Type of the West Siberian Plain. Western Siberia: a brief physical and geographical overview
- Using the maps of the textbook or atlas, determine which large natural regions Western Siberia borders on, what surface forms prevail here.
West Siberian Plain- the third largest after the Russian plain of the world. 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 - up to 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 Ridge and Kuznetsk Alatau, in the west - the eastern foothills of the Urals, in the east - the valley of the river. Yenisei.
Based on the map of the textbook, determine which geometric figure the outlines of the West Siberian valley resemble. In what part of the plain is the extent from west to east the smallest, in which - the greatest?
Nowhere else in the world can one find such a huge space with such a flat relief, as if descending towards its center. Crossing the plain in a train from Tyumen to Novosibirsk, you see boundless planes - no hillock, no ridge. Such a relief was formed by loose deposits of rivers and ancient glacial sediments, which covered the Paleozoic plate with a thick sedimentary cover (3-4 thousand m). The horizontal layering of sedimentary layers is the main reason for the flat topography of the plain.
But tell Figure 111 about the main stages in the development of the territory of the West Siberian Plain.
It affected the relief of the West Siberian Plain and glaciation. But the glacier here did not cross 60°N. sh.
In the south of the plain, during the floods of rivers, dammed in the north by ice, lacustrine and river sediments - sands and loams - were deposited in colossal spaces.
Rice. 111. Structure of the West Siberian plate
Glaciation affected not only the relief, but also the flora and fauna of the West Siberian Plain. When the glacier receded, the north of the plain was conquered by tundra and taiga, although before there were broad-leaved forests inhabited by mammoths, woolly rhinos, and giant deer. According to the remains of trunks in the swamps, it can be judged that the forest boundary was located several hundred kilometers to the north than at present.
Reasons for the severity of the climate. The climate of the West Siberian Plain is continental and rather severe. Four main reasons shaped it.
First- the position mainly in temperate latitudes determined the small amount of solar radiation received by the territory.
Using the maps of the textbook and the atlas, determine how much solar radiation the northern, middle, and southern parts of the West Siberian Plain receive, what are the average January and July temperatures typical for these territories.
Second- remoteness from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans determined the continentality of the climate.
Third- the flatness of the territory, which allows cold masses of Arctic air to freely penetrate far to the south from the "ice bag" - the Kara Sea, and warm air masses from Kazakhstan and Central Asia - far to the north.
Fourth- Mountains along the periphery, fenced off the West Siberian Plain from the Atlantic air masses from the west and Central Asian from the southeast.
The continentality of the climate in the expanses of the West Siberian Plain increases when moving from north to south. This is expressed in an increase in the annual temperature amplitude, a decrease in the amount of precipitation, and a reduction in the duration of spring and autumn - the transitional seasons of the year.
How is precipitation distributed in the West Siberian Plain? Explain why.
At the junction of the air masses of the temperate zone with tropical cyclones arise, bringing 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 plain, and cyclones move north, bringing precipitation to the taiga zone (up to 500 mm per year). In August, the front reaches the tundra, where up to 250 mm falls annually.
In winter, cyclones of the Arctic front act at the junction of moderate 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 is also manifested at lower frosts.
Abundance of surface waters. The West Siberian Plain is rich in rivers, lakes, swamps, the distribution of which throughout the territory clearly shows dependence on the relief and on the zonal ratio of heat and moisture.
Read the table carefully and explain it.
The largest river in the West Siberian Plain is the Ob with its tributary the Irtysh. This is one of the greatest rivers in the world. In Russia, it ranks first in length and basin area.
In addition to the Ob and Irtysh, the Nadym, Pur, Taz, and Tobol can be named among the major rivers of the region.
Among the numerous lakes, filling glacial lake basins and located on the site of former oxbow lakes predominate. In terms of the number of swamps, the West Siberian Plain is also a world record holder: nowhere in the world is there such a swampy area of 800 thousand km2 as here. Vasyuganye, a geographical area lying between the Ob and Irtysh rivers, can serve as a classic example of swampiness. There are several reasons for the formation of such vast swampy areas: the presence of excessive moisture, flat relief, permafrost, low air temperatures, the ability of peat, which prevails here, to retain water in quantities many times greater than the weight of the peat mass.
Natural zones of the West Siberian Plain. 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 length 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.
On the map, determine which of the natural zones occupies the largest area in the West Siberian Ravpipe. What changes in the composition of natural zones occur here compared to the Russian Plain?
Rice. 112. Ob River
The vast size of the West Siberian Plain and the flat relief make it especially good to trace the latitudinal changes in natural landscapes. The main distinguishing feature of the tundra is the severity of the climate. Adapting to harsh conditions, tundra plants prepare wintering buds from autumn. Thanks to this, in the spring they are rapidly covered with leaves and flowers, and then bear fruit. In the tundra there are many different plant foods, so many herbivorous birds nest here.
forest tundra- the first zone when moving south, where at least 20 days a year there is a summer thermal regime, when the average daily temperatures exceed 15 ° C. Here the tundra alternates with crooked forests and low forests.
Rice. 113. Swamp in the taiga
Taiga forest swamp zone- the most extensive of the natural zones of the plain (its area is 1.5 million km 2). In the taiga - the kingdom of spruce-fir, larch-cedar-pine forests with lichens and shrubs. The northern part is dominated by larch-cedar and pine forests. In the middle part of the zone dominated by taiga of pine, cedar, spruce and fir. Aspen and birch forests are widespread at the site of forest fires.
The southern part of the taiga is birch-aspen small-leaved forests. The animal world of the taigig is rich in it, and there are "Europeans", such as mink and pine marten, and "East Siberians", such as sable. The chipmunk, the squirrel, the badger and the owner of the taiga, the bear, live in the taiga. Birds feed on the seeds of forest trees and shrubs - capercaillie, hazel grouse, woodpeckers, turtle doves. The fauna of the taiga river valleys is the most diverse. Here you can meet a white hare, a mole, a wolf and a fox. The oxbows and lakes of the taiga abound with various species of ducks and waders. Common cranes, snipe and great snipe nest in swamps. The most typical swampy areas of the taiga on the flat interfluves of the Ob and Irtysh are called urmans. After fires in the taiga, aspen and birch forests appear in place of dark coniferous species.
Rice. 114. Change of plant communities in the taiga after the fire
The taiga of Western Siberia is formed by spruce and cedar, larch and fir, pine and aspen-birch forests.
The fauna of the West Siberian taiga has many common species with the European taiga. Everywhere in the taiga live: brown bear, lynx, wolverine, squirrel, ermine.
In the secondary osiyaovo-birch forests, typical inhabitants are elk, white hare, ermine, Siberian weasel. American mink has been released in many places in the West Siberian taiga. There are few songbirds in the taiga, so they often talk about the silence of the taiga. Only along the banks of the rivers you can meet the finch, long-tailed bullfinch, waxwing, red-throated nightingale. Geese, ducks, waders nest in water bodies, and ptarmigans nest in moss swamps.
Deciduous forest subzone in Western Siberia it 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 Kulunda pine forests live along with steppe species - oatmeal, field pipit, jerboa - taiga species: flying squirrel, capercaillie.
In the forest-steppe and steppe zones on fertile soils, good crops of grain and vegetables can be grown.
