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Which natural vegetation zones does the Ob River basin cross?
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Ob River
The Ob and Yenisey river basins and their drainage networks.
The Ob River basin is vast and spans several distinct natural vegetation zones as it flows from the south to the north:
- Semidesert: Prevails in the far south of the basin, specifically in the region surrounding Lake Zaysan.1
- Steppe: Located to the north of the semidesert, this zone consists of grassland.1
- Forest Steppe: Found in the upper reaches of the river, transitioning into forest zones.1
- Aspen and Birch Forest: A transitional forest zone encountered below Novosibirsk.1
- Taiga: This zone covers more than half of the basin, consisting of swampy coniferous forests and extensive marshlands. The river passes through both the southern and middle belts of the taiga.1
- Forest Tundra: The river enters this zone in the vicinity of its delta.1
- Tundra: Found in the northernmost reaches of the basin, including the catchment area of the Gulf of Ob, characterized by low-lying, cold-tolerant vegetation.1