Northeastern Siberia. Give an assessment of the natural conditions of Siberia for the life, life and economic activities of people

The hydrographic network of the region belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and is distributed over the private basins of the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas.

Eastern Siberia covers a vast part of the territory of the Asian continent, located east of the Yenisei and extending to the shores of the Bering Sea, and in the meridional direction - from the shores of the Arctic Ocean to the Mongolian People's Republic.

The hydrographic network of the region belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and is distributed over the private basins of the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas. By the nature of the relief, Eastern Siberia belongs to mountainous regions, and here mountains of medium height and vast plateaus predominate, while lowlands occupy only small spaces.

Between the Yenisei and Lena is the Siberian Plateau, dissected by erosion. Its height is on average 300-500 m above sea level; only in places among the plateau stand out higher elevations - the Putorana ridge (1500 m), the Vilyui mountains (1074 m) and the Yenisei ridge (1122 m). In the upper part of the Yenisei basin is the Sayano-Baikal fold country. This is the highest mountain region of the region, with heights up to 3480 m (the peak of Munku-Sardyk).

To the east of the lower reaches of the Lena stretches the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma mountainous country, characterized by sharp contrasts of lowland and mountain landscapes. Along the right bank of the Lena stretches a powerful arc of the Verkhoyansk ridge with heights up to 2000 m, further to the east rises the Chersky ridge - a mountain knot with a height of 2000-3000 m, the Tas-Khayakhtakh ridge, etc. Along with the mountain ranges, the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma mountain region includes Oymyakonskoe, Nerskoe and Yukagir plateaus. In the south, the border of the region is made up of the Yablonovy, Stanovoy and Duzhgdzhur ridges, whose heights reach 2500-3000 m. In the east, the Kolyma Range, or Gydan, stretches along the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

On the territory of Eastern Siberia, there are also low-lying plains, among which the Lena-Vilyui lowland stands out for its size, which is a grandiose synclinal trough. The extreme north of the region, along the coast of the marginal seas, is occupied by the Subpolar Lowland, the height of which does not exceed 100 m above sea level; lowlands are also located in the lower reaches of the Alazeya, Kolyma and Indigirka.

The subpolar lowland is occupied by tundra and forest tundra. Most of the territory of Eastern Siberia belongs to the taiga zone. The forest landscape is dominated by Daurian larch, which is most adapted to the harsh climate and the presence of permafrost; much less pine here. The forests of Eastern Siberia are slightly swamped.

The taiga zone on the territory of Eastern Siberia is dominant and extends far to the south; sections of the steppe and forest-steppe are interspersed in it in the form of spots (the Minusinsk basin, which has a steppe character, the steppes of Transbaikalia).

Geologically, the area is characterized by a shallow occurrence of bedrock crystalline rocks, which often come to the surface here. Ancient igneous rocks - traps, which form characteristic vertical outcrops in the form of columnar units (locally - pillars) are widely distributed, especially within the Central Siberian Plateau.

The rivers of Eastern Siberia are predominantly in the form of mountain streams; flowing through the lowlands, they acquire a flat character.

The climatic conditions of Eastern Siberia are largely determined by its geographical location within the Asian continent. The Siberian anticyclone, which forms in the center of Asia in winter, has a great influence on the climatic conditions of the region. Under the conditions of a stable anticyclonic weather type, winter is characterized by low cloudiness and a predominance of calm, which entails a strong cooling. Clear, severe, little snow, stable and long winter and rather arid, short and hot summer - these are the main features of the climate of Eastern Siberia. Frosts, for example, in the region of Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon reach -60, -70. These are the lowest air temperatures observed on the globe, therefore the region of Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon is called the pole of cold. Average monthly air temperatures of the coldest month - January - fluctuate from -25 -40 in the south of the region to -48 in Verkhoyansk. In summer, daily air temperatures sometimes rise to 30-40. The average monthly temperatures of the warmest month - July - in the northern part of the region (in the tundra zone) are about 10, in the south, in the upper reaches of the Yenisei (Minusinsk depression), up to 20.8. The transition of air temperature through 0 in the far north is observed in mid-June, in autumn - in mid-September, and in the southern parts of the region (Minusinsk depression) - in the twentieth of April and in mid-October. The arid Minusinsk Basin stands out sharply in its climatic conditions; its climate approaches that of the steppes of the European part of the USSR.