The picturesque landscapes of the south of the plain - birch groves, elevated areas - manes and lakes - are potential recreational resources of the territory.
manes- these are sandy ridges from 3 to 10 m high, less often up to 30 m, covered with pine forests. They bring great diversity to the treeless flat landscapes of the south of Western Siberia. In some places, the ridged terrain is full of lakes, which makes the area even more attractive.
Rice. 115. The structure of the crests of Western Siberia
kolki- these are groves of birches and aspens, turning green, like oases, among the lack of water of the surrounding steppe plains. These are quiet, poetic corners, full of shade and freshness, bright colors and birdsong.
The landscape appearance of the forest steppe is created by various combinations of birch, aspen-birch, less often birch-aspen groves with meadows in the north of the zone and with grassy steppe in the south. Fertile southern chernozems and dark chestnut soils predominate. There are many solonchaks and solonetzes formed in conditions of insufficient moisture.
Questions and tasks
- On the contour map, write the names of all large natural geographical objects of the West Siberian Plain, determine the geographical latitude of the extreme northern and southern points of the region.
- Compare the geographical position of the West Siberian and Russian plains and determine the features of their similarities and differences.
- What is the reason for the peculiarity of the relief of the West Siberian Plain?
- What is the reason for the strong swamping of the plain?
The material contains brief information that characterizes the West Siberian Plain. It touches upon issues that are relevant to the difficult environmental situation in the region. Indicates ways to solve environmental problems. Supplements knowledge from the geography course for grade 8.
West Siberian Plain
The lowland is a single physical-geographical territorial unit, which consists of two flat bowl-shaped depressions. Between these depressions there are hills elongated in a latitudinal direction, which are referred to as Siberian ridges. They are of fairly average height.
Almost everywhere the lowland has clearly defined natural boundaries. At the western end, the territory is cut off by the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, from the north by the Kara Sea, the eastern limit is defined by the valley of the Yenisei River and the cliffs of the Central Siberian Plateau. Only the southern natural boundaries of the territory are not so clearly defined.
Major cities located in this area:
- Novosibirsk,
- Omsk,
- Krasnoyarsk,
- Barnaul,
- Novokuznetsk,
- Vladivostok,
- Khabarovsk,
- Tomsk,
- Surgut,
- Chelyabinsk,
- Yekaterinburg,
- Salekhard,
- Nizhnevartovsk,
- Gorno-Altaisk.
The maximum height of the mountain system of the Urals corresponds to the mountain peak Narodnaya. Its height is 1895 meters.
Rice. 1. Mount Narodnaya.
Slightly rising, the flat plane passes into the adjoining uplands of the Turgai plateau and the Kazakh hills.
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The age of the West Siberian Plain is determined in the time interval from 25 to 30 million years. The territory is relatively young and the process of its formation has not yet been completed.
To answer the question which seas of the West Siberian Plain touch its shores, it is enough to imagine that from the northern outskirts the territory is washed by the waters of the Kara Sea, and its southern part goes to Kazakhstan. The West Siberian Plain covers an area of about 2.25 million square kilometers. and its length from north to south is 2500 km, and from east to west 1500 km. The flat landscape is explained by the alignment of the complex foundation of the folded platform, which is surrounded by a mighty cover of sediments of the Meso-Cenozoic period.
The types of relief-forming morphostructures include:
- hills;
- plateau;
- uvals.
They have a more dissected relief, which provides better drainage conductivity.
The West Siberian region belongs to the territories that have characteristics typical for territories with a significant accumulation of inland waters. Several thousand rivers flow on the plain. Most of them belong to the Ob basin.
About one million lakes are localized on the flat plane, the water area of which is over 100 thousand km2. sq.
Rice. 2. Lake Chany.
Environmental problems of the West Siberian Plain
In areas where natural resources are extracted, in particular, the oil industry, due to pipeline breaks, inland waters and soils are polluted with oil products. In forestry, there are:
- excessive felling;
- waterlogging;
- increase in the number of silkworms;
- ignition.
The problem of fresh water shortage, as well as secondary soil salinization and destruction of soil structure, is extremely acute.
No less important is the problem associated with the extraction of mineral resources. Human activity negatively affects the ecosystem of many natural objects.
Rice. 3. Abandoned oil field.
In the northern regions, degradation of reindeer pastures due to overgrazing is noted. This factor affects the reduction of biological diversity. The issue of preserving hunting grounds and natural habitats of representatives of the animal world is also considered a problem.
Reserves and natural parks of national importance have been opened for the purpose of researching and protecting characteristic and rare natural landscapes.
Among the largest tundra reserves:
- Gydan Reserve,
- Verkhnetazovsky Reserve,
- Yugansky reserve.
A national park, Priishimskiye Bory, has been created in the taiga zone.
In addition, the natural parks of the tundra: Deer streams; taiga parks: Numto, Siberian Uvaly, Kondinsky lakes; forest-steppe park complex Bird's harbor.
What have we learned?
We found out the approximate age of the territory. We learned what human actions negatively affect the state of the local ecosystem. Find out the extent of the study area. We received information that the largest number of lakes is located on the territory of the plain. We got acquainted with the actions and attempts that are being made by society to preserve the nature of the plain and adjacent territories in its natural form and condition.
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There are two great plains in Eurasia. The one 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 boundless and incredible riches of nature - this is it, 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 extends for 1.5 thousand kilometers. Almost 80% of all Siberia is located on a plain, consisting of two flat depressions in the form of bowls and full of wetlands. These depressions are separated from each other by the Siberian Ridges, raised up to 175-200 meters. In the southeast, the height of the West Siberian Plain gradually rises, the foothills of Salair, Gornaya 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 back in the Precambrian. Gradually evolving during the Paleozoic, folded structures formed along the edges of the platform. Docking with other parts of the mainland, they formed a single area. However, such a "patchwork" origin gives reason to interpret the nature of the plate in two ways. Quite often, given the facts, it is called heterogeneous, but at the same time, bearing in mind that most of the plain was formed in the Paleozoic, it is considered epipaleozoic. And then, bearing in mind the main role of the Hercynian folding, the plate is called epi-Hercynian.
Simultaneously with the formation of the foundation, starting from the Paleozoic and ending with the Early Jurassic, a 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 area 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-mountainous regions. Probably, in no other place it is impossible to trace such a correct manifestation of zonal natural phenomena as here.
Tundra occupies the north of the Tyumen region, which occupied 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 large-hilly marsh landscape.
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 the tundra to the taiga, it looks like a mosaic of swamps, shrubs and light forests. Crooked larches grow in the north of the zone, located in river valleys.
forest zone occupies a strip of about a thousand kilometers. The north and middle of Tyumen, the Tomsk region, the north of the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions fit into this strip. The forest is divided into northern, southern and middle taiga and birch-aspen forests. Most of it is wood with dark needles - Siberian fir, spruce and cedar.
forest-steppe located near 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 the highlands makes it possible to develop altitudinal zonation. The main place here is given to forests. In addition, there is black taiga, which is characteristic of the mountains of Siberia. In the middle of this taiga there is a "linden island" - a forest area of 150 square kilometers. Most scientists consider this site as a tertiary vegetation.
Geology and orography
In places where the West Siberian Plain is located, the West Siberian Plate is considered the basis. This plate is based on the Paleozoic basement, 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 rather young submerging platform. The magnitude and rate of subsidence of different sections vary greatly, and therefore the thickness of the cover of loose deposits is also very diverse.
