Northeast China Plain deciduous forests


The Northeast China Plain deciduous forests ecoregion covers the flat interior Northeast China Plain, in the region historically known as Manchuria. The plain is surrounded by mountains on the north and east, and supports some of China's largest forest tracts. There are also extensive low-lying wetlands, which support important bird populations.

Location and description

The Northeast China Plain is the largest single plain in China, bordered by the Changbai Mountains on the border with North Korea to the east, and the Greater Khingan and Lesser Khingan mountains to the north. The southern half of the region is the watershed of the Liao River, which runs south into the Bohai Sea.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Humid continental climate, hot summer, with a dry winter. This climate is characterized by large seasonal temperature differentials and a hot summer, and cold winters having monthly precipitation less than one-tenth of the wettest summer month.

Flora and fauna

The plain hosts extensive broadleaf deciduous forests, which trend into conifer forests on the northern edge. Oaks are most common in the southern half of the region, accompanied by maple, elm and ash. Farther north, forests are characterized by Mongolian oak and Daurian birch. In drier areas, stands of sawtooth oak,, dominate. Throughout, the plain is heavily converted to agriculture, taking advantage of the climate and the fertile Chernozem soils.
The floodplain at the mouth of the Liao River is a large wetland that supports waterfowl, including the endangered Manchurian crane.