1 / 26

Unit 9 – Chapter 14

Unit 9 – Chapter 14. The Physical Geography of Russia. I. Section I. The Land. A. A Vast and Varied Land. Russia is the world’s largest country Covers 6.6 million sq. miles Stretches over two continents-- What major land feature divides the continents? Spans 11 time zones.

tstephens
Download Presentation

Unit 9 – Chapter 14

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Unit 9 – Chapter 14 The Physical Geography of Russia

  2. I. Section I The Land

  3. A. A Vast and Varied Land • Russia is the world’s largest country • Covers 6.6 million sq. miles • Stretches over two continents--What major land feature divides the continents? • Spans 11 time zones

  4. Mountains and Plateaus • Ural Mountains • Caucasus Mountains • Mount Elbrus – extinct volcano – highest point • Central Siberian Plateau Mt. Elbrus

  5. Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide” 1500 miles Divides the European and Asian sections of Russia.

  6. The Ural Mountains

  7. A. (cont) • Plains Areas • North European Plain • Chernozem – rich black soil • About 75% of Russia’s population lives here • West Siberian Plain

  8. Coasts, Seas, and Lakes • Longest coastline in the world • Caspian Sea – largest inland sea in the world (salt water) • Lake Baikal – deepest freshwater lake in the world • Contains about 20% of the earth’s total supply of freshwater Lake Baikal

  9. B. Rivers • The Volga River (“Mother Volga”) • Vital to Russia (transportation, hydroelectric power) • Frozen ½ of the year • Provides 33% of Russia’s usable water • Very polluted

  10. The Volga River The river is so polluted that the sturgeon catch has been decreased by 60%.

  11. Lena River • Siberian Rivers • Ob, Irtysh, Yenisey, & Lena • Flow north to the Arctic Ocean • Amur • Flows eastward

  12. Minerals & Energy Russia has a huge reserve of mineral resources Petroleum Coal Natural Gas Nickel Aluminum, gemstones Hydroelectric Power – leader in the world C. Natural Resources

  13. -Soil and Forest Land • 10% land – agriculture – permafrost • Black Earth Belt • 1/5 of remaining world forests in Russia – Siberia • 2nd to the Amazon for oxygen returned to atmosphere • -Russia’s Fishing Industry • Fish important to Russian diet & economy

  14. II. Section II Climate & Vegetation

  15. Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

  16. A. Russia’s Climates & Vegetation • Most of Russia is characterized by a harsh climate of long, cold winters and short, relatively cool summers. • Coldest winter temps. = E. Siberia

  17. B. High Latitudes Climates • Tundra – vast treeless plain • Almost all of the places with this climate lie north of the Arctic Circle • About 10% of Russia • Subarctic • Dominate climate region • Some of the world’s coldest temperatures occur there • For 120-150 days a year, snow covers the ground • Taiga – forest belt • Living in a Cold Climate • What adjustments would you have to make?

  18. Siberia --> Permafrost Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°, and in July from 1 to 25°C 150,000,000 population. A former “gulag” Soviet prison camp.

  19. C. Mid-Latitude Climates • Humid Continental • Most of Russia’s N. European Plain • War & Winter • Cold winters have played a key role in wars (pg. 354-5) Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow German POWs at Stalingrad

  20. Steppe • Small area • Temperate grassland area

  21. Steppes: “Soviet” Breadbasket

  22. The Steppes 25% of the old Soviet Union’s food supply.

More Related