Characteristic Australia - the originality of the organic world, consisting in many endemic species. At the same time, it should be noted that the wild vegetation of Australia did not give a single plant that would play a significant role in agriculture. Among plants, the share of endemics reaches 75%. These are casuarinas with leafless filamentous branches, and a herbaceous tree, and tree ferns, there are also many types of acacias, palm trees, various herbs and shrubs.

Australia is absolutely unthinkable without evergreen giants - eucalyptus trees, of which there are more than 300 species - from giant (up to 150 m tall) to undersized and shrubby. Eucalyptus trees grow very fast. In 20 years, one hectare of eucalyptus forest can produce up to 800 m3 of valuable wood. For comparison, none of the known tree species can produce such an amount of wood even in 120 years. Despite the paradox - eucalyptus grows on the most arid continent, the most important property of this tree is its amazing ability to drain the soil, which is why eucalyptus is called the "pump tree". It is not surprising that under the eucalyptus, not only can you not meet another tree, you will not even see a blade of grass there.

Among animals, the share of endemics is even greater - about 90%. This is a symbol of Australia, a kangaroo, other marsupials: an unusually cute marsupial bear - a koala, a wombat, a mole, a marsupial wolf, etc. Such ancient animals as primitive egg-laying mammals are well known: platypus and echidna. A lot of different birds: emu, birds of paradise, cassowaries, lyrebirds, black swans, weed chickens, parrots, etc. The Australian world of reptiles is also rich: there are especially many poisonous snakes and lizards.

On the mainland natural areas are distributed in concentric circles. In the center - deserts and semi-deserts, they are surrounded by tropical forest-steppes - savannahs and light forests. The northern and northeastern parts of the mainland are characterized by wet and variable-moist forests. Different kinds palms, laurels, ficuses and tree-ferns intertwined with lianas grow here on red ferrallitic soils. On the eastern slopes of the Dividing Range, eucalyptus forests. Above 1000 m, you can find separate arrays of ancient coniferous species - araucaria.

IN savannas common species are eucalyptus, acacia and casuarina on red-brown and red-brown soils. Kangaroos and emus live here. In the extreme southwest shrub steppes are replaced by hard-leaved forests and shrubs, in the southeast - subtropical moist mixed forests with evergreen beeches on red-yellow ferralite soils.

In semi-deserts and deserts, one can find completely impenetrable thickets, consisting of hard-leaved thorny, densely intertwined shrubs (shrub forms of eucalyptus and acacia) - scrub s. In the western and central parts of the mainland, large areas are occupied by sandy deserts - Bolshaya, Victoria, Simpson. They are characterized by long ridges, occupied in places by tall hard cereals ("reed grass"). Of the animals here, there are giant kangaroos, wombats, emus and the dingo dog, which is a feral domestic animal. In deserts, the soil cover is poorly developed, in some places special desert soils are formed, painted in red.

altitudinal zonality can be found only in the Australian Alps, where on the tops of the forest are replaced by alpine-type meadows.

Due to the arid climate in Australia, there are far fewer plowed areas than pastures. However, grazing loads in many areas of the mainland are so great and intense that they have led to a noticeable change in its flora and fauna. A lot of it was brought to Australia from other continents. different types trees, shrubs and herbs. Many introduced animals (foxes, rats, rabbits) pushed aside or severely exterminated local animal species. Almost every year, Australian forests are severely affected by numerous fires.

The lecture was added on 03/07/2014 at 15:02:07

At the location of the natural regions of Australia, there is a pronounced latitudinal zone, which is disturbed by the eastern and western edges due to increased rainfall.

Savannah and forests correspond to the subsector climate zone. Eucalyptus, acacia, throat with bare threadlike branches, bottle grown on red ferrite and red-brown soil between herbs.

Moist and variable rainforests are widespread in the eastern part of the belt under conditions of uniform moisture, where palms, ficus and ferns appear during eucalyptus.

Kangaroos, wombats, marsupial anteaters live in this zone; There are many birds on the banks of the reservoirs.

Tropical deserts and semi-deserts are the largest area by area. Tropical small meadows grow in the desert, there are bushes of dried shrubs from curved acacia, eucalyptus.

Such bushes are called shrubs. For pastures, desert areas are used, covered with hard grass with spinafax and shrubs. In the deserts there are big kangaroos, echoes, many reptiles.

Subtropical forests dominated by eucalyptus, evergreen beech and others grow in the southeast and southwest of the continent.

Theme: Natural areas of Australia.

Target: the formation of the scientific outlook of students in the process of studying the natural areas of Australia and identifying their dependence on the climatic features of the mainland through the activation of mental and creative activity.

Lesson objectives:

Educational:

1. deepen students' knowledge about the characteristics of the animal world of Australia, through interdisciplinary connections;
2. to develop interest in studying: biology, geography, English;
3. improve the ability to establish links between natural components;
4. Explain the patterns of placement of natural areas.
5. develop the communication skills of students through the game.
6. To form the ability to briefly outline the studied material in the form of a waybill.

Educational:

1. Cultivate self-confidence.
2. Cultivate respect for the opinions of others.
3. Development of creative initiative in the search for the right solutions.

Developing:

1. Expand the horizons of students.
2. To develop the mental activity of students through the application various types partly - search tasks.
3. Develop the ability to correctly formulate your thoughts when answering a question.

Lesson type:

Equipment:

• physical map of Australia;
• multimedia presentation and video for the lesson;
• atlases of the 7th grade;
• travel list "Natural areas of Australia".

Introductory speech of the teacher:

Hello guys! I am very pleased to see you all. Sit down please.

Today we have an unusual lesson, but a lesson of geography and English.

The appearance of Sherlock Holmes. Knock on the door.

Hello, I'm the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The thing is, I made a bet with my friend Dr. Watsan.

We made a bet that I could find him anywhere in the world. Doctor Watson left England for hot-air balloon. I have a letter in which Watson left me clues. I ask you to travel with me and find Doctor Watson.

This is the smallest continent on Earth, but despite this, its size is impressive.

It is also the driest continent in the world. 40% of its area is occupied by deserts, although not ordinary ones. Through their thorny thickets you need to make your way with an ax.

It is sometimes referred to as "Mainland-Reverse". Not all trees provide shade here. Animals raise their young in a pouch. This is a continent of secrets and surprises.

