Introduction to the Geography of Eastern Europe and Siberia

1. Introduction to the Geography of Eastern Europe and Siberia

2. Objectives • On a blank map, identify Siberia, the Urals, and the Caucasus. • Understand the difference between European Russia and Siberian Russia. • Describe the resources and climate of Siberia. • Describe how the lack of hard borders of Russia have affected its history.

3. Terms and Places Urals are the mountain range that divides European Russia from Siberian Russia. Siberia is the vast, cold, underpopulated region east of the Urals. Trans-Siberian Railway is a rail line that crosses Siberia. Taiga is a forest of needle-bearing trees. Moscow is by far the largest city in Eastern Europe. Volga is the name of the longest river in Russia.

4. Part 1: Location Where are the borders of Eastern Europe and Siberia?

5. This region is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean It is bordered on the west by Western Europe. It is bordered on the east by the Pacific Ocean. White Sea Baltic Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea Adriatic Sea It is bordered on the southeast by the Orient. It is bordered on the southwest by the Moslem world.

6. White Sea The region east of the Ural Mountains is called Siberia. Ural Mountains Baltic Sea Siberia is also known for its wildlife. Black Sea Caspian Sea Adriatic Sea Siberia is rich in timber and minerals, but it is extremely cold.

7. Ural Mountains Baltic Sea Most of the population is in the west of the Ural Mountains Adriatic Sea

8. Part 2: What are Eastern Europe’s Outstanding Features? Great Plains crossed with rivers Many nations here have no solid borders.

9. Part 2: What are Eastern Europe’s Outstanding Features? The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea. The two most important rivers in Eastern Europe are the Danube and the Volga. The Danube runs through or along more countries than any other river.

10. Part 2: What are Eastern Europe’s Outstanding Features? Baltic Sea Great Seas Rugged mountains Carpathian Mts. Caspian Sea Caucasus Mts. Dinaric Alps Black Sea

11. The Volga is the longest river in Europe. The Volga also drains a larger area than any other river in Europe. Eleven of the twenty largest cities of Russia, including the capital, Moscow, lie in the Volga Drainage Basin. The Russians love this river and often refer to it as “Mother Volga”. The Volga remains an important river for shipping. “Mother Volga”

12. Part 3: Regions

13. Russia Baltic States Poland and Belarus Ukraine and Moldova The Carpathians Black Sea Balkans Adriatic Balkans Transcaucasia

15. This pipeline carried natural gas from Siberia to Europe.

16. What types of resources are found in Siberia?

17. Russians are looking further north and finding even more resources.

19. Siberia includes a great lake, called Baikal. Lake Baikal has more water than any other lake. It fresh water is home to seals and other wildlife usually found in salt water.

21. Part 4:Population

22. Moscow is by far the largest city of Eastern Europe. The population of Eastern Europe is low when compared to western Europe. Moscow London Paris However, the population of Eastern Europe is high when compared to Siberia. Rome

23. Part 5:Religion

24. Catholics follow a leader in Rome called the Pope. In the western countries, people tend to follow the Catholic religion; in the east, they tend to be Orthodox. Orthodox Christians use icons – pictures or statues – to help them worship. Typically, the Pope has been Italian, but in 1978 the Catholic church elected a Polish pope – John Paul II. He helped end Communist rule.

25. Cyrillic Alphabet Latin Alphabet Mixed

26. Strong borders like mountains, seas, and wide rivers are mostly on Eastern Europe’s edges. The interior of Eastern Europe has borders that are difficult to defend. Repeatedly, armies have rolled right across them.

28. Name the name of the vast, underpopulated portion of Russia in the east. Name the largest city in Eastern Europe. Moscow Siberia Name the longest river in Europe. What separates Europe from Siberia? The Volga The Alps The Ural Mountains Which of the following most challenges Russia’s ability to defend itself? The North Sea The Mediterranean Russia’s north is permanently frozen. Where do most people in Europe live? Russia’s south is blocked with mountains that are difficult to cross. Western Europe Russia’s west has no defensible barriers like seas and mountains. Eastern Europe Siberia The Pacific Coast is swampy and Russians cannot built rail there.

29. Please read “Cultures of the Russian Federation.” World Studies: Europe and Russia. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. pgs. 100-106. Ethnic Groups, Culture, and Education and “Plains, Uplands, and Mountains of Russia.” pgs. 14. AND “Lakes” pg. 16. World Studies: Europe and Russia. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. About 6 pages

30. NATO and Warsaw Pact, 1945-89

31. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 2002 Kosovo military zones

32. Changes in Europe, 1990-93

33. Agricultural Regions (Fig. 9.5) Agricultural Triangle (Developed Triangle) Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

36. Enlargement of Soviet bloc after World War II Berlin Wall, 1961-89