Unit 5 – 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
Mountains and Plateaus Ural Mountains Caucasus Mountains
Mount Elbrus – extinct volcano – highest point Central Siberian Plateau
Mt. Elbrus
Ural Mountains: “The Great Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide”Divide”Ural Mountains: “The Great Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide”Divide”
Divides the European and Asian sections of Divides the European and Asian sections of Russia.Russia.
1500
miles
The Ural MountainsThe Ural MountainsThe Ural MountainsThe Ural Mountains
A. (cont) Plains Areas
North European Plain Chernozem – rich black soil About 75% of Russia’s population lives here
West Siberian Plain
Coasts, Seas, and Lakes
Longest coastline in the worldCaspian 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
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
The Volga RiverThe Volga RiverThe Volga RiverThe Volga River
The river is soThe river is so polluted that the polluted that the sturgeon catch has sturgeon catch has been decreased by been decreased by 60%. 60%.
Siberian Rivers Ob, Irtysh, Yenisey, & Lena
Flow north to the Arctic Ocean Amur
Flows eastward
Lena River
C. Natural Resources Minerals & Energy
Russia has a huge reserve of mineral resources Petroleum Coal Natural Gas Nickel Aluminum, gemstones Hydroelectric Power – leader in the world
-Soil and Forest Land10% land – agriculture – permafrost
Black Earth Belt1/5 of remaining world forests in Russia – Siberia
2nd to the Amazon for oxygen returned to atmosphere
-Russia’s Fishing IndustryFish important to Russian diet & economy
II. Section II
Climate & Vegetation
Former Soviet Region Compared in Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United Latitude & Area with the United StatesStates
Former Soviet Region Compared in Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United Latitude & Area with the United StatesStates
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
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?
Siberia --> Siberia --> PermafrostPermafrostSiberia --> Siberia --> PermafrostPermafrost
Average temperatures of January Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°, and in vary from 0 to -50°, and in July from 1 to 25°C July from 1 to 25°C
150,000,000 population.150,000,000 population.A former “A former “gulaggulag”” Soviet prison camp. Soviet prison camp.
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)
German POWs at Stalingrad
Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow
Steppe
Small areaTemperate grassland area
SteppesSteppes: “Soviet” : “Soviet” BreadbasketBreadbasketSteppesSteppes: “Soviet” : “Soviet” BreadbasketBreadbasket
The SteppesThe SteppesThe SteppesThe Steppes
25% of the old 25% of the old Soviet Union’s Soviet Union’s food supply. food supply.