
number of birds. In the wide open spaces
swans and geese are found in reservoirs.
10.
A lot of minerals are found in the West Siberian Plain.
The Sokolovsko-Sarbaiskoye and Kacharskoye deposits produce
iron ore. A mining and processing plant operates in the city of Rudny
plant In the Ayatskoye and Lisakovskoye deposits, large
nickel and coal reserves. Chromite deposits were explored,
bauxite, cobalt. There are many building materials available.
11.
— Western Siberia is one of the largest
lowland plains of the globe.
— Rich in a variety of natural resources.
— The climate is continental, quite harsh.
— Rich in rivers, lakes, swamps.
— The zonality of its nature is clearly expressed - from
tundra to steppes.
12.
Thanks for
attention!
West Siberian Lowland
English РусскийRules
Features of Western Siberia
The West Siberian Lowland, or plain, is the third largest plain in the world after the Russian. Its area is about 2.6 million km2. From the harsh coast of the Kara Sea it stretches to the foothills of the mountains of Southern Siberia and the semi-deserts of Kazakhstan for 2500 km, and from the Urals to the Yenisei - for 1900 km.
The boundaries of the plain are clearly defined natural boundaries: in the north - the coastline of the Kara Sea, in the south - the foothills of the Kazakh hills, Altai, Salair and Kuznetsk Alatau, in the west - the eastern foothills of the Urals, in the east - the valley of the Yenisei River.
The huge West Siberian Lowland, almost completely covered by a mantle of anthropogenic sediments, is a young epihercynian (epipaleozoic) plate. This is the most significant oil and gas basin in Russia.
In the west, the boundaries of the plate are outcrops of Paleozoic rocks along the eastern slope of the Urals and Pai-Khoi, and further to the north along the coastline of the Vaygach and Novaya Zemlya islands.
In the southwest, in the Turgai trough, the border with the Turan plate located to the south is conventionally drawn along the watershed of the Ubagan and Turgai rivers. The southern and southeastern boundaries are determined by Paleozoic outcrops in the Kazakh and Altai-Sayan regions.
The eastern boundary of the plate is drawn along the river valley. Yenisei, along the outcrops of pre-Paleozoic and Paleozoic rocks. In the lower reaches of the river. The Yenisei border is completely arbitrary; it is usually carried out in an arc from the village. Dudinka to the outcrops of Paleozoic rocks at the western end of Taimyr. Within the Kara Sea, the northern boundary of the plate has not yet been precisely established.
There are three structural levels in the structure of the West Siberian plate: geosynclinal, intermediate and platform. In relation to the Meso-Cenozoic platform cover, the first two are usually considered as the foundation.
Nowhere in the world can one find such a huge space with such a flat topography, seemingly sloping towards its center. Crossing the plain, you see vast planes - not a hillock, not a ridge. This relief was formed by loose river sediments and ancient glacial sediments, which covered the Paleozoic plate with a thick sedimentary cover (3-4 thousand m). Horizontal layering of sedimentary layers is the main reason for the flat topography of the plain.
The relief of the West Siberian Plain was also affected by glaciation. But the glacier here did not cross 60 degrees. northern latitude.
In the south of the plain, during floods of rivers covered in ice in the north, lake and river sediments - sands and loams - were deposited over colossal areas.
Glaciation affected not only the relief, but also the flora and fauna of the West Siberian Plain. When the glacier retreated, the north of the plain was conquered by tundra and taiga, although previously there were broad-leaved forests inhabited by mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and giant deer. Based on the remains of trunks in the swamps, it can be judged that the forest boundary was located several hundred kilometers further north than at present.
The continental climate in the vast West Siberian Plain increases as you move from north to south. This is expressed in an increase in the annual temperature range, a decrease in precipitation, and a shortening of the duration of spring and autumn - the transition seasons of the year.
At the junction of temperate air masses with tropical ones, cyclones arise that bring rain. At the beginning of summer, this front acts in the south - the steppe zone receives moisture (about 300 mm per year). In July, hot air dominates the entire south of the plains, and cyclones move north, bringing precipitation to the taiga zone (500 mm per year). In August, the front reaches the tundra, where up to 250 mm falls per year.