There is little rainfall. In the predominant part of the district, their number does not exceed 200-400 mm per year. The Leno-Vilyui lowland (200 mm) is extremely poor in precipitation. Even less precipitation falls in the north, in the Subpolar Lowland, where their annual amount does not exceed 100 mm. So, for example, in the region of the river delta. Lena falls only about 90 mm per year. Approximately the same amount of precipitation falls on the islands of the Arctic zone (New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island). Precipitation is more abundant in the Sayan Mountains, where its annual amount reaches 600-700 mm, and in some places even 1200 mm.

Most of the precipitation (70-80%) falls in the summer in the form of rains, which are usually of a continuous nature. In the cold part of the soda, there is little precipitation - no more than 50 mm.

The snow cover is notable for its low thickness; only in the Yenisei basin and within the Central Siberian Plateau does a relatively large amount of snow fall. The least amount of snow falls in the Yana and Indigirka basins.

In the harsh climate of Eastern Siberia, with its long winters with little snow and cold, a characteristic feature of the region is the widespread distribution of permafrost. The thickness of the permafrost layer in the northern and central regions reaches 200-500 m or more. In the southern parts of the region (Transbaikalia, the basin of the upper Yenisei), the permafrost thickness decreases, more or less significant areas devoid of permafrost (taliks) appear.

The presence of permafrost creates complex hydrogeological conditions. Groundwater reserves in most of Eastern Siberia are very poor; groundwater is represented mainly by perched water, which does not feed the rivers. Outcrops of subpermafrost waters are relatively rare and confined to areas of young faults in the earth's crust and karst areas (upper Aldan).

In a number of places (the Leno-Vilyui lowland, the lowlands of the mouth sections of the Kolyma and Indigirka rivers, etc.), buried ice is found at a small depth from the surface, occupying large areas; their thickness sometimes reaches 5-10 m and more.

The harsh climate and permafrost determine the uniqueness of the water regime in Eastern Siberia. With the complete impermeability of frozen soils, low losses for filtration and evaporation, the surface runoff here is relatively high, despite the low amount of precipitation. Permafrost is the reason for the poor supply of rivers with groundwater and the widespread phenomenon of freezing, as well as the formation of icing. In permafrost conditions, erosional processes also develop in a peculiar way. Soils bound by permafrost are difficult to erode, and therefore deep erosion develops poorly. Lateral erosion predominates, leading to the expansion of the valleys.

Studies carried out in recent years have shown that modern glaciation is widespread in Eastern Siberia. It is found in the most elevated parts of the Verkhoyansk and Chersky ranges - in the upper reaches of the Yana and Indigirka basins. The area of ​​glaciation reaches 600-700 km2, which is approximately equal to the area of ​​modern Altai glaciation. Glaciers are small. The largest glacier of the Sauntarskaya group (on the watershed of Indigirka and Okhota) is up to 10 km long.

Internet source:

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In this lesson, everyone will be able to study the topic “Eastern Siberia. Geographical position, the main features of nature. You will consider the administrative composition, population, geographical location and the main features of the nature of Eastern Siberia. You will also get to know its economy by discussing the main industries of this region.

The population of the region is 8.4 million people;

The area of ​​the district is 4123 thousand square meters. km.

Features of the economic and geographical position of the region:

1. Proximity to resources (their availability)

2. Transit position

3. Availability of access to the sea (and the Northern Sea Route)

Eastern Siberia borders on the West Siberian, Far Eastern economic regions of Russia, has borders with Mongolia and China.

The East Siberian economic region occupies a quarter of the territory of Russia, yielding to the Far Eastern economic region, while having a relatively low population (5.8% of the Russian population). In terms of industrial potential, the district ranks 5th. The largest reserves of energy, ore, forest and water resources are concentrated here. Energy-intensive and heat-intensive industries have been developed - the processing of wood, ore and non-metallic raw materials, the extraction of coal, valuable metals and minerals. About 3/4 of Eastern Siberia is occupied by mountains and plateaus. The region stretched from the Yenisei to the watershed of the Lena, from the southern borders of Russia to the Arctic Ocean.

Climate and nature of Eastern Siberia.

