Why are the dragon mountains called that? Map of dragon mountains with cities

Dragon Mountains are amazing place in southern Africa.

It is actually very beautiful here: the landscape, the passes, the views from afar, the internal features that cannot be overlooked during the walk.

The Dragon Mountains have become the center of plot development in the stories and works of a number of authors, including Russian-speaking ones.

You can briefly describe the features of the Dragon Mountains in several positions:

there are incredibly many attractions that will not let a curious tourist get bored;
The Dragon Mountains are a safe and stable place (there are no sudden surprises in the form of obstacles on the way);
these are the most big mountains, yes and mountain system in general throughout the African continent;
the most favorite pastime of tourists is trekking, which is very popular here;
altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level are difficult to access because permission is needed. However, for those who manage to get it, incredible views from the mountains open up.

How did the Dragon Mountains appear?

The history of the appearance of mountains began about 150-200 million years ago. The Dragon Mountains were created in a slightly different way than is commonly believed in the case of most other mountain systems.

There are no plate junctions here, but there is a once high seismological activity in the modern area.

So, initially the mountains were formed due to the leakage of basalt, which covered the soil for a long time. South Africa.

Over time, water, of which there was a lot, had a certain effect on the basalt.

As a result, the rocky Dragon Mountains of a unique shape were formed. An important role was played by sandstone, which was under the basalt in a very fragile state.

Its structure allowed it to be formed under the influence of other factors of high rocks, gradually hardening.

The Bushmen and Zulus had a special relationship with the Drakensberg Mountains. They gave them different names, created petroglyphs that reflected the life of their modern life at that time.

Today there are various excursions within which you can visit unique places. Excursions involve traveling not only through the mountains, but also walking through the caves where the locals lived many thousands of years ago.

The area that surrounds the Dragon Mountains has been rewarded with chic plants. Those who appreciate the beauty of nature love to relax here - orchids grow almost everywhere, and they are actually unusual.

Where are the Dragon Mountains

To know how to see the mountains live, you should understand that they are located on the territory of several states, the rules for receiving tourists and guests are different.

However, tourism, involving a visit to the Dragon Mountains, is possible in such states:

Free State;
kingdom of Lesotho;
KwaZulu-Natal.

The food is also safe and tasty - the locals practice cooking dishes of different cuisines.

In general, you can call the Dragon Mountains a tourist area, although there is not a large flow of tourists, an influx of people during the season and problems with buying tickets or renting a hotel room. Various and inexpensive excursions are offered.

However, it is important to understand that a tourist will not be able to visit all the mountains and you need to choose.

Mount Mont-au-Source is considered a true dominant - it has a height of 3048 meters above sea level.

It is beautiful everywhere here: both when walking along the mountain itself, and on its top. Also, the mountain is beautiful from afar - in particular, in the valleys of the Tugela River.

June 31st, 2013

Fly over mountains? And now I will tell you the history of these places.

Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains)- the highest mountain range in the territory South Africa. The African people of the Zulus refer to her as Ukhahlamba, i.e. copy barrier.

The fabulous name of the mountains has several versions of origin. Of course, not without the banal presence of a dragon, or rather a huge lizard with the tail and wings of a dragon, which, allegedly, was seen by local residents in the 19th century. Another version of the name is the presence of haze that comes from the bottom and hides the tops of the mountains. Huge puffs of smoke create the feeling that they are emitted from the nostrils by none other than a dragon.

But still, there is something truly fabulous in the Dragon Mountains, namely their beauty. Here the spirit of antiquity soars. The caves of the Dragon Mountains are famous for their rock art. About 35 thousand ancient rock paintings are stored in this mysterious place. The most amazing and fascinating thing is the years of the life of the drawings - some of them were created more than 100 thousand years. There are especially many of them in the Giants Castle reserve, which is listed in the World Heritage book. The uniqueness of rock paintings lies not only in their antiquity and its preservation, but also in the variety of subjects. The territory of the Dragon Mountains is famous for another attraction - the second highest 947-meter high Tugela waterfall in the world.

A huge number of battles took place in the territory of the Dragon Mountains. For several centuries, great battles took place here, which in many ways changed the course of the history of this country. Fields where battles took place several centuries ago, namely on the sites of the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars, are a particularly relevant place for excursions.

A significant part of the Drakensberg Mountains is occupied by nature reserves and reserves. The most visited of them is the Royal national park Natalia. The slope, located on the South side of the park, is a natural rock step that stretches for 8 km. An unusual landscape appears before you if you look at the rocky step from below.