Geography teacher: As I understand it, we have the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. He only speaks English. And in order to understand it, I need your help guys, because all of you are learning English. I think we will need help and an English teacher.

Eleonora Viktorovna, we need you as an expert to help Sherlock Holmes, as well as to check the correctness of the guys' answers from the point of view of the English language.

English teacher A: Of course, I will try to help you. And what happened?

Geography teacher: Guys, I studied English for a long time and don't remember much.

Help me explain what the problem is with Sherlock Holmes.

Student: Marina Anatolyevna, the problem is that Sherlock Holmes made a bet with his friend Doctor Watson. They bet that Sherlock Holmes would find him anywhere in the world. Doctor Watson left England in a balloon. Sherlock Holmes has a letter from Watson. He asks us to help him find his friend.

Listening to a letter from Dr. Watson.

English teacher: Now we will try to analyze the information and create a portrait of this country.

In the course of our journey, we will keep a waybill (it is on your tables)

Sherlock Holmes: I think it's Australia, but I still doubt Dr. Watson sent me these figures in his letter. It could be code.

1 group

km2 - Mainland area

2.2 — Washed by two oceans

3.2228m.- Kosciuszko is the highest point of the mainland

16m - Lowest point above sea level (Lake Eyre)

Geography teacher: Guys, let's help Sherlock Holmes work with the map.

2 group

The game "Do you know the map." Students are offered a map of Australia with unknown objects (presentation slides). It is necessary to determine what these objects are.

1. gulf
2. Island
3. River
4. Peninsula
5. Desert
6. Lake

3 group

Fill in the gaps with words.

The mainland of Australia is located in the ________ hemisphere from the equator.

Almost in the middle of it crosses ______ tropic. The northernmost point of the mainland is _______. From the south, the _______ bay protrudes deeply into the mainland. From the north - the bay _______. South of the mainland is the island of ________, which used to be part of Australia. The _________ mountain range runs along the entire east coast. The highest peak _________ is also located here, the height of which reaches ________ meters.

most deep river Australia is __________ and the longest is _______.

Australia is characterized by drying rivers _______. Most of the lakes are salty and dry. The largest lake is _________. A state that occupies an entire mainland is called _______.

Geography teacher: Guys Sherlock said that here is a unique flora and fauna.

Let's make sure of this.

Using the atlas map (p. 29), let's determine which natural areas our path will pass through in search of Dr. Watson.

Name the natural areas of the mainland:

1. humid and variable - humid forests;
2. savannas and woodlands;
3. semi-deserts and deserts;
4. hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.

In mountainous regions there are areas of altitudinal zonation.

(slide with a map of natural areas) Let's write them down in our waybill.

Which natural area occupies the largest area?

Why do you think? (highlight it)

Compare the map of natural areas and climate map. Determine the main reason for changing natural areas.

(the main reason for the change of natural areas: change in precipitation). Write it down on your travel list.

We still have a long journey ahead of us, let's warm up a bit.

Physical education minute.

It's called "Horizon". I will name the geographic features of Australia, if it is located in the northern part, then you stretch, if in the south - lean forward, if in the west - turn left, and if in the east - turn right.

So, let's start: m. South - East - Point, m. York, m. Steep - Point, m. Byron.

We rested and now we can continue the journey.

Australia is the most amazing and unique continent of the Earth. In the organic world of the mainland, 75% of plant species and 95% of animal species are endemic.

Endemics These are plants and animals that live in limited areas of the Earth.

Let's get to know Australian plants, (write them down on the waybill)

Watch a video lesson about Australia's natural areas

tree ferns the most ancient plants on earth.

Sometimes they reach a height of up to 20 m. The tops of their trunks do not have branches and are crowned with groups of large leaves.

Eucalyptus- There are many different types. Many are 100 meters high.

Their roots go 30 m into the ground. They absorb a lot of moisture. They have hard wood, the leaves are rich in essential oils.

bottle tree- the trunk at the base is thick, tapering upwards.

It has a dense bark, stores a lot of moisture. Crowned with a spreading crown, consisting of narrow leaves 8 cm long.

Casuarina- a strange-looking tree with thin falling shoots without leaves.

It looks like horsetail. It has a very dense wood, which is why it is called "iron wood".

Dr. Watson's letter contained very incomprehensible photographs.

We think this is a joke. Under the image there was a signature - a mammal, but in the nest we see eggs and an absurd body, connected from three animals.

And now let's consider animal world mainland, (write them down on the waybill)

Primitive mammals are found here:

Echidna: Resembles a hedgehog, the body is covered with needles.

Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Feeds on ants, termites, worms. The female lays one egg each year and carries it in her pouch. The cub, having hatched from the egg, stays in the bag for a very long time and feeds on mother's milk.

Platypus looks like a fat puppy. Between the toes of the paws there are membranes, on the head there is a duck's beak. The tail is like that of a beaver, the front paws are badger.

The male has spurs on its hind legs that release venom. It is nocturnal and finds food in the water. Just like the echidna, the baby is born from an egg and is fed with mother's milk.

A large group of animals are marsupials of about 125 species. These include:

Kangaroo- curious with an original body structure are able to make unusually high and long jumps. Their height is from 23 cm to 2 m. Weight up to 20 kg. The cub is born very small, about the size of a walnut.

Lives in a bag for a long time, eating mother's milk.

In the thickets of eucalyptus trees are found koalas. Their growth averages up to 50 cm, weight up to 10 kg.

Very lazy. They sit on eucalyptus trees and eat their leaves. There is a lot of moisture in the leaves, so koalas do not need to drink. Cubs, like all marsupials, bear in a bag for 7-8 months.

Then he gets out of the bag and sits on his mother's back. Only from a year old cubs become independent.

wild dog dingo. In my own way appearance it is a cross between a wolf and a dog. Leads a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. They feed on numerous marsupials, reptiles and birds. Many scientists believe that Dingo is a contemporary ancient man on the continent - lived in Australia for more than 6 thousand years.

years ago.

Ostrich Emu- a large running bird, weighing up to 50 kg. They feed on plant seeds and small animals. It can race on its long legs at a speed of 50 km/h.

Lyrebird bird You can only see it in Australia. The feathers of this bird are fabulously expensive, so there are many lovers of profit.

