Physical Geography Page 3 of 3 Soils The great diversity of landscapes and climates result in many factors being responsible for soil formation. Soil characteristics are largely dominated by climate and parent material. The climatic zones lead to zonal soils. In France the main soil type are Brown Forest soils which have been mildly leached and contain much organic matter. More podzolised (leached) soils have developed in wetter climates of the west and cooler climates of the north and in mountain zones. In the south is a zone of Mediterranean soils where summer drought and hot summers are offset by wet, cool winters. Soils are not normally formed directly from bedrock, but on a physically and chemically altered layer. These changes are based on climatic conditions, they normally occur slowly, however some soils are influenced in their formation by rock types and relief. This is particularly the case in mountain areas like the High Alps. In mountain areas the soil forming process is slowed down by lower temperatures and erosion processes. Soils thus tend to be weakly formed and skeletal in form, though they are better developed in valley bottoms. Slopes thus also play an important factor on soil formation and mountain areas tend to have thinner soils than in lowland areas. Very poor soils are thus found on steep mountain slopes and the skeletal soils of the limestone plateaux. Where the water table is close to the surface and the drainage is impeded, an iron pan may develop. Some soils are more leached (podzolised) than others especially where there is meltwater runoff in spring. The growth of conifers will also encourage the development of these soils. Mediterranean soils only cover a small part of France. They are characteristically red in colour, in contrast to the white limestone outcrops. The terra rossa is found in depressions and on plateaux surfaces. It is a decalcified red clay, mixed with coarse quartz elements. Terra rossa soils are found in the southern parts of the High Alps region, in lowland valley locations. | 1 | 2 | 3 | Page 3 of 3