The division of the mountains occurs in two parts: the hilly, densely grassed expanses of Natal and the part of the Orange Province and the Southern Transvaal, located above the other hills. The high, empty and bare mountains of Basuto are very reminiscent of the mountains of Ethiopia.

A significant part of the territory of Drakensberg is occupied by endless highlands covered with a thick grassy blanket. Unfortunately, at present, due to human intervention, the original landscapes have practically not been preserved anywhere.

"The Roof of Africa" - this is the name acquired by the highlands with steep slopes on one side and gentle slopes on the other. Sheer slopes, which usually reach a thousand meters in height, are often hit by winds from indian ocean. They are created and brought here by a large amount of precipitation. This is where they start their journey. stormy rivers flowing to the east. Washing away the top layer of soil, they carry it to the Indian Ocean, thereby accelerating the process of erosion. A significant amount of water is in the Orange River, which flows west into the Atlantic Ocean. At one time, erosion overtook the huge cliffs of the Basuto plateau, and now it appearance- these are bare rocks several hundred meters high, which break off to the grassy foothills.

Bearded eagles live on the plateau. They build large nests on the rocks, line them with wool, hair, and leftover food. On mountain pastures, the main food for bearded men is dead sheep. Another bird whose last specimens live in this mountainous region is the ibis. This is an amazing, bright green bird with a red bald patch on the top of its head. Unlike other species of ibis, which live mainly in swamps (except for the rock ibis), this one builds nests on high rocks, like an eagle. The ibis gets its food in the lowlands and flies north for the winter - to countries with a temperate climate.
In the eastern part of the highlands, almost no pristine nature remains, and only the beautiful reserves at the foot of the Dragon Mountains give an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat this land looked like before people settled it. In former times, the grassy areas of Natal abounded big amount animals that were exterminated before the arrival of Europeans. in reserves and national parks lives white-faced hartebeest, which was completely destroyed, and later brought back here. Bubals need to be fed from time to time, because they were moved from the lowlands, and they have not yet adapted to the conditions of life in the rocky area.

The pristine nature, which is practically gone in the eastern part of the highlands, has been preserved only at the foot of the Dragon Mountains. Only here you can understand what the earth looked like before civilization visited it. Currently, the territory of Natal is very different from what it was several centuries ago. A huge number of animals lived in the grassy area of \u200b\u200bNatalie, which were subsequently exterminated even before the arrival of Europeans.

Dragon Mountains is a real historical complex, imbued with the spirit of antiquity. It is not surprising that Drakensberg is recognized as one of the most popular tourist spots which are visited by about two million tourists every year.

Many birds migrate from the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, where very harsh winters occur, to the coast. Among them are the demoiselle crane, African bustard and numerous songbirds. The Demoiselle Crane is very handsome, it has a light gray-blue plumage. In South Africa, it is found everywhere. Previously, many large animals moved to the region with a temperate climate for the winter, but today this has become impossible: the numerous wire fences with which people surround their plots block their path. Therefore, only those animals that can survive the winter have survived in the foothills.

The eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains are characterized by grassy cover with small patches of forest in the lower part of the slopes. Due to frequent fires, trees and undergrowth are destroyed. There is no consensus among environmentalists regarding the benefits of fires. Fires, in addition to destroying trees, contribute to soil erosion on steep slopes, with them all the valuable nitrogen and most of the organic matter contained in grass. If the grass is not burned, it turns into an inedible mixture of dead stems and straws with very low nutritional qualities, almost unsuitable for both livestock and wild animals. Therefore, they try to find a compromise in which the burning of grass would not cause too much harm. But erosion still cannot be avoided.

Countless herds of wild animals used to live in the valleys of the Drakensberg Mountains, more than anywhere else on Earth, even more than they live today in the whole East Africa. The white-tailed wildebeest, the kongoni, the savannah zebra, the quagga, the white-faced hartebeest, millions of springboks lived there, boundless herds of which moved in search of food and water. Often several tens of millions of springboks moved at the same time. The Boers called such animal migrations "trek". The last such migration was recorded in 1896: a dense herd of more than 50 million animals disappeared in the direction of the Orange River and did not appear again. In the first decades of settlement of these areas by the British and Dutch, a huge number of herbivores were shot for the sake of hides and meat. But there remains a large number of small animals in which people show no interest, and those whose natural enemies have been destroyed.

Larks and other birds that nest on the ground today no longer have any enemies, since jackals, wild cats, and birds of prey have been exterminated. For some mammals and birds, people have improved conditions by creating numerous small dams that still have water during the dry season. The number of near-water birds has especially increased. Thousands of ducks and geese live today where they never lived before. This is an African duck with an original yellow beak, an Egyptian goose, a clawed goose ... Some of them can also be found in East Africa - in Ethiopia, but not in such numbers. The number of herons, cormorants, ibises and shepherds has increased. Many northern birds spend the winter here.