Cassowaries- flightless birds with long strong legs and powerful sharp claws, with which, if necessary, they defend themselves.

Duck bill (platypus)-platypus

Koala - koala

Kangaroo- kangaroo

Dingo (wild dog) - dingo

Echidna - echidna

wombat wombat

Emy is an emu.

Geography teacher: The guys on your tables are envelopes in which there are photographs of representatives of the flora and fauna of Australia, your task is to distribute them among the natural zones of the mainland.

catalogue of articles

1 group: deserts

Group 2: savannas and woodlands

Group 3: monsoon and subequatorial forests, humid tropical evergreen forests

One student completing a task using an interactive module on a computer

http://learningapps.org/index.php?page=4&s=&category=6

Australians are very fond of their unique flora and fauna and therefore perpetuate them on state symbols and banknotes.

(slide: the emblem of the Commonwealth of Australia with the image of a kangaroo and an emu).

On coins of 5 cents, an echidna is depicted, 10 cents - a bird - a lyrebird, 20 cents - a platypus.

To preserve representatives of the unique fauna, Australians

• established a ban on the export of animals;
• established a ban on keeping in captivity;
• restriction or complete ban on hunting certain species of animals.

This concludes our journey and we return home.

Let's remember what we learned today.

Tasks for fixing:

1. "Find extra":

A) Kangaroo, koala, wombat, elephant.

B) Eucalyptus, acacia, baobab, kasaurina.

2. "Classification of objects". Here is a list of objects: tropical, savannas and woodlands, Darling, kangaroos, deserts, subequatorial, Murray, lyrebird, subtropical, variable rainforests.

choose from it

natural areas -

climatic zones -

3. "Find mistakes"

« Most of Australia is located in the equatorial climate zone, so a dry climate prevails there. In the subequatorial forests, among tall grasses, along with other trees (palms, ficuses), peculiar baobab trees grow with trunks thick at the base, sharply tapering towards the top. Australia's largest river system is the Darling, with a major tributary, the Murray.

Temporary drying rivers on this mainland are called wadis. The relief of Australia, like Africa, is relatively simple. At the base of it is folding, in the east of the mainland is the Australian platform.

The animal world is unique. Here live echidna, platypus, which hatch cubs from eggs. Hippos, elephants and other large animals are often seen. Lots of marsupials."

4. Determine the description of the animals of Australia.

1. A climbing marsupial arboreal mammal that eats eucalyptus leaves ... _________________________________________

2. Marsupial rodent, inhabitant of the Australian savannas ... ____________________

3. A running bird, a relative of the emu, feeds on the fruits and seeds of trees ... ___________________________________

Conclusion: thus, we got acquainted with the natural areas of Australia, with the features of the organic world of the mainland

Letter with errors

“Most of Australia is in the equatorial climate zone, so a dry climate prevails there.

In the subequatorial forests, among tall grasses, along with other trees (palms, ficuses), peculiar baobab trees grow with trunks thick at the base, sharply tapering towards the top.

Australia's largest river system is the Darling, with a major tributary, the Murray. Temporary drying rivers on this mainland are called wadis. The relief of Australia, like Africa, is relatively simple. At the base of it is folding, in the east of the mainland is the Australian platform. The animal world is unique. Here live echidna, platypus, which hatch cubs from eggs. Hippos, elephants and other large animals are often seen. Lots of marsupials."

INTRODUCTION

Australia is the only country in the world that occupies an entire continent. This is the driest continent on earth, a third of the entire territory is desert. The length (from north to south) is approximately 3,700 km, width - 4,000 km.

To the east, the mainland is divided by the Great Dividing Range, which stretches from the east coast, the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland to Melbourne, Victoria.

Australia's highest point is Mount Kosciusko at 2229 meters, which is located near the border of the states of New South Wales and Victoria in the snow-covered alpine region of the Great Dividing Range.

To the west of the Dividing Range lies mostly flat terrain with a few low mountain ranges like the Flinders in South Australia and MacDonnell near Alice Springs. Australia is a relatively sparsely populated continent (only 18 million people). But ironically, Australia is also one of the most urbanized countries in the world. Two thirds of the population live in the administrative centers, states and on the coast.

§ 37. Australia: natural areas

The vast central regions, once in almost complete isolation, which were brought to an end thanks to radio and aviation, are almost not inhabited by people.

Australia is the most big island and the smallest continent on the planet.

There are 5 states and 2 territories on the main continent.

The sixth state, Tasmania, is located 200 km south of the state of Victoria, and is separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait.

To the east are the Australian-administered Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, as is the section of Antarctica around Mawson Station.

This is the driest continent on earth, a third of the entire territory is desert. The length (from north to south) is approximately 3,700 km, width - 4,000 km.

To the east, the mainland is divided by the Great Dividing Range, which stretches from the east coast, the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland to Melbourne, Victoria. Australia's highest point is Mount Kosciusko at 2229 meters, which is located near the border of the states of New South Wales and Victoria in the snow-covered alpine region of the Great Dividing Range.

To the west of the Dividing Range lies mostly flat terrain with a few low mountain ranges like the Flinders in South Australia and MacDonnell near Alice Springs.

The center of the continent is mostly sparsely populated desert. About 80% of the total population of Australia lives on the east coast or along the coastline.

An extensive system of rivers feeds hundreds of kilometers to fill the salt lakes located in the north of South Australia. These lakes often dry up for a long time: the largest of them, Lake Eyre, with an area of ​​9475 sq.

km, was filled in 1994 for the first time in the previous decade. The water from these lakes, in addition to what evaporates, feeds the Central Australian Artesian Basin, a huge natural underground aquifer system. This water gives life to many sources in the most remote areas of the desert (these sources for centuries have allowed man to survive in the most "dead" areas of the desert); this same system provides water to Alice Spring.

An object term paper- Mainland Australia.

Target course work to consider the natural complexes of Australia.
Based on the goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

• give general information about the natural complex;
• consider the features of the geographical position of Australia;
• consider the geological development and modern composition of the specific natural components of the mainland.

I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURAL COMPLEX

1.1 Natural complexes

A natural complex is a territory that is homogeneous in origin, history of geological development, and modern composition of specific natural components.

