Geography of RussiaGeography of Russia

PlainsPlains

1.1. North European Plain—economic center North European Plain—economic center for ¾ of regions people because of for ¾ of regions people because of chernozem—Moscow and the Ukraine—chernozem—Moscow and the Ukraine—one of Europe’s best ag. Areasone of Europe’s best ag. Areas

2.2. West Siberian Plain—world’s largest flat West Siberian Plain—world’s largest flat area but swamps, marshes, frozen land, area but swamps, marshes, frozen land, evergreen forestsevergreen forests

Mountains/PlateausMountains/Plateaus1.1. Carpathians-border Ukraine in west-part Carpathians-border Ukraine in west-part

of Euro Alpineof Euro Alpine

2.2. Caucasus-between Black/Caspian Seas-Caucasus-between Black/Caspian Seas-heavily forestedheavily forested

3.3. Urals-mineral rich-divides European Urals-mineral rich-divides European Russia from Siberia-worn down like Russia from Siberia-worn down like Appalachian MtnsAppalachian Mtns

4.4. E. Siberian Uplands/Central Sib. E. Siberian Uplands/Central Sib. Plateau-vast area of forest, mtns, Plateau-vast area of forest, mtns, plateaus and exiles!!!plateaus and exiles!!!

CaucasusCaucasus

Seas/LakesSeas/Lakes

1.1. Icy H2O-White, Barents, Kara, E. SiberianIcy H2O-White, Barents, Kara, E. Siberian2.2. Cold H2O-Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea in N.E.Cold H2O-Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea in N.E.3.3. Warm H2O-Black Sea-flows into Med. SeaWarm H2O-Black Sea-flows into Med. Sea4.4. Salty Inland H2O-Caspian Sea-largest inland body Salty Inland H2O-Caspian Sea-largest inland body

of H2O in worldof H2O in world5.5. Shrinking H2O-Aral Sea-Soviets over-irrigating from Shrinking H2O-Aral Sea-Soviets over-irrigating from

itit6.6. Deep/Old H2O-Lake Baikal-oldest, deepest fresh Deep/Old H2O-Lake Baikal-oldest, deepest fresh

H2O in worldH2O in world ***1/5 of earth’s total freshwater******1/5 of earth’s total freshwater***

Sea of OkhotskSea of Okhotsk

Black SeaBlack Sea

Caspian SeaCaspian Sea

Aral SeaAral Sea

Lake BaikalLake Baikal

RiversRivers

Blessed with long, navigable rivers Blessed with long, navigable rivers especially in the Plains—Dnieper, Don, especially in the Plains—Dnieper, Don, Dniester and Matushka VolgaDniester and Matushka Volga

4 of worlds 12 largest rivers—Lena, Ob, 4 of worlds 12 largest rivers—Lena, Ob, Yenisey, IrtyshYenisey, Irtysh

Lena RiverLena River

Ob RiverOb River

Chapter 15Chapter 15Sect. 1-population patternsSect. 1-population patterns

Ethnic DiversityEthnic Diversity

Over 70 distinct ethnic groups (80% ethnic Russian)Over 70 distinct ethnic groups (80% ethnic Russian)

-Russian was official language during Soviet era-Russian was official language during Soviet era

-native language ½ of people-native language ½ of people

-still spoken today along with over 100 native languages-still spoken today along with over 100 native languages SlavsSlavs

-largest ethnic group (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus)-largest ethnic group (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus) TurkicTurkic

-most live in SW Russia and the central Asian republics-most live in SW Russia and the central Asian republics

-almost all are Muslim-almost all are Muslim CaucasianCaucasian

-live in Caucasus region-live in Caucasus region

-few except for Armenians, Georgians, and Azeris-few except for Armenians, Georgians, and Azeris

Population Density and DistributionPopulation Density and Distribution

285 million live in Russia and Eurasian 285 million live in Russia and Eurasian RepublicsRepublics

-Russia—largest(143million)-Russia—largest(143million) Density-22 people per square mileDensity-22 people per square mile most people live between Baltic and Black most people live between Baltic and Black

SeasSeas 3 major cities are Moscow, St. Pete, 3 major cities are Moscow, St. Pete,

VolgogradVolgograd

History/Govt of Russia/EurasiaHistory/Govt of Russia/Eurasia

HistoryHistory1400’s-Ivan III (the Great) drove out 1400’s-Ivan III (the Great) drove out

Mongols and brought Slavic groups Mongols and brought Slavic groups together to for Russiatogether to for Russia

**established Moscow as **established Moscow as religious/political center—used to religious/political center—used to be be KievKiev

1533- Ivan IV (the Terrible) became 11533- Ivan IV (the Terrible) became 1stst “czar” of Russia and crushed all “czar” of Russia and crushed all opposition. Expanded borders into non-opposition. Expanded borders into non-Slav territories.Slav territories.

1400-1600’s-Europe advances in 1400-1600’s-Europe advances in science/technology—Russia does not!!science/technology—Russia does not!!

**Czar Peter I (the Great) comes **Czar Peter I (the Great) comes to to power-modernize Russia into power-modernize Russia into European nation—St. Petersburg is European nation—St. Petersburg is new capitalnew capital

HistoryHistoryLate 1800’s-Russians tired of czars-Late 1800’s-Russians tired of czars-

peasants, serfs and factory workers are peasants, serfs and factory workers are poor and discontent—many call for poor and discontent—many call for socialism—ownership by peasants & socialism—ownership by peasants & workers (Karl Marx)workers (Karl Marx)

WWI-Russia is getting thumped-hunger, WWI-Russia is getting thumped-hunger, shortages of everything—March 1917 shortages of everything—March 1917 the Czar must go!! the Czar must go!! Nov. 1917-Bolsheviks proclaim socialist Nov. 1917-Bolsheviks proclaim socialist revolutionrevolution

Vladimir Lenin—promises “peace, Vladimir Lenin—promises “peace, land, and bread” and Russia out land, and bread” and Russia out

of of WWIWWI

1921-Union of Soviet Socialist 1921-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) formed—Republics (USSR) formed—Moscow is capitalMoscow is capital

HistoryHistoryLate 1920’s-Joseph Stalin seeks to make Late 1920’s-Joseph Stalin seeks to make

Russia into world’s great industrial Russia into world’s great industrial powers—millions die in purges/work powers—millions die in purges/work camps/worked to death!!—took control of camps/worked to death!!—took control of factories and farmsfactories and farms

1941-Germany invades and WWII is on—30 1941-Germany invades and WWII is on—30 million Russians die—Russia fights with million Russians die—Russia fights with U.S. and Allies and gains territory/power U.S. and Allies and gains territory/power at end of WWIIat end of WWII

Cold War-1950’s-1980’s sought world Cold War-1950’s-1980’s sought world influence by any means short of total war.influence by any means short of total war.

Korea/Vietnam Wars-U.S. must Korea/Vietnam Wars-U.S. must contain spread of Communismcontain spread of Communism

HistoryHistory1990-Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia break 1990-Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia break

awayaway

1991-11991-1stst democratic election in Russia— democratic election in Russia—Boris Yeltsin wins!Boris Yeltsin wins!

1993-new constitution gives Yeltsin 1993-new constitution gives Yeltsin sweeping powers for political/econ sweeping powers for political/econ reformreform

Problem: extreme nationalist & Problem: extreme nationalist & Commies elected to Parliament and Commies elected to Parliament and they won’t cooperate!! Russia today—they won’t cooperate!! Russia today—inflation, shortages, crime, instability!inflation, shortages, crime, instability!

Today Russian President is Dmitry Today Russian President is Dmitry Medvedev Medvedev