The nature, quantity and size of icing in antiquity is still not really clear. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that to the 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 plate cover is formed by sedimentary rocks, a large number of fossils cannot be expected 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, evaporites.
Climate
The West Siberian Plain, whose geographical position 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 Eurasian continentality. Most of the plain has a temperate continental climate. Due to its northern openness, Western Siberia receives a large amount of arctic masses, bringing cold in winter and not allowing summer to fully manifest itself. Thus, the January temperature from south to north ranges from -15 to -30 degrees, while in July - from +5 to +20. The largest temperature difference - 45 degrees - is observed in the north-east of Siberia.
Reasons for the severity of the climate
Such a rather harsh climate has formed for several reasons.
The West Siberian Plain is located for the most part in temperate latitudes, which leads to a rather small amount of solar radiation that enters the territory.
Considerable remoteness from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans made it possible to develop a continental climate.
The flat terrain of the West Siberian Plain allows much Arctic air to go further south than in other regions, while allowing warm currents from Central Asia and Kazakhstan to reach deep 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 an "exemplary" lowland 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 a long time on the maps, the entire plain was painted in a uniform color, not taking into account these small rises in height. However, upon closer examination, it became clear that the orography is not so simple. Plains with a height of more than 100 meters are very clearly distinguished.
biodiversity
The West Siberian Plain is in such climatic conditions that contribute to the formation of too little diversity for such large areas. The poor choice of higher plants is especially noticeable. On average, the flora in this region is poorer by almost 1.5 times 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 a limited flora is the same glaciation, which turned out to be devastating for the region. In addition, mountain rephigia, which could feed the migration flow, are at a sufficient distance.
Animal world
Despite the considerable length of the West Siberian Plain, the fauna here also cannot boast of diversity. An exception can only be considered Western Siberia, on the territory of which a fairly large number of different animals live. For example, more than 80 species of mammals from four main orders have been identified in this area. Of this set, 13 species are common with Eastern Siberia, 16 - with the European part of Russia, 51 - common for the entire territory of Eurasia. There are no unique animals that would live only where the West Siberian Plain is located.
Inland waters
Rivers The West Siberian Plain mainly belong to the Kara Sea basin. All of them are mostly fed by melting snow, thus referring to the West Siberian type of intra-annual runoff. High water in this type is more extended in time, but at the same time, the water discharge in this period is practically indistinguishable from the rest of the time. The reason for this is the natural regulation of runoff. Accordingly, the runoff in the summer is replenished with the waters of floodplains and marshes, in which flood water was “saved”. In winter, only the ground method of water saturation remains, which almost catastrophically reduces the oxygen content in the water. For this reason, the fish that live in the rivers are forced to accumulate in the whirlpools, which is why they are almost constantly in a state of drowsiness.
The groundwater The region is part of the West Siberian hydrogeological basin. The characteristics of these waters fully correspond to the zonal distribution. Given 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 saturation with minerals also increase. The water in the south is saturated with calcium, sulfate, chlorides. In the very south, there are so many of these compounds in the water that its taste becomes salty and bitter.
swamps with the existing low-lying relief, they are one of the dominant components of the water masses of the plain. Their area and the 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. This process is currently irreversible.
Administrative division
The West Siberian Plain, whose geographical position implies a rather diverse administrative use, has hosted many regions and territories. So, these are Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Omsk, Kemerovo regions. Partially, this also 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
On the territory of Western Siberia, the most developed industries are the mining and timber industries. Today, this territory supplies more than 70% of all oil and natural gas produced in our country. Coal - more than 30% of the all-Russian production. And about 20% of the wood harvested by our country.
In Western Siberia today there is a huge oil and gas production complex. In the thickness of sedimentary rocks are the largest deposits of natural gas and oil. The area of land rich in these minerals is more than two million square kilometers. Until the 1960s, the landscapes of Siberia were almost untouched by industry, but at present they are dotted with pipelines, power lines, drilling sites, roads, spoiled by oil spills, killed by burning, blackened by soaked forests that 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 rate of spread of chemical pollution that enters the Ob from small sources. Further, the river takes 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 is about 40% of all coal reserves in our country. 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 would simply not be able to live in such a harsh and not very livable climate.
1. Geographic location.
2. Geological structure and relief.
3. Climate.
4. Internal waters.
5. Soil and vegetation cover and fauna.
6. Natural areas.
Geographical position
The boundary of the West Siberian Plain is clearly expressed in the relief. Its boundaries in the West are the Ural Mountains, in the east the Yenisei Ridge and the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north, the plain is washed by the waters of the Kara Sea, the southern edge of the plain enters the territory of Kazakhstan, and the southeast borders on Altai. The area of the plain is about 3 million km2. the length from north to south is almost 2500 km, from west to east 1500-1900 km. The southern part of the plain is the most mastered by man, its nature has been changed to some extent. The northern and central part of the plain began to be developed in the last 30-50 years in connection with the development of oil and gas.
Geological structure and relief
The geological structure of the plain is determined by its position on the Paleozoic West Siberian plate. The foundation of the slab is a huge depression with steep sides. It consists of the Baikal, Caledonian and Hercynian blocks, broken by deep faults. In the north, the foundation lies to a depth of 8-12 km. (Yamalo-Tazovskaya syneclise), in the middle part the depth is 3-4 km. (Sredneobskaya anteclise), to the south, the depth of occurrence decreases. The cover of the plate is represented by Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits of continental and marine origin.
The territory of the West Siberian plate has repeatedly been subjected to transgressions. The glaciation of Western Siberia was repeated many times: Demyanskoe, Samarovskoe, Tazovskoe, Zyryanskoe and Sartanskoe. Glaciers moved from 2 centers: from the Polar Urals and the Putorana plateau. In contrast to the Russian Plain, where meltwater flowed to the south, in Western Siberia, which has a general slope to the north, these waters accumulated at the edge of the glacier, forming near-glacial reservoirs. In areas free of ice, there was a deep freezing of the soil.
The modern relief of the plain is due to the geological structure and the influence of exogenous processes. The main orographic elements correspond to the tectonic structures of the plate, although the accumulation of Meso-Cenozoic strata has leveled the unevenness of the basement. The absolute heights of the plain are 100-150 meters, while within the plains alternating highlands and lowlands. The general slope of the plain is towards the north. Almost the entire northern half of the plain is less than 100 meters high. The marginal parts of the plain are raised up to 200-300 meters. These are the North Sosvinskaya, Verkhnetazovskaya, Lower Yenisei uplands, the Ob plateau, the Ishim and Kulunda plains. The Siberian Ridges are distinctly expressed in the middle part of the plain, extending from the Urals to the Yenisei near 63˚N, their average height is 100-150 meters. The lowest areas (50-100 m) are located in the northern parts of Western Siberia. These are Nizhneobskaya, Nadymskaya, Purskaya, Tazovskaya, Kondinskaya, Sredneobskaya lowlands. Western Siberia is characterized by: marine accumulative plains (on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas), glacial and water-glacial plains with moraine hills, ridges, etc. (central part of Western Siberia), alluvial lacustrine plains (valleys of large rivers), denudation plains (southern part of Western Siberia).