The reckless intrusion into animal life has created new problems: in some areas, the number of clawed geese has reached such proportions that grain fields are under serious threat. The weaver - the red-billed quelia - has become such a disaster for wheat fields that millions of these birds have to be shot every year. This whole area is an example of the irresponsible actions of a person invading nature.

The charm of protected areas lies not only in the uniqueness of the wild animals inhabiting them - the surrounding nature is amazingly picturesque, the rocky area impresses with a variety of landscapes. Inaccessible cliffs, steep cliffs, caves and mountain gorges along with high mountain meadows, crystal lakes and river valleys full of charm. Even spoiled natural beauties the traveler will be impressed by the thundering waterfalls in the area of Cathedral Peak, Catkin Peak.
Beautiful natural Park Ukashlamba-Drakensberg is located not far from the conditional capital of the province, the city of Durban - just a few hours drive, and you are in another world. The park has cozy mountain houses and comfortable hostels to accommodate tourists. You can relax sitting on the veranda and sipping brandy, and enjoy the splendor of the scenery. Or take a walk or horseback ride along one of the specially designed routes, and then the natural landscapes will appear before you in all their amazing diversity. Or maybe you will be lucky enough to see a large herd of elands! Like any forest antelope, the eland is shy. But in protected areas, where it is calm and safe, animals are less careful. A funny sight when the herd goes to a new pasture - a group of running antelopes resembles a cavalry squad on the march. Young antelopes are able to develop such good speed that they often run away even from a jeep rushing off-road.

Well, then, having had enough of both nature reserves and places of military glory, you can find many other activities, since the developed tourism industry of the Dragon Mountains offers an unlimited choice. Trout fishing in lakes and reservoirs, breathtaking helicopter rides, excellent golf courses and tennis courts, souvenir shops and numerous shops, musical evenings ...

It is here that you can hear the performance of the renowned boys' choir known to music lovers all over the world, the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

It could seem interesting excursion to the small town of Bulver, lost somewhere among the mountains - there is a unique church built of yellow wood. Yellow tree - grows only in the Republic of South Africa, its wood at international auctions costs a lot of money. One can only guess how much the church itself is valued - why not check with the guide?

Royal Natal Park contains the Santa Lucia Nature Reserve from the list world heritage- this is a territory of 275 thousand hectares adjacent to the oldest lake of the same name on the planet.

nature reserve Golden Gate Highlands - Golden Gate - also located where the Dragon Mountains are, closer to mountain range Maluti. This is a park that got its name for the unusually beautiful golden glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset. The park was created in 1963 in order to protect the sandstones that once served as a refuge for the Bushmen from destruction.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg National Park is another special place on the UNESCO list. The park, located in the Great Ledge zone, is considered the largest in the Dragon Mountains. Rare representatives of flora and fauna have been preserved here, the total number of which is more than 250 species.

Fauna of the Drakensberg Mountains

The territory of the Dragon Mountains is distinguished by exceptional nature. This is due primarily to the fact that the mountains serve as a natural barrier to those living here and on the inland plateau. The pristine nature has been preserved in the national parks. Ukhahlamba Drakensberg has an untouched strip of alpine and subalpine vegetation - this is a special region that has the status world center endemism and plant diversity. The endemic birds of the Drakensberg Mountains are the bald ibis and the bearded vulture, nesting only near the Cathedral Cave (a natural arch that was formed by the action of water on the sand during temperature fluctuations). The yellow-breasted pipit is also a rare endangered species. Cape vulture lives only on the rocks of Ukhahlamba Park. Due to the presence of a large number of rare birds, UNESCO has designated part of the Drakensberg Mountains as an Important Bird Area.

Only in Ukhahlamba Park live such mammals as oribi antelope, Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest. Animals typical of southern Africa also live in the mountains: antelopes (mountain redunka, bush duiker, bushbuck, roe antelope), caracal, jackal, serval, leopard, otter, geneta, mongoose.

Flora of the Drakensberg Mountains

Dragon Mountain is located in the south of the Afromontan botanical-geographical region. Steppes, forests and light forests are widespread here, where the world's only populations of white-tailed wildebeest and white rhinoceros live. Botanists refer to the high-mountain vegetation as analogues of the alpine tundra. The east of the mountains is humid, its slopes (up to a height of 1200 m) are covered with tropical rainforests with lianas, evergreen trees, and epiphytes. Prickly shrubs, xerophytes and succulents grow from a height of 1200-1500 m. Above 2000 m there are mountain steppes, green meadows, stone placers. The west of the mountains is covered with savannas and shrubs.