In winter, cyclones of the Arctic front operate at the junction of temperate and arctic air masses. This softens the frosts in the north, but due to high humidity and strong winds, the harshness of the climate here manifests itself even with less frost. The West Siberian Plain is rich in rivers, lakes, and swamps, the distribution of which across the territory clearly shows a dependence on the topography and the zonal ratio of heat and moisture.
The largest river of the West Siberian Plain is the Ob with its tributary Irtysh. This is one of the greatest rivers in the world. In Russia, it ranks first in length (5410 km) and basin area (2990 thousand km 2).
In addition to the Ob and Irtysh, among the large rivers of the region one can name navigable ones: Nadym, Pur, Taz, and Tobol.
Among the numerous lakes, filling glacial lake basins predominate. In terms of the number of swamps, the West Siberian Plain is also a world record holder: nowhere else in the world is there such a wetland area with an area of 800 thousand km 2 as here. A classic example of swampiness is the Vasyugan region, a geographical area lying between the Ob and Irtysh rivers. There are several reasons for the formation of such vast wetland areas: the presence of excess moisture, flat topography, permafrost, low air temperatures, and the ability of peat, which predominates here, to retain water in quantities many times greater than the weight of the peat mass. The climate of Western Siberia is more continental and harsher than in the east of the European part of Russia, but milder than in the rest of Siberia. The large extent of the plain from north to south allows several latitudinal zones to fit here - from the tundra in the north to the steppes in the south.
The enormous size of the West Siberian Plain and its flat topography make it possible to trace the latitudinal-zonal changes in natural landscapes especially well. The main distinguishing feature of the tundra is the severity of the climate. Adapting to harsh conditions, tundra plants prepare wintering buds in the fall. Thanks to this, in the spring they quickly become covered with leaves and flowers, and then bear fruit. There is a lot of different plant food in the tundra, so many herbivorous birds nest here.
The forest-tundra is the first zone, moving south, where a summer thermal regime is observed for at least 20 days a year, when average daily temperatures exceed 15? C. Here the tundra alternates with sparse and rather low trees. More than half of the territory of Western Siberia is occupied by forest and swamp zones. The interfluve spaces are dominated by swamps, and the slopes of river valleys and elevated areas (groves) are occupied by taiga forests. In the northern part of the plain spruce and cedar forests dominate, in the southern part - spruce and cedar forests with an admixture of fir and birch. To the south of the taiga there is a zone of deciduous forests, which in Western Siberia stretches in a narrow strip from the Ural Mountains to the Yenisei River.
The West Siberian forest-steppe stretches in a narrow strip from the Urals to the foothills of the Salair Ridge. The abundance of lake basins is a feature of this zone. The shores of the lakes are low, partly swampy or overgrown with pine forests. In the Kulda pine forests they live together with steppe species, field pipits, jerboas, and taiga species - flying squirrel, capercaillie.
This zone is characterized by large fertile soils on which good crops of grains and vegetables can be grown.
The natural resources of the West Siberian Plain are very diverse. Oil and gas reserves in such fields as Urengoy, Medvezhye, and Surgut place Western Siberia among the world leaders. Its territory also contains 60% of Russia's total peat reserves. In the south of the plain there are rich salt deposits. The great wealth of Western Siberia is its water resources. In addition to surface water - rivers and lakes - huge reservoirs of groundwater have been found. The biological resources of the tundra and forest-tundra - this seemingly not rich in life zone - are of great economic importance. It produces a significant amount of fur and game, and there is a lot of fish in its rivers and lakes. In addition, the tundra is the main breeding area for reindeer. The taiga of Western Siberia has long been famous for its fur and timber production.
Brown coal deposits are associated with ancient sedimentary rocks of Triassic and Jurassic age, the total thickness of which is more than 800-1000 m. In the Tyumen region, its reserves are estimated at 8 billion tons.
However, the main wealth of Western Siberia is oil and gas deposits. It has been established that this plain is a uniquely rich oil and gas province of the Earth.
To date, more than 350 oil, gas and gas condensate fields have been explored. For the last 3 decades, Western Siberia has held the lead in oil and natural gas production in Russia.
