Former Soviet Republics A Geography of the Former Soviet Republics (Northern Eurasia)

Northern Eurasia is a land of geographic extremes World’s Largest region Largest Plain Largest Swamp Largest Lake Deepest Lake Largest Forest Largest volcanic region Coldest Inhabited location

Russia is world’s largest nation in land size Landsize Comparison

Russia world population rank – 9th

Eurasia’s population pattern is explained geographically Temperature Warm Cold Relief Level Mts Transportation - Trans Siberian RR Precipitation Wet Dry

Kola Peninsula Physical Regions of Northern Eurasia Glacier Scoured Rocky Surface Many Minerals White Sea, Barents Sea do not freeze - Russia gateway to the Atlantic

Baltic States Low Elevation Glacial Made Sandy Soil Numerous Lakes Numerous Rivers Bogs, Swamps Baltic Access important Baltic freezes in winter

Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova are the beginning of the vast Russian or East European Plain. Glacial formed Fertile Soil Many Swamps Invasion Route into Russia

Invasion Route To/From Europe/Russia Belarus Is The Natural Invasion Route To/From Europe/Russia Pripet Marshes Europe’s Largest Wetlands

Moldova - once part of Romania - hilly nation between two rivers Buffer nation with few resources

The Breadbasket of Northern Eurasia Crimea Region is largest area of subtropical land in the region. Ukraine and its Crimea have important links to Black Sea and to Mediterranean The Breadbasket of Northern Eurasia Humid Climate Fertile Black Earth Soils Dnieper River is major waterbody most cities, pop along its banks Donets Basin is Ukraine’s major resource and industrial zone The Ukraine occupies the best of the Russian Plains

Russia west of the Urals is the Russian or East European Plain - Glacier made. North of Moscow Rivers Flow North South of Moscow Rivers Flow To Caspian or Black Sea. Russian Plain holds Russia’s best climate, best soils, most people, most industry. is the cultural heartland of the Russians. Ladoga is the largest lake Volga is the major river of Russia and Europe’s Longest.

The Caucasus Region

Land between the Black and Caspian - Before it rose, the Black, Caspian and Aral Sea were one large water body Mt. Elburz, Russia’s highest spot is found here Region prone to Earthquakes Armenia most recent. Region;s humid and subtropical climates are the best in all of Northern Eurasia. Caucasus provide a secure border for Russia

Georgia - Ancient Nation with links to ancient Greece. Mountain nation with a subtropical and mediterranean climate. Fruit, tea, vegetable center of Northern Eurasia

Armenia - landlocked, earthquake zone, holds lake sevan, largest of the Caucasus - ancient nation - claims to be oldest Christian nation in the world.

Azerbaijan - semi arid nation of the caucasus - muslim, oil rich

Caviar harvest - Azers are famed for longevity -

Caspian Sea Oil Field

Caspian Sea Oil Field Pipelines

Caspian Sea Other Resource Caviar from the Black Sturgeon

Ural Mts Traditional Divide Between Europe and Asia European Russia ends Resource Rich, important since World War II Russias new industrial cities located here

West Siberian or Central Siberian Lowland East of Urals Largest Plain in the world Largest Swamp in the world Caused by rivers which flow north ward to a frozen waterbody

Ob and its branch the Irtysh drain the region Rivers are the highways especially in winter Oil and Natural gas are abundant Region is suffering from environmental pollutions

Novosibirsk - Largest city of the Central Siberian Lowland

Russia (Siberia) east of the Yenisi River is the least populated region of Russia mostly plateaus and mountains extreme cold winter lasts nearly all year coldest inhabited cities in the world resource rich

Lena - the longest river of Russia.

Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest, largest fresh water lake

Kamchatka Peninsula has the world’s greatest concentration of active volcanoes, geysers, geothermal activities.

Russia ends at the Bering Sea Vladivostok is the major eastern Russia town and port Amur River forms most of the border between Russia and China.

Central Asia contains the best wheat region of North Eurasia - The Kirgiz Steppe

Central Asia is a depression - containing the lowest spot of North Eurasia - the Aral Caspian Despression, containing the largest desert of North Eurasia - The Kara and Kyzl Kum - and the highest locations of North Eurasia (Communism Peak).

Rivers of Central Asia (Syr and Amu Darya) are so used the Aral Sea is disappearing. Kazakstan has oil The location made it the missile launch site for Russia

Tajikistan has become the cotton center of Northern Eurasia