Dragon Mountains Tourism

Unique nature, unique landscape, original culture local residents make the Dragon Mountains attractive for tourists. Drakensberg is interesting because it contains three national parks and many reserves where rare species of flora and fauna are found. There are ancient lakes in the mountains, beautiful waterfalls, varied terrain. People who are fond of history visit the rocks in Ukhahlamba Park, where the paintings of the San people who lived in the Stone Age have been preserved.

There are about 600 such places in the Dragon Mountains. The drawings tell about the way of life of people of that time. Fans of active and extreme recreation have the opportunity to ride the slopes of the Dragon Mountains on a Land Rover or on a horse. The mountains can be viewed from a helicopter window. IN hard-to-reach places organized hiking. Dragon Mountains attract tourists from all over the world, those who are a true connoisseur of true beauty.

general information

The air in the mountains is compared to champagne - this was invented by the locals because of the breezes that blow through the tops of this unusual formation. Many peaks exceed 3,000 m in height, and streams and rivers cut through them, forming incredibly spectacular canyons.

More than 40,000 drawings made here have been preserved in caves among the rocks. ancient people hunters and gatherers who lived in the area over 8,000 years ago. The drawings depict dances, hunting and battles, as well as the almost mythical relationship that the representatives of this people maintained with the animals living here.

The goal of many travelers in these mountains is the paradise valley - Ndedema. The view of the Ndedema Gorge surpasses everything seen before - the mighty mountain seems to be cut in half by a deep neck. One part of it is completely covered with forest, while the other is completely bare.

Panorama of the Dragon Mountains

These places are said to have inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous Lord of the Rings.

This mountainous area actively develops tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites with full service and provided guides and guides are very handy. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. The restless ones will go along the picturesque passes and mountain valleys accompanied by local guides; and their luggage will be carried on the backs of smart and unpretentious ponies.

There are unique opportunities for traveling, horseback riding, bird watching. Even golf and fishing are provided.

The Lost World of the Dragon Mountains is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Dragon Mountains are easy to find on a world map or Africa, they occupy the territory of three African states - South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. The mountain range is an almost monolithic wall of solid basalt with a length of a thousand kilometers. Mountains stretch along the southeastern coast of South Africa and are a natural watershed between rivers flowing into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The highest point of the Dragon Mountains, Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana with a height of 3482 m, is located on the territory of the state of Lesotho.

Over the eastern slopes of the mountains there is a lot of precipitation, in the region of the western slopes the climate is more arid. There are many active mines in the Dragon Mountains, where gold, tin, platinum and coal are mined.

More than two million tourists annually visit the Republic of South Africa, the provinces of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal to see the real miracle of nature - the Dragon Mountains.

Myths and legends of the Dragon Mountains

There are several versions of the origin of such unusual name. Locals love to tell the legend of a huge fire-breathing dragon that was seen in these parts in the 19th century. Perhaps the name of the Dragon Mountains (Drakensberg) came from the Boers, who named them so for their inaccessibility, because it is very difficult to wade between rocky ledges and mountain placers. Another version of the name comes from the foggy haze that envelops the tops of the mountains. The clouds of fog are very similar to the vapor from the nostrils of a dragon.

Of great interest is rock art in mountain caves: scientists have determined that the age of some drawings exceeds 100 thousand years! The nature reserve Ukashlamba-Drakensberg, on the territory of which there are caves with prehistoric writings, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

The Dragon Mountains are a beautiful corner of South Africa, where you can enjoy clean air, the rustle of wind and forests, over which mountain falcons, bearded eagles and vultures soar. Predatory animals have long left these places, thus creating conditions for the reproduction of many species of antelopes.

Dragon Mountains (South Africa)

Herds of graceful animals are often found along the route of excursion routes.

Ukashlamba-Drakensberg Park - beautiful place for a weekend where you can stay for a couple of days in a cozy house or hostel, fish for trout in crystal deep lakes. For fans active rest- rock climbing, rafting, horse riding and hiking.

How to get there?

The Dragon Mountains are just a couple of hours drive from Durban, a city on the east coast of South Africa. Durban Airport accepts round the clock international flights and flights from other cities in South Africa. You can go to the mountains with a tent and camping equipment, and for those who want more a relaxing holiday, the park staff will offer to stay in one of the hotels.

