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.