Arid landscapes of the Central Asian region
Abstract
The large absolute heights, the complex geological and orographic structure of
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, their geographical position in the depths of the Eurasian continent,
surrounded by vast deserts and the related continental and arid climate, create a great diversity of
landscapes, a variety of natural conditions. By the totality of natural factors, taking into account
their spatial differences, the structure of the altitudinal zonality of landscapes, the territory
of the two countries is a complex system of geocomplexes of different ranks. Geocomplexes of
Central Kazakhstan belong to the arid system and are developing under the conditions of
manifestation of natural and technogenic processes. According to the peculiarities of geological
and geomorphological differentiation of the territory, depending on local physiographic conditions
and processes, landscapes are distinguished relative to the lowered accumulative plains, elevated
denudation plains, small hills and island lowlands.