1. The Physical Geography of Russia
Unit 5 – Chapter 14
The Physical Geography of Russia

3. I. Section I
The Land

5. 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

6. Mountains and Plateaus
Ural Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
Mount Elbrus – extinct volcano – highest point
Central Siberian Plateau
Mt. Elbrus

7. Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide”
1500 miles
Divides the European and Asian sections of Russia.

8. The Ural Mountains

9. A. (cont) Plains Areas North European Plain West Siberian Plain
Chernozem – rich black soil
About 75% of Russia’s population lives here
West Siberian Plain

10. Coasts, Seas, and Lakes Longest coastline in the world
Caspian 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

11. 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

12. The Volga River
The river is so polluted that the sturgeon catch has been decreased by 60%.

13. Siberian Rivers Ob, Irtysh, Yenisey, & Lena Amur
Lena River
Siberian Rivers
Ob, Irtysh, Yenisey, & Lena
Flow north to the Arctic Ocean
Amur
Flows eastward

14. 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

15. -Russia’s Fishing Industry
-Soil and Forest Land
10% land – agriculture – permafrost
Black Earth Belt
1/5 of remaining world forests in Russia – Siberia
2nd to the Amazon for oxygen returned to atmosphere
-Russia’s Fishing Industry
Fish important to Russian diet & economy

17. II. Section II
Climate & Vegetation

18. Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

19. 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

20. 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 days a year, snow covers the ground
Taiga – forest belt
Living in a Cold Climate
What adjustments would you have to make?

21. Siberia --> Permafrost
Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°, and in July from 1 to 25°C
150,000,000 population.
A former “gulag” Soviet prison camp.

22. 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 )
Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow
German POWs at Stalingrad

23. Steppe
Small area
Temperate grassland area

24. Steppes: “Soviet” Breadbasket

25. The Steppes
25% of the old Soviet Union’s food supply.