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.