It has a single geological foundation, the same type and amount of surface and groundwater, a homogeneous soil and vegetation cover and a single biocenosis (a combination of microorganisms and characteristic animals). In the natural complex, the interaction and metabolism between its constituent components are also of the same type.

The interaction of the components and ultimately leads to the formation of specific natural complexes.

The level of interaction of components in the composition of the natural complex is determined primarily by the amount and rhythms of solar energy (solar radiation).

Knowing the quantitative expression of the energy potential of the natural complex and its rhythm, modern geographers can determine the annual productivity of its natural resources and optimal terms of their renewability.

This makes it possible to objectively predict the use of natural resources of natural territorial complexes (NTC) in the interests of human economic activity.

At present, most of the Earth's natural complexes have been altered to some extent by man, or even re-created by him on a natural basis.

For example, desert oases, reservoirs, crop plantations. Such natural complexes are called anthropogenic. According to their purpose, anthropogenic complexes can be industrial, agricultural, urban, etc. According to the degree of change by human economic activity - in comparison with the initial natural state, they are divided into slightly changed, changed and strongly changed.

natural complexes can be different sizes- different ranks, as scientists say.

The largest natural complex is the geographic envelope of the Earth. Continents and oceans are natural complexes of the next rank.

Within the continents, physiographic countries are distinguished - natural complexes of the third level. Such, for example, as the East European Plain, the Ural Mountains, the Amazonian Lowland, the Sahara Desert and others. Well-known natural zones can serve as examples of natural complexes: tundra, taiga, forests of the temperate zone, steppes, deserts, etc.

The smallest natural complexes (localities, tracts, fauna) occupy limited territories. These are hilly ridges, separate hills, their slopes; or low-lying river valley and its separate sections: channel, floodplain, terraces above the floodplain. Interestingly, the smaller the natural complex, the more homogeneous its natural conditions.

However, even in natural complexes of significant size, the homogeneity of natural components and basic physical and geographical processes is preserved. Thus, the nature of Australia is not at all similar to the nature of North America, the Amazonian lowland differs markedly from the Andes adjacent to the west, the Karakum (deserts of the temperate zone) an experienced geographer-researcher will not confuse with the Sahara (deserts of the tropical zone), etc.

Thus, the entire geographical envelope of our planet consists of a complex mosaic of natural complexes of various ranks.

Natural complexes formed on land are now called natural-territorial (NTC); formed in the ocean and another body of water (lake, river) - natural aquatic (PAC); natural-anthropogenic landscapes (NAL) are created by human economic activity on a natural basis.

1.2 Geographical envelope - the largest
natural complex

The geographic shell is a continuous and integral shell of the Earth, including in a vertical section the upper part of the earth's crust (lithosphere), the lower atmosphere, the entire hydrosphere and the entire biosphere of our planet.

What unites, at first glance, heterogeneous components of the natural environment into a single material system? It is within the geographic shell that a continuous exchange of matter and energy takes place, a complex interaction between the indicated component shells of the Earth.

The boundaries of the geographic shell are still not clearly defined. For its upper limit, scientists usually take the ozone screen in the atmosphere, beyond which life on our planet does not go. The lower boundary is most often drawn in the lithosphere at depths of no more than 1000 m.

This top part the earth's crust, which is formed under the strong joint influence of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and living organisms. The entire water column of the World Ocean is inhabited, therefore, if we talk about the lower boundary of the geographic shell in the ocean, then it should be drawn along the ocean floor. In general, the geographic envelope of our planet has a total thickness of about 30 km.

As you can see, the geographic envelope in terms of volume and geographically coincides with the distribution of living organisms on Earth.

However, there is still no single point of view regarding the relationship between the biosphere and the geographic envelope. Some scientists believe that the concepts of "geographical envelope" and "biosphere" are very close, even identical, and these terms are synonymous. Other researchers consider the biosphere only as a certain stage in the development of the geographical envelope. In this case, three stages are distinguished in the history of the development of the geographical envelope: pre-biogenic, biogenic and anthropogenic (modern).

The biosphere, according to this point of view, corresponds to the biogenic stage of the development of our planet. According to the third, the terms "geographical envelope" and "biosphere" are not identical, as they reflect a different qualitative essence. The concept of "biosphere" focuses on the active and decisive role of living matter in the development of the geographic envelope.

Which point of view should be preferred?

It should be borne in mind that the geographic envelope is characterized by a number of specific features. It is distinguished primarily by a large variety of material composition and types of energy, characteristic of all component shells - the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Through common (global) cycles of matter and energy, they are united into an integral material system.

To know the patterns of development of this unified system- one of critical tasks modern geographical science.
Thus, the integrity of the geographical envelope is the most important regularity on the knowledge of which the theory and practice of modern environmental management is based.

Accounting for this regularity makes it possible to foresee possible changes in the nature of the Earth (a change in one of the components of the geographic envelope will necessarily cause a change in others); to give a geographical forecast of the possible results of human impact on nature; to carry out a geographical examination of various projects related to the economic use of certain territories.

Another characteristic pattern is also inherent in the geographical shell - the rhythm of development, i.e.

recurrence in time of certain phenomena. In the nature of the Earth, rhythms of different durations have been identified - daily and annual, intra-secular and super-secular rhythms. The daily rhythm, as you know, is due to the rotation of the Earth around its axis. The daily rhythm is manifested in changes in temperature, pressure and humidity, cloudiness, wind strength; in the phenomena of ebbs and flows in the seas and oceans, the circulation of breezes, the processes of photosynthesis in plants, the daily biorhythms of animals and humans.

The annual rhythm is the result of the Earth's movement in its orbit around the Sun.

This is the change of seasons, changes in the intensity of soil formation and destruction of rocks, seasonal features in the development of vegetation and human economic activity. Interestingly, different landscapes of the planet have different daily and annual rhythms. Thus, the annual rhythm is best expressed in temperate latitudes and very weakly in the equatorial zone.

1.3 Natural areas of the globe, their a brief description of

The great Russian scientist V.V.

Dokuchaev at the end of the last century substantiated the planetary law of geographic zoning - a natural change in the components of nature and natural complexes when moving from the equator to the poles. Zoning is primarily due to the unequal (latitudinal) distribution of solar energy (radiation) over the Earth's surface, associated with the spherical shape of our planet, as well as different amounts of precipitation.