Due to the large length of the region from north to south, there is a variety of natural zones - from the arctic to the steppe. The predominant part of the area is occupied by the Central Siberian Plateau and the mountain systems of the Eastern and Western Sayan, Baikal and Transbaikalia. The climate is sharply continental. Permafrost rocks are widespread. The swamping rate is quite high in the central and northern parts of the region. The rivers belong mainly to the basins of the Yenisei, the upper Lena and Lake Baikal. The natural wealth of the region is great and varied. The East Siberian region has rich water and hydropower resources: the Angara, Lena, Nizhnyaya and Podkamennaya Tunguska rivers. One fifth of the world's lake fresh water resources are in Lake Baikal.

Rice. 2. Lake Baikal in winter ()

Natural resources of Eastern Siberia.

A special place in Eastern Siberia is occupied by hydropower resources. The region ranks first among the country's energy bases in terms of the efficiency of using these resources. In the Angaro-Yenisei region, there is a possibility of building hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of over 60 million kW. The average capacity of hydroelectric power stations in the Yenisei basin is 12 times greater than the capacity of hydroelectric power stations in the country. This is achieved due to natural conditions: the large water content of rivers and the structure of river valleys, which favor the construction of high dams and the creation of capacious reservoirs. River valleys are characterized by a deep cut into the surface, rocky banks and the presence of rocks at the base of structures. As a result, the hydroelectric power plants of the Angara-Yenisei region are relatively cheap compared to other hydrocascades in the country.

At present, Eastern Siberia accounts for 8.5% of the total Russian industrial iron ore reserves. There are nine iron ore districts in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Of these, the Angaro-Ilimsky and Angaro-Pitsky districts stand out in terms of reserves and efficiency of use. Among the most important tasks is the further development of the mineral resource base of the aluminum industry in Eastern Siberia. Aluminum plants still use imported raw materials, although in Eastern Siberia it is available in large quantities. It is represented by five groups, uniting nine types of mineral raw materials. The most common deposits are nepheline rocks, which are the main raw material for aluminum production. These rocks are known in 20 deposits. They are concentrated in the Yenisei Ridge, the Eastern Sayan Mountains and the Sangilen Range.

The Norilsk region has unique reserves of complex copper-nickel ores. 38% of Russian copper reserves and about 80% of nickel reserves are concentrated here. One of the largest in the Russian Federation, the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, operates on their basis. In addition to a set of basic components (nickel, copper, cobalt), Norilsk ores contain gold, iron, silver, tellurium, selenium, and sulfur. Ores are represented by three types: rich, cuprous, disseminated.

Large polymetallic ore deposits in the area are also Kyzyl-Tashtygskoe, Ozernoe, Novo-Shirokinsky and Kholodninskoe (near Lake Baikal).

In the north of the Trans-Baikal Territory, the largest Udokan copper deposit is being developed.

There are significant gold reserves in Eastern Siberia, although they have been exploited for 150 years.

Rice. 3. Bodaibo - the center of gold mining in Eastern Siberia ()

The area has large stocks of wood raw materials. The total stock of timber is estimated at 27.5 billion cubic meters. m (40% of the all-Russian fund).

Large reserves of peat (4.8 billion tons), chemical raw materials and building materials have been explored on the territory of the region. Peat can be used as a chemical raw material, fuel, organic fertilizer, animal bedding and packaging material.

The area of ​​agricultural land in Eastern Siberia is 23 million hectares, of which arable land - 9 million hectares. The structure of agricultural land is as follows: arable land - 40%, hayfields - 12%, pastures - 46%, perennial plantings - 0.5%.

Eastern Siberia has favorable conditions for the development of animal husbandry.

Homework:

1. Name and find on the map the subjects of the Federation of the East Siberian economic region.

2. What is the peculiarity of the nature of Eastern Siberia? Give examples of natural areas of the region.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography of Russia. population and economy. Grade 9: textbook for general education. uch. / V. P. Dronov, V. Ya. Rom. - M.: Bustard, 2011. - 285 p.

2. Geography. Grade 9: atlas. - 2nd ed., corrected. - M.: Bustard; DIK, 2011 - 56 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A. T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

2. I. I. Kuritsyn, A. V. Volgin, and V. N. Yupatova. The Russian Federation. Socio-economic geography: Uch. manual for students of pedagogical universities / Ed. A. V. Volgina. - M.: School Press, 2001.

