Soil-Geographical Phenomenon in the South of European Russia

Abstract

The southern part of European Russia includes regions between two mainland-forming seas: the Black Sea from the northwest and the Caspian Sea from the southeast. The Caucasus Mountains characterized by variegated topography stretch between these seas in the submeridional direction for the total distance of more than 1500 km. The temperate and subtropical belts of steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, forests, and shrub vegetation are located to the north of the mountains within 42°–48° N and 38°–49° E (Dokuchaev, 1951). Ideas about generally the accepted parallels and meridians along which systems with increased geodynamic activity stretch are formulated within the framework of the zonal concept of nature. Latitudinal mountain belts clearly belong to the 36°–60° parallels on some continents and include a wide range of landscapes and conditions of soil cover formation. It is well known that within 30°–40° N, the atmospheric pressure is at its maximum, and these latitudes are called roaring latitudes, because winds that blow from them are transformed into catastrophic storms that affect the development of aridization and desertification.