Steppes are a natural zone common in the subtropical and temperate zones of the Earth. There is practically no woody vegetation in the steppes; this is directly related to the low amount of precipitation. Steppe regions are usually located inland and have a sharply continental climate. The steppes are actively used by humans; the soils of the steppes are the most fertile soils on Earth.
Kazakhstan is predominantly a steppe country. The Pontic-Caspian steppe is located in the west and north-west of Kazakhstan. In the north and northeast of the Kazakh steppe lies the Kazakh forest-steppe, in the south lies the Kazakh semi-desert and the Kazakh small hills. The Kazakh steppe stretches more than 2200 km east of the Caspian lowland and north of the Aral Sea, to Altai. The steppe occupies the territories of seven regions and makes up 26% of the entire territory of Kazakhstan (648 thousand km2). The rivers of the steppe zone are low-water. Here are the basins of large rivers such as: Ertys, Yesil, Tobol, Ural, Nura and a number of small rivers.
On the vast territory of the Kazakh steppe, all varieties of steppe vegetation are well represented, these are moderately arid rich forb-feather grass steppes on ordinary chernozems (Kustanai and large North Kazakhstan regions); arid forb-feather grass steppes on southern chernozems (West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Pavlodar and part of North Kazakhstan regions); moderately dry fescue-feather grass steppes on dark chestnut soils, dry wormwood-fescue-feather grass steppes on typical chestnut soils. It is impossible to imagine the Kazakh steppe without the gray feather grass spreading in the wind. In the steppe zone of Kazakhstan there are two reserves: Korgalzhynsky and Naurzumsky, with a total area of 450 hectares. The reserves contain lakes with fresh and salt water. The lakes are home to thousands of migratory birds that migrate annually from Africa, India and southern Europe to their nesting sites in Western and Eastern Siberia. These protected areas are home to about 344 species of birds of prey, 25 of which nest, the rest are found either on migration or during post-nesting migrations and wintering. Considered rare are the mute swan and the imperial eagle - there are about 12 pairs of them in total. Prominent representatives of the animal world of the steppe zone are: hares, marmots, gophers, jerboas, wolves, saigas, jackals, foxes, corsac foxes. In spring, the steppe transforms into a bright, colorful picture of nature, as tulips, irises and poppies bloom here.
Forest-steppe is a natural zone of the Northern Hemisphere, characterized by a combination of forest and steppe areas. The forest-steppe extends into the borders of Kazakhstan with its extreme southern protrusions. It stretches from west to east in a narrow strip, occupying the extreme northern part of the republic. Within the forest-steppe and steppe zones there is the North Kazakhstan region, which is the northeast of the Kustanai region, and a small island of the city of Kokshetau. The forest-steppe is divided into southern forest-steppe and kolochny forest-steppe. The soil here is mainly black soil. Aspen-birch trees Noaiu Eacaonoaia aaniie form forest areas on malts. The forest area is about 6% of the territory, the forests are predominantly birch. The main tree species in the forest-steppe are aspen (trembling poplar) and birch, represented by 3 species (silver, downy, Kyrgyz). Typical shrubs are needle hips, steppe cherry, viburnum, Tatarian honeysuckle, and black cotoneaster. Meadow and steppe areas are almost completely plowed. In this zone, many steppe animals and forest inhabitants found shelter, which you would not find in a normal environment. The local forests are mainly inhabited by ground squirrels, gray voles, jerboas, ermines, white hare, weasels, foxes, wolves, and squirrels are found in pine forests. Moose and Siberian roe deer moved here from the northern forests, and the introduced muskrat also took root in these places. Reptiles include lizards and snakes - snakes, vipers, etc. Birds of the forest-steppe are numerous and varied. Ptarmigan, rook, magpie, woodpecker, cuckoo, and falcon nest in birch groves. In open areas there are black grouse, quail, lark, and corncrake. Waterfowl feel comfortable on the shores of lakes. Goose, duck and seagull can be found here. Swans (whoopers and mutes) live on the lakes, and gray cranes and reed harriers live on the swamps. The climate in the forest-steppe zone is relatively favorable compared to other zones. Forest-steppe is one of the well-developed natural zones of Kazakhstan.
The forest-steppe, as it moves south, gradually contains fewer trees and more and more steppe areas, the climate becomes hotter, there is less precipitation, and the forest-steppe turns into a steppe.