The Subtropical Zone. The Alpine Region

     The Subtropics. The subtropical zone embraces the areas surround­ing the warm Mediterranean Sea and is sheltered from cold winds by mountains in the north. The climate of the Mediterranean region is characterized by warm, rainy winters and dry, hot summers.

Fig. 42 The coast of the Mediterranean.

Trees that lose their leaves in winter (deciduous trees) grow side by side with evergreens— plants that shed their leaves gradually and therefore remain green throughout the year. Vegetation adapts itself to local conditions. Many of the plants have tough, leathery leaves with thick skins. Evaporation from the surfaces of such leaves is minimized. Such trees as evergreen oak, laurel, cleandre and myrtle are plentiful and varied. In the western part of the Mediterranean region there are even dwarf palms. The cone-bearing evergreen is represented by various kinds of pinasters (the Italian pine, in particular) and by cypress in places.
There are very few evergreen forests left in these regions. Most of (hem have been cut down, and their places have been taken by impassable thickets of thorny evergreen shrubs interwoven with climbers.
Subtropical evergreen vegetation in the Mediterranean region oc­curs only in the lowlands near the seacoast. The inland, mountainous legions of the Balkan, Apennine and Iberian Peninsulas and the larger islands are covered with remnants of chestnut, oak and beech forests. Still higher up in the mountains grow mixed and coniferous forests of common pine and Italian pine.
Formerly the flow of rain- and snow-water was checked by the mountain forests. Since these were cut down, floods have increased and numerous gullies have appeared, which is very bad for agriculture.

Fig. 43. Vegetation belts on the southern slopes of the Alps.

The central part of the Iberian Peninsula is separated from the sea by mountains and resembles a semidesert with its low, rare bush growth and tough grass.
There remain very few wild animals in the Mediterranean area. The roe, the wolf-like jackal, the porcupine with its long needles and the wild rabbit are found here. There are many reptiles: lizards, snakes and tortoises. In the mountains there are mountain goats and chamois. The donkey and mule are the most common domestic animals.
The Mediterranean region was settled many years ago, and there are many relics of ancient Greek and Roman culture. Nature has been greatly changed by man. Along the coastline stretch vineyards and orange, tangerine and lemon orchards. The barren soil is covered almost everywhere with olive groves, which can easily stand the dry summer heat. The fruit of these trees and its oil are important items of the people's diet.
To the extreme east of the subtropical zone of Europe lies the South Coast of the Crimea, which is sheltered from the cold by moun­tains on the north. This is a region of orchards and vineyards. Here, too, are located a number of Soviet health-resorts, where workers and peasants can spend their holidays and receive medical treatment.
The Alps. North of the Mediterranean Sea rise the Alps, the high­est mountain range in Europe. The higher the altitude in these areas, the colder the climate. Vegetable and animal life also vary with the altitude.
As we climb the slopes of the Alps, we leave the subtropical zone of the Mediterranean behind and find ourselves in the forest belt with its snowy winters and wet summers. Forests cover the area ly­ing between 800 and 1800 metres above sea level. First come oak and beech, higher up appear pine, fir and larch.
Above 1800 metres, the forests gradually disappear and the bush and grass belt begins. Here summers are cool, winters long, cold and windy. Multitudes of buttercups, bluebells, poppies, edelweiss with yellowish-white flowers and rhododendrons (alpine roses) bloom amidst the grass in the meadows. Alpine plants have leathery leaves and big, bright-coloured flowers. As -the mountain pasture is most fully represented in the Alps, similar pastures in other moun­tainous areas are also called Alpine pastures (see the colour picture of the Alps).
As the altitude rises, the pastures gradually give way to barren waste lands covered with lichen and moss. There still exist wild ani­mals at these high altitudes: chamois, mountain goats and marmots. The birds include mountain partridges and eagles. Above 3000 metres lies the region of eternal snow—a kingdom of snow and ice, like the glacial zones around the poles. Although the Alpine regions differ from the polar regions in duration of day and night, height of the sun above the horizon and amount of rainfall, they still have much in common.
The Alps are rather densely  populated.  For ages the Alpine mountain  passes have served as   trade routes connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the central regions of Europe. Along these routes today, in river valleys and on lakeshores, ancient towns still stand. The mountain rivers provide energy for hydroelectric powordams. Dairy cattle graze in the rich Alpine pastures. The beauty of the mountain regions attracts numerous tourists.
Questions and Assignments.

1. Trace the boundaries of the subtropical zone on the outline
   map of Europe and mark the Alpine regions.

To what vegetation belts of Europe do the maple, fir, laurel, beech and olive belong? Where do we find wormwood and cloudberries?

1. What natural regions do the white bear, elk, gopher, polar fox and jackal inhabit?
2. Explain:

• how man's activities change nature;
• how Soviet people are altering the physical features of their country.