Do Now: Monday 12/1/2014

Use pages 334 – 341 of your textbook.Write down three things about Russia from

pictures and/or maps.

Pick up the Russian physical geography notes off the table

and a weekly agenda.

Russia – Physical Geography

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RUSSIA-US SIZE COMPARISON

Physical Patterns

Russia is the world’s largest country.

This vast distance spans 11 time zones, 9 mountain ranges, borders 13 seas, 3 oceans, and 14 countries.

WOW!!!

High latitude, continental climate, temperature extremes

Cold climate and rugged terrain limit human settlement and agriculture

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80o

60o

40o

Hawaii

Arctic Circle

Alaska

LatitudinalImpact

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Agricultural Regions (Fig. 9.5)

Agricultural Triangle(Developed Triangle)

Ural Mountains

This marks the boundary between Asia and Europe.

They are very old and heavily eroded, yet they contain Iron ore and minerals.

Volga River

Russia’s most important river.

It is a major transport route.

It is a major source of freshwater, yet it is heavily polluted with human and industrial waste.

Lake Baikal

The oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world.

It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve.

West Siberian Plain

Largest plain in the world.It is mostly marshy lowlands.It is the size of the United States.Permafrost is in the Northern parts of this

area. This contains some of the world’s largest

reserves of oil and natural gas.

West Siberian Plain

Central Siberian Plateau

Permafrost prevails here.

Siberia

A vast region comprising almost all of Northern Asia.

It is known for its cold temperatures and the legend of Russia sending criminals there to do hard labor.

Taiga

This is a biome of needle leaf forests.It is a Russian word which means forest.They are located at the top of the world

just below the tundra biome.

Climate

Most of Russia has a harsh climate with long, cold winters and short, relatively cool summers.

There are only four main climate regions.◦Steppe◦Humid Continental◦Subarctic◦Tundra

Tundra

Only 10% of Russia is this.In the winter, the sky is dark for several

weeks at a time.In the summer, there is several weeks of

sunlight.Very few things can grow here.

Tundra

Subarctic

This is the dominant climate region of Russia.

For 120 – 250 days of the year, there is snow on the ground.

Subarctic

Humid Continental

Most of Russia’s North European Plain is this.

January – 9 degrees to 21 degrees.July – 56 degrees to 75 degrees.

Humid Continental

Steppe

Temperate grassland.Dry summer and long, cold, dry winters.Sunflowers, mint, and beans flourish here.

Steppe