Mainland Eurasia has a rather complex structure. Its relief is boundless plains and huge mountain belts. It is this factor, or rather, the peculiarity of the location, that distinguishes it from other continents. The mountains in Eurasia are located in the depths of the mainland, thereby forming a kind of place where the two largest belts, the Pacific and the Albian-Himalayan, unite.
The relief of the mainland is quite diverse, since its formation took place over several epochs. Therefore, studying the mountains, one can distinguish significant differences in shape and height. The Himalayas, Caucasian, Crimean, Carpathians are considered relatively young. They mostly have sharp peaks and steep slopes. Their height and power amaze with their magnificence.
Experiencing the mainland
Eurasia is the largest continent on planet Earth by area. It occupies about 54 million sq. km. The continent is mainly located in the northern hemisphere, and only some islands are located in the southern. The mainland unites two significant parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The mountains of Eurasia, in particular the Urals, as well as the Ural, Emba, Manych, Kuma, Black and Caspian Seas areborder between them.
It is worth noting that this continent is the only one that is washed by all four oceans:
- The Arctic in the north.
- Indian in the south.
- Quiet in the east.
- Atlantic in the west.
Relief features
Eurasia is a continent with diverse relief. It has the largest mountains and plains in the world. It is also worth noting that it is distinguished from other continents by a height of 850 m. Some scientists argue that the ice cover of Antarctica is much larger. If we count the bedrock, then its indicators are the smallest.
On the territory of Eurasia there are several active volcanoes, they are located in the Kamchatka region, Southeast Asia, Iceland. The height of the continent is mainly due to the presence of mountain systems. They, stretching across the mainland, occupy 60% of its land.
The main and highest mountains of Eurasia
- Tien Shan, whose height is 3 thousand meters, in translation means "celestial body".
- The Hindu Kush is part of the Alpine-Himalayan system, the height of the peaks is from 4 thousand meters to 6 thousand meters.
- Karakorum, the main peak - Dapsang, reaches 8.5 thousand meters.
- The Caucasian mountain system in translation means "snow-white mountain", the highest peak is Elbrus, its height is 5.6 thousand meters.
- Alps - a large mountain belt, Mont Blanc reaches almost 5 thousand meters.
- Himalayas, the highest point is Mount Chomolungma, or Everest (more than 8, 8 thousand meters).
Himalayan mountain system: description
The Himalayas are recognized as the highest mountain belt on the entire planet Earth. These mountains on the mainland of Eurasia are located between the Indo-Ghana Plain and the Tibetan Plateau. Their peaks are always covered with snow. It was this factor that influenced the name of the mountain system, translated from the Scandinavian language, it means "abode of snows." The length of the Himalayas reaches 3 thousand km, and its width is about 400 km. The total area of the mountain system is 650 thousand km. Mostly peaks are 6 thousand meters high, however, there are 10 ridges that exceed the mark of 8 thousand meters. It is this system that the famous Mount Everest belongs to, rising almost 9 thousand meters above sea level.
Climatic conditions
The southern slopes of the Himalayas are under the influence of monsoon winds. But in the north, these mountains of Eurasia fall into the continental climatic zone, cold temperatures and low rainfall prevail here. Summer time in the southern part is the rainy season, they are quite plentiful. Snow in the Himalayas lies all year round, high in the mountains the temperature can vary from -25 to -400C. Here you can constantly observe heavy hurricanes, the speed of which sometimes reaches 150 km/h. The possibility of a quick change in weather cannot be ruled out.
Flora
Vegetation in the Himalayas is distributed in tiers. Deciduous and coniferous forests and meadows are located here. Also enoughthe world of evergreen tropical plants is widely represented. In the north, the flora is poorer, semi-deserts and steppes predominate. At an altitude of 2 km, you can find trees such as maples, oaks, chestnuts, and a little higher - cedars and pines. But already at around 4 km, mosses and shrubs grow to a greater extent. The mountains of Eurasia at an altitude of 5 km have no vegetation, since at this level the zone of eternal snow begins.
Fauna
In the meadows you can meet Indian rhino and snow leopard. In the tropical zone, the animal world is quite diverse. These are mammals, and insects, and reptiles. In the north, bears, antelopes, and musk deer are more common. And also in the steppe zone you can see grazing wild sheep, horses, goats.
The largest continent on the planet is Eurasia. Mountains (the most significant), lakes, seas are located here. Many different climatic zones combine on the continent: from hot southern to cold northern lands. An interesting fact is that it is in Eurasia that the lowest point of land (the Dead Sea) and the pole of the northern hemisphere with a critically cold temperature are located.
