russia and the cis physical geography russia is about twice the size of the continental u.s
TRANSCRIPT
Physical Geography of Russia &
the CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States
Russia and the CISPhysical Geography
Russia is about twice the size of the continental U.S.
Russian Plains
NORTH EUROPEAN PLAINS
Agricultural Zone- most of Russia’s farming is here
Chernozem = black earth called the “Black Earth Belt”
75% of population lives in plains & 3 largest cities- Moscow, St. Petersburg & Kiev
Ukraine= “The Bread Basket” of the region
NORTH EUROPEAN PLAINS
WEST SIBERIAN PLAINS World’s largest flat area-Covers an area of
about 1.2 million square miles Formed by glacial deposits after the last Ice
Age.
TURAN PLAINSDesert Region Kara Kum (black
sand) Kyzyl Kum (red
sand desert)
CENTRAL SIBERIAN PLATEAU high plateaus
highlands & mountains are the dominate landform.
Mountains of
Russia
URAL MOUNTAINS Divides Europe and Asia
CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS Between the Black
& Caspian Seas and forms border between Russia and Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia)
Mount Elbrus (extinct volcano that
is Russia’s highest point)
Mt. Elbrus18,510
ft
Russian Seas and
Lakes
BLACK SEA Only warm water sea found in
Russia Outlet to the Mediterranean-
IMPORTANT in Russian’s History!
CASPIAN SEA World’s largest
inland sea (actually a lake) Rivers run into the lake
but no outlet to the Ocean
It is a saltwater lake
Lake is shrinking from evaporation
How does this effect the salt content?
This picture is taken in March- notice there is still ICE covering part of the Caspian Sea, lake divide equally, sea depends on length of coastline.
ARAL SEA Rivers that drain into Aral Sea are
being used for irrigation for cotton fields which causes Aral to shrink
Aral Sea Video
LAKE BAIKAL World’s oldest & deepest
freshwater lake Holds 1/5 of earth’s fresh water (as
much as all the Great Lakes combined)Lake Baikal is:40 miles wide 400 miles long 1 mile deep
Houston to Dallas = 226 miles
Over
1200
species
of plants
& animals
unique
to the
lake
Russian Rivers
RIVERS IN RUSSIA
Long & navigable Frozen most of the year= Makes
trade difficultRivers used for irrigation,
transportation routes or hydroelectric power for densely populated urban areas
VOLGA RIVER
Called “Mother Volga”- provides the needs for the people
longest river in Europe / 4th longest in Russia
provides essential trade, communication, energy & water
Carries about 60% of Russia’s river traffic
Natural Resources of Russia
NATURAL RESOURCES
gold – world’s 2nd largest producer
oil – soon to rival Saudi Arabia in production
natural gas – world’s leading exporter
hydroelectric power 1/5th of the world’s timber
supply Coal and Iron
SIBERIA
Many natural resources are found here
Difficult to remove resources because of its harsh climate & rugged terrain (landscape)
Most of Russia’s longest rivers—which supply 84% of the country’s water—are located in Siberia (only 25% of the population lives)
Temperature fluctuates from about 50F to
-90F
SIBERIA
Trans Siberian Rail Road
Russian Climate
RUSSIA’S CLIMATE ZONES
Climates are effected by high latitude and the mountains to the southeast
Continentality: Distance from the sea which effects climate and precipitation
RUSSIA’S CLIMATE ZONES
Humid Continental & Subarctic climates dominate the northern & eastern region
Semiarid & Desert climate around Transcaucasia region
Russian Vegetation
Regions
VEGETATION REGIONS
steppe – wide, temperate grasslands in central Russia
taiga – vast woodland of evergreen forests
tundra – flat, treeless plains near Arctic Ocean