Physical map of the Caspian lowland. Caspian lowland on the map

Caspian lowland occupies the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, and is a flat plain with an inclination to the sea, among which mountains rise up to 150 meters high.

The lowland is represented by steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes, which are of scientific and environmental value. The unique water body of the Caspian Sea is the largest salt lake in Europe, Baskunchak, taken under protection in the Bogdinsko-Baskunchak Reserve.

In the west, the Caspian lowland is crossed by the Volga.

The Volga Delta is the largest and most environmentally friendly in Europe. It begins to the north of Astrakhan, where a large branch, the Buzan, separates. Throughout the entire journey from Astrakhan to the rumbles of the Caspian Sea, the delta is extremely diverse, the main branches 300 - 600 meters wide branch into numerous channels and eriki - small watercourses up to 30 meters wide. At the confluence with the Caspian, the Volga has about 800 mouths.

About 500 plant species belonging to 82 families have been identified on the territory of the Volga delta. The richest among these families are the genera of wormwood, pondweed, astragalus, sedge, milkweed and salt.

About 260 species of birds can be found within the Astrakhan region. Some, settled, can be found all year round, others - migratory and nomadic, during migrations. The conditions for birdwatching are especially favorable in the Astrakhan Nature Reserve, where you can go to watch the spring and autumn bird migrations.

Caspian lowland located on the East European Plain in Russia and Kazakhstan, surrounds the northern part of the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian lowland is surrounded in the north by the Common Syrt, in the west by the Volga Upland and Ergeni, in the east by the Cis-Ural Plateau and Ustyurt. The area of ​​the lowland is about 200 thousand km². The height above sea level is up to 100 m, the southern part of the lowland lies below sea level (up to −28 m). The northwestern part of the lowland between the Ergeninsky Upland, the Kumo-Manych Depression and the Volga is called the Black Lands.

The Caspian lowland is a flat surface, gently inclined towards the sea, among which rise individual hills - the Inder Mountains, Big Bogdo, Small Bogdo and others.

The Caspian lowland is crossed by the Ural, Volga, Terek, Kuma and other rivers. Small rivers (Big and Small Uzen, Wil, Sagiz) dry up in summer or break up into a series of basins, forming lake overflows - Kamysh-Samarsky lakes, Sarpinsky lakes. There are many salt lakes (Baskunchak, Elton, etc.).

Geological structure

The Caspian lowland includes several large tectonic structures (the Caspian syneclise, the Ergenin uplift, the Nogai and Terek depressions). In the Quaternary, the lowland was repeatedly flooded by the sea, which left clayey and loamy deposits in the northern part, and sandy deposits in the southern part.

The surface of the Caspian lowland is characterized by micro- and mesoforms in the form of depressions, estuaries, spits, hollows, in the south - eolian forms, and along the coast of the Caspian Sea - a strip of Baer hillocks.

Climate and vegetation

The climate is sharply continental. Average temperatures in January are from -14° in the north to -8° on the coast, in July - from +22° in the north to +24°C in the south. west, evaporation - about 1000 mm. Dry winds are frequent.

Soils and vegetation of the Caspian lowland are characterized by great complexity. Often there are solonetzes, solonchaks.

In the north - sagebrush-cereal steppes on light chestnut soils, in the south - semi-deserts and deserts on brown and sandy soils with a predominance of sagebrush.

Economic importance

Used as pasture.

In the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, melon growing, horticulture, and vegetable growing are common.

Extraction of oil and gas (Caspian oil and gas province), in lakes - extraction of table salt (Lakes Baskunchak, Elton, etc.).

The lowland is represented by steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes, which are of scientific and environmental value. The unique water body of the Caspian Sea is the largest salt lake in Europe, Baskunchak, taken under protection in the Bogdinsko-Baskunchak Reserve.

In the west, the Caspian lowland is crossed by the Volga.
The Volga Delta is the largest and most environmentally friendly in Europe. It begins to the north of Astrakhan, where a large branch, the Buzan, separates. Throughout the entire journey from Astrakhan to the peals of the Caspian Sea, the delta is extremely diverse, the main branches 300 - 600 meters wide branch into numerous channels and eriki - small watercourses up to 30 meters wide. At the confluence with the Caspian, the Volga has about 800 mouths.

