A Vast Land: Climate and Geography of Russia

Geography World’s largest country Almost twice size of U.S. “Eurasian” country: Russia lies on Asia but close ties with Europe on the West. Russia touches many inland bodies of water such as Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Lake Baikal Capital is Moscow

Ural Mountains

Bodies of Water North: Arctic Ocean East: Pacific Ocean Caspian Sea & Black Sea form natural borders between southwestern Russia & Western Europe –Caspian Sea: size of CA/largest inland saltwater body in the world

The Volga River is the longest river in Europe & a vital transportation route.

Lake Baikal world's oldest and deepest lake at 30 million years old and with an average depth of 2,440 feet.  the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, containing roughly 20% of the world's surface fresh water that is unfrozen.

Russia’s Climate Western Russia –Humid continental climate: summers are warm and rainy, winters are cold and snowy. Eastern Russia –Sub arctic: short cool summers and long snowy winters. Most ports are closed parts of the year due to ice.

European Russia Ural Mountains separate Europe and Asia West of the Urals lies the North European Plain –Fertile, most of Russia’s population lives here.

North European Plain: European Russia 75% of Russia’s population lives here Mild climate Majority of Russia’s industry & agriculture Good farmland (the steppe) Caucasus Mountains form southern border with Georgia & Azerbaijan

Siberia: Asian Russia Located east of Ural Mountains One of world’s coldest climate Northern Siberia: Tundra & permafrost cover 40% of Russia; taiga in the south –Fishing, hunting seals & walruses, herding reindeer –Few people Southern Siberia: Plains, plateaus & mountains –Home to Siberian Tiger (endangered), bear, reindeer, lynx, wolf, elk, etc.

Trans-Siberian Railroad The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian far east and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world.

Siberia

Kamchatka Peninsula Mountainous Over 120 volcanoes (20 active) Part of “Ring of Fire” (zone of active volcanoes that forms the western, northern, and eastern edges of Pacific)

Kronotsky volcano, an 11,975-foot volcanic peak

History and Culture Main people to settle in what is today Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus were the Slavs. AD 800s- city of Kiev was an important center for trade between Mediterranean and Baltic Sea Scandinavian traders were called Rus, the name Russia comes from this word 1240-Mongol invaders destroyed Kiev

1547- Ivan the Terrible crowned himself Czar of all Russia Czar comes from Latin word caesar and means emperor He brutally suppressed the noble class and lashed out at his enemies Peter the Great ruled and gained some European territory Built St. Petersburg as capital Late 1700s- ruled by Catherine the Great Greatly expanded the Russian Empire 1800s- Russian Empire had spread past its current borders, however, Russia lost a war with Japan and took what is now the current borders

The Bolsheviks Overthrew the Republic (in 1914 the czar was asked to abdicate) in 1917 in the Russian Revolution This caused Russia to pull out of WWI The czar and his family were killed Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir Lenin and led with communism Russian Empire was renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR, or the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union One party, totalitarian state Lenin dies in 1924 and Joseph Stalin took power Stalin was a brutal leader- killed millions who opposed him and put others in labor camps Followed policy of autarky- country tries to produce all the goods it needs Trade was limited Soviet leaders tried to stop religious worship Believed religion would take away loyalty from the state

Fall of Soviet Union Political and economic changes in the 1980s Soviet Union began to fall apart in 1990 and had collapsed by the end of Each of the 15 Soviet republics became independent Soviet Union becomes Russia! Communism was replaced with capitalism