Depending on the latitudinal ratio of heat and moisture, weathering processes and exogenous relief-forming processes are subject to the law of geographical zonality; zonal climate, land and ocean surface waters, soil cover, flora and fauna.

The largest zonal subdivisions of the geographic envelope are geographic belts.

They stretch, as a rule, in the latitudinal direction and, in essence, coincide with the climatic zones. Geographical zones differ from each other in temperature characteristics, as well as common features atmospheric circulation. On land, the following geographical zones are distinguished:

• equatorial - common to the northern and southern hemispheres;
• subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate -

• the subantarctic and antarctic belts are in the southern hemisphere.

Belts similar in name were also found in the World Ocean.

The zonality (zonality) in the ocean is reflected in the change from the equator to the poles of the properties of surface waters (temperature, salinity, transparency, wave intensity, and others), as well as in the change in the composition of flora and fauna.

Within geographic zones, according to the ratio of heat and moisture, natural zones are distinguished. The names of the zones are given according to the type of vegetation prevailing in them.

For example, in the subarctic zone, these are the tundra and forest-tundra zones; in temperate - forest zones (taiga, mixed coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests), forest-steppe and steppe zones, semi-deserts and deserts.

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Continental Australia: natural areas and their brief description

The emus is the largest bird on the Australian continent. It has undeveloped, very small, compressed wings close to the body. Given the scale, the Australian ostrich is slightly worse than the African counterpart. Emu is an excellent sprinter who works fairly quickly. Unlike the African Loop, this bird is an excellent flier and enjoys doing so for pleasure.

IN environment Emu are the islands of Tasmania and Australia.

However, now the bird is farmed in China, Peru, North America and other countries that go beyond the natural habitat of a large scale, although not as common.

Scientists have found that the earlier living space of these knives was much wider - from modern Egypt to Morocco, as well as from ancient persia and Mesopotamia through the Middle East to South Africa.

habitat

These birds actively settle on dry and open biotopes.

Such in Australia are grass sabers and bushes. On the strange periphery, nails can also be observed, but they do not penetrate deep into the sand. They lead a fairly quiet life, for example, in the west of the continent, regular seasonal movement: in winter they approach south, and in summer - north.

What feeds, natural enemies

As food, emu nuts use fruits, seeds and roots of plants, the smallest animals:

• lizards;
• beetles;
• ants;
• caterpillars;
• keel.

Bird food comes from plant stems and from the soil.

Emus tolerate drought well, although it is very convenient to absorb moisture from a puddle at the right time and try to visit small bodies of water.

Dusty baths, unlike water, nightmares don't like Emu.

There is no federal nocturnal sleep in these birds, but shorter.

The life expectancy of individuals ranges from ten to twenty years - if they do not die due to the persecution of hawks, eagles and dingoes.

Danger to people

This bird is great for humans.

In addition, Omus Emus are very friendly, as long as they feel good about themselves. They quickly adapt to owners and become very secretive.

Ecology is a broad concept and an integral part of the planet as a whole and its parts separately. Ecology also includes such factors as ecological problems, which are slow destroyers of the planet. Our planet is divided into two hemispheres, and into different continents, which have different conditions.

To the green continent - green policy

Australia is just one of the continents with a rather specific ecology, climatic conditions, nature and unique species of animals and plants.

However, this uniqueness and uniqueness can be easily lost due to serious and very dangerous environmental news from Australia: the ever more active human intervention in the life of the green continent is devastating to the flora and fauna of the mainland.

The environmental problems of Australia are, without exaggeration, the problems of the entire population of the planet. This continent is very rich in resources such as precious metals.

Naturally, this is a support for the Australian economy, and people are mining them relentlessly. Thus, during the extraction of minerals, the earth is depleted, the bowels cannot restore these resources. In addition, there is a strong destruction of the soil during excavations.

In order to find ways to solve Australia's environmental problems, it is necessary to name their main causes.

The main environmental problems in Australia include:

• soil erosion;
• depletion of land resources.

Maintaining the economic situation, extracting coal, iron, expensive metals, people do not realize that in doing so they are slowly killing and destroying the earth, mistakenly believing that it is not exhaustible.

This problem could be corrected if people in the pursuit of money and profit, however, realized that it is necessary to give some time for resources to recover, for example, as the population of fish increases in rivers and lakes by breeding.

Therefore, catching it does not bring huge damage to the continent. Instead, the miners are taking the fossils so fast, completely emptying those gold veins without giving them time to heal.

By the way, forest and water resources are renewable.

But if they are spent, exceeding all possible measures, then they may disappear. This is actually starting to happen. People do not know the measure. They use natural gifts as if it were their own and they would no longer live on this planet. And in the meantime, she is already suffocating from the depletion of resources.

It is noted that the natural resources of the Australian continent are used as intensively as the extraction of coal, iron and other minerals.

Due to its compactness, Australia is very easy to analyze in terms of the consumption of minerals, the economy, the dynamics of natural resources.

This is because the Australian system is not as large and complex as the structures of other countries. In addition, the population of the continent is not distinguished by its large number.

However, due to its uniqueness, Australia is more visible and vulnerable, along with Iceland, in terms of ecology.

Many aspire to Australia because of high level life, well-educated cultured people. Unfortunately, this part of the planet is also facing problems typical of poor parts of the Earth. For example, lack water resources necessary for life.

After all, this happens precisely at the expense of human activity. And this threat is the crown not only of developed Australia, but also of other rich countries that “live to the fullest”, squandering their resources as if this disaster had never threatened humanity.

As if the media in the news about the ecology of Australia do not constantly shout about the deaths of people and animals from drought. And water scarcity is far from everything!

Human civilized activity destroys the earth and salts the soil to such an extent that it can no longer grow succulent perennial green plants that process carbon dioxide into oxygen so that we can breathe fresh and clean air.

Australians should think about this, if only because a large area of ​​the continent is occupied by a dry desert.

The consequence of such climatic conditions, which this desert influences, is its low soil fertility.

Australia natural areas

They are not rich in nutrients. It is because of this that the soils of the country bring a large number of problems and are one of the causes of the environmental problems of Australia and Oceania as a whole.

This can be explained by the fact that Australia is a very ancient continent, its soil corresponds to its antiquity. Over time, it could happen that, along with the rains, all the nutrients could simply be washed away with water.