Climate
The climate of Western Siberia is continental, arctic and subarctic in the north and temperate in the rest of the territory. It is more severe than on the Russian Plain, but softer than in Eastern Siberia. Continentality increases towards the southeast of the plain. The radiation balance is from 15 to 40 kcal/cm2 per year. At the same time, in comparison with the Russian Plain, Western Siberia receives somewhat more solar radiation, due to the lower frequency of cyclones. The western transfer persists, but the influence of the Atlantic is noticeably weakened here. The flatness of the territory promotes deep meridional air exchange. In winter, the climate is formed under the influence of the spur of the Asian High, which stretches along the south of the plain and depression of low pressure over the northern peninsulas. This contributes to the removal of cold continental air from the Asian High to the plain. Winds are dominated by southerly directions. In general, January isotherms are submeridian, from -18˚-20˚С in the west to almost -30˚С in the Yenisei valley. The absolute minimum of Western Siberia is -55˚С. Snowstorms are typical in winter. During the cold period, 20-30% of precipitation falls. Snow cover is established in the north in September, in the south - in November and lasts from 9 months in the north to 5 months in the south. The thickness of the snow cover in the forest zone is 50-60 cm, in the tundra and steppe 40-30 cm. In summer over Western Siberia, the pressure gradually decreases to the southeast. Winds prevail in a northerly direction. At the same time, the role of western transfer is enhanced. July isotherms take latitudinal directions. In the north of Yamal, the average July temperature is +4˚С, near the Arctic Circle +14˚С, in the south of the plain +22˚С. Absolute maximum +45˚С (extreme south). The warm period accounts for 70-80% of precipitation, especially in July-August. Droughts are possible in the south. The largest amount of precipitation per year (550-600 mm) falls in the middle reaches of the Ob from the Urals to the Yenisei. To the north and south, the amount of precipitation decreases to 350 mm. The climate of Western Siberia contributes in many respects to the maintenance of permafrost. The northern and central parts of Siberia (more than 80% of its area) have a moisture coefficient greater than 1 (excessive moisture). Such conditions lead to the development of swamping of the territory. In the south, the coefficient is less than 1 (insufficient moisture).
Inland waters
Western Siberia is characterized by a huge accumulation of inland waters. Several thousand rivers flow on the plain, most of which belong to the Ob basin and, accordingly, the Kara Sea. Few rivers (Taz, Pur, Nadym, etc.) flow directly into the Kara Sea. In the south of the plain there are areas of internal (closed) runoff. All rivers of Western Siberia are characterized by small slopes, with a predominance of lateral erosion. The food of the rivers is mixed, with a predominance of snow, in addition, there is rain and swamp-soil. High water runs from April in the south to June in the north. The rise of water reaches a maximum of 12 meters on the Ob, and 18 meters on the Yenisei. A protracted flood is characteristic, despite the “friendly” spring. The rise is fast, but the fall is very slow. Freeze lasts up to 5 months in the south and up to 8 months in the north. Ice jams are typical. The largest rivers are the Ob and Yenisei. The length of the Ob from the source of the Irtysh is 5410 km, and the basin area is 3 million km2. If we consider the Ob from the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers, then its length is 3650 km. In terms of water content, the Ob is second only to the Yenisei and the Lena. The Ob flows into the Ob Bay (estuary). The largest tributary is the Irtysh, and its tributaries are the Ishim, Tobol, Konda. The Ob also has tributaries - Chulym, Ket, Vasyugan, etc. The Yenisei is the most abundant river in Russia, its length is 4092 km, the basin area is 2.5 million km2. Only a small left-bank part of the basin lies on the territory of Western Siberia. There are about 1 million lakes on the plain. The lake content varies from 1% in the south to 3% in the north. In the Surgut Lowland it reaches 20%. In the south, the lakes are brackish. The largest lake is Chany. It is dry and salty. The maximum depth is 10 m. Swamps occupy about 30% of the territory of Western Siberia. In some places in the forest zone, swampiness reaches 80% (forested swamp zone). The development of swamps is facilitated by: flat relief, poor drainage, excessive moisture, prolonged floods and permafrost. The swamps are rich in peat. According to hydrogeological conditions, the plain is the West Siberian artesian basin.
Land cover and fauna
Soils are arranged as follows from north to south: tundra-gley, podzolic, sod-podzolic, chernozem and chestnut. At the same time, large areas due to waterlogging are occupied by semi-hydromorphic soils. Therefore, most soils, in contrast to their analogues on the Russian Plain, have signs of gleying. Solonetzes and solods are found in the south. The vegetation of Western Siberia is to some extent similar to the vegetation of the Russian Plain, but there are differences that are associated with the wide distribution of swamps, the severity of the climate and the peculiarities of the flora. Along with spruce and pine forests, fir, cedar and larch forests are widespread. In the forest-tundra, larch dominates, and not spruce, as on the Russian Plain. Small-leaved forests here are not only secondary, but also indigenous. Mixed forests here are represented by pine-birch. Large areas in Western Siberia are occupied by floodplain vegetation (more than 4% of the plain area), as well as swamp vegetation. The animal world has many similarities with the Russian Plain. In Western Siberia, there are about 500 species of vertebrates, including 80 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 7 species of amphibians and about 60 species of fish. A certain zonality is observed in the distribution of animals, but along the ribbon forests along the rivers, forest animals penetrate far to the north and south, and inhabitants of polar water bodies are found on the lakes of the steppe zone.
natural areas
Natural areas on the plain extend latitudinally. Zoning is pronounced. Zones and subzones change gradually from north to south: tundra, forest-tundra, forests (forest-bogs), forest-steppe, steppe. Unlike the Russian Plain, there is no zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests, a zone of semi-deserts and deserts. The tundra stretches from the coast of the Kara Sea and almost to the Arctic Circle. The length from north to south is 500-600 km. The polar day and night last here for almost three months. Winter from October to mid-May. The average temperature is from -20˚C in the west to -30˚C in the east. Characterized by winds and blizzards. The snow cover lies for about 9 months. Summer lasts not much more than one month. The average August temperature is +5˚C, +10˚C (but sometimes the air can warm up to +25˚C). Precipitation per year is 200-300 mm, but most of it is in the warm period. Permafrost is ubiquitous, so the tundra is characterized by solifluction processes, thermokarst, polygons, peat mounds, etc. Lots of swamps and lakes. The soils are tundra-gley. The flora is not rich, only about 300 species of higher plants. Vegetation is especially scarce on the coast of the sea, where lichen arctic tundra from cladonia, etc. and lichens grow dwarf birch, willow, alder; in some places on the southern slopes and river valleys - buttercups, lights, crowberry, polar poppy, etc. Reindeer, wolves, arctic foxes, lemmings, voles, white partridges, snowy owls live in summer, many marsh and waterfowl (waders, sandpipers, ducks, geese, etc.).
The forest tundra stretches in a relatively narrow strip (50-200 km), expanding from the Urals to the Yenisei. It lies along the Arctic Circle and descends further south than on the Russian Plain. The climate is subarctic and more continental than in the tundra. And although the winter here is somewhat shorter, it is more severe. The average temperature in January is -25-30˚C, the absolute minimum is up to -60˚C. Summers are warmer and longer than in the tundra. The average July temperature is +12˚C+14˚C. Permafrost is everywhere. Therefore, again, the permafrost relief prevails, and erosion processes are limited. The zone is crossed by many rivers. The soils are gley-podzolic and permafrost-taiga. To the tundra vegetation here are added sparse forests of larch (their height is 6-8 meters). Dwarf birch is widespread, there are many swamps, and floodplain meadows in river valleys. The fauna is richer than in the tundra, along with representatives of the tundra fauna, there are also inhabitants of the taiga.
