Masovian Plain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Masovian Plain (Polish: Nizina Mazowiecka) is a large geographical region in central Poland, roughly covering the historical region of Masovia. It is located in the valleys of three large rivers: Vistula, Bug and Narew. Although relatively densely populated and urbanized, the Masovian Plain is covered by several large forest complexes that once were a part of a dense primaeval forest covering much of Poland: Kampinos Forest, Kurpie Forest, White Forest, Kozienice Forest and Green Forest.

Tectonically, the Masovian Plain is a stable, safe area of the so-called Masovian Hutch, that is area composed of interwinding layers of Tertiary aqueous rocks and sands. The surface of the area was shaped by the presence of Scandinavian ice sheet during the Ice Age. As the area was the southernmost border of the ice sheet's presence, the northern and southern parts of the plain differ significantly: the former is a vast open space while the latter is more rough terrain. The southern part is also covered by many gorges created during the Baltic Glacier. The central part of the Masovian Plain, the so-called Warsaw Cauldron, as well as the valleys of Radomka and Pilica rivers are covered by a number of parabolic dunes.

As the soils of the area are mostly poor and infertile, much of the agriculture is devoted to fruit production. The soils are mostly of bielica type, that is white sands on a layer of clay and sedimentary rocks.

The river net of the area is extensive and includes Vistula, Narew, Bug, Pilica, Wieprz and Wkra rivers, all of which have their source outside of the region.

The climate of the Masovian Plain is temperate continental, with average temperatures in summer period ranging from 18°C to 18,5°C. The average rainfall is among the lowest in Poland and does not exceed 500 mm yearly in the central parts of the area and 600 mm in the border areas.