1. Bell Ringer How many time zones does Russia have?
What is an important aspect of Lake Baikal?
What is important about the Volga River?
What are the drainage basins associated with Russia?

2. Chapter 15 Section 2 & 3 (pg. 350-356)
Geography of Russia
Chapter 15 Section 2 & 3 (pg )

3. I. Climate Climate of Extremes Extremely cold, temperatures reach -95
Steel cracks, tires explode
“Whispering of the stars” – frozen breath
Major Climate Regions
Humid Continental (warm summer, very cold winters)
Subarctic (long cold winters, short cool summer)

5. I. Climate Continentality
Most of country is hundreds of miles from moderating effect of sea
Region covered by permafrost: layer of permanently frozen subsoil

6. II. Vegetation – 4 Regions
Tundra (polar)
Arctic climate zone: mosses, lychens, small herbs, low shrubs
Forest
South of tundra, largest forest on earth- the taiga
Primarily coniferous (year-round) trees
Fur bearing animals

7. II. Vegetation – 4 Regions
Steppe
Temperate grassland
Highly fertile soil
Major source of grain
Desert
Semiarid
West and central Asia
Kara/Kyzyl Kum cover 230,000 square miles

8. III. The Shrinking Aral Sea
Trying to irrigate Central Asia
Dramatic impact
Aral Sea recedes 25 miles
Exposed graveyard of abandoned ships
Powerful winds blow lots of dust from dry seabed
Anyone remaining risks illness

10. III. The Shrinking Aral Sea
Disappearing Lake
Aral Sea lost 80% of its water
Irrigation projects took money, and water, away from river
Without that source it evaporated
Effects of Agriculture
After using pesticides and fertilizers, runoff is picked up through streams or rivers
Destroyed all its native species of fish

11. IV. The Russian Winter Causes difficulties for inhabitants
Helps in War
Napoleon tried to take Russia, but his troops died from the cold
Troops set fire to cities, so invaders had no where to shelter themselves from the cold

12. V. Crossing the “Wild East”
Trans-Siberian Railroad
Links Moscow and Vladivostok
Covered 5,700 miles
Resource wealth in Siberia
With railroad completed, larger profit can be obtained from resources