About 500 plant species belonging to 82 families have been identified on the territory of the Volga delta. The richest among these families are the genera of wormwood, pondweed, astragalus, sedge, milkweed and salt.
About 260 species of birds can be found within the Astrakhan region. Some, settled, can be found all year round, others - migratory and nomadic, during migrations. The conditions for birdwatching are especially favorable in the Astrakhan Nature Reserve, where you can go to watch the spring and autumn bird migrations.

Astrakhan region, Kamyzyaksky and Volodarsky districts

History of creation
The Astrakhan Nature Reserve was established in 1919 to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the Volga Delta. The protected area consists of three sections in the western (Damchiksky), central (Trekhizbinsky) and eastern (Obzhorovsky) parts of the Volga delta with a total area of ​​63,000 hectares.
The Astrakhan Nature Reserve not only protects species in a limited area, but also serves as a source of animal settlement throughout the Volga Delta.


The natural complex of the reserve is a classic example of a delta of a large flat river. The protected area is located on the Caspian lowland, lying 27 meters below sea level. The relief is almost perfectly flat.
The Volga delta is characterized by large and small channels, oxbow lakes, ilmens - delta lakes in the form of saucer-shaped depressions inside the islands, kultuks - vast shallow bays, bankchins and furrows - channels of future channels, foredelta - vast open shallow water up to 1 meter deep with a smoothed bottom topography, stretching towards the sea for almost 50 km.
The climate is temperate continental, with hot summers and cold winters. The average temperature in January is -9ºС, in July +27ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
Among the vegetation of the reserve, in the first place, the lotus stands out, which is also called the Caspian rose. From mid-July to September, when the lotus blossoms, vast seas of blue-green leaves and pink flowers exude a delicate fragrance. Among the Eastern peoples, the lotus is a symbol of purity and nobility.
There are few mammals in the reserve. These are mainly wild boars, wolves, foxes, otters, field mice, baby mice.
But the variety of birds in the protected area is simply amazing. It is not for nothing that the Astrakhan Nature Reserve is called the "bird hotel" - at different times of the year in the reserve you can meet more than 250 species of birds, many of which are listed in the Red Book. Here you can see the white-tailed eagle, pink flamingo, osprey, spoonbill, mute swan, curly and pink pelicans. Siberian Crane, Peregrine Falcon and other rare birds are encountered on migration. There are a lot of herons in the reserve: white (large and small), gray, red, yellow and even grayish-bluish (night herons). Many birds stop in the Volga delta to eat. They rest here, gaining strength before a long and difficult flight to warmer climes.
The ichthyofauna of the reserve is of great value. These are sturgeon (beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon), herring (Caspian shad, Volga herring, blackback), carp (roach, bream, carp, rudd, asp, sabrefish, golden crucian carp), pike, pike perch, perch, gobies, stickleback and others .

What to watch
It is worth going to the Astrakhan Nature Reserve to get acquainted with the protected nature of the region: to see the unique landscapes of the Volga Delta, to feel the scent of a blossoming lotus and to watch the birds that live here or stop to rest.
The reserve has developed a number of routes, most of which are water. On excursions along the channels of the Volga delta, tourists are accompanied by highly qualified employees of the reserve, who will not only answer all the questions of inquisitive tourists, but will also help you see a hidden heron or an eagle soaring high in the sky.

Astrakhan region, Akhtubinsky district

History of creation
The Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature Reserve was established in 1997 with an area of ​​18.5 thousand hectares to protect intact semi-desert communities and the unique largest in Russia drainless salt lake Baskunchak. This lake has been supplying all of Russia with salt for several centuries.
There is a military training ground near the reserve. This, of course, can have a negative impact on protected nature, but, on the other hand, the closed nature of the territory in the past helped to keep valuable ecosystems intact.