Where: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
Height above sea level: 3482 meters
Highest point: Thabana-Ntlenyana
Countries: Republic of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland

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DRAGON MOUNTAINS (Drakensberg), mountains in the eastern part of South Africa, mainly in South Africa and Lesotho. They stretch from the southwest to the northeast from the Big Kei River to the Sabi River for a distance of over 1000 km.

dragon mountains

The most elevated part of the Great Ledge. In the central part, they include the eastern outskirts of the Lesotho highlands up to 3482 m high (Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana, the highest point of the Dragon Mountains and South Africa). They are composed of Upper Paleozoic sandstones and shales of the Karoo complex, overlain by strata of Middle Jurassic basalt plateaus, which determine the table character of the peaks of the Dragon Mountains, divided by erosion into steeply sloping stepped plateaus. The Dragon Mountains form a watershed between the short rivers of the Indian Ocean basin (Tugela and others), which cut the steep eastern slope of the Dragon Mountains, and the rivers of the Orange River basin.

On the eastern slopes of the Dragon Mountains, heavy rains fall, mainly in summer (up to 1000-2000 mm per year), the climate of the western slopes is more arid (450-500 mm per year). On the peaks, the duration of the frosty period reaches 180 days, and a snow cover is formed. In the lower part of the eastern slopes of the mountains, primary subtropical evergreen forests (podocarpus, laurel olive, bearded todea; creepers, epiphytes) are replaced mainly by secondary grasslands; at an altitude of 1800-2700 m, savannahs with tree-like proteas have been preserved, along the valleys - areas of coniferous forests from widdringtonia. Above, short-grass meadows of the alpine type and stony placers dominate. On the western slopes, tall-grass grasslands (veld) are common. The midlands of the Drakensberg Mountains are a center of diversity for vascular plants and bryophytes. About 50 species of mammals live in the Dragon Mountains: carnivores (leopard, jackal, caracal, serval, otters, genets, mongooses) and ungulates are especially diverse. The avifauna is rich (over 300 species of birds); populations of nesting migrant birds from the Palearctic (black stork, golden bee-eater, etc.) are unique.

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To protect a diverse fauna, habitats of rare and endemic plant species for South Africa, the national parks Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg (South Africa, included in the World Heritage List), Sehlabatebe (Lesotho) have been created. One of the highest waterfalls in the world is located within the Royal Natal National Park (South Africa) in the upper reaches of the Tugela River.

Lit.: Killick D. Drakensberg alpine region // Centers of plant diversity: a guide and strategy for their conservation. Oxf., 1994; Vegetation of Southern Africa / Ed. R. Cowling, D. Richardson, S. Pierce. Camb., 1997.

Drakensberg Mountains

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Dragon Mountains (South Africa). Where is Dragon Mountain located?

Eye of the Sahara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls, Emerald City, Giza, Egyptian pyramids- how many natural and man-made miracles hides the most mysterious continent of the planet - Africa!

Dragon Mountains - the pearl of South Africa

The Dragon Mountains are one of the most beautiful places on the continent. They have a unique origin. These are massive mountains with steep slopes and weak dissection, formed as a result of the uplift of the earth's crust and the discharge of basalt.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the mountains. The stories of the Dragon Mountain tell of the presence of a dragon on its territory, which was seen in the 19th century. Another version of the origin of the name is the presence of haze over the mountains, similar to the flame of a dragon. The most common version is that the name is Dutch, and the Boers gave it, comparing the tops of the mountains with the backbone of the dragon.

Dragon Mountain: a place on the map

The Dragon Mountains run through South Africa from east to west, from the Indian Ocean to the Great Weld plateau. Dragon Mountain is located on the territory of three states: South Africa, the Lesotho enclave, the Kingdom of Swaziland. The length of the mountain range is over 1100 km, the average height is 2000 m. The highest points are the mountains Katkin Peak with a height of 3660 m and Thabana-Ntlenyana with a height of 3482 m. The Dragon Mountains, where the most diverse relief is presented, are divided into two parts: hilly, lively (Royal-Natal National Park), and alpine, lifeless (Basuto Plateau).

Drakensberg - the territory of nature reserves

Drakensberg is a variation on the name of Dragon Mountain. The charm of the Dragon Mountains amazes with landscapes. Here you can see waterfalls and canyons, valleys and cliffs. Dragon Mountain is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reserves, sanctuaries, national parks occupy a significant part of the mountain range.

Royal Natal National Park is located on the unique landscape of Dragon Mountain. Is incredibly beautiful southern border Park - Amphitheater mountain range, named because of its flat top. This is a natural rock step 8 km long. Near it is the Tugela Falls, 948 m high, which consists of five cascades and is considered the second highest in the world after the Angel Falls.
In Royal Natal Park there is the Santa Lucia Nature Reserve from the World Heritage List - this is an area of 275 thousand hectares adjacent to the oldest lake of the same name on the planet.

