The Russian Federation occupies a vast territory. Thanks to its impressive area, the country's relief is very diverse. The rivers, plains and mountains of Russia make up a unique natural system that reflects the entire identity of the Eurasian continent.
Plains of Russia
Plains are areas of land with a flat or hilly surface, in which fluctuations in elevation will be very small. The main feature of all plains is their relatively flat relief. But in fact, it is more diverse: in some places the sections of the plains are really flat, in others they are hilly.
On the physical map, plains are indicated by green colors of varying degrees of saturation. So, the lighter the green color, the higher the flat area is located above sea level. Dark green indicates lowlands.
Rice. 1. Plains on the physical map.
Plains prevail in Russia: they occupy about 70% of the country's territory. There are three largest plains in the Russian Federation:
- East European or Russian Plain ... Located to the west of the Ural Mountains and occupies more than 4 million square meters. km. Its surface does not differ in ideally flat relief, since it consists of lowlands, hills and hilly areas. Such plains are called hilly.
- West Siberian Plain ... It is located east of the Ural Mountains and occupies 2.5 million square meters. km. It is one of the lowest plains in the world. Its distinctive feature is an almost perfectly flat surface. Such plains are called flat. Only occasionally are there small hills, not exceeding 300 m in height.
- Central Siberian plateau ... It is located to the east of the West Siberian Plain and occupies about 3 million square meters. km. The Plateau is a flat land area that lies high above sea level. The plateau has much in common with the mountainous terrain, but only the mountains have their peaks cut off.
Rice. 2. Central Siberian plateau
Mountains of Russia
On the territory of Russia, the mountains are located in the southern and eastern parts. The mountains were formed in distant times: hundreds of thousands of years ago, when there were active displacements of the earth's crust.
Mountains are young and old. Young mountains continue to "grow" upward. They are usually very tall with sharp peaks. They often contain active volcanoes. The ancient mountains are relatively low, gentle, which for many years have been experiencing the destructive effects of wind and melt water.
In Russia, there are both young and old mountains:
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- Ural mountains ... Some of the most ancient, formed more than 300 million years ago. Stretching from north to south throughout the country, they divide the European part of Russia from the Asian one. The height of the Ural Mountains is very modest: their highest point is Mount Narodnaya (1895 m). They are very rich in minerals, among which precious stones and gems are of particular value.
- ... These are the highest and youngest mountains. Formed about 25 million years ago. They are divided into two mountain systems: the Lesser and Greater Caucasus. The highest point is Mount Elbrus (5642 m). Almost all the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains are covered with eternal snow, which attracts climbers and alpine skiing enthusiasts.
Rice. 3. Caucasus Mountains.
- Altai and Sayan Mountains ... Young and high mountains formed in the south of Siberia. The highest peak of the Altai Mountains is Belukha Peak (4506 m). They have a unique ecosystem and are listed as a World Natural Heritage Site.
- Mountains of Kamchatka ... These are young mountains, among which there are more than 140 volcanoes, among which 28 are active. The highest and at the same time active volcano in Kamchatka is Klyuchevaya Sopka (4750 m).