3. Economic geography of Russia: Textbook / Ed. acad. V. I. Vidyapina, Doctor of Economics, prof. M. V. Stepanova. - M.: INFRA-M, Russian Academy of Economics, 2002.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Control and measuring materials. Geography: Grade 9 / Comp. E. A. ZHIZHINA - M.: VAKO, 2012. - 112 p.

2. Thematic control. Geography. Nature of Russia. Grade 8 / N. E. Burgasova, S. V. Bannikov: textbook. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2010. - 144 p.

3. Tests in geography: grades 8-9: to the textbook, ed. V. P. Dronova “Geography of Russia. Grades 8-9: a textbook for educational institutions ”/ V. I. Evdokimov. - M.: Exam, 2009. - 109 p.

The area is dominated by mountainous terrain with heights of over 500 m. The mountain ranges here descend like an amphitheater to the Siberian Platform, occupied by the Central Siberian Plateau, which accounts for about 40% of the entire territory of the region.

Somewhat younger mountain systems - the Western and Eastern Sayans - occupy the southern and southwestern outskirts of the region. Finally, even younger mountains are located in the southeastern part.

In large areas of Eastern Siberia, sedimentary rocks are also widespread, to which deposits of such minerals as coal, rock salt, etc. are confined.

The main wealth of the bowels of Eastern Siberia is non-ferrous metals, as well as coal. Of the ores of non-ferrous metals, the copper-nickel, polymetallic and copper deposits of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Chita Region, molybdenum deposits in Buryatia, the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Chita Region, and the resources of aluminum raw materials in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Buryatia are of the greatest importance. In addition, Eastern Siberia is a gold, tin and tungsten mining area. The importance of non-ferrous metal ores in Eastern Siberia is further enhanced by the fact that there are also large deposits of thermal coals that provide energy-intensive processes for smelting ores with cheap fuel.

In Eastern Siberia, the total geological reserves of coal exceed 3 trillion tons, but 2/3 of them are in the Tunguska and Taimyr basins and the Ust-Yenisei coal-bearing region. Due to their remoteness from the economic centers of the country, they practically cannot be used in the short term.

In the southern part of Eastern Siberia, the coal deposits of the Kansko-Achinsk basin, whose geological reserves are estimated at 600 billion tons, are of particular importance. The coal here is brown, relatively low-calorie, and is capable of spontaneous combustion during long-term storage. However, these shortcomings are compensated by extremely favorable mining and geological conditions - the large thickness of the layers (up to 80 m), which lie close to the earth's surface. This allows you to create powerful open pits (cuts) with low costs for construction and coal mining (per 1 ton of standard fuel).

A number of relatively large coal deposits are located in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Irkutsk and Chita regions, Buryatia and Tuva. The development of many of these deposits is possible by the cheapest open-pit method. The wealth of Eastern Siberia in coal is determined not only by its total reserves, but by the fact that more than 80% of the all-Russian coal reserves suitable for open-pit mining are concentrated in this region. It is thanks to these resources that Eastern Siberia has the cheapest fuel in the country. eastern siberia production potential

To assess the fuel base of the region, the availability of oil and natural gas is important. Currently, oil and natural gas deposits have been found in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region), but their industrial production is not yet underway.

For a general assessment of the mineral resource base of the region, its provision with raw materials and fuel for the development of ferrous metallurgy is of great importance. The total reserves of iron ore in the region are quite large. There are large basins here - the Angara-Ilim and Angara-Pitsky.

The provision of Eastern Siberia with coking coal is not favorable enough. Their deposits are located in the undeveloped Tunguska and Ulugkhemsky basins. True, the possibility of obtaining coke from the coals of the Irkutsk basin has been proven.

In Eastern Siberia there are no deposits of manganese and chromium - the most widespread types of additives to steel.

Of the entire complex of metallurgical raw materials, Eastern Siberia is very well supplied with limestone and especially magnesite, which is used in the production of refractory materials. The main magnesite deposits are located in the Irkutsk Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Of other types of mineral raw materials, it should be noted large deposits of graphite, which, except for Eastern Siberia, are almost never found in our country, fluorspar (fluorite) in the Chita region, mica in the Irkutsk region, asbestos in Buryatia and Tuva, rock salt in the Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk Territory and Tuva.