Physical and geographical features
The territory of the reserve in the Permian period was flooded with the waters of a warm salty ocean, later, during the Khvalyn transgression, there was a sea here. Only Mount Bogdo, with all the changes in the water level, remained an island on which relict species were preserved.
The second part of the name of the reserve is connected with the name of the largest salt lake in Europe and Russia - Baskunchak. Its area is 106 km², and the surface is located below sea level. The salt of the lake is almost pure sodium chloride.
There is another unique water body in the reserve - the endorheic lake Karasun. It is located in a large karst funnel. Its shores go gently into the steppe, only the southern shore is high and steep. The bottom of the lake is covered with black silt with a pronounced smell of hydrogen sulfide. By the end of summer, the water level is greatly reduced, and the lake almost completely dries up.
The climate of the area of ​​the reserve is temperate continental, typical for the northern desert. In January-February, the average air temperature is -8ºС, in July - almost +25ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
The harsh conditions of the semi-desert are suitable only for species adapted to endure dryness and high air temperatures. But at the same time, there are still areas in the reserve that are suitable for habitation of species that are not typical for the open semi-desert.
The flora of the reserve is quite poor in terms of species composition, but there are many endemic (not found anywhere else), rare and on the border of their distribution plant species.
The rare ones include Gesner's (Schrenk's) Red Book tulip, crimson larkspur and feathery feather grass. Endemics are eversmannia almost prickly, Inder onion, four-pronged four-pronged, small plantain and a number of other species.
The reserve is characterized by a large number of rodents, such as small and yellow ground squirrels, jerboas and hamsters. Their abundance creates a good food base for predatory mammals and birds. Fox, corsac and wolf make their lairs in numerous beams and funnels.
Of the reptiles, the squeaky gecko is very interesting - a species listed in the Red Book of Russia, and found only on Mount Bogdo.
In the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky reserve, 22 species of birds listed in the Red Book of Russia are registered, including the Dalmatian pelican, white-eyed pochard, steppe harrier and others.

What to watch
The reserve has developed two routes that will allow you to get acquainted with the local nature. The first one goes from Lake Kordon to the canyon in the lower part of the Surikovskaya beam, then to Mount Bogdo, from which you will see Lake Baskunchak and the Sharbulak tract. Descending then along the eastern slope, one can observe interesting forms of weathering and Paleozoic rocks.
The second route starts from the southwestern slope of Mount Bolshoye Bogdo, where you can see outcrops of rocks of the Permian period and characteristic forms of wind erosion - “Singing Rocks”. Further, the route runs along the eastern slope of the mountain to the Surikovskaya beam, along it to the Baskunchak lake and further along the lake shore to the Kordonskaya beam.

Republic of Dagestan, Tarumovsky and Buynaksky districts

Founding history
The Dagestan Reserve was organized to preserve in its natural state the most typical section of the Kizlyar Bay for the northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as to preserve a rare natural formation - the Sarykum dune. A special role is assigned to the study and protection of an important migratory route of rare bird species, their nesting and wintering places.

Physical and geographical features
Both sections of the reserve are located within the plains of Dagestan. The part of the Terek-Kuma Plain adjacent to the Kizlyar Bay lies 28 meters below sea level, and until relatively recently it was the seabed.
The dune Sarykum, 262 meters high, is located at the foot of the foothills on the Tersko-Sulak plain.
The climate in the area of ​​the Kizlyar Bay is arid continental with a positive average annual temperature. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of -1ºС, the warmest is July. At this time, the average temperature is about +31ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
There are several rare species in the flora of the Kizlyar area: common sword grass, water chestnut (both are listed in the Red Book of Russia), common pemphigus, salvinia floating.
The Kizlyar Bay is rich in aquatic vegetation. Underwater meadows are dense and often completely cover the bottom. Shallow waters are overgrown with sea tubers, closer to the shore - narrow-leaved cattail, lake reeds and common reeds.
The top of the dune is devoid of vegetation due to the constant movement of the sands. In the upper part of the slopes on the moving sands, the first to appear are giant grate, sandy wormwood, and leafless dzhuzgun. At the foot of the dune there are thickets of black and Italian poplars, narrow-leaved sucker, white acacia.
On the territory of the Kizlyar site, among mammals in reed supports, wild boar, raccoon dog, jungle cat, coypu, muskrat, water rat live. In the steppes, fox, wolf, steppe polecat are common; in severe and snowy winters, herds of saigas appear.
On the Sarykum site, on the dune and in its environs, a hare, a gray hamster, a fox are common; there are an eared hedgehog, a shaggy jerboa, a midday gerbil.
On the Western Caspian migration route, rare species of birds listed in the Red Book of Russia were noted: flamingos, curly and pink pelicans, Sultan's hen, red-breasted goose, little bustard, bustard and others.

