Natural areas of North America: features characteristics
Natural areas of North America stretch alongmeridians, therefore on each section of the continent has the opportunity to develop a certain industry. The deeper the natural zone is, the more it stretches along the meridian. The fact is that the features of the relief lead to changes in the ratio of heat and moisture not only from north to south, but also from west to east.
The natural areas of North America, located inthe Greenland area and the Canadian archipelago, are called arctic deserts. As the climatic conditions here are very severe, this has contributed to a very meager representation of the plant and animal world. In those areas that are not occupied by ice, you can see only mosses and lichens. Almost the whole animal world lives in the ocean.
In the extreme north of the mainland there is a zonetundra. Since there is always high humidity, the area has become swamped. Almost the whole territory is covered with mosses and lichens. As for trees, dwarf birch and alder do not reach a height of more than 5 cm.
The farther to the south, the natural areas of the NorthAmerica is more like a forest tundra. It is considered a transitional stage and is characterized by the alternation of forest and tundra patches. It is also characterized by the presence of thickets of alder and willow. Only in the area of rivers begin to appear spruce and larch.
The natural zone of coniferous forests is stillsouth. Here you can see a severe and long winter, and summer is short and warm. As for the moisture content of the soil and air, since the territory is characterized by a low level of evaporation, the humidity is excessive here.
The natural zones of North America are characterized by intermediate phases. So, between coniferous and deciduous forests is the territory of mixed forests.
And already on the territory of Appalachia is the zonebroadleaf forests, which is characterized by a diversity of tree species. As for animals, there are a lot of deer, porcupines, baribalu bears, as well as opossums, which are the only representatives of the marsupials on the whole continent.
As for the flat territory of the continent,here is a forest-steppe zone. Its eastern part is called a prairie, because it has a higher degree of moistening. Today this territory is completely plowed, because it is characterized by equality of soil, favorable climatic conditions and good black earth.
North America, whose natural areasare clearly defined by their territorial affiliation, characterized by the presence of a steppe zone in the central part of the continent. A lot of heat comes in here, but it is not filled with enough moisture.
As for the eastern part of the subtropicalbelts, here there are mixed forests, represented by numerous coniferous species, dwarf palms and shrubby species of evergreen oak.
If we talk about the Pacific coast, hereHardwood shrubs and forests dominate. The soils here are chestnut, and on them grows a lot of such rare species of evergreen oak, which were known even before the ice age.
Natural areas of America, occupying peninsulasFlorida and California, are called subtropical and tropical. Zones here alternate each other meridionally. The inner part of the areas is completely occupied by savannas and woodlands. As for the Atlantic lowland, it is abundantly moistened with trade winds, because there is a very large number of tropical forests.
In the Cordilleras, the altitude zonation is especially bright.
