The Central Siberian plateau lies in the north of Eurasia. The area is about one and a half million kilometers. What is the position of the Central Siberian Plateau on a geographical map? The Sayan mountains lie from the south of the area, Transbaikalia and the Baikal region are located. The western part borders on the West Siberian Plain, the northern part borders on the North Siberian Plain, the eastern part borders on the Central Yakut Plain.
Description of the area
The length of the Central Siberian Plateau from south to north is about 3 thousand kilometers. The territory was formed by sedimentary rocks of the Paleozoic, partly of the Mesozoic. The area is also characterized by sheet intrusions: bas alt covers and traps. The region is rich in deposits of iron, copper and nickel ores, graphite, coal and s alt. Diamonds and natural gas are mined here. The climate is sharply continental, and persists almost throughout the entire territory, despite the fact that the length of the Central Siberian Plateau is quite impressive. Winter here is frosty: the air temperature is 20-40 degrees, the maximum is up to -70. Summers are cool or relatively warm (12-20degrees). The amount of precipitation per year decreases in the direction from west to east - from 800 to 200 millimeters. Permafrost is almost ubiquitous. The western slopes of the Putorana Plateau are especially snowy. Among the largest rivers, the Lower Tunguska, Angara, Podkamennaya Tunguska, Vilyui, Lena, Khatanga should be noted. These and other water flows belong to the Arctic Ocean basin. The Central Siberian Plateau, the extent of which, as indicated above, is quite large, is mainly covered with larch (light coniferous) taiga. Pine-larch and pine forests are common in the southern part.
Characteristics of the Central Siberian Plateau
A significant part of the territory is occupied by a plateau. It is a wide and flat interfluves, most often swampy. The Central Siberian Plateau, whose average height is no more than 500-700 m, in some areas rises above 1000 m (maximum up to 1071). The base of the platform is occupied by the Archean-Proterozoic folded basement. It has a sedimentary cover of the late period. The thickness of the layer is about 10-12 kilometers. In the northern and southwestern parts, the rocks come to the surface (Aldan shield, Anabai massif, Baikal uplift). The thickness of the crust in general is 25-30 km, in some areas - up to 45 km. The relief of the Central Siberian Plateau is such that this area rises significantly above sea level.
Building the foundation of the territory
The platform consists of several types of rocks. Among them are marbles, schists, charnockites and others. According to experts, the age of some of them is about three to four billion years. The sedimentary cover consists of not so ancient deposits. The formation of these rocks is attributed to the period of the emergence of mankind. Paleozoic deposits are permeated with igneous rocks. They were formed during numerous eruptions, frozen in sedimentary rocks. These layers are called traps. Due to the alternation of these layers with sedimentary (more fragile) rocks, a stepped relief of the territory was formed. Most often, traps are found in the area of the Tunguska depression. In the Mesozoic, the Central Siberian Plateau experienced uplift for the most part. As a result, the Putorana Plateau was formed. This point is the highest in the whole territory. Surface uplift continued into the Cenozoic. In the same period, the river network began to form. In addition to the Putorana Plateau, intensive uplift was observed in the Yenisei and Anabar massifs. Subsequent processes led to changes in the river network. Such is the tectonic structure of the Central Siberian Plateau. It should be said that some traces of the river systems that existed in antiquity have survived to our time. The mobility and thickness of glaciers in this area was insignificant, so they did not have a special impact on the relief (as in other parts of the planet, for example). Uplift continued in the postglacial period.
Description of river systems
Central Siberianplateau - a plain with a gently undulating relief with interfluves and deep (in some places canyon-like) river valleys. The deepest pools are up to a thousand meters. Such formations are often found in the west of the Putorana Plateau. The smallest depth is up to 100 m. Such areas are found in the Central Tunguska plateau, the North Siberian and Central Yakut lowlands. Almost all river valleys in Central Siberia have a canyon-like and asymmetric shape.
A distinctive feature of the pools is a large number (from six to nine) of terraces. These sites indicate repeated tectonic uplifts of the territory. In the North Siberian Lowland and in Taimyr, river valleys formed in later periods. At the same time, there are fewer terraces there - even in the largest pools there are no more than three or four of them.
Features of the device of the earth's crust
Four relief groups are distinguished throughout the territory:
- Ridges, plateau ridges, plateaus and mid-mountain massifs. The latter are located on ledges in the crystalline foundation.
- Plateaus and reservoir highs. They are found on Paleozoic sedimentary rocks.
- Plast-accumulative and accumulative plains.
- Volcanic plateaus.
The direction of the Central Siberian Plateau began to form from antiquity. It should be said that processes are taking place today. Shifts both in antiquity and at present coincide in direction. However, this is not the case for allterrain. Erosion processes in the territory where the Central Siberian Plateau is located are hampered by permafrost. It prevents, among other things, the formation of karst forms of the crust - natural wells, caves, a number of rocks (gypsum, chalk, limestone, and others). In the area where the Central Siberian Plateau is located, there are ancient glacial relic formations uncharacteristic for other regions of Russia. Karst forms are found only in a number of southern regions. There is no permafrost in these areas. These include, in particular, the Leno-Aldan and Leno-Angara plateaus. However, cryogenic and erosive forms still act as the main small relief forms throughout the area. The strongest monsoons in a sharply continental climate contributed to the formation of a large number of stony placers and scree on the surfaces of the plateau, the slopes of river valleys and in mountain ranges. Permafrost is widespread almost everywhere in the area. Its preservation is favored by the low average annual temperature and the peculiarities of the cold period inherent in the climate. Among other things, the territory is characterized by low cloud cover, which contributes to night heat radiation. The diversity of the soil is associated with the heterogeneity of rocks, humidity, topography, features of the flora, and temperature. The environment has a significant impact both on the species composition of flora and fauna, and on the external color, quantity, as well as the way of life of animals and the development of vegetation.