Rostov region, Orlovsky and Remontnensky districts

Founding history
Proposals to create a reserve in the Rostov region were raised as early as the beginning of the 20th century, but the plans were only realized in 1995, when the Rostovsky state steppe reserve was created, consisting of four separate sites with a total area of ​​9465 hectares.
The reserve was created to protect the few remaining areas of indigenous steppe vegetation, and, along with the Chernye Zemli reserve, it protects part of the Manych-Gudilo Lake wetland, which is a place of massive nesting, molting and migratory accumulations of waterfowl.

Physical and geographical features
Lake Manych-Gudilo stretches in a narrow ribbon in the Kumo-Manych depression. It is the largest of the chain of brackish water lakes, occupying the lowest part of the Manych hollow. In the geological past, this hollow was a strait connecting the Caspian and Black Seas.
The largest section of the reserve - Ostrovnoy - is located in the northwestern part of the lake and includes the Vodny (South) and Gorely Islands, the adjacent water area of ​​the lake and 10 hectares of the mainland shore. The islands and the mainland coast are covered with steppe. Tsagan-Khak (990 ha) consists of the tract of the same name, which is a salt marsh flooded in spring with small islands and headlands protruding into the lake.
The area of ​​the reserve has a temperate continental climate, cold winters with little snow, hot and dry summers. The average monthly temperature in January is -5.5ºС, the minimum is -35ºС, in July +24ºС, the maximum is +42ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
The reserve is located in the West Manych natural region of the fescue-feather grass steppe zone. The herbage is dominated by fescue, feather grass and wheatgrass. The composition of halophyte communities is dominated by hairy thrush, splayed saline, yarrow chamomile, prickly thorn, yarrow - noble and bristly, and in more saline habitats - Gmelin's kermek, camphorosma, warty quinoa.
Of the rare plants in the reserve, Zalessky's feather grass, Schrenk's tulip, colchicum merry and others are noted.
The fauna of the reserve is diverse. Of the mammals, the corsac, the steppe polecat, the wolf live, the saiga and the elk come in. A free herd of feral horses lives on the Island site. Wolves have been observed in the Starikovsky area.
The composition of the avifauna is dominated by nesting waterfowl and near-water birds - great grebe, gray-cheeked, black-necked and little grebe, curly and pink pelican, great cormorant and others. Within the limits of the reserve there are colonies of semiaquatic birds, in which several dozen "Red Book" spoonbills nest every year. One of the largest flyways of anseriformes passes through the area of ​​the reserve, forming here mass concentrations during the periods of spring and autumn migration. In addition to the most massive white-fronted goose, huge accumulations of the red-breasted goose, a species listed in the Red Book, form here every year.

What to watch
It is better to start acquaintance with the territory of the reserve along one of the trails developed by the reserve: "Azure Flower" or "Mysteries of the Manych Valley". During the tour "Azure Flower" you will learn the history of the creation of the reserve, get acquainted with its flora and fauna, features of strip afforestation, see the largest body of water in this place - Lake Manych-Gudilo, hear a story about a herd of feral horses.
During the second excursion you will learn about the origin of the Manych Valley, about the rare plant species of the reserve, about the birds that are found here. You will also visit Lake Gruzskoye, one of the famous healing areas of the Rostov region, where you will be told about the properties of therapeutic mud and mineral springs.

Republic of Kalmykia, Yashkul and Chernozemelsky districts

Founding history
The Black Earth Reserve is the only testing ground in Russia for studying steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes, as well as for protecting and studying the Kalmyk saiga population. The reserve occupies two territories that are different from each other - in the main section "Chernye Zemli" the protection and restoration of the saiga population is carried out, and the site "Lake Manych-Gudilo" is a wetland of international importance, nesting and wintering grounds for many rare species of waterfowl and near-water birds.
The reserve was established in 1990, and three years later the territory received the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its total area is 121.9 thousand hectares.