Important features of the physical and geographical position of Eastern Siberia are its remoteness from the Atlantic Ocean and isolation from the influence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans by numerous mountain ranges. Only in the southeastern part of the region is the influence of the Pacific Ocean felt. Therefore, Eastern Siberia is characterized by an exceptional continental climate, which is manifested in a significant difference in the average temperatures of the summer and winter periods, as well as during the day. The continentality of the climate is exacerbated by the proximity of the Arctic Ocean, whose cooling effect is especially pronounced during the transitional periods from spring to summer and from summer to autumn (late spring and early autumn frosts). The combination of general continental climate with mountainous relief and the wide development of basins in the conditions of a vast continent contributes to intense cooling of the air in winter, when a high-pressure area (Siberian anticyclone) forms here, a reduction in winter precipitation in the central zone of the anticyclone and the development of temperature inversion - with an increase to of a certain height along the slopes of the basins, the air temperature in winter does not decrease, but rises. The southeastern parts of the region receive especially low rainfall. Here the height of the snow cover averages 5-10 cm, and often winters are generally snowless.

These climate features determine the general increased severity of natural conditions for the life of the population and leave their mark on agriculture - the absence of winter crops, a shorter growing season and the need for sowing and harvesting crops in a short time.

A feature of the physical and geographical position of Eastern Siberia is its location in the zone of permafrost. Continuous permafrost is distributed only in the extreme north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, but its islands are found almost everywhere, with the exception of a relatively small area on the left bank of the Yenisei. The presence of frozen soils (even in the region of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude their thickness reaches 5-10 m) significantly affects agriculture in the central and southern parts of the region. In the spring, they delay the sowing time due to the slow heating of the soil, but in the summer, thawing, they replenish moisture reserves. In combination with the summer maximum precipitation, this circumstance is the reason why some agricultural regions of Eastern Siberia, despite the small annual and summer precipitation, practically do not know what a drought is.

The features of the relief and climate of Eastern Siberia affected the nature of the natural zones. The vast majority of the region south of the 70th parallel is occupied by taiga. With the exception of the southeastern part of the West Siberian Plain (on the left bank of the Yenisei), the forest-steppe in Eastern Siberia does not form a continuous strip, but is presented in the form of "islands", which are confined to numerous, sometimes quite extensive, basins. In the most arid of them, instead of the forest-steppe, there are steppe areas (in Khakassia, Tuva, Buryatia and the Chita region).

Eastern Siberia stands out among the economic regions of the country with huge forest resources. The forests of Eastern Siberia are characterized by the dominance of coniferous species, the share of deciduous species - birch and aspen - accounts for less than 15% of the total timber reserves. In turn, among conifers, the proportion of spruce and fir is small (they are confined to more humid areas in the western part of the Central Siberian Plateau and Khakassia). In permafrost regions, Dahurian larch is essentially the only forest-forming species. In the central and eastern parts of the Central Siberian Plateau, as well as in a number of regions of Transbaikalia (where there is no permafrost), the dominant species is pine.

A significant territory, the predominance of mountainous terrain and the presence of powerful mountain systems that are accumulators of moisture, as well as high forest cover - all this contributes to the widespread development of the river network. Eastern Siberia accounts for more than 30% of the total river flow in Russia, which determines the huge reserves of hydropower resources. In terms of the wealth of hydropower resources, Eastern Siberia ranks first in Russia. The great importance of the hydropower resources of Eastern Siberia in the national economy is explained by their high concentration - nowhere in other regions of the country, except for the Far East (Sakha), it is impossible to build such large hydroelectric power stations as in Eastern Siberia - up to 6 million kW or more. Thanks to this concentration, it is possible to obtain very cheap electricity. The construction of East Siberian hydroelectric power stations was cheaper for two more reasons: the relatively small volumes of land flooding (since most rivers flow in deep valleys) and because the dams were built on rocky pounds.

Particularly favorable conditions for hydro construction are in the Angara-Yenisei basin, the potential resources of which are estimated at 480 billion kWh (more than half of the potential resources of Eastern Siberia), including 250 billion kWh of cost-effective resources in the Yenisei and Angara.