The Golden Gate Highlands nature reserve - Golden Gate - is also located where the Dragon Mountains are located, closer to the Maluti mountain range. This is a park that got its name for the unusually beautiful golden glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset. The park was created in 1963 in order to protect the sandstones that once served as a refuge for the Bushmen from destruction.

Fauna of the Drakensberg Mountains

The territory of the Dragon Mountains is distinguished by exceptional nature. This is due primarily to the fact that the mountains serve as a natural barrier to the migration of animals living here and on the inland plateau. The pristine nature has been preserved in the national parks. Ukhahlamba Drakensberg has a pristine belt of alpine and subalpine vegetation, a special region that has the status of a World Center for Endemism and Plant Diversity. The endemic birds of the Drakensberg Mountains are the bald ibis and the bearded vulture, nesting only near the Cathedral Cave (a natural arch that was formed by the action of water on the sand during temperature fluctuations).

The yellow-breasted pipit is also a rare endangered species. Cape vulture lives only on the rocks of Ukhahlamba Park. Due to the presence of a large number of rare birds, UNESCO has designated part of the Drakensberg Mountains as an Important Bird Area.
Only in Ukhahlamba Park live such mammals as oribi antelope, Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest. Animals typical of southern Africa also live in the mountains: antelopes (mountain redunka, bush duiker, bushbuck, roe antelope), caracal, jackal, serval, leopard, otter, geneta, mongoose.

Flora of the Drakensberg Mountains

Dragon Mountains Tourism

The unique nature, unique landscape, original culture of the locals make the Dragon Mountains attractive for tourists. Drakensberg is interesting for the presence of three national parks and many nature reserves, where rare species of flora and fauna are found. In the mountains there are ancient lakes, beautiful waterfalls, varied relief. People who are fond of history visit the rocks in Ukhahlamba Park, where the paintings of the San people who lived in the Stone Age have been preserved.
There are about 600 such places in the Dragon Mountains. The drawings tell about the way of life of people of that time. Fans of active and extreme recreation have the opportunity to ride the slopes of the Dragon Mountains on a Land Rover or on a horse. The mountains can be viewed from a helicopter window. Walking tours are organized to hard-to-reach places. Dragon Mountains attract tourists from all over the world, those who are a true connoisseur of true beauty.

Comments

About the tasks of the geographical Olympiad for schoolchildren
Moscow region

A.N. NOVIK
high school geography teacher no. 1
settlement Moscow, Leninsky district, Moscow region

On January 24, 2004, district rounds of the school olympiad in geography were held in the Moscow region. In all districts of the region, questions, tasks and answers to them were the same. Some of the tasks were at a fairly high level, and only really well-prepared students could cope with them. But the correctness of others caused controversy among teachers, and some of the answers that became known after the end of the Olympiad simply struck me as incorrect.
Here are examples of tasks for which answers were offered that were presented as correct. I immediately give my comments and the correct answers in accordance with the school and scientific literature, as well as cartographic material.

7th grade

Task 9. Name four types of mountains, differing in origin, the formation of which is associated with the activity of the internal forces of the Earth.
Answer: volcanic, folded, blocky, folded-blocky.
Remarks. All mountains by origin are divided into 2 types: tectonic and volcanic. Tectonic mountains are mountains that were formed as a result of folded and discontinuous deformations of the earth's crust, that is, as a result of orogeny. Volcanic mountains are mountains formed as a result of volcanic eruptions. Tectonic mountains in their structure (structure) are divided into 2 main types (folded and blocky) and 2 transitional (folded-blocky and blocky-folded) *.

Task 11. Name the largest hill located in the Moscow region.
Answer: Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge.
Remarks. The answer proposed by the compilers is incorrect: a significant part of the region is occupied by the Smolensk-Moscow upland, and the Klin-Dmitrov ridge is only a part of this upland, and, of course, it is smaller than it. Maybe the compilers asked to name the most high elevation? But here, too, they are wrong: absolute height The Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge reaches only 285 m, and the highest point of the Moscow region is located near the village of Shapkino, Mozhaisk district (310 m), that is, within the Smolensk-Moscow Upland, but outside the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge.

Task 14. On the map, determine the origin of the Drakensberg Mountains.
Answer: blocky.
Comment. Again (see task 9), the authors confuse the origin of mountains with their structure.

*Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary (Concepts and Terms, 1988), defining the concept of " blocky mountains”, notes that it is generally debatable, “since, according to some ideas, all mountains are folded.” Indeed, blocky mountains are formed only when a folded structure is already formed. And vice versa, there are no purely folded mountains in which there would be no faults, horsts and grabens. It is much more correct to divide tectonic mountains into young and revived, as is done, for example, in the textbook by D.P. Finarova and others, and not to introduce into the school course terms that scientists have not yet figured out. And at the Olympiad, three questions are devoted to the topic of the origin of mountains. - Note. ed.

8th grade

Task 6. On the map "The structure of the earth's crust" determine the origin of the Andes mountains.
Answer: folded.
Remarks. The main comments on this type of questions are given in task 9 for the 7th grade. In reality, the Andes are of tectonic origin.

Task 11. It is well known that natural zones in their distribution obey a general pattern: they extend in a latitudinal direction, successively replacing one another from the equator to the north and south. At the same time, in North America, natural zones extend in the meridional direction, replacing one another from west to east. Mark with a "+" the reason for this anomalous phenomenon:
1) latitude of the area;
2) relief;
3) rotation of the Earth around its axis;
4) the presence of ocean currents.
Answer: 4.
Remarks. To refute the proposed answer, I will quote from a textbook for the 7th grade by I.V. Dushina et al. (9th ed., 2000): “This distribution of natural zones is a feature of North America, which is mainly determined by its topography and prevailing winds. The coast receives the most rainfall. Atlantic Ocean, when moving inland, the amount of precipitation gradually decreases and therefore there is a change in natural zones.

Task 13. Name the highest point in Europe.
Answer: Elbrus.
Remarks. This answer can be considered correct if the border between Europe and Asia is drawn along the Main Caucasian ridge. Mount Elbrus, located in the Lateral Range, will thus be completely in Europe. But in most physical and geographical sources it is indicated that the border between the two parts of the world runs along the Kuma-Manych depression, and Ciscaucasia belongs to Asia. Based on this, the high point Europe should consider Mont Blanc.

9th grade

Task 5. Mark with a plus sign the answer you have chosen. The distribution of the main types of soils on the territory of Russia is subject primarily to:
1) placement of rocks;
2) placement of dominant plant communities;
3) the law of latitudinal zonality;
4) tectonic structure.
Answer: 3.
Remarks. In this task, two answers are possible - 2 and 3, and not one. Vegetation is one of the main soil-forming factors. Both vegetation and soils are zonal. However, some types of soils (as well as vegetation) are located azontally, which in some cases does not allow placing soils in strict obedience to the law of latitudinal zonality**.

Task 9.

Mark with a "+" the correct judgments:
1. The constitutional powers of the republics and autonomous regions are greater than those of the territories and regions of the Russian Federation.
2. The cities of federal subordination include Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk.
3. As part of Russia, 21 republics, 6 territories, 10 autonomous regions, 49 regions are distinguished.
4. Autonomous okrugs are allocated to territories with a low proportion of the indigenous population.
5. Federal districts report directly to the president.
Answer: 1, 3, 4, 5.
Remarks. In fact, all the above judgments can be considered incorrect:
1. All subjects of the federation are equal, this is guaranteed by Article 5 of the Constitution:
“The Russian Federation consists of republics, territories, regions, cities of federal significance, an autonomous region and autonomous districts - equal subjects of the Russian Federation ... In relations with federal government bodies, all subjects of the Russian Federation are equal among themselves.”
3. This judgment can be classified as incorrect, if we recall that Russia includes two more cities of federal significance and one autonomous region, which are not indicated in the judgment.
4. According to the 1989 census, in the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug, the share of Buryats exceeded 54%, and in the Komi-Permyatsky 60% of the population belonged to the Komi-Permyaks. Thus, this judgment is not applicable to all autonomous regions, and, therefore, there is an error in it, that is, it is incorrect. Meanwhile, in a number of republics, the percentage of the indigenous population does not reach or barely reaches one third (while there is no data on the ethnic composition according to the last census, we give accurate to whole percent): Karelians - 11, Komi - 23, Udmurts - 31, Mordovians - 32, Yakuts - 33.
5. The President is subject to his plenipotentiaries in each federal district, and not the federal districts themselves.

** In the wording of the task, two answers of different orders are given, since the distribution of plant communities is subject to the law of latitudinal zonality. - Note. ed.