Forests (taiga) occupy the largest area of Western Siberia. The length of this zone from north to south is 1100-1200 km, almost from the Arctic Circle to 56˚N. on South. Here, there is an almost equal ratio of forests on the podzolic soils of the taiga and peat-bog soils of sphagnum bogs. Therefore, the taiga of Western Siberia is often called the forest-bog zone. The climate is temperate continental. Continentality increases from west to east. The average January temperature varies from -18˚C in the southwest to -28˚C in the northeast. In winter, anticyclonic weather prevails. Cyclones often pass through the north of the taiga zone. The thickness of the snow cover is 60-100 cm. The summer is relatively long, the growing season is from 3 months. in the north up to 5 months. on South. The average July temperature is from +14˚C in the north to +19˚C in the south. More than half of all precipitation falls in summer. The moisture coefficient is greater than 1 everywhere. Permafrost is widespread in the north of the zone. Lots of swamps and rivers. Bogs of various types, but ridge-hollow peat bogs predominate, there are ridge-lake and swamp bogs. The swamps are confined to the lowest places with stagnant moisture. On the hills, ridges of interfluves, on the terraces of river valleys, coniferous forests of spruce, fir, and cedar grow. In some places there are pine, larch, birch, aspen. To the south of the taiga, 50-200 km wide, stretches a strip of small-leaved forests of birch and, to a lesser extent, aspen, on soddy-podzolic soils. The fauna is represented by Siberian species, but there are also "Europeans" (marten, European mink, otter). The most typical are brown bear, wolverine, lynx, sable, chipmunk, squirrel, fox, wolf, water rat, elk, many birds whose life is associated with coniferous forest (nutcracker, smurf, kuksha, capercaillie, woodpeckers, owls, etc.) , but there are few songbirds (hence the name "deaf taiga").
The forest-steppe stretches in a narrow strip (150-300 km) from the Urals to the Salair Ridge and Altai. The climate is temperate continental, with severe winters with little snow and hot dry summers. The average temperature in January is -17˚C-20˚C, and in July +18˚C+20˚C, (maximum +41˚C). Snow cover 30-40 cm, annual precipitation 400-450 mm. The moisture coefficient is less than 1. Suffosion processes are typical, there are lakes, some of which are saline. The forest-steppe is a combination of aspen-birch copses on gray forest soils and areas of meadow steppes on chernozems. The forest cover of the zone is from 25% in the north to 5% in the south. The steppes are mostly plowed up. The fauna is represented by forest and steppe species. In the steppes and floodplain meadows, rodents predominate - ground squirrels, hamsters, earth hare, voles, there is a hare. Foxes, wolves, weasels, ermines, polecats, white hare, roe deer, black grouses, partridges are found in the groves, in reservoirs there are a lot of fish.
The steppe zone occupies the extreme south of Western Siberia. Unlike the steppes of the Russian Plain, there are more lakes here, the climate is more continental (little precipitation, cold winters). The average temperature in January is -17˚C-19˚C, and in July +20˚C+22˚C. The annual rainfall is 350-400 mm, with 75% of precipitation falling in summer. Moisture coefficient from 0.7 in the north to 0.5 in the south of the zone. In summer, there are droughts and hot winds, which leads to dust storms. The rivers are transit, small rivers dry up in summer. There are many lakes, mostly of suffusion origin, almost all of them are salty. The soils are chernozem, dark chestnut in the south. There are salt marshes. The plowing of the steppes reaches 90%. Various feather grasses, fescue, thyme, sagebrush, wormwood, iris, steppe onions, tulips, etc. grow in the surviving areas of the steppes. Saltywort, licorice, sweet clover, wormwood, chii, etc. grow in saline areas. In more humid places, there are shrubs from caragana , spirea, wild rose, honeysuckle, etc., along the river valleys, pine forests come to the south. In the floodplains of the rivers there are swampy meadows. The fauna is represented by various rodents (ground squirrel, hamster, marmots, voles, pikas, etc.), predators include steppe polecat, corsac, wolf, weasel, birds - steppe eagle, buzzard, kestrel, larks; on the lakes - waterfowl. Four reserves have been created in Western Siberia: Malaya Sosva, Yugansky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Gydansky.
West Siberian Plain- the plain is located in the north of Asia, occupies the entire western part of Siberia from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Central Siberian Plateau in the east. In the north it is bounded by the coast of the Kara Sea, in the south it extends to the Kazakh uplands, in the southeast the West Siberian Plain, gradually rising, is replaced by the foothills of Altai, Salair, Kuznetsk Altai and Mountain Shoria. The plain has the shape of a trapezoid narrowing to the north: the distance from its southern border to the northern reaches almost 2500 km, the width is from 800 to 1900 km, and the area is only slightly less than 3 million km².
The West Siberian Plain is the most inhabited and developed (especially in the south) part of Siberia. Within its boundaries are the Tyumen, Kurgan, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions, the eastern regions of the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, a significant part of the Altai Territory, the western regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory (about 1/7 of the area of Russia), as well as the northern and northeastern regions of Kazakhstan.
Relief and geological structure
The surface of the West Siberian Lowland is flat with a rather insignificant elevation difference. However, the relief of the plain is quite diverse. The lowest parts of the plain (50-100 m) are located mainly in the central (Kondinskaya and Sredneobskaya lowlands) and northern (Nizhneobskaya, Nadymskaya and Purskaya lowlands) parts of it. Low (up to 200-250 m) elevations stretch along the western, southern and eastern outskirts: North Sosvinskaya and Turinskaya, Ishimskaya plain, Priobskoye and Chulym-Yenisei plateau, Ketsko-Tymskaya, Upper Taz and Lower Yenisei uplands. A distinctly pronounced strip of hills is formed in the inner part of the plain by the Siberian Uvaly (average height - 140-150 m), extending from the west from the Ob to the east to the Yenisei, and the Vasyugan equal to them parallel.
The relief of the plain is largely due to its geological structure. At the base of the West Siberian Plain lies the epihercynian West Siberian plate, the foundation of which is composed of intensely dislocated Paleozoic deposits. The formation of the West Siberian Plate began in the Upper Jurassic, when, as a result of breaking, destruction and regeneration, a huge territory between the Urals and the Siberian platform sank, and a huge sedimentary basin arose. In the course of its development, the West Siberian Plate was captured more than once by marine transgressions. At the end of the Lower Oligocene, the sea left the West Siberian plate, and it turned into a huge lacustrine-alluvial plain. In the middle and late Oligocene and Neogene, the northern part of the plate experienced uplift, which was replaced by subsidence in the Quaternary. The general course of the development of the plate with the subsidence of colossal spaces resembles the process of oceanization that has not reached its end. This feature of the plate is emphasized by the phenomenal development of waterlogging.
Separate geological structures, despite a thick layer of sediments, are reflected in the relief of the plain: for example, the Verkhnetazovsky and Lyulimvor uplands correspond to gently sloping anticlines, and the Baraba and Kondinsky lowlands are confined to the syneclises of the basement of the plate. However, discordant (inversion) morphostructures are also not uncommon in Western Siberia. These include, for example, the Vasyugan Plain, which formed on the site of a gently sloping syneclise, and the Chulym-Yenisei Plateau, located in the basement trough zone.