Physical and geographical features
The territory of the reserve is a slightly undulating low-lying plain, where vast massifs of hilly-ridged sands are widespread. They are deposits of the transgression periods of the Caspian Sea, so that they are saline almost everywhere. The Manych depression, where the site "Lake Manych-Gudilo" is located, is an ancient strait almost 500 km long, which once connected the Azov and Caspian lowlands. Prior to artificial flooding, Lake Manych-Gudilo was a shallow, highly mineralized reservoir; during dry periods, it almost completely dried up or remained in the form of a series of isolated or connected by channels of salt lakes. At present, the width of the lake ranges from 1.5 to 10 kilometers, the depth in the central part, where the maximum depression of the relief has been preserved, is 5-8 meters.
The climate of the territory is sharply continental: summers are hot and dry, winters are usually snowless. By the way, this explains the name of the reserve, and not the color of the soil - it is light brown. The average temperature in January is -6.5ºС, in July +24.5ºС degrees. The minimum temperature in January is -35ºС, the maximum temperature in July is +42ºС.

Diversity of flora and fauna
The territory of the reserve is located at the junction of two zones - dry steppe and desert, in the most arid region of the European part of Russia.
Dry steppe and desert change their colors according to the seasons. In spring, they are characterized by ephemeral flowers - Bibirstein and Schrenk tulips, irises; grey-green shades of overgrown wormwood are added to the greenery of cereals. At the beginning of summer, a brown-purple background of bulbous bluegrass and bonfire prevails, with silvery-whitish islands of flowering feathery feather grasses. By the end of summer, yellow-brown tones are most noticeable from some types of wormwood, flowering yellow alfalfa and drying wheatgrass, thin-legged. Autumn is characterized by a grayish-brown color, created by black sagebrush, dried grass vegetation and saltwort communities, changing from dark green to blood red.
On the site "Chernye Zemli" the main protected species is the saiga. Its numbers dropped sharply in the 1980s due to poaching, but thanks to the creation of a number of protected areas (the nature reserve itself, the Kharbinsky, Sarpinsky and Mekletinsky nature reserves), its numbers have recovered and now numbers 150,000 individuals.
Lake Manych-Gudilo with its 12 islands is extremely important for nesting of water birds. More than 190 species of birds nest on the reservoir, meet on the molt and migration. On the islands, adjacent to gulls, spoonbills, cormorants, the pink and curly pelicans form the only lake colonies in Europe. Against the background of the regression of the reservoirs of Kazakhstan, the lake becomes one of the largest recreation areas in Eurasia for goose migrating from wintering grounds: red-breasted goose, white-fronted and gray goose.

What to watch
During your stay in the reserve, you can get acquainted with the amazing nature of these places. So, the staff of the reserve will tell you about saigas, medium-sized moving antelopes with a large head with a swollen humpbacked muzzle, ending like a small proboscis. Be sure to introduce you to the peculiarities of the feather grass steppe, and for lovers of birdwatching they will organize an excursion to Lake Manych-Gudilo.

The Caspian lowland is located in Eurasia. This is the southern tip of the East European Plain, adjacent to the Caspian Sea in its northern part. Natural borders: from the north - the Common Syrt Upland, the west - the Volga, Stavropol Uplands and Ergeni, the east - the Cis-Ural Plateau and Ustyurt, from the south - the Caspian Sea. Located on the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan.

Coordinates:
Latitude: 47°32"N
Longitude: 49°01" E

The Caspian lowland is a huge plain with an area of ​​200,000 sq. km., which descends below sea level from the south. These are steppes, deserts, semi-deserts and salt marshes, although many rivers flow there, including large ones: the Volga, at its confluence with the Caspian, forming a vast delta, and the Urals. Emba, Terek, Kuma cross the lowland. There are many salt lakes - Baskunchak, Inder, Aralsor, Kamys-Samar lakes, Elton, Botkul.

Among the pancake-flat plains, here and there rise domes of salt, called mountains. Big Bogdo is a salt mountain 150 meters high, is a cult place for Buddhists. The main part of the lowland is steppes and sands used for pastures. Fishing and hunting are developed in the Volga-Ural interfluve, the famous Astrakhan watermelons grow in the Volga floodplain. There are oil and gas fields in the Ural-Emba interfluve.

In the Caspian lowland, despite the apparent stinginess of nature, there are many natural attractions. There are also archaeological, historical, cultural different peoples and eras.