Unfortunately, this factor is practically unrecoverable for many reasons, but it becomes the result of many other problems, for example, the depletion of almost all natural resources. This led to both economic and agricultural problems in the country.

Of course, the planet is divided into many small parts, but it would be foolish to believe that environmental problems in one earthly hemisphere will not affect the other.

After all, everything in life is interconnected. Nature can give, but it can also take away and severely punish. This should be remembered!

Natural areas of Australia.

Goals:

1. Introduce students to the features of the natural area.

2. Show the relationship of natural components using the example of a natural zone.

3. Develop skills in working with sources of geographical knowledge (atlases, maps)

4. Instill a love for nature.

Equipment: atlases, maps: physical Australia, natural zones map of plants and animals of the world.

During the classes.

1. Org moment:

One of the heroes of Jules Verne in the novel “Children of the Captain of the Grant” described this continent as follows: “... This region is the most curious on the globe! Its appearance, plants, climate - all this surprised and will surprise ... The most bizarre, most illogical country of all that has ever existed!

There are traces of wingless birds in the thickets,

There cats get snakes for food,

Animals are born from eggs

And the dogs don't know how to bark.

The trees themselves climb out of the bark,

There the rabbits are worse than the flood...

(G. Usova).

I want to invite you to go on a distance travel around Australia.

During which we will find out how the organic world of this continent differs from other continents, we will discover something new and interesting for ourselves. - Nature has created a huge nature reserve in Australia, where many animals are preserved, close to those that inhabited the Earth in ancient times. The organic world of Australia is original and unique: 75% of plant species and 95% of animals in Australia are endemic. In Australia there are marsupials - 162 species. But there are no monkeys and ungulates, there are no plants with juicy fruits, there is not a single domesticated plant or animal. In Australia, egg-laying and milk-feeding organisms live and are not found anywhere else on Earth. Why??

I am sure that at the end of the lesson we will be able to solve this problem.

Theme Natural areas of Australia

Target

Let's remember the definition of a natural area?

(A natural zone is a large natural complex with a common temperature and moisture conditions, soils, vegetation and wildlife).

Well, we decided to travel.

Where does every journey begin?

From learning the address of the mainland where you want to go. Is not it? So tell me about geographical location Australia?

When we go on a trip, we need to know the weather forecast, for which we use the knowledge about the climate of the mainland, obtained in the previous lesson. You already know which climatic zones Australia is in (students name them) and you can independently characterize each of these zones.

(Characteristics of climatic conditions).

Open atlases and try to determine which natural zones can be located in a particular climatic zone?

(in the course of their work, they reveal causal relationships between climate and the location of natural areas).

Then the teacher asks to open atlases and compare maps: climatic and natural zones of Australia.

As a result of the comparison, students come to the conclusion that the location of natural areas is primarily influenced by precipitation. The boundaries of natural zones almost completely coincide with the boundaries of the average annual precipitation. This suggests that there is a close relationship between climatic regions and natural zones.

At the request of the teacher, list all the natural areas of Australia.

Plot the boundaries of natural areas on a contour map

Look at the pattern we see: does the location of natural zones in Australia obey the law of latitudinal zonality?

Which natural area covers the largest area?

Check frontally.

The student, at the request of the teacher, sums up: “Most of the mainland is occupied by tropical deserts and savannahs; within Australia, the change of natural zones is subject to the law of latitudinal zonality.

The Australian journey begins. We will visit with you in different natural areas of the mainland

We will record our observations in our notebooks,

which will serve as our logbooks.

Well, are you ready? Then go!

1. Let's start from the southeast of Australia, which is located in the zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.

There are atlases in front of you, open them and see what climate zone this zone is in, and what soils are common in it? (data are recorded in a table).

Teacher's story

So, we found out that in the southeast of the mainland the most favorable climate and fairly fertile soils, which is why this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe mainland is the most populated and developed. Eucalyptus forests predominate here; evergreen beech is found in the extreme south. But most of these forests were reduced with the advent of Europeans and now grow there: fruit trees, oaks, poplars, cereals and other species. Many forests have died from fires, which often occur here during dry periods. Animals brought here: rabbits, foxes, rats pushed aside or exterminated local animal species. In general, the flora and fauna of Australia have been greatly modified by man, especially in the most populated areas. The forests of Australia are home to the green parakeets, which have also been greatly reduced since it became fashionable to have them in European homes. eucalyptus pupil

Watching a movie.

Filling in the table.

Australian rainforest:

1. This forest is somewhat different from other forests. Trees 40-50 meters tall grow so close to each other that their foliage forms a dense canopy that blocks access to the sun's rays. Therefore, the grass cover here is sparse, and instead of it, a thick layer of rotting leaves, branches, and tree trunks lies on the ground.

2. Creeping plants wrap around the branches and trunks of trees, powerful creepers hang from them. The abundance of epiphytic, fern-like, orchids, lichens is striking. Fallen trees seem to be shrouded in a woolen cover. Humidity is very high.

3. Grow here kauri pine, araucaria, red cedar, maple, Australian walnut, eucalyptus, casuarina. The most interesting tree here is the banyan tree. Birds scatter its seeds, and they, stuck in the branches, germinate and take root, which, intertwining, entangle their owner and strangle, taking his place.

4. Koalas are also found here. The koala is a distant relative of the wombat, even more distant is the kangaroo and the opossum: they are all marsupials. Koalas do not drink at all, so the name of this animal is translated as non-drinking water. They feed exclusively on the foliage of certain types of eucalyptus trees. Their life is mostly in limbo, they are quite lazy and only occasionally descend to the ground. The koala has thick, warm and very wearable fur, because of which it was exterminated great amount individuals, and now they are under state protection.

Students complete the table as they speak.

Teacher's story:

3. Imagine that we will pass the next natural area of ​​​​savannahs and light forests by bus, and I will act as a guide and briefly talk about it. And at home, you will examine it in more detail with the help of an atlas. You can close your eyes, sit back and dream a little, relax while I tell you what we could see from the bus window.