In the conditions of the vast territory of Eastern Siberia and the weak development of the railway network, rivers are an important means of communication, and settlements gravitate towards them, especially in the hinterland. However, due to the mountainous nature of the relief, there are many rapids on the rivers that make navigation difficult.

Eastern Siberia has a rich and extensive hydrographic network and large lakes. Rivers are distinguished by an abundance of water, a wealth of hydropower and are used as transport routes. The role of the Yenisei is especially great. The largest lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world. Its maximum depth reaches 1620 m, and the area is 31.5 thousand km 2. The lake lies in a deep depression, bordered by mountain ranges - Primorsky, Baikal, Khamar-Daban, Ulan-Burgasy, Barguzinsky. The water of the lake is very clear and clean.

Great commercial value of rivers and lakes. Baikal. More than 40 species of fish live in Baikal, of which whitefish, grayling, omul, ide, salmon, sturgeon, etc. are especially valuable. The Baikal seal, the seal, is also found in its waters. The exceptional beauty of nature, the presence of healing springs near the shores of the lake make it possible to create a large sanatorium-resort and tourist base here. In order to protect the nature and waters of Lake Baikal from pollution, a number of measures are being taken. Measures have been outlined to protect the waters of the lake, the natural resources of its basin, as well as the implementation of agroforestry, agrotechnical and hydrotechnical work in the basin, including measures to protect soil from water and wind erosion. The commissioning of industrial, municipal and other enterprises is also prohibited until the construction of treatment facilities is completed.

The northern part of Eastern Siberia is occupied by tundra with its characteristic vegetation - mosses, lichens, undersized shrubs, marsh and meadow vegetation. The tundra of Taimyr and the North Siberian lowland is replete with lakes and swamps.

The main part of the territory of the region is occupied by taiga. Industrial exploitation of forests on a large scale is so far only in the valleys of the Yenisei and Angara and along their tributaries, as well as in areas gravitating towards railways. Taiga is characterized by podzolic soils. There are many fur-bearing animals in the taiga. Fur trade, especially for squirrel, sable, ermine, arctic fox, muskrat, fox, is an important branch of national economic specialization.

Forest-steppes and steppes do not have a continuous latitudinal distribution. They are located in the south in separate areas in intermountain basins and on high uplands. There are especially many steppe and forest-steppe areas in Transbaikalia, in the Minusinsk and Tuva basins.

Area: (4.1 million km2) between Western Siberia and the Far East.

Composition: Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk and Chita regions, republics - Khakassia, Tuva, Buryatia and autonomous districts - Taimyr, Evenki, Ust-Ordynsky, Buryatsky, Aginsky.

EGP: Remoteness from the main economically developed regions of the country and oceans.

Natural conditions: extreme - 3/4 of the surface is occupied by mountains and plateaus; The climate is harsh, sharply continental, 25% of the territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Permafrost and permafrost-taiga soils dominate. The southern regions are characterized by high seismicity. Most of it is occupied by taiga, and only in the extreme south there are islands of forest-steppes and steppes.

Natural resources: 70% of Russia's coal reserves are concentrated, large deposits of ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals (copper, nickel, tin, tungsten, etc.). There are many non-metallic minerals - asbestos, graphite, mica, salts. Huge hydropower resources of the Yenisei, Lena, Angara; 20% of the world's fresh water is contained in the unique Lake Baikal. The leading place is occupied by Eastern Siberia in terms of timber reserves.

Population: average density - 2 people / km2. It is distributed extremely unevenly - the main part is concentrated in the south along the Trans-Siberian Railway, in the rest of the territory the settlement is focal - along the river valleys and in the steppe intermountain basins. The degree of urbanization is high - 72%, large cities - Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Bratsk, Chita, Norilsk.

Economy: The development of the rich resources of Eastern Siberia is difficult due to harsh natural conditions, the lack of a transport network and a shortage of labor resources. In the country's economy, the region stands out as a base for the production of cheap electricity.