Vegetation andwildlife
Taiga occupies about 70% of the entire territory. On the Central Siberian Plateau, it is dominated by a light coniferous forest, consisting of Siberian larch in the west, and Daurian larch in the east. Dark coniferous plants are pushed aside to the extreme western regions. Due to the not very humid and relatively warm summers, the forests in this area are more advanced to the north than anywhere else. In a harsh climate, the hairline of fur-bearing animals acquired silkiness and special splendor. The fauna of the taiga is very diverse. Of the predatory animals, foxes, wolverines, ermines, columns, sables and others are common here. Of the ungulates, the territory is inhabited by musk deer and elk. Rodents are very common in the taiga, squirrels are especially numerous. This animal is in a special place in the fur trade. The main areas of squirrel habitat are dark coniferous taiga. Of the remaining rodents, the vole, hare, and chipmunk are quite numerous species. Among feathered individuals, white partridges and hazel grouses are common. In 1930, the muskrat was brought to the territory of the Central Siberian Plateau. This animal inhabits mainly slow rivers, reservoirs, where there is a large amount of marsh vegetation. Many animals distributed in the territory are much larger than their relatives living in milder climatic conditions.
Putorana Plateau
In the northern part lies a somewhat strange, deserted, but beautiful place. "The Lost World" - this is how journalists call this territory. The few tourists who have beenhere, they talk about this area as a land with ten thousand lakes and a thousand waterfalls. The Putorana Plateau is a mysterious and majestic area that is unlike any other. There are many gorges, lakes, crystal waterfalls and clear rivers. Bright northern flowers stand out against the background of snow and stones.
Short description of the territory
The Putorana Plateau lies beyond the Arctic Circle. This is the highest point of the Central Siberian Plateau. It was formed, according to scientists, about 10-12 million years ago. The formation of the territory was facilitated by a powerful earthquake that affected a significant part of Eurasia. The process led to the formation of large islands in the Kara and Barents Seas. After the earthquake, the climate changed (severe colds began to prevail), as well as wildlife and vegetation. Today, the plateau is somewhat of a "layer cake", formed by a huge amount of lava outpourings. In some places, there are about two dozen bas alt layers. Almost all the time during the year there is snow on the peaks. That is why there are so many water sources in the territory. Snowmelt begins in August.
Legends of the Putorana Plateau
The epic of the northern peoples keeps many legends about this lost area. The Nganasans, Nenets and Evenks, who have lived on its territory since ancient times, believe that the Fiery God lives here - the tormentor of people's souls, the owner of hell. According to scientists, these beliefs are associated with relatively recent (4-5 thousand years ago) eruptionsvolcanoes. As one of the Evenk legends says, a fiery spirit, escaping from the abyss, soared over Khatanga, causing the waters of the river to boil, scorching the villages, burning the taiga, destroying livestock and people. On the plateau is Khantai Lake. The local population calls it the Cup of Tears. This lake is considered one of the deepest in the entire territory of Russia. The depth of the pool reaches five hundred meters. Previously, Khantai Lake was considered sacred. Nenets and Evenki girls have been coming to him for centuries to complain about their share to the goddess Eshnu and see their future destiny in its waters. According to ancient legend, the Fiery God in ancient times killed the only son of the goddess Eshnu. The master of hell took his immortal soul to his underground lair. Heartbroken, Eshnu cried for a very long time until she turned into a bas alt black rock. Her tears filled the basin that had once dried up in the heat. This is how the Cup of Tears was formed.
Life on the Putorana Plateau today
On its territory for many decades there has been only one permanent settlement. Not far from Lake Agatha there is a weather station. About ten people are present at it, they monitor weather changes around the clock. But meteorologists also observe mysterious phenomena, the description of which does not fall into the reports. So, for example, as the oldest employees of the weather station recall, every year from December 25 to January 7, from the seventies of the last century, almost every evening in the area of a hundred-meter frozen Khabarba waterfall into the sky from the earthconcentric rotating circles rise. In a few minutes, they form a luminous giant spiral that goes high into the starry sky. This phenomenon lasts no more than fifteen minutes. After that, the spiral fades, dissolving into darkness. There is another mystery of the Putorana Plateau. On the surface - hexagonal natural paving stones - geometric scorched figures appear from time to time - triangles, ovals, circles.
Processes taking place in the earth's crust and upcoming forecasts
Today, for no apparent reason, the annual rise of the plateau by one and a half centimeters occurs, as a result of which the tectonic faults of the foundation are deepening more and more. This circumstance allows us to assume that quite intensive processes take place underground. Given the increasing geological activity everywhere, scientists are increasingly saying that in the near (foreseeable) future, another natural disaster can be expected on the territory. Experts suggest three possible scenarios. In the first case, instead of a plateau, a young, but very active volcanic formation is formed. The second scenario assumes a series of powerful earthquakes in the next century. As a result of these processes, a new mountain formation will split the Central Siberian Plateau from north to south to the very Eastern Sayans. In the third, worst case, serious geological processes will occur, similar in intensity to a large-scale natural disaster. As a result, a giant fault may occur at the junction of the Siberian Platform and the West Siberian Plate in the areathe Yenisei basin. As a result, the Taimyr Peninsula will turn into an island, while the waters from the Laptev Sea will flood the resulting continental crevice.
