Meshchera Lowlands

Vladimir Meshchera

M. Presnyakov. Autumn in the Meshchera land. 2003–2005

Meshchera Lowlands(Meshchyora Lowlands) (Russian:Мещёрская низменность), also referred to as simplyMeshchera/Meshchyora,is a spaciouslowlandin the middle of theEuropean Russia.It is named after the FinnicMeshcherapeople, which used to live there (later mi xing with neighbouringBalticandSlavic tribes). It occupies parts ofMoscow Oblast,Vladimir OblastandRyazan Oblast;respectively, it is called the Moscow, Vladimir and Ryazan Meshcheras.

Geography

Meshchera is aplainof roughly triangular shape bounded by riversOkafrom the South,Moskva Riverfrom the Southwest,Klyazmafrom the North andSudogdaandKolp/Kolpna (Колпь, Колпна) from the East. Elevation: 80–130 metres.

Climate of Meshchera ishumid continentalwith long, cold and snowy winters, and short, warm and rainy summers. Annual average temperature is +4.3 °C (39.7 °F). The coldest month is February with average temperature of −11.6 °C (11.1 °F). During severe winters, temperatures can go as low as −47 °C (−53 °F). Summers are warm, sometimes hot, with average July temperature of +19.8 °C (67.6 °F), and in extremely hot summers temperature can rise up to +40 °C (104 °F).

It is covered by mixed forests,pineforests in sandy areas, with manywetlandsandlakes.