The Relief of the Eastern Part of the East European Platform and Fore-Uralian Foredeep: Relationships of the Permian and Quaternary Sediments

The southeastern part of the East European platform and the Southern Fore-Urals are located in the interior part of the Eurasian continent far from the influence of seas and oceans; a continental type of climate has developed here. The relief began to form in the Mesozoic, but acquired its modern appearance over the past 3 million years as a result of the interaction of the latest tectonic movements, geological substrate and moderate climate, which determine and direct exogenous processes. Large structural elements in the relief are expressed as macroforms of relief—elevations or plains (depressions). Modern elevation marks of highlands are the result of constant positive tectonic movements. The most typical macroforms of relief are vast denudation uplands with flat tops, dissected by erosion into ridges and vast erosion-accumulative plains. Characteristic medium-sized relief forms—isolated mountains, rocky cliffs, river valleys and lake basins, complemented by micro relief forms—ravines, terraces, weathered remnants, karst relief forms (sinkholes and caves)—create a unique character of the territory located on the eastern edge of Europe. The region being characterized is an excellent illustration of the interaction and antagonism of underlying and overlying rocks—the Permian substrate of parent rocks, subject to long-term denudation processes and supplying loose material for the formation of a cover of Quaternary formations, covering them and forming fluvial forms of meso- and microrelief.