Physical Geography of Russia Chapter 15 Physical Geography of Russia

Land Forms and Resources Section 1 Land Forms and Resources

Russia and the Republics occupy a large territory Is 3 times the size of the United States

Region sprawls across two continents Europe Asia

Region sprawls across two continents Cross 11 time zone throughout Europe and Asia

CHERNOZEM Black top soil – one of the world’s most fertile region See page 345

What % of the regions 290 million people live on this plain 75 % Or 217 million people live on the plains

Three largest cities on the plains Moscow, Russia St. Petersburg, Russia Kiev, Ukraine

Ural Mountains Separate the Northern European and West Siberian plains Divides Europe and Asia

Eurasia Combined continents of Europe and Asia

Caucasus Mountains (kaw-kuh-suhs) Stretch across the land that separates the Black and Caspian Sea

Transcaucasia Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, located – between Caucasus Mts. and borders of Turkey and Iran

Central Asia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

SIBERIA Region in central and eastern Russia, from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Known for mineral resources Russian government used this region as a political exile site

Climate and Vegetation Section 2 Climate and Vegetation

CONTINENTALITY Russia and the Republics enormous size has a major effect on its climate Russia's climate increases as one travels east, with average temperature differences between the warmest (July) and coldest (January) ...

TAIGA (Tahy-guh) Largest forest in the world Continuous belt of evergreen forests across the Northern Hemisphere North America and Eurasia

PROBLEM OF RUNOFF Rainfall not absorbed by soil, which can carry pesticides and fertilizers from fields to rivers which can endanger the food chain

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD Railroad that links Moscow (on the west) to the port of Vladivostok (on the east) Runs 6,000 miles across bitter cold, undeveloped region

REASONS RAILROAD IS BUILT Speed up travel Populate the region Develop resources

TIME ZONES 24 time zones in the world 360 degrees 15 degrees in each time zone

INTERNATIONAL DATELINE Marks where a new calendar day begins

Chapter 16 A Diverse Heritage

Russia and the Western Republics Section 1 Russia and the Western Republics

BALTIC REPUBLIC Countries of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia Located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea

Russian Empire develops Vikings settle between the Baltic and Black Sea Mixed with the Slavs

Role of the Czar in Russian History Czar was the ruler of Russia before the Russian Revolution in 1917 Helped modernized Russia from 1682 to 1725 Peter the Great attempted to modernize Russia

Peter the Great

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Revolt in 1917 – Communist government of Lenin took control of the government from the Czar.

Lenin

USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republic Formed in 1922 by the Communist government Dissolved in 1991

COLD WAR Conflict between the USSR and the US after World War II Nuclear power conflict Called a cold war because it never escalated into an open warfare

COMMAND ECONOMY Plan under the Communist government in the USSR Government controlled the production of goods and services (complete opposite of the US)

Market Economy (U.S. economy today) A market economy is economy based on the division of labor in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system set by supply and demand.[1]

COLLECTIVE FARM Used by the USSR under Stalin A large labor force that worked together on enormous farms in the USSR

3 Republics of Transcaucasia Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia

Conflict in Transcaucasia Ethnic conflicts in the region Ethnicity is what ties you to your race or culture. It is your background and has a strong influence in the things you do. Ethnic groups are large and vary from location to location.

Soviet military takes control of Transcaucasian in modern times Red Army (former USSR)

SUPRA Georgian (Russian) term for dinner party Many foods, toasts, and short speeches

SILK ROAD 4000 mile route – between China and Mediterranean Sea Named for the expensive silk that travel from China to the west Road spread ideas, technology, and religion

NOMAD A person with no permanent home Moves from place to place In search of food, water, and grazing land

YURT Tent that was used by central Asia’s nomads

Chapter 17 Russia and the Republics

CHECHNYA A republic that remains apart of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union despite independence movements and violence

WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHECHNYA Chechens (people from Chechnya) want independence

WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA Georgia wanted their independence (after 1991) Resulted in thousands of deaths and refugee problems

PRIVATIZATION Going from a Command Economy to a Market Economy Selling of government owned businesses to private citizens Took place after 1991

RUSSIANS LIVING IN POVERTY After 1991 – 40% of the people lived below the poverty line

DIFFICULTIES WITH RUSSIA’S SIZE So big and distant from Moscow Some regional leaders have chosen to ignore government reform.

CONTROL OVER REGIONAL LEADERS Government created federal districts with governors Governors answered to Moscow

ORGANIZED CRIME Growth of organized crime Illegal activities are more lucrative that honest business Illegal activities reduced the governments tax revenues