North Ossetia is one of the most beautiful republics of the North Caucasus. Within its borders are the Caucasus Mountains, forest-steppes and plains. The entire territory is inhabited by various representatives of flora and fauna. The pristine beauty of mountain ranges, natural gorges will not leave you indifferent. Glaciers located on the territory of North Ossetia are also of interest.
Climatic features
North Ossetia has three climate classifications:
- warm humid continental;
- hot humid continental;
- subarctic.
The climate of North Ossetia is temperate continental, but varies by zone. The Mozdok Plain is an arid place. The air temperature in June is +24, and in January -16 degrees.
Foothill and Central region belongs to the temperate zone, which softens the proximity of the mountains. The area is characterized by long, rainy summers with mild winters. Temperatures range from +20 in summer and -3 degrees in winter.
The main varieties of flora
The nature of North Ossetia is rich in species diversity of animals and plants. The mountains are dominated by deciduous forests, alpine and subalpine flora. Three thousand species of plants, there are relict preglacial plants. A variety of shrubs, medicinal and rare herbs.
On the eastern slopes of the Genaldon Gorge there are:
Iva
Willows belong to woody plants and love moist soil, they often grow near water bodies, the peculiarity of the tree is good flexibility of the branches.
Mountain birch
Mountain birches are deciduous trees, they are characterized by the presence of white bark with dark spots.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a shrub and belongs to the Pink family. It is well known for its medicinal properties and has a rich red fruit, similar to a rose hip only in a rounder shape.
Rose hip
Rose hips have pink flowers and thorns on the branches, the fruits ripen by September and have an oval or drop shape (red, orange, purple-red).
Rowan
Rowan is known for its healing properties; its fruits ripen after the first frost.
In some places, currants, raspberries, lingonberries and Caucasian blueberries grow.
Currant
Raspberry
Cowberry
Caucasian blueberry
The western slope is covered with meadow grasses:
Alpine clover
Alpine clover belongs to the legume family and is a perennial plant.
Belous
Belous is a perennial aromatic plant, used for embalming in ancient times.
In May, the Karmadon Gorge is covered with a variety of flowers:
Buttercup
Buttercups are aquatic or terrestrial plants with poisonous sap.
Primrose
Primroses belong to primroses, very beautiful and variegated plants.
Forget-me-not
Forget-me-nots are part of the Burachnikov family, their flowers are blue with a light center and a dark dot in the center.
Anemone
Anemones belong to the Buttercup family, it is a perennial with a fleshy rhizome, the flowers are white with a yellow center.
The southern slopes of Chijdzhita-khokh and Aarau-khokh are dried by the sun’s rays, so only dry-loving plants grow here:
Sagebrush
Wormwood is a herbaceous or semi-shrub plant, characterized by strong bitterness. Wormwood is classified as a medicinal herb.
Ekparcet
Sainfoin has more than 150 species; it is a wild herb of the legume family. Its flowers are purple, pink, they gather in an ear or a brush.
Sage
Sage is a medicinal plant, copes well with drought, does not like moisture, blooms in June-July.
Thyme
Thyme is a perennial shrub that grows on the ground and covers it with a whole carpet; its leaves are used as a spice in cooking, in the canning and alcoholic beverage industry.
All this is pleasing to the eye and bewitches with its beauty. In summer, this herb is diluted with red poppies, white and pink daisies, bells of different colors.
Red poppy
Chamomile white
Chamomile pink
Bell
Animals
The most common animals are mountain goats.
Caucasian mountain tour
Their pastures are located in the meadows of Karmadon, and their herds number about 40 heads. These animals are very shy and prefer to hide in the rocks during the day and go down from the mountains to pastures at dusk. At dawn, they return to the mountains again.
Mountain turkey ular
Mountain turkey-ulars are their neighbors.
These large birds have a protective coloration that allows them to blend in with the terrain. In the warm season, they live in the mountains, but by winter they descend into open woodlands.
Serna
Chamois are one of the most beautiful animals in North Ossetia. These graceful animals move easily over the mountains and make dizzying jumps over deep abysses and steep cliffs. In summer they graze in birch copses, and in winter they go to the sunny side.
Brown bear
A brown bear lives on the right bank of the Genaldon Gorge. The most amazing thing is that he does not hibernate like his northern relative. However, they have common tastes – he loves raspberries, currants and blueberries.
The ravines are inhabited by less dangerous representatives of the Caucasus fauna – foxes, badgers, hares.
Fox
Badger
Hare
Birds
The great abundance of birds in the meadows of Karmadon doves, larks, blackbirds, mountain buntings, wall climbers attract birds of prey.
Pigeon
Lark
Blackbird
Mountain bunting
Stenolas
In the mountains, large birds of prey, eagles and golden eagles, equip their nests on high cliffs. Falcons often fly in to hunt.
Eagle
Golden eagle
Falcon