Russia

Reserves "Bogodino-Baskunchaksky", "Astrakhansky", "Black Lands". "Volga-Akhtuba floodplain" - a natural park. "Manych-Gudilo" and "Sands of Burley" nature reserves, Big Bogdo mountain, Lotus Valley, Kumo-Manych depression (separates Eurasia), Kordon tract, Baer hillocks. Monuments of archeology: Devil's ancient settlement of the Golden Horde era (Astrakhan region), Sarai-Batu (Astrakhan region), burials in the Bronze Age Turtles, settlement "Self-made" (Astrakhan region). Of the cultural objects, one can note the Khosheutovsky khurul (Kalmyk monument in honor of the victory over Napoleon in the village of Rechnoy, Astrakhan region), the watermelon museum (Kamyzyak city).

Kazakhstan

Ustyurt reserve, Karagie depression on the Mangyshlak peninsula, Shalkar lake (Aktobe region), floodplain forests of the Ural River with unique and relict vegetation, Sanal and Sazanbay canyons. The resort town of Aktau and the Kenderli complex are located on the Caspian coast. You can travel along the Great Silk Road, which passed through these places. There are many archaeological monuments: Kyzyl-Kala (red fortress), the city of Sary-Aichik - the Golden Horde center of trade. The sacred places of Muslims are the underground mosques of Shopan-Ata and Becket-Ata.

The Caspian lowland, the geographical position of which is determined by the territory of the bottom of the ancient sea, is a flat area with flat stretches of land, somewhat inclined towards the largest salt lake on the planet - the Caspian Sea. There are many sights of various origins on the plain. The indigenous people are the Kalmyks.

Short description

This area is almost waterless, in some places small mountains and hills are visible. These are the Small and Big Bogdo, the Inder Mountains. The territory of the Caspian lowland extends for 700 km in length and 500 km in width. Occupies about 200 sq. km of total area. From several sides it is surrounded by the hills of the Volga region, the Cis-Ural plateau, as well as hills. The coast of the Caspian Sea from the north, the Russian Plain from the southeast, and Kazakhstan in the west are the borders of the territory called the Caspian Lowland. On the map of the hemispheres, its location can be seen more accurately.

The river and ravine network is poorly developed. The lowland consists of clay and sand. The relief of the territory is characterized by the movement of the earth's crust, which is accompanied by the growth of ravines, funnels, landslides.

Inland waters

The Caspian lowland is crossed by six large rivers (Ural, Volga, Terek, Emba, Kuma, Sulak) and several small streams. The latter often dry up completely in the summer season, forming many pits. The Volga is the most abundant and longest river in the plain. All water flows are fed by snow and groundwater. Most of these reservoirs are fresh, but there are also salty ones. The most famous salt lake of those places is Lake Inder, its area is 75 square meters. km.

Structural features

The Caspian lowland, the height of which varies mainly within 100 m, also has a minimum indicator, namely, on the south side it rises by only 25 m. The geological structure of the territory consists of several large tectonic structures: the Ergeninskaya Upland, the , Terskoy. Once upon a time, the territory of the plain was constantly flooded by the waters of the sea, as a result of which clay and loamy deposits remained from the north and sandy deposits from the south.

Unique Baer tubercles

The Caspian lowland has small and large depressions, estuaries, spits, hollows, and along the sea coast there are Baer mounds stretching in a strip. They begin between the mouths of the Kuma and Emba rivers. Their height varies from 10 to 45 m, the length is about 25 km, and the width is 200-300 m. The distance between the crests of Baer knolls is 1-2 km. This relief formation is similar to artificially made sea waves. Their peaks are wide, and the slopes are gentle. They can be described in different ways, due to the heterogeneity of addition. In the first case, they are composed of late Khvalynian sand, and in the second case, they are composed of early Khvalynsk clay overlain by sand.

The question of the origin of these hillocks is still unclear. There are a number of hypotheses:

• The first of which is the result of some shallowing of the Caspian.
• The second speaks of a tectonic origin.
• The third testifies to glacial lakes.

But there are allegations about the failure of these versions. In connection with the location of the Baer knolls near the coast, a change in their structure and clarity is observed. Losing their forms closer to the north, they are replaced by other reliefs.

