The document summarizes the history and geography of the Zhiguli Mountains region in Russia. It describes how the region was covered by sea over 300 million years ago. Fossils of dinosaurs have been found dating back 150 million years. The mountains have preserved over 30 plant and 100 insect species from the Ice Age 1.5 million years ago. People first appeared in the region about 100,000 years ago. The mountains contain high points like Mount Strelnaya at 378 meters, and are home to over 830 plant species, some only found in the Zhiguli Mountains.

1. Выполнили работу: Молева Наталия, Балабашина Юлия Научный руковадитель: Нуяндина Ольга Александровна

2. Over 300 million years ago the whole region was covered by the sea. Only rare islands remained about the Zhiguli Mountains.

3. About 150 million years ago near Syzran and Bezenchuk the fossils of dinosaurs were founded.

4. About 1,5 million years ago over 30 species of plants and 100 species of insects have been preserved in the Zhiguli Mountains since the Ice Age.

5. Men appeared here about 100 000 years ago.

6. The name of Zhiguli Mountains is the Deviyi Gory, because militant Amazons once roomed here. The name of Zhiguli came from the Turkic word Jiguli which meant «barge haulers» in 13-14 th centuries. The name Zhiguli was acknowledged by Catherine II.

7. Sometimes the Zhiguli are called “a Russian Switzerland”. The beauty of the scenery was first mentioned by travelers of the 16th c the ambassador of the Venetian Republic - Cantarine, Britain – Jankinson.

8. One of the highest mount is mount Strelnaya. (378 m)

9. The song "Iz-za ostrova na strezhen" is connected with the mount Strelnaya. Stepan Razin captured a beautiful princess in Persia. He felt in love with her. But his friends began to grumble that Razin had betrayed free life and his friends. So Razin ordered them to throw Princess over board and went on his previous life. It is believed that the Ataman`s camps and treasure were located on mount Strelnaya.

10. Ivan and Grunya fell in love with each other. But Grunya was a daughter of a rich mechant from village of Ussoliye. Grunya`s father was against their marriage. Ivan joined Stepan Razin and gained the name Molodtsov for his feats. Then Grunya left her home and joined him. But her father brought the czar`s troops and the Razinities defeated. Ivan climbed a high mount and was surrounded. He said good-byes to Grunya and plunged into the Volga. Then Grunya did the same. So the mount has been called Molodetsky Kourgan and a small hill near it is Dviya Gora. The legend of Molodetsky Kourgan and Deviya Gora.

11. Mount Svetyolka is near the village of Ussolye the beginning of the Z. M. Long ago mount Svetyolka served as a signiling hill. There was a pot with tar. If a watchman saw nomands he set the tar pot on fire. So, the local people would be alerted.

12. Mount Lepyoska takes its name from its flat top. The mountain is covered by feather – grass. Mount Lepyoska

13. The Zhiguli Mountains form a large green island between the forest-steppe and steppe regions.

14. There are more than 830 species of plants, some of them grow only in the Z. M., for example: haw thorn, sunrose and spurge. Plants of the Crimea and the Caucasus Mountains can be seen here alongside species of Urals and Siberian flora: pine and oaks, maple and aspen and birch.