Searches in the depths of Western Siberia for “black gold” and “blue fuel” made it possible to discover large reserves of iron ore in the north of the Novosibirsk region. But these vast and varied riches are not so easy to master. Nature protected the oil and gas fields of the region from humans with thick swamps and frozen soils. It is extremely difficult to build in such soil conditions. In winter people severe frosts, high air humidity, and strong winds interfere. In the summer, there are numerous blood-sucking creatures - midges and mosquitoes, tormenting people and animals.
Map of Western Siberia
General information about Western Siberia
Time in Western Siberia: in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Tyumen Region, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra time is 2 hours ahead of Moscow. In the Omsk region, Tomsk region, Novosibirsk region and the Altai Republic, time is 3 hours ahead of Moscow. In the Kemerovo region, time is 4 hours ahead of Moscow.
Western Siberia is a region of Russia, stretching 2,500 km from the Arctic Ocean to the highlands of the Kazakh hills and 1,900 km from the Ural Mountains to the Yenisei. About 80% of the area of Western Siberia is located within the West Siberian Plain, which gradually rises in the southeast and gives way to the foothills of Altai, Salair, Kuznetsk Alatau and Mountain Shoria.
Western Siberia includes: Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Tyumen Region, Omsk Region, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, Tomsk Region, Novosibirsk Region, Kemerovo Region, Altai Territory, Altai Republic.
Languages spoken in Western Siberia: Russian, Altai, Kazakh.
Territory Western Siberia: 3,561,165 km².
Borders Western Siberia: With Kazakhstan, With China, With Mongolia, with the Kurgan region, with the Sverdlovsk region, with the Komi Republic, with the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, with the Krasnoyarsk Territory, with the Republic of Khakassia, with the Republic of Tuva.
Largest cities Western Siberia: Tobolsk, Tyumen, Omsk, Nefteyugansk, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Berdsk, Kemerovo, Prokopyevsk, Novokuznetsk, Barnaul, Biysk, Rubtsovsk.
Highest mountain peaks Western Siberia: G.
Sinyukha (1,210 m), Verkhniy Zub (2,176 m), Aktru (4,075 m),
Argamdzhi (3,511 m), Belukha (4,506 m), Kolji Khan (1,992 m), Maashey-bash (4,173 m), Muzdy-Bulak (3,050 m), . Sarlyk (2,506 m), Payer (1,499 m), Harnaurdy-Keu (1,246 m).
Largest lakes Western Siberia: Saltaim, Tenis, Ik, Chany, Teletskoye, Aya.
Largest rivers Western Siberia: Ob, Ishim, Irtysh, Tobol, Katun.
International airports Western Siberia: Barnaul (Barnaul), Kemerovo (Kemerovo), Kogalym (Kogalym), Nizhnevartovsk (Nizhnevartovsk), Tolmachevo (Novosibirsk), Omsk-Central (Omsk), Surgut (Surgut), Bogashevo (Tomsk), Roshchino (Tyumen), Khanty- Mansiysk (Khanty-Mansiysk),
Population Western Siberia: 14.2 million people (Russians - 75%, Altaians - 5%, Ukrainians - 3%, Tatars - 3%, Nenets - 2%, Kazakhs - 0.6%, Bashkirs - 0.4%, Azerbaijanis - 0.3%, others - 10 .7%).
Population density Western Siberia: 8.68 people/km².
Religion Western Siberia: Christians - 73%, Muslims - 17%, Catholics - 9%, others - 1%.
GDP per capita in Western Siberia: RUR 770,700
Population below the poverty line V Western Siberia:15 %.
Unemployment V Western Siberia: 5 %.
Literacy rate V Western Siberia: 99%.
There are two great plains in Eurasia. The one located in the east stretches from the mountains of Southern Siberia to the eternal ice of the Kara Sea, from the Yenisei to the Urals. The vast and incredible riches of nature are the West Siberian Plain.