Branches of specialization:

1. Coal power industry using brown coal mined in the Kansk-Achinsk basin. Large thermal power plants - Nazarovskaya, Chita, Irkutsk.
2. Hydropower. The most powerful hydroelectric power stations in Russia were built on the Yenisei (Sayano-Shushenskaya, Krasnoyarsk, on the Angara - Bratskaya, Ust-Ilimskaya).
3. Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by energy-intensive industries. Aluminum is smelted in Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk, Shelekhovo, copper and nickel are smelted in Norilsk, and copper is smelted in Udokan.
4. The chemical, oil and wood chemical industries produce a variety of water-intensive products - plastics, chemical fibers, polymers. The raw materials are products of oil refining (Angarsk, Usolie Sibirskoye) and wood (Krasnoyarsk).
5. The timber and pulp and paper industries are developed in the Irkutsk Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where the largest industrial logging in the country is carried out. The largest plants have been built in Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Yeniseisk, and Baikalsk.

Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk Region, Chita Region, Taimyr, Evenk, Aginsky Buryat and Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrugs, Republics of Buryatia, Tyva and Khakassia.

Economic and geographical position

Eastern Siberia is located far from the most developed regions of the country, between the Western Siberian and Far Eastern economic regions. Only in the south are the railways (Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur) and along the Yenisei in a short navigation a connection with the Northern Sea Route is provided.

Natural conditions and resources

Thousand-kilometer high-water rivers, endless taiga, mountains and plateaus, low-lying tundra plains - such is the nature of Eastern Siberia. Territory - 5.9 million km 2.

The most significant plain is the East Siberian Plateau. The upper tier of the Siberian platform located here is represented by sedimentary rocks. The formation of the largest coal basin in Siberia, the Tunguska, is connected with them. The deposits of brown coal of the Kansk-Achinsk and Lena basins are confined to the sedimentary rocks of the troughs on the outskirts of the platform. And the formation of the Angaro-Ilimsky and other large deposits of iron ore and gold is associated with the Precambrian rocks of the lower tier of the Siberian Platform. The plains of Eastern Siberia in the south and east are bordered by mountains (the Yenisei Ridge, the Sayans, the Baikal mountain country).

The climate is sharply continental, with large amplitudes of temperature fluctuations (very cold winters and hot summers). Almost a quarter of the territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle. Natural zones change in the latitudinal direction: arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, taiga (most of the territory), in the south - there are areas of forest-steppes and steppes. In terms of forest reserves, the region ranks first in the country.

Eastern Siberia has huge reserves of various minerals (coal, copper-nickel, polymetallic ores, gold, mica, graphite). The conditions for their development are extremely difficult due to the harsh climate and permafrost, the thickness of which in places exceeds 1000 m, and which is spread over almost the entire region. Lake Baikal - a unique natural object - contains about 1/5 of the world's fresh water reserves.

The hydropower resources of Eastern Siberia are enormous. The most full-flowing river is the Yenisei. The largest hydroelectric power stations in Russia are built on this river and its tributary, the Angara.

Population

Eastern Siberia is one of the most sparsely populated regions of Russia (9.3 million people, average density - 2 people per 1 km 2, in the Evenk and Taimyr Autonomous Okrugs - 0.003-0.006 people). The population lives in the south, mainly in the strip adjacent to the Siberian railway, BAM and near Lake Baikal. The population of Cisbaikalia is higher than that of Transbaikalia. In the vast expanses of the tundra and taiga, the population is rare, it lives in "foci" along the river valleys and intermountain basins.

The majority of the population is Russian. In addition to Russians, there are Buryats, Tuvans, Khakasses, in the north - Nenets and Evenks. The urban population prevails (72%).

economy

Branches of specialization of Eastern Siberia- electric power industry, metallurgy, chemical and timber industry.

The core of the modern economy is the electric power industry. The most powerful thermal power plants in the region are Nazarovskaya, Chitinskaya, Gusinoozerskaya GRES, Norilsk and Irkutsk thermal power plants. A number of the largest state district power stations are planned to be built on the coals of the Kansk-Achinsk basin (Berezovsky and others), which stretches for 800 km along the Trans-Siberian Mainline, starting west of Achinsk. A hundred-meter layer of brown coal lies close to the surface here; mining is carried out in large quarries in an open way. These are energy coals, which are more profitable to burn in the furnaces of large power plants than to transport them over long distances (KA-TEK - Kansk-Achinsk Fuel and Energy Complex).