Climate

The Caspian lowland is an area where constant "guests" are anticyclones that come from the depths of Asia. But with cyclones it is more difficult, because of this, the climate here is very dry. In winter, it is relatively severe and with little snow, the temperature ranges from -8 o C to -14 o C. Summer is quite hot for this area. July temperature: +22 ... +23 o C. 150-200 mm of precipitation falls from the southeast side, and 350 mm from the northwest. Evaporation 1000 mm. Humidification is extremely insufficient. Dry winds and dust storms are typical. They form hills called dunes.

Soil features

The Caspian lowland, or rather its lands, have several colors: from light chestnut to brown desert-steppe. The soil here is highly saline. In the north there are steppes with cereals and wormwood, to the south there are semi-deserts and deserts, where wormwood mainly grows. Pastures predominate among the lands. Arable land occupies less than 20% of the entire territory, mainly near the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. Here gourds are grown, horticulture and vegetable growing are practiced. Oil and gas production has been established in the Uralo-Emba oil and gas region, and table salt is mined in lakes Elton and Baskunchak. Baskunchak is also rich in gypsum and limestone, the annual production of which is about 50 tons.

Animal world

The animal world is influenced by the European fauna. The Caspian lowland in the north is inhabited by ferrets, marmots, raccoons, water rats. Fishing is well developed: sturgeon, stellate sturgeon and others. The most valuable animals are local seals. Along the banks, in the Turgai thickets, there are many birds, goitered gazelles, foxes, eared hedgehogs, jerboas, mice, and larks also live there.

14.07.2019 19:12

The famous reserve "Chernye zemli", created where practically no people live, and there is no water, is located in the Caspian lowland, the most interesting object from the point of view of science and geotourism. The Caspian lowland is a territory located at the extreme point of the southeast of the Russian plain and enveloping the Caspian Sea. In the southeast, black lands or Khar-Gazr in Kalmyk, approaches the Volga delta, it is here that another interesting natural object is located - Baer mounds (in honor of academician K.M. Burr, who discovered this miracle of nature), which are sandy ridges up to 45 meters high and up to 300 meters wide, the length of which is several kilometers. Between the mounds you can see ilmens, small lakes overgrown with grass, any activity is prohibited here, as it can destroy these delightful creations of nature.

The Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is located on the territory of the Caspian lowland, where the Great Russian River divides into many branches, there are about 800 of them, flows into the Caspian Sea and ends its course. A natural park of the same name has been established on this territory in order to protect the ecosystem and nests of more than 200 species of birds. This place is extremely popular among fishermen, because the variety and size of underwater inhabitants can surprise even the most experienced fisherman! Therefore, when traveling in the Volga Delta, you should definitely take a selfie with a huge catch, especially since fishing promotions in July will significantly save on this type of holiday. Another miracle of nature located in the Caspian lowland can be safely called the famous salt lake Baskunchak, which is rightfully considered a bottomless bowl full of salt. In addition to the above attractions created by nature, it should also be noted: the lotus valley, the Burley sands reserve, the Kordon tract, the Manych-Gudilo natural reserve and, of course, the Big Bogdo salt dome.

In addition to natural attractions, the region is also rich in historical ones. Among the architectural monuments, it is worth noting such as the Devil's Settlement, located in the Ikryaninsky district, erected during the Golden Horde, Saray-Batu or, as it is also called Selitrennoye Gordishte, this fortified complex was built around the beginning of the 13th century. It is also worth noting the burials discovered here dating back to the Bronze Age and later monuments, such as the Khosheut khurul, a monument to the wars that defeated Napoleon. Also, on the territory of cities located in the Caspian lowland, there are many cultural and religious buildings built in different eras.

The largest city located here is Astrakhan, the center of the region of the same name, most of the enterprises involved in the extraction and processing of minerals, which are rich in the lowland, are concentrated here. And it is mined here - oil, uranium, gas, a lot of industrial and precious metals.

Part of the Caspian lowland is located on the territory of Kazakhstan, here the largest regional center is the city of Atyrau, which is considered the oil capital of all Kazakhstan.

The Caspian lowland is not only the "Black Earth" where nothing but wormwood grows, but also the most fertile lands of the Astrakhan region, where the climate allows growing some of the most delicious watermelons. The list of sights of the region is not limited to the list above, even ten such articles will not be enough to describe them all, such a volume of printed information is unlikely to be adequately absorbed, therefore, if you are interested, we advise you to visit this unique place located on the territory of our Motherland. Good luck.