Explore NATURAL REGIONS - Discover Their HIDDEN TREASURES

We explain what natural regions are and how they are classified. Also, its general characteristics and examples.

What are natural regions?

Natural regions or ecoregions are geographic areas that have similar biological, geological and climatic characteristics. That is, these regions are defined by similarity in aspects such as climate, vegetation, relief, geology and other elements of the natural environment.

From a geological point of view, natural regions can share characteristics in terms of rock formation, soil composition, and the formation of relief and geological structures.

Climate is another fundamental factor in the definition of natural regions. Variations in temperature, precipitation and other weather patterns contribute to the differentiation between them.. Climate also directly influences the distribution of vegetation and the adaptation of fauna, which generates biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems in different regions.

Finally, relief is also used to delimit natural regions. Mountains, plains, rivers and other landscape elements can have a significant impact on the environmental dynamics and wildlife of a given region. It is, however, a broad and often changing criterion, but it serves to divide a territory into relatively homogeneous regions for study.

See also: Relief in Europe

Types of natural regions

There are different classifications to delimit natural regions. The most used identifies:

Orographic regions. Those in which the geological criterion predominates.
Climatic regions. Those in which the climatic criterion predominates.
Phytogeographic regions. Those in which biogeographic criteria and vegetation predominate.

Orographic regions

According to the shape of the relief, natural regions can be classified into:

Mountainous regions. It includes the great mountain ranges and elevated areas of the planet, such as the Alps, the Andes mountain range and the Himalayas.
Plain regions. It includes low-lying plains, such as the Pampas plain in Argentina or the Amazon plain.
plateau regions. It includes elevated and flat reliefs, such as the Andean plateau, the Tibet plateau or the Deccan plateau, in India.

Climatic regions

According to the predominant climate, natural regions can be classified into:

warm regions. They are located between the tropics of Capricorn to the south and Cancer to the north. It includes the areas near the equator up to 23° north and south latitude. High temperatures predominate, with little seasonal variation. The warm regions closest to the equator have abundant rainfall, and the tropical areas have little rainfall.
temperate regions. They are located approximately between 60° north latitude with respect to the Tropic of Cancer and 60° south latitude with respect to the Tropic of Capricorn. They present marked differences between summer and winter, and rainfall is very varied.
cold regions. They are found in the areas near the North Pole and the South Pole. They usually have very low temperatures and little rain. There are also cold regions in the highest altitude areas of the planet, such as the plateaus and mountain ranges.

Phytogeographic regions

According to their vegetation and soils, natural regions can be classified into:

tundra regions. The tundra is a cold, arid ecosystem found in polar and high mountain regions. The vegetation in the tundra is adapted to the very cold climate all year round. Soils are often poor in nutrients and frozen much of the time, which limits the growth of vegetation.
desert regions. Deserts are ecoregions characterized by low rainfall. The vegetation is usually very little and adapted to arid conditions. Plants such as cacti and heat-resistant shrubs are common in these environments. Desert soils are, for the most part, poor in nutrients.
Savannah regions. Savannas are tropical ecosystems characterized by the presence of tall grass and scattered trees and shrubs. These regions are mainly found in warm climates. They have long dry seasons and very short wet seasons. Vegetation includes fire-resistant grasses and trees adapted to water scarcity.
Forest regions. Forests are ecosystems that are home to a wide diversity of trees and plants. The vegetation that can be found varies according to latitude and altitude. In temperate forests, deciduous trees are found, while in tropical forests, the vegetation is dense and evergreen. Soils are usually rich in nutrients, due to the decomposition of organic matter.
jungle regions. Jungles are warm and humid ecosystems that are home to the greatest biodiversity on the planet. The vegetation in tropical rainforests is lush and dense, and the soils are relatively poor, due to the rapid decomposition of organic matter and the rains washing away nutrients, preventing them from accumulating on the surface.
steppe regions. Steppes are regions with vegetation composed mainly of herbs, shrubs and grasses. These ecosystems are found in areas with low rainfall, but more abundant than that of deserts. The scarcity of trees is characteristic of these regions.
grassland regions. Grasslands are extensive areas of land characterized by the presence of herbs, grasses and herbaceous plants. The vegetation in the grasslands is adapted to temperate climates, with rainy and dry seasons. The soils are usually fertile and allow plant growth. Grasslands can also support scattered trees.
Wetland regions. Wetlands are permanently or seasonally flooded areas of land, such as swamps, marshes, and lagoons. Vegetation in wetlands varies and may include aquatic plants such as sedges, lilies and water lilies. These ecosystems are essential for wildlife, providing habitats and breeding grounds for various species. Soils in wetlands are usually rich in organic matter, due to the accumulation of plant remains that decompose slowly.

References

Portillo, G. (sf). Temperate climate. Network Meteorology. https://www.meteorologiaenred.com/
Ropero Portillo, S. (2020). Natural regions: what they are, what they are and their characteristics. EcologyGreen. https://www.ecologiaverde.com/
Sans, I. (2022). Tropical climate: characteristics, temperature and plants. Climate. https://www.clima.com/
Terrasa, D. (2018). Köppen climate classification. The Guide. https://geografia.laguia2000.com/
Sustainable land. (sf). Natural regions: what they are, types, characteristics and their importance. https://tierrasustentable.com/
Vegas, J. (2023). Polar climate: characteristics, temperature and fauna. Climate. https://www.clima.com/