The cuff of loose deposits contains groundwater horizons - fresh and mineralized (including brine), hot (up to 100-150 ° C) waters are also found. There are industrial deposits of oil and natural gas (West Siberian oil and gas basin). In the area of the Khanty-Mansiysk syneclise, Krasnoselsky, Salymsky and Surgutsky regions, in the layers of the Bazhenov formation at a depth of 2 km, there are the largest shale oil reserves in Russia.
Climate
The West Siberian Plain is characterized by a harsh, fairly continental climate. Its large length from north to south determines the distinct zoning of the climate and significant differences in the climatic conditions of the northern and southern parts of Western Siberia. The proximity of the Arctic Ocean also significantly influences the continental climate of Western Siberia. The flat relief contributes to the exchange of air masses between its northern and southern regions.
During the cold period, within the plain, there is an interaction between the area of relatively high atmospheric pressure, located above the southern part of the plain, and the area of low pressure, which in the first half of winter extends in the form of a hollow of the Icelandic baric minimum over the Kara Sea and the northern peninsulas. In winter, masses of continental air of temperate latitudes predominate, which come from Eastern Siberia or are formed on the spot as a result of air cooling over the territory of the plain.
In the boundary strip of areas of high and low pressure, cyclones often pass. Therefore, the weather in the coastal provinces is very unstable in winter; on the coast of Yamal and the Gydan Peninsula, strong winds occur, the speed of which reaches 35-40 m/s. The temperature here is even somewhat higher than in the neighboring forest-tundra provinces located between 66 and 69°N. sh. Further south, however, winter temperatures gradually rise again. In general, winter is characterized by stable low temperatures, there are few thaws. The minimum temperatures throughout Western Siberia are almost the same. Even near the southern border of the country, in Barnaul, there are frosts down to -50 -52 °. Spring is short, dry and comparatively cold; April, even in the forest-bog zone, is not yet quite a spring month.
In the warm season, a lower pressure sets in over Western Siberia, and an area of higher pressure forms over the Arctic Ocean. In connection with this summer, weak northerly or northeasterly winds predominate, and the role of western air transport noticeably increases. In May, there is a rapid increase in temperatures, but often, with the intrusions of arctic air masses, there are returns of cold weather and frosts. The warmest month is July, the average temperature of which is from 3.6° on Bely Island to 21-22° in the Pavlodar region. The absolute maximum temperature is from 21° in the north (Bely Island) to 44° in the extreme southern regions (Rubtsovsk). High summer temperatures in the southern half of Western Siberia are explained by the inflow of heated continental air here from the south - from Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Autumn comes late.
The duration of snow cover in the northern regions reaches 240-270 days, and in the south - 160-170 days. The thickness of the snow cover in the tundra and steppe zones in February is 20-40 cm, in the swampy zone - from 50-60 cm in the west to 70-100 cm in the eastern Yenisei regions.
The harsh climate of the northern regions of Western Siberia contributes to the freezing of soils and the widespread permafrost. On the Yamal, Tazovsky and Gydansky peninsulas, permafrost is found everywhere. In these areas of its continuous (confluent) distribution, the thickness of the frozen layer is very significant (up to 300-600 m), and its temperatures are low (in the watershed spaces - 4, -9 °, in valleys -2, -8 °). Further south, within the limits of the northern taiga up to a latitude of about 64°, permafrost occurs already in the form of isolated islands interspersed with taliks. Its power decreases, temperatures rise to 0.5 -1 °, and the depth of summer thawing also increases, especially in areas composed of mineral rocks.
Hydrography
The territory of the plain is located within the large West Siberian artesian basin, in which hydrogeologists distinguish several basins of the second order: the Tobolsk, Irtysh, Kulunda-Barnaul, Chulym, Ob, and others. , sandstones) and water-resistant rocks, artesian basins are characterized by a significant number of aquifers associated with suites of various ages - Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene and Quaternary. The groundwater quality of these horizons is very different. In most cases, artesian waters of deep horizons are more mineralized than those lying closer to the surface.
More than 2000 rivers flow on the territory of the West Siberian Plain, the total length of which exceeds 250 thousand km. These rivers carry about 1200 km³ of water into the Kara Sea annually - 5 times more than the Volga. The density of the river network is not very large and varies in different places depending on the relief and climatic features: in the Tavda basin it reaches 350 km, and in the Baraba forest-steppe - only 29 km per 1000 km². Some southern regions of the country with a total area of more than 445 thousand km² belong to the territories of closed flow and are distinguished by an abundance of endorheic lakes.
The main sources of food for most rivers are melted snow water and summer-autumn rains. In accordance with the nature of food sources, the runoff is seasonally uneven: approximately 70-80% of its annual amount occurs in spring and summer. Especially a lot of water flows down during the spring flood, when the level of large rivers rises by 7-12 m (in the lower reaches of the Yenisei even up to 15-18 m). For a long time (in the south - five, and in the north - eight months) the West Siberian rivers are ice-bound. Therefore, the winter months account for no more than 10% of the annual runoff.
For the rivers of Western Siberia, including the largest - Ob, Irtysh and Yenisei, slight slopes and low flow rates are characteristic. So, for example, the fall of the Ob channel in the section from Novosibirsk to the mouth over 3000 km is only 90 m, and the speed of its flow does not exceed 0.5 m / s.
There are about one million lakes on the West Siberian Plain, the total area of which is more than 100 thousand km². According to the origin of the basins, they are divided into several groups: occupying the primary irregularities of the flat relief; thermokarst; moraine-glacial; lakes of river valleys, which in turn are divided into floodplain and oxbow lakes. Peculiar lakes - "fogs" - are found in the Ural part of the plain. They are located in wide valleys, flood in the spring, sharply reducing their size in the summer, and by autumn, many disappear altogether. In the southern regions, lakes are often filled with salt water. The West Siberian Lowland holds the world record for the number of swamps per unit area (the area of the wetland is about 800 thousand square kilometers). The reasons for this phenomenon are the following factors: excessive moisture, flat relief, permafrost and the ability of peat, which is available here in large quantities, to hold a significant mass of water.
natural areas
The large length from north to south contributes to a pronounced latitudinal zonality in the distribution of soils and vegetation cover. Within the country there are gradually replacing one another tundra, forest-tundra, forest-bog, forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert (in the extreme south) zones. In all zones, rather large areas are occupied by lakes and swamps. Typical zonal landscapes are located on dissected and better drained upland and riverine areas. In poorly drained interfluve spaces, the runoff from which is difficult, and the soils are usually very moist, marsh landscapes prevail in the northern provinces, and in the south - landscapes formed under the influence of saline groundwater.
A large area is occupied by the tundra zone, which is explained by the northern position of the West Siberian Plain. To the south is the forest-tundra zone. The forest-bog zone occupies about 60% of the territory of the West Siberian Plain. Broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests are absent here. The strip of coniferous forests is followed by a narrow zone of small-leaved (mainly birch) forests. An increase in the continentality of the climate causes a relatively sharp transition, compared to the East European Plain, from forest-bog landscapes to dry steppe spaces in the southern regions of the West Siberian Plain. Therefore, the width of the forest-steppe zone in Western Siberia is much less than on the East European Plain, and of the tree species it contains mainly birch and aspen. In the extreme southern part of the West Siberian Lowland, there is a steppe zone, which is mostly plowed up. Manes - sandy ridges 3-10 meters high (sometimes up to 30 meters), covered with pine forests, make a variety of manes in the flat landscape of the southern regions of Western Siberia.
