British geography and exploration

Russian geography and exploration

Vitus Bering

Dmitriy & Khariton Laptevs

Alex Chirikov David LivingstoneHenry Morton Stanley

Facts about Russia

Vocabulary I

Russian expansion in

the 19th century Facts about

Nickolai Przhevalsky

Przhevalsky’s expeditions

Comprehension

Vocabulary II

SpeakingWriting.

A personal letter

N. Przhevalsky

The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland and Baltic states, Belorussia, the Ukraine. It also has a sea-border with the USA. There’s such a variety of scenery and veg’’etation in Russia. We have steppes, plains, forests, tundra and taiga, highlands and deserts. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. There are over two million rivers in Russia. The biggest one is the Volga. We have the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena, the Amur and others. Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world’s deepest lake (1 600 metres) is Lake Baikal.

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth’s surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometers.

to occupy – заниматьsurface – поверхностьeastern – восточныйnorthern – северныйtotal area – общая площадьsquare – квадратныйto wash – омыватьto border on – граничить сsea-border – морская границаvariety – разнообразиеscenery – пейзажvegetation – растительностьsteppe – степьplain – равнинаmidland – средняя полосаtundra – тундраtaiga – Тайгаhighland – нагорьеdesert – пустыняchain – цепьto separate - разделять

Vladivostok – ВладивостокSakhalin – СахалинBukhara – Бухара

Samarkand-Самарканд Afganistan – Афганистан

Tashkent – Ташкент St. Petesburg – Петербург

Asia - Азияempire – империя

to reach – достигатьextent – протяжение

expansion – расширениеdespite - несмотря на

to advance – продвигатьсяestuary – устье реки

to annex – присоединятьсяto extend – простираться

decade – 10-летие

Siberia – СибирьUrga – Урга

Ulaan Bataar – Улан-Батор Beijing – Бейжин (Пекин)

The Tien Shen – Тянь ШаньLhasa – Лхаса

сircumferens – окружность кругаa jaw – челюсть

a glacier – ледникdisappointment – разочарование

equator – экваторsuccess-успех

сompletion – завершениеto expand – увеличиваться в объеме

outbreak – вспышка гневаto draw up – составлять документ

Complete the sentences using these words from both texts.travelled increased expanded settlements

territory connect expeditions exploredextended

Christopher Columbus ………..... America in 1492. He made several ………….. to the New World. The first ………… were on the east coast. People ……..... the new land along the rivers. They ……… by small boat or on foot. The ……… of the USA reached from the coast to the

Mississippi by 1850. It ……….. westwards after the Civil War. The population ………. dramatically in the 19th century. Eventually it ………… from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Roads and planes …….. the major cities.

discovered

discoveredexpeditions

settlementsexplored

travelled territory

extendedincreased

expandedconnect

The territory of the Empire reached its greatest extent in the 1880s, Despite the sale of Alaska to the USA in 1867. During the nineteenth century, Russia was searching for a warm-water port that would give its navy access to the sea all year round.

The territory of the Russian Empire increased by 600,000 square kilometres.Vladivostok was founded in 1860 and developed as Russia’s main port on the Pacific.

The territory of Russia continued to expand.This large territory needed a system of communications in order to hold it together.

Alaska

Vladivostok

Nickolai Przhevalsky’s dream was to explore Asia. But the Crimean war broke out and he had to join the army as a soldier. Then he studied in Military Academy and after graduating from it he became a military officer. But the military career didn’t attract him; he wanted to be explorer; his dream came true. Przhevalsky’s fame as an officer and explorer was very great. He described his wonderful adventures and experiences in his book “Mongolia and the country of tanguts” (North Tibet). This book became famous in most European countries. So he was awarded with a gold medal, and British geographers compared his risky and dangerous adventures with Marco Polo’s. He died on the 1st of November in 1888 during his last expedition and was buried by the shore of Lake Ysyk-Kul . Now we’re going to read extracts from his latest book.

…Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to explore for away lands. I have made four expeditions to east and central Asia and have spent eleven years of my life traveling. So, here is the story of my travels and the things I have seen… …On my first expedition, in 1869, I travelled from Irkutsk to central Siberia. I saw Lake Baikal, visited Urga (we call it Ulaan Bataar, nowadays), crossed Mongolia and the Gobi and into China. I arrived at a place near Beijing in 1873 before returning home. I crossed the Gobi and then to Ysyk-Kul, one of the largest mountain lakes in the world… …In all my expeditions I covered a distance of 31,500 kilometers…

My expeditions were not only about travelling. I made maps of the places I visited, brought back new plans and discovered animals we had not seen before. It is the animals that please me most. I discovered the wild camel, but it is the horse that made me famous. It is called Przhevalsky’s horse now and I first saw it near the Altai mountains. The horse is small, about the size of a pony. Its coat is red colour, but its mane and tail are dark. It has a white nose, a long face and a very strong lower jaw. I hope that my expeditions have added to our knowledge of the geography of Asia. It is amazing that people are talking about naming a lake, a mountain, a glacier, animals and plants, even a city after me.

1. The Russian Empire was at its largest in the 1880s

2. The Empire expanded eastwards 3. The wars in central Asia4. To hold the empire together, it needed5. The railway was finished quickly

even though Alaska was part of the USA.by 600 000 square kilometres.

cost less than 1000 Russian soldiers’ lives.an improved communications system.

because of the war with Japan.

1.My travels and discoveries.

2. My expeditions.3. How far I travelled.

4. My discoveries.5. A Great Honour.

You are going on holiday with a friend. Discuss the places you like going to on your holidays. Then decide on ONE place to go to. Choose from these places:

Task

Remember to:Discuss all the places.

Say what you like and dislike about each

place.Give good reasons for

your choices.Make suggestions

where to go to.Come to an agreement.Be polite.

The mountainsThe beach

The city

The forest

Swimming; lying in the Sun; riding a water bike;

to be crowded with people; heat;

Sleeping in the open air; singing to the guitar;

making friends; picking up mushrooms;

Romantic! To be bitten to death by mosquitoes; freezing in a sleeping –

bag.

Better mountains can be only mountains ; exciting; spectacular view; people don’t live there but survive; danger.

Noise; a lot of people; stuffy; traffic jams;

going on excursions;

walking around; cinema.

A personal letter

You are away from home. First decide where,

why and for how long. Then write

a letter to a friend telling

him/her what the place looks like and what there is to do and see.

September 15th

Dear Max,

I’m writing to tell you about Lake Ysyk-Kul that is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world and what I’m doing here. I love it here, there’s lots to do and see.

This is a perfect place for lovers of the outdoors. There are not so many people here. Only the bravest come to conquer peaks or spend holidays. Not a single can or bit of broken glass or piece of paper. There are no fat pigeons: only singing birds can be heard. Lake Ysyk-Kul is so beautiful! The best thing is freedom: one can do what you like. During the day I’m always busy swimming, walking, climbing. We were told about Przhevalsky yesterday. I have seen the tomb of his: 10 steps made in the rock, and you are before the words: “The first explorer of Central Asian nature.” Well, it’s getting late and I have to get up early tomorrow. Write and let me know how things are with you.See you

soon.Slava.