Evergreen eucalyptus trees play the main role in light forests; in drier places, acacias and casuarinas are mixed with them. The trees stand at a great distance from each other and therefore do not shade the thick green carpet of local grasses: “blue grass”, “Mitchell grass”, “kangaroo grass”, “Flinders grass”. General form the savannah varies greatly with the seasons. In the dry season, life here freezes, the soil dries up and cracks, the leaves are covered with dust, acquiring a deathly shade. And with the first rains, juicy grass appears and bright flowers. Dense grass grows up to 1.5 meters and serves as nutritious food for animals. The main representative of the animal world of savannahs and woodlands is kangaroo.

koala

4.. And finally, we got to the most sultry and lifeless zone of Australia - the desert and semi-desert zones. Complete the table on your own, using the text and the atlas.

3/4 of the mainland area is occupied by deserts. What is it connected with? (students associate this with a dry climate, find out how much precipitation falls within this zone). There are no deserts in the world like the Australian ones. The sandy deserts formed as a result of the destruction of the ancient ferruginous parent rock are especially peculiar. Therefore, they are red-brown in color. The slopes and tops of the sandy ridges are overgrown with curtains of spinifex - holly grass, in some places there are thorny bushes of acacias, eucalyptus, casuarina. The surface of the rocky deserts is covered with specific Australian species of quinoa and saltwort, alternating with dense impassable thickets of shrubs - scrubs . (for the more inquisitive, the teacher writes down on the board the name of scrubs from eucalyptus and acacia). The vegetation of the semi-deserts is somewhat richer: hard turf grasses, wormwoods and saltworts, continuous thickets of shrubby acacias and eucalyptus trees. The fauna of the deserts is poor. There are only poisonous snakes, frilled lizard, insects, various species live in semi-deserts. kangaroo , ostrich Emu, wild dog dingo, which significantly contributed to the decline in the kangaroo population, as well as humans.

6. Consolidation of knowledge gained in the lesson.

Teacher: And now I invite you to listen to the text and find the mistakes made in it.

Forests are located mainly on west Australia, many species live in them monkeys , which feed on the leaves of numerous eucalyptus trees andbreadfruit trees. Parrots live in the forests of Australia. A very small area on the mainland is occupied by savannahs,semi-deserts and deserts. Among continuous thickets of bushes slowly make their way koalas . Deserts don't seem so lifeless, do they? like oases meet at every turn.

Test:

1. Monkeys and ungulates live on mainland Australia.

2. Koala eats only eucalyptus leaves.

3. Scraper - a forest consisting of tall trees.

4. Eucalyptus forests are light, as the leaves are turned to the sun with an edge.

5. The platypus and echidna are egg-laying mammals.

6. The largest area in Australia is occupied by forests.

7. Dingo dog benefits agriculture.

8. The kangaroo is depicted on the national flag of Australia.

9. There are many endemics in Australia.

10. Australia has long been separated from other continents, its organic world has developed in isolation.

Teacher's Word:

At the end of our journey, I ask you to pay attention to how man has influenced and changed the nature of Australia. First, the area of ​​forests is rapidly declining. Secondly, 75% of the mainland is now subject to desertification. Thirdly, some species of animals are completely exterminated, while others are on the verge of extinction. The flora has also suffered from economic activities and the introduction of man into the wild nature of this unique part of the world. And despite all this, only about 2% of the country's land fund is occupied by protected areas. Until now, the efforts of conservationists in this country are in constant conflict with the interests of the monopolies, and scientists in Australia express fears that the nature of the continent may be sacrificed to them!

D.Z.paragraph

Ratings

make a thematic quiz, a crossword puzzle about the uniqueness of flora and fauna, or more serious tasks - tests, geographical dictation. Write down your choice.

The exceptional originality and antiquity of the flora and fauna of Australia is explained by its long isolation. Most plant species (75%) and animals (90%) of Australia are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world. There are few mammals among the animals, however, species extinct on other continents, including marsupials (about 160 species), have survived. Characteristic representatives of the Australian flora are eucalyptus (600 species), acacia (490 species) and casuarina. The mainland did not give the world valuable cultivated plants.

Australia is located in four geographical zones - from subequatorial to temperate. The change in natural zones is due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. The flat nature of the relief contributes to a well-defined, disturbed only in the east. The main part of the continent lies in tropical latitudes, therefore, tropical deserts and semi-deserts, occupying half the area of ​​the mainland, have received the greatest development.

The central parts of the mainland in two geographical zones (tropical and subtropical) are occupied by deserts and semi-deserts. Australia is rightly called the continent of deserts (Great Sandy, Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert, etc.). Tropical deserts and semi-deserts dominate the Western Australian Plateau in a tropical continental climate. In stony and sandy riverbeds, thin forests of casuarinas stretch along the riverbeds. In the hollows of clayey semi-deserts, there are thickets of quinoa and salt-tolerant species of acacia and eucalyptus. Deserts are characterized by "pillows" of bushy cereal spinifex. Soils of semi-deserts are gray soils, deserts are primitive stony, clayey or sandy.

In the south of the mainland in the subtropics, deserts and semi-deserts occupy the Nullarbor plain (“treeless”) and the Murray-Darling lowland. They are formed in a subtropical continental climate on brown semi-desert and gray-brown soils. Against the background of dry rare cereals, wormwood and saltwort are found, tree and shrub vegetation is absent.

The problem of scarcity is most acute in Australia. Previously, it was solved by pumping groundwater from numerous wells. But at present, a decrease in the water level in artesian basins has been recorded. The depletion of underground water reserves, along with a decrease in the full flow of rivers, has exacerbated the shortage of water in Australia, forcing the implementation of programs to conserve it.

One of the ways to preserve nature is the creation of specially protected natural areas. They occupy 11% of the area of ​​the continent. One of the most visited is the Kosciuszko park in the Australian. In the north is one of the largest parks in the world - Kakadu, where not only wetlands are taken under protection, which serve as a habitat for many endemic birds, but also caves with Aboriginal rock art. In the Blue Mountains Park, stunning mountain landscapes with a variety of eucalyptus forests are protected. The nature of deserts has also been taken under protection (parks Great Victoria Desert, Simpson Desert). object world heritage Ayers Rock, a giant red sandstone monolith sacred to the Aborigines, has been recognized by UNESCO in Uluru-Katayuta Park. The fabulous world of corals is protected in the underwater park of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef has the largest variety of corals on the planet (up to 500 species). The threat, in addition to pollution of coastal waters and poaching, is posed by polyp-eating Starfish"crown of thorns". Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming are causing coral bleaching and death.