Gallery
Siberian plain.jpg
Landscape of the West Siberian Plain
Steppe in the outskirts of Mariinsk1.jpg
Mariinsky forest-steppes
see also
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Notes
Links
- West Siberian Plain // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. : Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- in the book: N. A. Gvozdetsky, N. I. Mikhailov. Physical geography of the USSR. M., 1978.
- Kröner, A. (2015) The Central Asian Orogenic Belt.
An excerpt characterizing the West Siberian Plain
It was clear that the baby was happy with the effect and literally fidgeting with the desire to prolong it ...- Do you really like? Do you want it to stay that way?
The man just nodded, unable to utter a word.
I didn’t even try to imagine what happiness he should have experienced, after that black horror in which he was daily, and for so long, was! ..
“Thank you, dear…” the man whispered softly. “Just tell me, how can it stay?”
- Oh, it's easy! Your world will only be here, in this cave, and no one will see it except you. And if you don't leave here, he will stay with you forever. Well, I will come to you to check... My name is Stella.
- I don't know what to say for this... I didn't deserve it. This is probably wrong ... My name is Luminary. Yes, not very much “light” has brought yet, as you can see ...
- Oh, nothing, bring more! - it was clear that the baby was very proud of what she had done and was bursting with pleasure.
“Thank you, dear ones...” The luminary sat with his proud head down, and suddenly burst into tears like a child...
- Well, what about the others, the same? .. - I whispered softly into Stella's ear. - There must be a lot of them, right? What to do with them? After all, it's not fair to help one. And who gave us the right to judge which of them is worthy of such help?
Stellino's face immediately frowned...
– I don't know... But I know for sure that it's right. If it wasn't right, we wouldn't be able to. There are other laws...
Suddenly it dawned on me:
“Wait a minute, but what about our Harold?! .. He was a knight, so he also killed?” How did he manage to stay there, on the “upper floor”? ..
- He paid for everything he did ... I asked him about it - he paid very dearly ... - Stella answered seriously, wrinkling her forehead funny.
- What did you pay? - I did not understand.
“Essence ...” the little girl whispered sadly. - He gave part of his essence for what he did during his lifetime. But his essence was very high, therefore, even having given away part of it, he was still able to remain “on top”. But very few people can do this, only truly very highly developed entities. Usually people lose too much, and go much lower than they originally were. How Luminous...
It was amazing... So, having done something bad on Earth, people lost some part of themselves (or rather, part of their evolutionary potential), and even at the same time, they still had to remain in that nightmarish horror that was called - "lower" Astral... Yes, for mistakes, and in truth, you had to pay dearly...
“Well, now we can go,” the little girl chirped, waving her hand contentedly. - Goodbye, Light! I will come to you!
We moved on, and our new friend was still sitting, frozen with unexpected happiness, greedily absorbing the warmth and beauty of the world created by Stella, and plunging into it as deeply as a dying person would do, absorbing life suddenly returned to him.. .
- Yes, that's right, you were absolutely right! .. - I said thoughtfully.
Stella beamed.
Being in the most “rainbowy” mood, we had just turned towards the mountains, when a huge, spiked-clawed creature suddenly emerged from the clouds and rushed straight at us ...
- Take care! - Stela squealed, and I just managed to see two rows of razor-sharp teeth, and from a strong blow to the back, rolled head over heels to the ground ...
From the wild horror that seized us, we rushed like bullets through a wide valley, without even thinking that we could quickly go to another “floor” ... We simply did not have time to think about it - we were too scared.
The creature flew right above us, loudly clicking with its gaping toothy beak, and we rushed as far as we could, spraying vile slimy sprays to the sides, and mentally praying that something else would suddenly interest this terrible “wonder bird” ... It was felt that it is much faster and we simply had no chance to break away from it. As an evil, not a single tree grew nearby, there were no bushes, not even stones behind which one could hide, only an ominous black rock could be seen in the distance.
- There! - Stella shouted, pointing her finger at the same rock.
But suddenly, unexpectedly, right in front of us, from somewhere, a creature appeared, the sight of which literally froze our blood in our veins... It arose, as it were, “straight out of thin air” and was truly terrifying... The huge black carcass was completely covered long, stiff hair, making it look like a pot-bellied bear, only this “bear” was as tall as a three-story house ... The bumpy head of the monster was “married” with two huge curved horns, and a pair of incredibly long fangs, sharp as knives, adorned its terrible mouth, just looking on which, with a fright, the legs gave way ... And then, surprising us unspeakably, the monster easily jumped up and .... picked up the flying "muck" on one of its huge fangs... We froze dumbfounded.
- Let's run!!! Stella screamed. - Let's run while he is "busy"! ..
And we were already ready to rush again without looking back, when suddenly a thin voice sounded behind our backs:
- Girls, wait! No need to run away! .. Dean saved you, he is not an enemy!
We turned around sharply - a tiny, very beautiful black-eyed girl was standing behind ... and calmly stroking the monster that approached her! .. Our eyes popped out of surprise ... It was incredible! For sure - it was a day of surprises!.. The girl, looking at us, smiled affably, not at all afraid of the furry monster standing nearby.
Please don't be afraid of him. He is very kind. We saw that Ovara was chasing you and decided to help. Dean is a good guy, he made it in time. Really, my good?
"Good" purred, which sounded like a slight earthquake, and, bending his head, licked the girl's face.
“And who is Owara, and why did she attack us?” I asked.
She attacks everyone, she is a predator. And very dangerous,” the girl replied calmly. “May I ask what you are doing here?” You're not from here, girls, are you?
- No, not from here. We were just walking. But the same question for you - what are you doing here?
I go to my mother ... - the little girl became sad. “We died together, but for some reason she ended up here. And now I live here, but I do not tell her this, because she will never agree with this. She thinks I'm just coming...
“Isn’t it better to just come?” It's so terrible here! .. - Stella twitched her shoulders.
“I can’t leave her here alone, I’m watching her so that nothing happens to her. And here is Dean with me... He helps me.
I just couldn't believe it... This tiny brave girl voluntarily left her beautiful and kind "floor" to live in this cold, terrible and alien world, protecting her mother, who was very "guilty" of something! Not many, I think, would have been so brave and selfless (even adults!) People who would have decided on such a feat ... And I immediately thought - maybe she just didn’t understand what she was going to condemn herself to ?!
- And how long have you been here, girl, if it's not a secret?
“Recently...” the black-eyed little girl answered sadly, tugging at the black lock of her curly hair with her fingers. - I got into such a beautiful world when I died! .. He was so kind and bright! .. And then I saw that my mother was not with me and rushed to look for her. At first it was so scary! For some reason, she was nowhere to be found... And then I fell into this terrible world... And then I found her. I was so terrified here ... So lonely ... Mom told me to leave, even scolded me. But I can't leave her... Now I have a friend, my good Dean, and I can somehow exist here.
Her “good friend” growled again, which made Stella and me get huge “lower astral” goosebumps... Having gathered myself, I tried to calm down a little and began to look closely at this furry miracle... And he, immediately feeling that he noticed, terribly bared his fanged mouth ... I jumped back.
- Oh, please don't be afraid! It is he who smiles at you, - the girl “reassured”.
Yeah... From such a smile you will learn to run fast... - I thought to myself.
“But how did it happen that you became friends with him?” Stella asked.
