1. Russia and the Republics: Landforms and Resources
Chapter 15 Section 1

2. Russia and the Republics
This area is one sixth of the earth’s surface

3. Northern Landforms Can be divided into four different areas
Northern European Plain
West Siberian Plain
Central Siberian Plateau
Russian Far East

4. Northern European Plain
Extensive lowland area that stretches over 1,000 miles from the western border to the Ural Mountains
Chernozem, one of the world’s most fertile soils, is found here
Many of the regions agricultural areas are located in this plain
75% of the population lives here
it is home to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev (the capital of the Ukraine)

5. West Siberian Plain
The Ural Mountains separate the Northern European Plain and the West Siberian Plain
Ural Mountains also considered the dividing line for Europe and Asia
West Siberian Plain lies between Ural Mountains and Yenisey River

7. Central Siberian Plateau
Lies between the Yenisey and Lena Rivers
Uplands and mountains are the dominant landforms
High plateaus with average heights of 1,000-2,000 feet make up the plateau

8. Russian Far East Lies east of the Lena River
Has a complex system of volcanic ranges
This is area is part of the volcanically active “Ring of Fire”

10. Southern Landforms The Caucasus and Other Mountains
Caucasus Mts stretch across the land that separates the Black and Caspian Seas
These mountains form the border between Russia and Transcaucasia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia

11. Central Asia Area that includes the republics of:
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikstan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Very mountainous region; mountains are so high that they have prevented moisture from entering the region from the south
Main Mountains in this region are the Tian Shan
Also contains the Turan Plain
Extensive lowland that lies between the Caspian Sea and mountains and uplands of Central Asia (very dry)

12. Rivers and Lakes
Some of the largest rivers in the world flow through Russia Ob
Yenisey
Lena
Deliver water to the Arctic Ocean
Volga- longest river on the European continent
Delivers water to the Caspian Sea

13. Also boasts some of the world’s largest lakes on the planet
Caspian and Aral Seas are both located in Central Asia
Caspian- saltwater lake; largest inland sea in the world
Aral- also saltwater; losing water at rapid pace
Lake Baikal
Deepest lake in the world (can reach depths of one mile deep)
Hold’s 20 percent of the earth’s fresh water

14. Resources Abundant resources
Huge reserves of coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas, and Petroleum deposits
Forests hold 1/5 of world’s timber resources
Resources are difficult to extract due to the harsh conditions especially in the area of Siberia
The part of Russia that lies on the continent of Asia