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RUSSIA and others

Delve into the vast landforms and abundant resources of Russia, from the Northern European Plain to the Caucasus Mountains. Learn about the mighty Volga River, giant lakes, and rich mineral deposits. Discover the impact of continental climate on vegetation, human-environment interactions, and historical events like Napoleon's failed invasion. Engage with fascinating facts and insights about Russia's unique geography.

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RUSSIA and others

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  1. RUSSIA and others

  2. SECTION 1: LANDFORMS AND RESOURCES

  3. NORTHERN LANDFORMS • Northern European Plain • Chernozem: black earth; some of the world’s richest soils • Large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg

  4. NORTHERN LANDFORMS CONTINUED • West Siberian Plain • Begins at Ural Mountains and stretches to the Yenisey River • Rivers here flow to the Arctic Ocean

  5. SOUTHERN LANDFORMS • The Caucasus Mountains: between Black and Caspian Seas • Form border between Russia and Transcaucasia: region consisting of republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

  6. RIVERS AND LAKES

  7. DRAINAGE BASINS AND RIVERS • Main Russian drainage basins: Arctic Ocean, Caspian Sea, Pacific Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Aral Sea • Arctic basin is the largest (Ob, Yenisey, and Lena Rivers)—drains 3 million sq. miles

  8. VOLGA RIVER • Longest river on the European continent • Begins near Moscow and flows south • 2300 miles long • Ends at Caspian Sea • Carries 60% of Russia’s river traffic

  9. LAKES • Area contains the world’s largest lakes • Caspian Sea: saltwater lake • 750 miles wide (largest inland sea) • Aral Sea: saltwater lake • Could vanish within 30 years

  10. LAKE BAIKAL • Deepest lake in the world (more than 1 mile) • Nearly 400 miles wide • Holds 20% of world’s fresh water • 1200 unique species of plants and animals

  11. REGIONAL RESOURCES

  12. ABUNDANT RESOURCES • Huge coal reserves, deposits of iron ore • The region is a leader in oil production and natural gas • Russia’s forests hold 1/5 (20%) of the world’s timber resources • One of world’s largest producers of hydroelectric power

  13. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • Harsh climates and rugged terrain make movement of resources difficult • Many resources are in Siberia: part of Russia that lies on the Asian continent

  14. SECTION 2: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

  15. CONTINENTALITY • Def: the effect of distance on climate • Most of Russia is hundreds of miles away from the sea • This effects precipitation and temperature

  16. VEGETATION REGIONS

  17. TUNDRA • Most northern section of Russia • Mosses, lichens, small herbs, and low shrubs

  18. FOREST • Taiga: south of Russian tundra; largest forest in the world • Mostly coniferous trees • Deciduous trees become more prominent in the lower latitudes

  19. STEPPE • Temperate grassland • Extends from southern Ukraine through northern Kazakhstan • Chernozem

  20. DESERT • The 2 major deserts in Central Asia cover an area of c. 230,000 sq. miles

  21. SECTION 3: HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

  22. THE SHRINKING ARAL SEA • Water for Aral Sea comes mostly from the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers • 1950s: governments diverted water for irrigation

  23. EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURE • Pesticides and fertilizers were entering the Aral Sea through Runoff: rainfall not absorbed by the ground that runs into streams and rivers • Killed all species of fish • Disease spread as sediment exposed from the drying of the Sea was carried by wind over population areas

  24. THE RUSSIAN WINTER

  25. COPING IN SIBERIA • C. 32 million people live in Siberia • Temps can reach -90°F in winter and 94°F in summer • Warmer temps melt ice and snow and leave pools of water for mosquitoes and black flies • Hard to build on permafrost ground

  26. WAR AND “GENERAL WINTER” • The cold climate sometimes helps Russia • Napoleon was turned back in the early 1800s • Began retreat with 100,000 men • Returned with fewer than 10,000 • The winter saved Russia from French occupation

  27. CROSSING THE “WILD EAST”

  28. TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD • Links Moscow to Vladivostok • More than 5,700 miles, crossing 7 time zones • Construction lasted from 1891-1903 • Built mainly to speed up travel time of resources

  29. TIME ZONES • Created in 1884 • World divided into 24 time zones • Each time zone represents 15° longitude (360°⁄24 hours=15°) • Prime Meridian is starting point (0°) • Base time is called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) • International Date Line set at 180°

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