Borders and area
Western Siberia is an incredibly vast territory. From the Arctic Ocean it stretches for 2.5 thousand kilometers to the steppes of Kazakhstan, from the Urals to the Yenisei it stretches for 1.5 thousand kilometers. Almost 80% of all of Siberia is located on a plain consisting of two flat, bowl-shaped depressions and full of wetlands. These depressions are separated from each other by the Siberian Ridges, raised to 175-200 meters. In the southeast, the height of the West Siberian Plain gradually increases, and the foothills of Salair, Mountain Shoria, Altai and Kuznetsk Alatau appear. The area of this great plain is more than 2.4 million square kilometers.
Geological development
The western part of the Siberian Plain was formed in the Precambrian. Gradually evolving during the Paleozoic, folded structures formed along the edges of the platform. Docked with other parts of the mainland, they formed a single region. However, such a “patchwork” origin gives reason to interpret the nature of the slab in two ways. Quite often, given the facts, it is called heterogeneous, but at the same time, keeping in mind that most of the plain was formed in the Paleozoic, it is considered epipaleozoic. And then, keeping in mind the main role of the Hercynian folding, the plate is called epi-Hercynian.
Simultaneously with the formation of the foundation, from the Paleozoic to the Early Jurassic, the cover of the future plain was created. The formation of the cover was completely completed by the Meso-Cenozoic. This not only blocked the border zones of folded structures, but also, thus, significantly increased the territory of the plate.
Geographic zoning
The West Siberian Plain includes five zones: tundra, forest-tundra, steppe, forest-steppe and forest. In addition, it includes mountainous and low-mountain areas. Probably in no other place is it possible to trace such a correct manifestation of zonal natural phenomena as here.
Tundra occupies the north of the Tyumen region, occupying Yamal and the Gydan Peninsula. Its area is 160 thousand square kilometers. The tundra is completely covered with moss and lichen, interspersed with hypnum-grass, lichen-sphagnum and coarse bog landscapes.
Forest-tundra runs from the tundra to the south in an almost flat strip of 100-150 kilometers. As a kind of transitional area from tundra to taiga, it looks like a mosaic of swamps, shrubs and woodlands. In the north of the zone, crooked larches grow, located in river valleys.
Forest zone occupies a strip of about a thousand kilometers. This strip includes the north and middle of Tyumen, the Tomsk region, the north of the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions. The forest is divided into northern, southern and middle taiga and birch-aspen forests. Most of it is occupied by wood with dark needles - Siberian fir, spruce and cedar.
Forest-steppe located next to deciduous forests. The main representatives of the zone are meadows, swamps, salt marshes and small areas of forests. The forest-steppe is rich in birch and aspen.
Steppe covered the south of the Omsk region, the west of Altai and the southwest of the Novosibirsk region. The zone is represented by ribbon pine forests.
The rather significant height of the West Siberian Plain in mountainous areas makes it possible to develop altitudinal zones. The main place here is given to forests. In addition, there is black taiga, characteristic of the mountains of Siberia. Among this taiga lies the “linden island” - a forest area of 150 square kilometers. Most scientists consider this site to be tertiary vegetation.
Geology and orography
In places where the West Siberian Plain is located, the basis is considered to be the West Siberian Plate. This plate is based on the Paleozoic foundation, which is currently located at a depth of about 7 kilometers. The most ancient rocks come to the surface only in mountainous areas and are hidden in other places by sedimentary rocks. The West Siberian Plain is a fairly young subducting platform. The magnitude and rate of subsidence of different areas vary greatly, therefore the thickness of the cover of loose sediments is also very diverse.
The nature, quantity and extent of icing in ancient times are still not really clear. It is still generally accepted that north of 60 degrees the entire part of the plain was occupied by glaciers. It is the small number of glaciers that explains the fact that their melting did not leave large moraine accumulations.
Natural resources
Since the cover of the plate is formed by sedimentary rocks, one cannot expect a large number of fossils here. There are only exogenous deposits - the so-called sedimentary fossils. Among them you can see oil in the south of the plain, gas in the north, coal, peat, iron ore, and evaporites.
Climate
The West Siberian Plain, whose geographical location provides it with such an opportunity, has very interesting climatic characteristics. The fact is that the plain is located almost at the same distance from both the Atlantic and the center of continentality of Eurasia. In most of the plain the climate is temperate continental. Western Siberia, thanks to its northern openness, receives a large amount of Arctic masses, bringing cold in winter and preventing summer from fully manifesting itself. Thus, the January temperature from south to north ranges from -15 to -30 degrees, while the July temperature ranges from +5 to +20. The greatest temperature difference - 45 degrees - is observed in the northeast of Siberia.