The main feature of the animal and plant world of Australia is the predominance of endemics. Australia is the most deserted continent. Global, depletion of water resources, depletion of flora and fauna pose a threat to the nature of the mainland. specially protected natural areas occupy 11% of the area of ​​the continent.

The natural areas of Australia (grade 7) are one of the most interesting topics in school geography. After all, this continent, despite its small size, is characterized by a very rich natural diversity. This article gives a brief description of all the natural zones of the mainland.

What is a natural area? Formation of natural zones

A natural (or physiographic) zone is a part of a geographic envelope, which is characterized by its own set of natural components and conditions. Any natural zone includes a number of structural components, namely:

• climate features;
• landforms;
• inland waters;
• soil;
• flora and fauna.

All these components are in close interaction with each other, and in each of the natural zones the nature of these connections will be different.

The main factor that influences the formation and distribution of natural zones on the planet is the ratio of received moisture and heat. This ratio will be different depending on the latitude of the area. Other factors also influence natural zonality (for example, the nature and complexity of the relief, proximity to the ocean, etc.), however key factor nevertheless acts precisely climatic.

Each of the continents of our planet has its own set of natural zones. Australia is no exception here. The natural zones of this continent, namely their distribution, differ significantly from the sublatitudinal one. The reason for this is the small size of the mainland, as well as the presence of a powerful and elongated from north to south mountain system in the east of the continent of Australia.

The natural zones of the mainland, as well as their territorial distribution, are displayed on the following map:

Natural areas of Australia: table

In order to visualize the physical and geographical zoning of Australia, we bring to your attention the following table.

Australia: natural areas and their brief description

The largest area in Australia is the zone of deserts and semi-deserts, located in the tropical zone. This zone is characterized by low precipitation and extremely high evaporation. Therefore, the vegetation of the Australian deserts is very poor. Quite often one can observe here extensive salt crusts covering large areas.

To the east, the zone of deserts and semi-deserts is replaced by a more humid zone of savannahs and tropical woodlands. In this natural area vegetable world already much richer, but the lack of moisture is noticeable here.

The eastern outskirts of Australia, as you know, are occupied by a mountain system - the Great Dividing Range - the most important landscape barrier on the mainland. It was on its slopes that two natural forest-type zones were formed. Between the 15th and 28th degrees of the south latitude there is a zone of evergreen forests, and to the north of the 15th degree there is already a zone of permanently wet forests. Altitudinal zonality on this continent is clearly visible only in the Australian Alps.

Finally

So, we found out that within the smallest continent of the planet, four natural belts are distinguished.

The natural zones of Australia are the zone of permanently wet forests, the zone of evergreen hardwood forests, the zone of savannahs and light forests, as well as the zone of deserts and semi-deserts. Each of them is distinguished by its geographical features (soil, flora, representatives of the fauna).

1. Fill in the missing words in the sentences using textbook text and cards.

The area of ​​Australia is 7.7 million km2.

Australia is the smallest continent.

It is located in the southern and eastern hemispheres.

The continent of Eurasia is located closest to it.

The coast of Australia is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Its northern coast is most indented.

Australia is located in the subequatorial, tropical, subtropical climatic zones.

At the base of the mainland lies the ancient Australian platform.

Australia has the largest reserves of coal, iron and aluminum ores, lead, titanium, uranium, and gold.

3. Complete the sentence.

Travelers V. Janszon, A. Tasman, J. Cook contributed to the study of the mainland.

5. Before you are three climatic diagrams (Fig. 11). What climatic zones of Australia do they characterize?

1. subequatorial;

2. subtropical

7. Sign on the contour map of Australia large landforms of the mainland, rivers. Apply minerals.

8. Plot and label the currents off the coast of Australia on a contour map.

9. Draw a travel route on the contour map of Australia in such a way that it passes through: a) all natural areas of the mainland; b) one of the national parks.

11. Australia is called the land down under - the land upside down. Why is she called that? Give examples of what is the other way around?

Australia is called "the land upside down" because it is the only continent (other than Antarctica) that occupies such southern position. The earth is spherical, giving the impression that Australia is "upside down". It's winter in Australia when we have summer. In Australia, it gets warmer as you move north and colder as you move south. Australians see the moon upside down.

12. What geographical objects of Australia are connected with your perception of the mainland, i.e. What do you think is her calling card? Name five or six characteristics of Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef, the city of Sydney itself and the Sydney Opera House, national park Kakadu, Carlton Gardens Park, East Coast Rainforest, Melbourne.

13. What letter on the map (Fig. 12) indicates Cape York?

A); IN); WITH); D);

14. Choose the extra:

1) Gulf of Carpentaria;

2) Gulf of Guinea;

3) Great Australian Bight

2) Gulf of Guinea.

15. Screams are:

1) thickets of hard-leaved shrubs;

2) temporary drying watercourses (rivers);

3) endorheic salt lakes

2) temporary drying watercourses (rivers).

1) Darling;

2) Murray;

3) Limpopo

17. What letter on the map (Fig. 13) marks the island of Tasmania?

18. What letter on the map (Fig. 14) indicates the Great Dividing Range?

A); IN); WITH); D)

19. What letter on the map (Fig. 15) indicates the zone of savannas and light forests?

A); IN); WITH); D)

20. Choose the correct statement:

1. Australia is the flattest continent on Earth.

2. Most of the Australian population lives in rural areas

4. Tasmania is rich in iron ore

3. In Australia, it gets warmer as you move north, and colder as you move south.

21. Leading industry Agriculture Australia is:

1) camel breeding;

2) sheep breeding;

3) rabbit breeding

2) sheep breeding

22. Choose the only false statement:

1. Australia is a separate continent, remote from all continents except Eurasia and Antarctica.

2. The species composition of vegetation is poor.

4. The Great Barrier Reef stretches from north to south along the east coast.

3. The largest natural zone in terms of area is humid equatorial and variable-humid forests.

24. Which statement is correct?

A) Australia is poor in surface water.

B) In Australia, species of plants and animals have survived that have become extinct on other continents.

1) only A is true;

2) only B is true)

3) both are true;

4) both are wrong