Altitudinal zonation in the mountains

Altitudinal zonation in the mountains is something obvious for everyone – foothil zone, alpine zone, snow zone. However, it is worth taking a closer look at these floors, as well as the differences in individual mountain chains.

General altitudinal zonation in the mountains

• foothill zone
• montane zone

alpine tree line

• subalpine zone
• low-alpine level
• alpine zone

climatic snow line

• snow zone / nival level

Specific altitudinal zonation in the mountains

Foothill zone is currently mainly used by humans, so it’s difficult to talk about typical vegetation here. Nevertheless, once deciduous forests grew here.

In the Andes this zone is called tierra caliente * and the equatorial jungle grows there.

In lower part of montane zone there is a cool temperate climate and mixed or deciduous forest growing. There are brown earth type mountain. Although the growing season is not yet optimal, average temperatures are already higher than 0. In South America in tierra templada * you can find equatorial forest, but also coniferous species.

Upper part of montane zone is mainly coniferous, in Poland mainly spruce. The climate here is cool. In the Andes, zone tierra fria * is already really cold for tropics, but still „in the plus” – the alpine forest is growing here.

Mountain pine and green alder are found only in the subalpine zone in Central Europe. In the Himalayas and the Alps, rhododendron grows in this sphere. A fairly compact network of plants protects the soil against erosion and stops smaller landslides and avalanches from higher zones.

Parano and puma are a cross between subalpine and alpine zone in South America. There is grassy vegetation, shrubs and shrubs, in the case of dry-loving and sun-loving puma.

Low alpine level, i.e. highland grasslands and meadows growing in cold temperate climates. There are annual plants. Landslides and avalanches often occur.

The alpine zone is a land of rocks. The vegetation includes mosses, lichens and some species of perennial flowers on soil scraps. Strong wind erosion, low temperatures. In the Andes, we will call this floor tierra helada *.

Snow zone, i.e. no vegetation, snow and rocks all year round. In South America, it is called tierra nevada *.

Floor heights

Comparison of plant floor heights in different mountain ranges, heights above sea level:

Zone	Tatra Mountains	Karkonosze	Andes	Himalayas	Alps	Caucasus Mountains
Foothill zone	< 650	< 500	< 600	< 1000	< 800	< 2000
Lower montane zone	650-1200	500-1000	600-2000	1000-2000	800-1000	2000-2600
Upper montane zone	1200-1500	1000-1250/1300	2200-3200	2000-3700	1000-1500	2600-3000
Subalpine zone	1500-1800	1250/1300-1450	3200-4000	3700-4200	1500-2200	3000-3500
Alpine zone	1800-2300	1450-1603	3200-4000	4200-5000	2200-3100	3500-4300
Snow zone	> 2300		> 4000	> 5000	> 3100	> 4300

*division by Humboldt