Lessons 30–31 · 2 lessons · P. Gulomov, H. Vahobov, P. Baratov, M. Mamatqulov. Geography (Physical Geography of Central Asia; Physical Geography of Uzbekistan), Grade 7. Revised and expanded 5th edition. “O‘qituvchi” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017
30
Natural zones
Textbook: pp. 67–69
GoalDescribe the plains’ natural zones and the altitudinal belts of the mountains of Central Asia.
New words
natural zone · tabiat zonasisubtropical deserts · subtropik cho‘llaraltitudinal belts · balandlik mintaqalarinival (snow and ice) belt · nival mintaqa
Explanation
Because solar radiation increases from north to south, climate and natural zones in Central Asia change with latitude. The region lies in the south of the temperate zone and in the northern, dry part of the subtropical zone. The temperate zone has steppe, semi-desert and desert zones: the steppe zone (north of the Kazakh uplands) has been almost entirely ploughed, the semi-desert has chestnut soils and burgan and black wormwood, and the desert zone occupies the Turan plain. In the subtropical zone, mainly the Turkmen-Khorasan mountains and the Atrek valley, lies the dry subtropical zone. In the mountains the altitudinal belts begin with desert and follow in order: desert, semi-desert (adyr, about 500–1200 m), steppe (1200–2000 m), forest-steppe and forest (2000–2700 m), subalpine and alpine meadows (above 2700 m) and the nival belt of permanent snow and ice.
Worked examples
The Karakum lies in the desert zone of the Turan lowland, while the Gissar range has an adyr at its foot, forest higher up, and highland pasture above.
Moving south from northern Kazakhstan you cross steppe, semi-desert and desert in turn, an example of latitudinal zones.
Class activity
“Zone path”: stick a long sheet on the wall and draw the line of zones (desert — semi-desert — steppe); place soil, plant and animal cards on each zone.
Practice
1
Which natural zones lie on the plains of Central Asia?
Steppe, semi-desert, desert (temperate zone) and dry subtropical zones.
2
Which are the main plants and animals of the desert zone?