- When I first came here, I was very scared, especially when monsters like you were attacked today. And then one day, when I almost died, Dean saved me from a whole bunch of creepy flying "birds". I was also scared of him at first, but then I realized what a golden heart he had ... He is the best friend! I have never had such, even when I lived on Earth.
How did you get used to it so quickly? His appearance is not quite, let's say, familiar ...
- And here I understood one very simple truth, which for some reason I didn’t notice on Earth - appearance does not matter if a person or creature has a good heart ... My mother was very beautiful, but at times very angry too. And then all her beauty disappeared somewhere ... And Dean, although scary, is always very kind, and always protects me, I feel his goodness and am not afraid of anything. You can get used to the looks...
“Do you know that you will be here for a very long time, much longer than people live on Earth?” Do you really want to stay here?
“My mother is here, so I must help her. And when she “leaves” to live on Earth again, I will also leave ... Where there is more goodness. In this terrible world, people are very strange - as if they do not live at all. Why is that? Do you know something about it?
- And who told you that your mother would leave to live again? Stella asked.
Dean, of course. He knows a lot, he's been living here for a very long time. He also said that when we (my mother and I) live again, our families will be different. And then I will no longer have this mother ... That's why I want to be with her now.
“And how do you talk to him, to your Dean?” Stella asked. "And why don't you want to tell us your name?"
But it’s true – we still didn’t know her name! And where she came from - they also did not know ...
– My name was Maria... But does it really matter here?
- Yes, of course! Stella laughed. - And how to communicate with you? When you leave, they will give you a new name, but while you are here, you will have to live with the old one. Have you spoken to anyone else here, Maria girl? - Out of habit, jumping from topic to topic, Stella asked.
“Yes, I did…” the little girl said uncertainly. “But they are so strange here. And so miserable... Why are they so miserable?
“But is what you see here conducive to happiness?” I was surprised by her question. – Even the local “reality” itself kills any hopes in advance!.. How can one be happy here?
- I do not know. When I’m with my mother, it seems to me that I could be happy here too ... True, it’s very scary here, and she really doesn’t like it here ... When I said that I agreed to stay with her, she yelled at me and said that I am her "brainless misfortune" ... But I'm not offended ... I know that she's just scared. Just like me...
- Perhaps she just wanted to save you from your "extreme" decision, and only wanted you to go back to your "floor"? - Carefully, so as not to offend, asked Stella.
– No, of course not... But thank you for your kind words. Mom often called me not very good names, even on Earth ... But I know that this is not out of malice. She was just unhappy because I was born, and often told me that I ruined her life. But it wasn't my fault, was it? I always tried to make her happy, but for some reason I didn’t really succeed ... But I never had a dad. Maria was very sad, and her voice trembled, as if she was about to cry.
Stella and I looked at each other, and I was almost sure that similar thoughts had visited her ... I already really disliked this spoiled, selfish "mother", who, instead of worrying about her child herself, did not care about his heroic sacrifice at all. I understood and, in addition, hurt me more painfully.
- But Dean says that I'm good, and that I make him very happy! - the little girl murmured more cheerfully. And he wants to be friends with me. And the others I met here are very cold and indifferent, and sometimes even angry... Especially those who have monsters attached...
- Monsters - what? .. - we did not understand.
“Well, they have scary monsters on their backs and tell them what they should do. And if they don't listen, the monsters mock them terribly... I tried to talk to them, but these monsters won't let me.
We understood absolutely nothing of this “explanation”, but the very fact that some astral beings torture people could not remain “explored” by us, therefore, we immediately asked her how we could see this amazing phenomenon.
- Oh, everywhere! Especially at the Black Mountain. There he is, behind the trees. Do you want us to go with you too?
– Of course, we will be happy! - Stella immediately answered delighted.
To be honest, I also didn’t really smile at the prospect of dating someone else, “creepy and incomprehensible,” especially alone. But interest overcame fear, and we, of course, would have gone, despite the fact that we were a little afraid ... But when a defender like Dean was with us, it immediately became more fun ...
And now, in a short moment, a real Hell unfolded in front of our wide-open eyes with amazement... world... Of course, he was not crazy, but was simply a seer who, for some reason, could see only the lower Astral. But we must give him his due - he portrayed him superbly ... I saw his paintings in a book that was in my dad's library, and I still remembered that terrible feeling that most of his paintings carried ...
- What a horror! .. - whispered the shocked Stella.
One could probably say that we have already seen a lot here, on the “floors” ... But even we were not able to imagine such a thing in our most terrible nightmare! .. Behind the “black rock” something completely opened unthinkable... It looked like a huge, flat "cauldron" carved into the rock, at the bottom of which crimson "lava" was bubbling... Hot air "burst" everywhere with strange flashing reddish bubbles, from which scalding steam escaped and fell in large drops on the ground, or on the people who fell under him at that moment ... Heartbreaking cries were heard, but they immediately fell silent, as the most disgusting creatures sat on the backs of the same people, who, with a contented look, "managed" their victims, not paying the slightest attention on their sufferings... Under the naked feet of people red-hot stones were reddening, the hot crimson earth was bubbling and "melting" ... high, evaporating with a light haze... And in the very middle of the "pit" a bright red, wide fiery river flowed, into which, from time to time, the same disgusting monsters unexpectedly threw one or another tormented entity, which, falling, caused only a short a splash of orange sparks, and then, turning for a moment into a fluffy white cloud, it disappeared ... forever ... It was a real Hell, and Stella and I wanted to “disappear” from there as soon as possible ...
- What are we going to do? .. - Stella whispered in quiet horror. - Do you want to go down there? Is there anything we can do to help them? Look how many there are!..
We stood on a black-brown, heat-dried cliff, watching the “mess” of pain, hopelessness, and violence stretching below, flooded with horror, and we felt so childishly powerless that even my warlike Stella this time categorically folded her tousled “wings ” and was ready at the first call to rush off to her own, so dear and reliable, upper “floor” ...
And then I remembered that Maria seemed to be talking to these people, so cruelly punished by fate (or by themselves) ...
“Tell me, please, how did you get down there?” I asked puzzled.
“Dean carried me,” Maria replied calmly, as a matter of course.
- What is it that these poor fellows have done so terrible that they got into such inferno? I asked.
“I think this is not so much about their misdeeds, but about the fact that they were very strong and had a lot of energy, and this is exactly what these monsters need, since they “feed” on these unfortunate people,” the little one explained in a very adult way.
- What?! .. - we almost jumped. - It turns out - they just "eat" them?
“Unfortunately, yes... When we went there, I saw... A pure silver stream flowed out of these poor people and directly filled the monsters sitting on their backs. And they immediately came to life and became very pleased. Some human beings, after that, almost could not walk... It's so scary... And nothing can help... Dean says there are too many of them even for him.
“Yeah… It’s unlikely that we can do something too…” Stella whispered sadly.
It was very hard to just turn around and leave. But we were well aware that at the moment we were completely powerless, but just watching such a terrible “spectacle” did not give anyone the slightest pleasure. Therefore, having once again looked at this terrifying Hell, we unanimously turned in the other direction ... I can’t say that my human pride was not wounded, since I never liked to lose. But I also learned a long time ago to accept reality as it was, and not to complain about my helplessness, if I was not yet able to help in some situation.
“Can I ask you where you girls are going now?” Maria asked sadly.
– I would like to go upstairs... To be honest, the “lower floor” is quite enough for me today... It is advisable to see something easier... – I said, and immediately thought of Maria – poor girl, she’s here remains!..