Each natural zone of Ukraine has at the same time similarities with others, and clear differences. On the territory of one country there are mixed forests, and forest-steppe, and mountains, and steppe. Consider each zone separately.
Mixed forest zone
Occupies the northern part of the country. The surface is predominantly flat. This zone is called Ukrainian Polissya. This is the land of rivers, swamps, lakes. There are also artificial reservoirs, the largest of them is the Kiev reservoir. Spring here is quite cool, and summer is humid and warm (the high rising sun warms the earth well), autumn is rainy, winter is not too cold, snowy, with thaws. Due to the significant amount of precipitation, the rivers here are full (high water), and floods are possible in spring, and long ones. This natural zone of Ukraine is quite humid. Melt and rain water, slowly seeping into the soil, form swamps. There are many lakes and rivers here. They are fed by numerous streams formed as a result of groundwater coming to the surface.
Vegetation is arranged in tiers: upper - trees, middle - bushes (undergrowth), lower- grass and mushrooms.
The northern part is occupied mainly by pines and oaks. To the south, in addition to these trees, there are birch, hornbeam, aspen, linden, alder, maple. The undergrowth consists of barberry, blackberry, wild rose, raspberry, hazel. Blueberries and lingonberries are often found in swampy areas.
Early spring is "opened" by snowdrops, anemone, corydalis, blueberries. Behind them appear sleep-grass, violets, lilies of the valley, tussocks. By summer, only shade-tolerant and moisture-loving plants (mosses, ferns, hoofed hoof) remain in the forests. Among the plants growing on the edges and clearings there are Ivan-tea, valerian, chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow, tansy. Leaves falling in autumn and dying plants form the so-called forest floor, which retains moisture. Over time, it rots, turning into fertile soil. The fauna is made up of both herbivorous animals (hares, mice, red deer, roe deer, elks, bison) and carnivores (hedgehogs, squirrels, badgers, wild pigs). Muskrats, beavers, otters are happy to settle near water bodies. Lakes with rivers are rich in fish. Associated with water are newts, snakes, and frogs. Lizards and snakes live on the edges and in the forests. Many insects hiding in the bark, forest floor and on plants are a delicacy for birds, most of which return in spring from warm lands (orioles, nightingales, flycatchers, cuckoos, starlings). Swans, white storks, common cranes, sandpipers appear on bolts and forest lakes. Among the permanent residents are large woodpeckers, gray owls, capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse. Reserves (Rovno, Polessky, etc.) have been created to preserve and increase nature. Somediffers from the described another natural zone of Ukraine.
Forest-steppe
When moving away from mixed forests to the south, treeless areas appear - steppes. This natural zone of Ukraine is called forest-steppe. Winters here are moderately cold and summers are warm. There is less precipitation. The soil is black soil. Natural conditions are quite favorable for most cultivated and wild plants. The forests are predominantly deciduous, partly mixed. Animals are the same as in the zone of mixed forests. Significantly different from the one considered here is another natural zone of Ukraine - the steppe. It occupies most of the country.
Steppe
To the south of the two seas (Black, Azov) and from the forest-steppe zone, there is a steppe territory. Its surface is predominantly flat, with gullies, ravines, and hills. The sun rises higher here, so this natural zone of Ukraine (the steppe) has a hotter climate. Summers here are longer and much warmer. There is less precipitation. Autumn is warm, its first half is dry, the second - rainy. Winter is snowless, short and cold. Due to the sharp rise in temperature, the moisture that the soil absorbs evaporates quickly. Frequent dry winds precede droughts. Cold winter winds cause snowstorms and storms. They destroy fertile soil.
Large rivers flow through the steppes. The Danube Delta is rich in freshwater lakes, and the Black Sea coast is rich in s alty estuaries. Several reservoirs (cascades) have been built on the Dnieper.
The plants here are predominantly herbaceous. bushes withtrees are found in beams and near the shores of reservoirs - only there they have enough moisture.
In early spring, the steppe is bright and colorful. There is still enough moisture in the soil at this time, and many plants feel very comfortable. Here are hyacinths, and irises, and adonis, and crocuses, and poppies, and tulips, and peonies. The seeds of the plant are given before the peak of the heat. Some "dump" the ground part (it dies off). The roots continue to accumulate moisture and nutrients: next year they will sprout again and bloom.
Soon more hardy, unpretentious plants appear: fescue, wormwood, feather grass. Some have pubescent narrow leaves, while others have long roots that allow them to endure heat and lack of water. By mid-summer, the plants begin to dry out. The wind, picking them up and rolling over the steppe, shakes out the seeds. This natural zone of Ukraine seems gray and inhospitable at the end of summer. The fauna here is poorer than in the forest. Many animals have a characteristic light yellow color, due to which they are less noticeable among withered, yellowed grass. Most of them live in minks. These are mainly rodents: mice, jerboas, ground squirrels, marmots, hamsters. Burrows are dug by badgers, foxes, ferrets. Such dwellings are both the birthplace of offspring, and a refuge, and a place for hibernation. Nimble lizards, vipers, steppe turtles settle in burrows dug by small animals.
Thanks to their ability to move quickly, rare steppe birds, little bustards and bustards, are saved from numerous enemies.
In early spring, you can hear the singing of a lark. The quails also give voice. Can seerare steppe cranes. Falcon, eagle, kestrel, harrier soar in the sky. They prey on smaller birds and mice.
Many insects live in the steppes: grasshoppers, butterflies, locusts, beetles. They feed on various parts of plants, while being food for amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
For the sake of preserving the nature of this zone, such reserves as the Ukrainian steppe, Askania-Nova, Lugansk were created.
Carpathian Mountains
Considered medium in height. Formed by mountain ranges. Between them lie very picturesque valleys. There is a lot of precipitation here: snow - in winter, rain - in warm weather. That is why there are often floods. Many streams and rivers originate in the mountains. Among them are the Dniester and Prut with the largest tributaries. There are small and at the same time quite deep crystal clear lakes in the Carpathians.
The slopes of the mountains are covered with deciduous forests of oak, hornbeam, linden, maple, beech. Higher - colder, conifers appear (European spruce, fir), the forest is already mixed. The undergrowth is formed by wild rose, hazel, blackberry, raspberry. The edges and clearings are covered with herbaceous plants, many of which are medicinal. There are a lot of mushrooms here (honey agaric, porcini, boletus, butter, boletus, etc.).
Animals in the Carpathians are the same as on the plains. These are red deer, hares, foxes, wolves, martens, otters, wild pigs, badgers, squirrels. Birds - black grouse, hazel grouse, spotted woodpeckers, black and crested tits, many migratory songbirds.
There are animals found mainly inCarpathians: brown bears, forest cats, lynxes. Of the birds - black storks, golden eagles, eagles, black woodpeckers, snake eagles. Only in these mountains live Carpathian squirrels, snow voles, Carpathian capercaillie.
To preserve this natural zone of Ukraine, reserves have been created (Gorgany, Karpatsky).