A note on the assessment method
the correctness of certain tasks

At the end of each task, the number of points received by the student who correctly answered the question was given. In tasks where it was supposed to choose one or more correct answers from the list, along with incentive points, penalty points were also provided:
“Each correct answer is 5 points.
Each wrong answer is minus 5 points.
Probably, penalty points were introduced to punish those students who could mark all answers as correct. Thus, having noted the correct ones, they would receive the required number of points in their favor. Afraid of receiving penalty points, the students now had to act more carefully, and not mark everything in a row. But due to the lack of a clear methodology for applying penalties when checking work, significant disagreements arose among teachers at the Olympiad: whether or not to apply penalties minus 5 points if the student did not mark the correct answer; whether to consider an unmarked correct answer as an error, or the student simply decided not to answer this question, that is, he should receive 0 points.
Thus, the compilers of the Olympiad only complicated the work of teachers. And it was enough just to add the phrase: “No correct answer - 0 points”, or “Unmarked correct answer - 0 points”, etc. It is a pity that the compilers make such ridiculous mistakes, and sometimes even demonstrate ignorance of some issues of geography. I would like to wish all the authors of questions and assignments for Olympiads not to make such obvious mistakes in the future, to be more careful: to carefully check each phrase, not to give questions that can have two or more answers, categorically designating only one of them as correct. More respect for the hard work of teachers and not create additional difficulties for them in the form of incorrect questions and ill-conceived answers.

Edition addition

Fully agreeing with the remarks made by A.N. Novik, we note a few more inaccuracies in tasks and answers.

7th grade

IN task 1 1:5,000,000 is named scale, and the term "named" is not.
Wording tasks 2 provokes the choice of one of two possible answers: “Which picture (A or B) shows a map?” Meanwhile, the maps in both figures are small-scale geographic and topographic, and this is given as the correct answer.

Task 6."Name three types of rocks that differ in origin." The answer is given: "Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic."
But a species is a narrow concept, the answer does not give species, but large groups breeds. If we talk about species, then sand (clastic rock), shell rock (organogenic) and rock salt (chemogenic) can be cited as an answer; although all three rocks are sedimentary, the answer will not differ from the wording of the question. But such an answer should, according to the intention of the authors, be considered incorrect.

Task 7."What is the name of the earth's crust, in which there is no granite layer?" Textbooks continue to talk about "granite" and "basalt" layers of the earth's crust, and it is very difficult to get rid of them, but the compilers of the Olympiad questions should know that these concepts have long been outdated, and they should not be inserted into tasks.

Task 8.“Where are the most powerful geysers in Russia?” In Kamchatka, of course. Where are the less powerful ones? Nowhere. Why talk about "the most powerful"?

8th grade

Task 3. In response to the question about the difference between the continental and oceanic crust, the thickness and number of rock layers that form them are given. The remark is the same as for task 7 for the 7th grade.

Task 4.“... The thermal equator is located somewhat north of the geographic equator. In addition, the thermal equator is constantly approaching, then moving away from the geographic one ”(in the original, so. - Ed.). It is proposed to single out from the listed those phenomena that cause this:
1) the shape of the Earth,
2) the presence of ocean currents,
3) air masses,
4) the relief of the Earth,
5) the movement of the Earth in orbit,
6) rotation of the Earth around its axis.
Answers 1 and 5 are given as correct. But they only answer the question of why the thermal equator shifts seasonally, and the fact that its average position is north of the geographical equator is not explained in any way.

Task 7. As options for the origin of Lake Chad, the following are proposed: a break in the earth's crust, relict, glacial, a trough of the earth's crust; the last answer is correct. But what is a relic origin? A glacial lake, an oxbow lake, a thermokarst lake, even a tectonic lake can be relic, when the tectonic movements that created it have died out, but the lake continues to exist.

10th grade

Exercise 1. The definition of a monarchy is given as follows: a form of government in which power in the state belongs to one person and is inherited. But in constitutional monarchies (and they are the majority), power does not belong to one person at all.
Perhaps we are talking about an absolute monarchy?
IN task 3 it would be more correct to call Rotterdam not the largest in terms of cargo turnover seaport world, but one of the largest: according to many sources, it was overtaken by Singapore.

Thus, we see numerous examples of inaccuracies, lax wording, use of outdated data. Won't students and teachers say that they don't need such Olympiads, won't they refuse to participate in them in the future?

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About the tasks of the geographical Olympiad for schoolchildren Moscow region

A.N. NOVIK high school geography teacher no. 1 settlement Moscow, Leninsky district, Moscow region

7th grade

8th grade

9th grade

A note on the assessment method the correctness of certain tasks

Edition addition

7th grade

8th grade

10th grade

About the tasks of the geographical Olympiad for schoolchildren
Moscow region

A.N. NOVIK
high school geography teacher no. 1
settlement Moscow, Leninsky district, Moscow region

A note on the assessment method
the correctness of certain tasks