Eastern Siberia is distinguished by the largest hydroelectric power plants in the country: on the Yenisei (Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushensk with a capacity of over 6 million kW); on the Angara (Bratskaya, Ust-Ilimskaya, Boguchanskaya, Irkutsk hydroelectric power stations). The power plants of the region are connected by power lines and connected to the energy system of Western Siberia.

Generating cheap electricity and having a variety of raw materials, the region develops energy-intensive industries. This is, firstly, aluminum smelting (Shelekhovo, Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk). The raw material is local nepheline. Their complex processing with the associated production of cement and soda makes aluminum production in Eastern Siberia the cheapest.

Further, the extraction of gold, silver, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, lead-zinc ore was developed. In some areas, factories are being created at the place of extraction - for example, the Norilsk Copper-Nickel Plant, where chemical products and building materials are produced along with the smelting of metals. (The city has a very difficult ecological situation).

The oil refining and chemical industries are represented by enterprises in the cities of Angarsk, Usolye-Sibirskoye and Zima. Oil refining (an oil pipeline from Western Siberia), the production of synthetic ammonia, nitric acid, saltpeter, alcohols, resins, soda, plastics, etc. have been developed there. The Krasnoyarsk complex specializes in the chemical processing of wood, the production of synthetic rubber and fibers, tires, polymers and mineral fertilizers. Thus, chemical plants operate on the waste of the pulp and paper industry, on the basis of oil refining, on local coal resources, on cheap electricity, and water is provided by the rivers of Eastern Siberia.

Large forest reserves contribute to the development of the timber and pulp and paper industries. Logging is carried out in the Yenisei and Angara basins. The timber is transported along the Yenisei to the ocean and further along the Northern Sea Route, and to the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainlines for shipment to other regions. The port of Igarka with a sawmill was built beyond the Arctic Circle. The main timber industry enterprises are located in Krasnoyarsk, Lesosibirsk, Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk. A large Selenginsky pulp and paper plant was built (on the Selenga River, which flows into Baikal). It should be noted that these enterprises cause damage to the ecological state of the Baikal region, polluting the environment with production waste.

The major enterprises in mechanical engineering are the factories in Krasnoyarsk (Sibtyazhmash, a combine harvester and a plant for heavy excavators); in Irkutsk (heavy engineering plant), car assembly in Chita, etc.

Agro-industrial complex. Agriculture is developed mainly in the south of the region and specializes in the production of meat and wool, since two-thirds of the agricultural land is hayfields and pastures. Beef cattle breeding and meat and wool sheep breeding are developed in the Chita region, Buryatia and Tuva. The leading place in agriculture belongs to grain crops. Spring wheat, oats, and barley are cultivated, fodder crops are sizable, and potato and vegetable growing are being developed.

Deer are bred in the tundra. In the taiga - hunting.

Fuel and energy complex. The electric power industry is the region's area of ​​specialization. The region has the country's largest hydroelectric power plants, state district power plants and thermal power plants using local resources. The Norilsk CHPP used to run on coal, but now it runs on natural gas from Western Siberia (via a gas pipeline from a field 150 km from Dudinka).

Transport. The development of natural resources, the development of industry is constrained by an underdeveloped transport network. The provision of transport is the lowest in the country. In the south of the East Siberian region passes the Trans-Siberian Railway, laid at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. (Krasnoyarsk - Irkutsk - Ulan-Ude - Chita). The construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (total length over 3,000 km) somewhat softened the situation. The highway originates from Ust-Kut (in the upper reaches of the Lena), approaches the northern tip of Lake Baikal (Severobaikalsk), overcomes the mountain ranges of Transbaikalia through tunnels cut into the rocks and ends in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Far East). The highway, together with the previously constructed western (Taishet-Bratsk-Ust-Kut) and eastern sections (Komsomolsk-on-Amur-Vanino), forms a second, shorter than the Trans-Siberian, route to the Pacific Ocean.

Norilsk is connected by an electrified railway with Dudinka. The largest transport artery is the Yenisei. To the west of the mouth of the Yenisei, navigation along the Northern Sea Route is carried out even in winter. In summer, with the help of icebreakers, ships are also guided east of the Yenisei. Igarka and Dudinka are loess export ports.