Causes of climate severity
This rather harsh climate has formed for several reasons.
The West Siberian Plain is located for the most part in temperate latitudes, which causes a rather small amount of solar radiation that enters the territory.
The considerable distance from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans made it possible to develop a continental climate.
The flat topography of the West Siberian Plain allows large amounts of Arctic air to travel further south than in other regions, while allowing warm currents from Central Asia and Kazakhstan to reach deep to the north.
Mountains that fenced off the plain from the west from the air currents of the Atlantic and from the southeast from Central Asia.
Relief
The West Siberian Plain has long been considered a “model” low-lying plain. The reason for this is the fact that on almost the entire surface its absolute height is below 200 meters. Above this there are only small areas. For quite a long time, on maps the entire plain was painted in a uniform color that did not take into account these small rises in altitude. However, upon closer study, it became clear that orography is not so simple. Plains with a height of more than 100 meters stand out very clearly.
Biodiversity
The West Siberian Plain is in climatic conditions that contribute to the formation of too little diversity for such large areas. The poverty of choice of higher plants is especially noticeable. On average, the flora in this region is almost 1.5 times poorer compared to neighboring regions. This difference is especially noticeable in the taiga and tundra zones. The nature of Western Siberia is the most diverse for the region.
The reason for such limited flora is the same glaciation, which turned out to be devastating for the region. In addition, mountain refugia that could feed the migration flow are located at a sufficient distance.
Animal world
Despite the considerable extent of the West Siberian Plain, the fauna here also cannot boast of diversity. The only exception can be considered Western Siberia, whose territory is home to a fairly large number of different animals. For example, more than 80 species of mammals from four major orders have been identified in this area. Of this set, 13 species are common to Eastern Siberia, 16 are common to the European part of Russia, and 51 are common to the entire territory of Eurasia. There are no unique animals that live only where the West Siberian Plain is located.
Inland waters
Rivers The West Siberian Plain primarily belongs to the Kara Sea basin. All of them are mostly fed by melting snow, thus belonging to the West Siberian type of intra-annual flow. The flood in this type is more extended in time, but the water flow during this period is practically indistinguishable from the rest of the time. The reason for this is the natural regulation of flow. Accordingly, the runoff in the summer is replenished with water from floodplains and swamps, in which flood water was “saved.” In winter, the only method left to saturate the water is the ground method, which almost catastrophically reduces the oxygen content in the water. For this reason, fish living in rivers are forced to accumulate in pools, which is why they are almost constantly in a state of half-asleep.
Groundwater The region is part of the West Siberian hydrogeological basin. The characteristics of these waters fully correspond to their zonal distribution. Considering the direction of the West Siberian Plain, it becomes clear that most of these waters are almost on the surface, while remaining very cold. However, when moving south, it becomes clear that the depth of the waters, their temperature, and mineral saturation increase. The water in the south is saturated with calcium, sulfate, and chlorides. In the very south there are so many of these compounds in the water that its taste becomes salty and bitter.
Swamps given the existing low-lying terrain, they are one of the main components of the water masses of the plain. Their area and degree of swampiness are very large. Some researchers believe that the swamps of the region are aggressive, not only remaining in their original form, but also gradually growing, capturing more and more new territories. Currently, this process is irreversible.
Administrative division
The West Siberian Plain, the geographical location of which suggests a fairly diverse administrative use, hosts many regions and territories. So, these are Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Omsk, Kemerovo regions. This also partially includes the Sverdlovsk, Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions. In addition, parts of the Krasnoyarsk and Altai territories are located on the plain. The largest city is Novosibirsk, it has about 1.5 million inhabitants. The city is located on the Ob River.
Economic use
In Western Siberia, the most developed industries are the mining and forestry industries. Today, this territory supplies more than 70% of all oil and natural gas produced in our country. Coal - more than 30% of all-Russian production. And approximately 20% of the wood that our country harvests.
