Russia and the Republics: Russia and the Republics: Landforms and ResourcesLandforms and Resources

Chapter 15 Section 1Chapter 15 Section 1

Russia and the RepublicsRussia and the Republics This area is one sixth of the earth’s This area is one sixth of the earth’s

surfacesurface

Northern LandformsNorthern Landforms

Can be divided into four different Can be divided into four different areasareas Northern European PlainNorthern European Plain West Siberian PlainWest Siberian Plain Central Siberian PlateauCentral Siberian Plateau Russian Far EastRussian Far East

Northern European PlainNorthern European Plain

Extensive lowland area that stretches Extensive lowland area that stretches over 1,000 miles from the western over 1,000 miles from the western border to the Ural Mountainsborder to the Ural Mountains ChernozemChernozem, , one of the world’s most fertile one of the world’s most fertile

soils, is found heresoils, is found here Many of the regions agricultural areas Many of the regions agricultural areas

are located in this plainare located in this plain 75% of the population lives here75% of the population lives here

it is home to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev it is home to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev (the capital of the Ukraine)(the capital of the Ukraine)

West Siberian PlainWest Siberian Plain

The Ural Mountains separate the The Ural Mountains separate the Northern European Plain and the Northern European Plain and the West Siberian PlainWest Siberian Plain Ural Mountains also considered the Ural Mountains also considered the

dividing line for Europe and Asiadividing line for Europe and Asia West Siberian Plain lies between Ural West Siberian Plain lies between Ural

Mountains and Yenisey RiverMountains and Yenisey River

Central Siberian PlateauCentral Siberian Plateau

Lies between the Yenisey and Lena Lies between the Yenisey and Lena RiversRivers Uplands and mountains are the Uplands and mountains are the

dominant landformsdominant landforms High plateaus with average heights of High plateaus with average heights of

1,000-2,000 feet make up the plateau1,000-2,000 feet make up the plateau

Russian Far EastRussian Far East

Lies east of the Lena RiverLies east of the Lena River Has a complex system of volcanic Has a complex system of volcanic

rangesranges This is area is part of the volcanically This is area is part of the volcanically

active “Ring of Fire”active “Ring of Fire”

Southern LandformsSouthern Landforms

The Caucasus and Other MountainsThe Caucasus and Other Mountains Caucasus Mts stretch across the land Caucasus Mts stretch across the land

that separates the Black and Caspian that separates the Black and Caspian SeasSeas

These mountains form the border These mountains form the border between Russia and Transcaucasiabetween Russia and Transcaucasia

ArmeniaArmenia AzerbaijanAzerbaijan GeorgiaGeorgia

Central AsiaCentral Asia

Area that includes the republics of:Area that includes the republics of: KazakhstanKazakhstan KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan TajikstanTajikstan TurkmenistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanUzbekistan

Very mountainous region; mountains are so high that Very mountainous region; mountains are so high that they have prevented moisture from entering the they have prevented moisture from entering the region from the southregion from the south Main Mountains in this region are the Tian ShanMain Mountains in this region are the Tian Shan

Also contains the Also contains the Turan PlainTuran Plain Extensive lowland that lies between the Caspian Sea and Extensive lowland that lies between the Caspian Sea and

mountains and uplands of Central Asia (very dry)mountains and uplands of Central Asia (very dry)

Rivers and LakesRivers and Lakes

Some of the largest rivers in the world Some of the largest rivers in the world flow through Russiaflow through Russia ObOb YeniseyYenisey LenaLena

Deliver water to the Arctic OceanDeliver water to the Arctic Ocean Volga- longest river on the European Volga- longest river on the European

continentcontinent Delivers water to the Caspian SeaDelivers water to the Caspian Sea

Also boasts some of the world’s largest Also boasts some of the world’s largest lakes on the planetlakes on the planet Caspian and Aral Seas are both located in Caspian and Aral Seas are both located in

Central AsiaCentral Asia Caspian- saltwater lake; largest inland sea in the Caspian- saltwater lake; largest inland sea in the

worldworld Aral- also saltwater; losing water at rapid paceAral- also saltwater; losing water at rapid pace

Lake BaikalLake Baikal Deepest lake in the world (can reach depths of one Deepest lake in the world (can reach depths of one

mile deep)mile deep) Hold’s 20 percent of the earth’s fresh waterHold’s 20 percent of the earth’s fresh water

ResourcesResources

Abundant resourcesAbundant resources Huge reserves of coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas, Huge reserves of coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas,

and Petroleum depositsand Petroleum deposits Forests hold 1/5 of world’s timber resourcesForests hold 1/5 of world’s timber resources

Resources are difficult to extract due to Resources are difficult to extract due to the harsh conditions especially in the area the harsh conditions especially in the area of Siberiaof Siberia The part of Russia that lies on the continent of The part of Russia that lies on the continent of

AsiaAsia