In Western Siberia today there is a huge oil and gas production complex. The largest deposits of natural gas and oil are found in sedimentary rocks. The area of land rich in these minerals is more than two million square kilometers. Until the 60s, the landscapes of Siberia were almost untouched by industry, but now they are dotted with pipelines, power lines, drilling sites, roads, spoiled by oil spills, killed by smoke, blackened by soaked forests, which arose as a result of the use of outdated technologies in transportation and production fossils.
Do not forget that this region, like no other, is rich in rivers, swamps and lakes. This increases the speed of spread of chemical pollution that enters the Ob from small sources. Then the river carries them out to sea, bringing death and destroying entire ecosystems, even those far removed from the mining complex.
In addition, the plains of the Kuznetsk mountain region are rich in coal deposits. Mining in this region accounts for about 40% of our country’s total coal reserves. The largest coal mining centers are Prokopyevsk and Leninsk-Kuznetsky.
Thus, the West Siberian Plain is not only a refuge for many species of plants and animals, but also plays a huge role in the economic and industrial life of our country. Without huge reserves of natural resources, which are the source of production of products necessary for human life, people simply would not be able to live in such a harsh and not very suitable climate.
The West Siberian Plain (it won’t be difficult to find it on a world map) is one of the largest in Eurasia. It stretches for 2500 km from the harsh shores of the Arctic Ocean to the semi-desert territories of Kazakhstan and for 1500 km - from the Ural Mountains to the mighty Yenisei. This entire area consists of two cup-shaped flat depressions and many wetlands. Between these depressions stretch the Siberian Ridges, which rise 180-200 meters.
The West Siberian Plain is a rather interesting and fascinating point that deserves detailed consideration. This natural object is located almost at the same distance between the Atlantic and the continental center of the mainland. About 2.5 million sq. km covers the area of this huge plain. This distance is very impressive.
Climatic conditions
The geographical position of the West Siberian Plain on the mainland causes interesting climatic conditions. Therefore, the weather in most of the plain is temperate continental. Large Arctic masses enter this territory from the north, bringing with them intense cold in winter, and in summer the thermometer shows from + 5 °C to + 20 °C. In January, on the southern and northern sides the temperature can vary from -15 °C to -30 °C. The lowest winter indicator was recorded in the northeast of Siberia - down to -45 °C.
Humidity on the plain also spreads gradually from south to north. With the beginning of summer, most of it falls on the steppe zone. In mid-summer, in July, the heat takes over the entire south of the plain, and the humid front moves to the north, thunderstorms and showers sweep over the taiga. At the end of August, the rains reach the tundra zone.
Water streams
When describing the geographical location of the West Siberian Plain, it is necessary to talk about the water system. A huge number of rivers flow through this territory, and there are also numerous lakes and swamps. The largest and deepest river is the Ob with its tributary Irtysh. It is not only the largest in the region, but also one of the greatest in the world. In terms of its area and length, the Ob dominates among the rivers of Russia. The Pur, Nadym, Tobol and Taz water streams suitable for navigation also flow here.
The plain holds the world record for the number of swamps. Such a vast territory cannot be found on the globe. The swamps cover an area of 800 thousand square meters. km. There are several reasons for their formation: excess moisture, flat surface of the plain, a large amount of peat, and low air temperature.
Minerals
This region is rich in mineral resources. This is largely influenced by the geographical location of the West Siberian Plain. Oil and gas deposits are concentrated here in huge quantities. Its vast wetland areas contain a large reserve of peat - approximately 60% of the total amount in Russia. There are iron ore deposits. Siberia is also rich in its hot waters, which contain salts of carbonates, chlorides, bromine and iodine.
Animal and plant worlds
The climate of the plain is such that the flora here is quite poor compared to neighboring regions. This is especially noticeable in the taiga and tundra zones. The reason for such poverty of plants is long-term glaciation, which does not allow plants to spread.
The fauna of the plain is also not very rich, despite the enormous extent of the territories. The geographical position of the West Siberian Plain is such that it is almost impossible to meet interesting individuals here. There are no unique animals living only in this territory. All species that live here are common to other regions, both neighboring and the entire continent of Eurasia.
