And the Republics of the former USSR An

And the Republics of the former USSR An Introduction

http: //www. businessinsider. com/russia-facts-putin-world-controversy-2015 -1

Russia and 14 other Independent countries

Russia “Rus” - Men of the North • World’s Largest Nation In Land Size • Spans Two Cultural Zones - “Europe/Asia” • 11 Time Zones!

RUSSIA-THE LARGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH A Federation of Republics, Provinces, Territories • Affected by Distance Decay? • 1980’s Soviet Union pop=280 million • Russia today= 144 million and dropping https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a. YZl. HFr. Mixw

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 https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=W 6 LIh. Ngs. Qoc

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

URAL MTS. “European Russia” • West of Ural Mts. • 77% of Russia’s pop (111 million) “Asian Russia” • East of Urals • 75% of Russia’s land size, only 22% of pop

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

CLIMATE AFFECTED BY: 1. LATITUDE 2. CONTINENTALITY

• Baltics first to break from USSR • Always closer in culture to Europe • Estonia close ties to Finland (language/ethnicity)

• All 3 Mostly Flat terrain -marshy lowlands, sandy Baltic coast, fertile low plains • Economy along the coast? • All 3 members of the EU/NATO https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-J 3 i. Kyw. Kl. Hs&feature=em-share_video_user

• Lithuania largest in L. S. and Pop • Advanced economy’s -food products, textiles, machinery • Russian minority concerns

Eastern European Border Republics

• “White Rus”–”free” in old • Pop 16 mil-size of Kansas • Slavic and Orthodox(like Russia) • 1/5 Farmland ruined by Chernobyl 1986 • Economy depends on Industry • Has sought closer ties with Russia

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

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=i. JAKCV 8 bw 9 E • Capital Kiev “Mother of Russia” (Malaya Rosiya) • Historically “Little Russia” • Pop 52 m • Chernozem “Black Earth” -warm weather/good precip • Breadbasket of Northern Eurasia -1/5 all food grown here • Chernobyl nuclear explosion -cancer rates high https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=vdx. Gf. Lv 0 v. I&feature=em-share_video_user

• Historically/Culturally part of Romania • Landlocked- pop 3. 3 m • Poorest Country in Europe? • World’s highest per capita alcohol consumption.

The Nations of the Caucasus https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=P 5 wax. Ho. Wy. Lo

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

• Size of West Virginia • Pop 4. 4 m • Warm subtropical climate attracts tourists • Grow citrus fruits/silk/tea • Ethnic/religious ties to Russia • 2008 Russia invades to protect minorities

• Oil deposits Caspian Sea • 50% rural • Cattle/sheep/goat herding in mts • Cotton, tea, fruit grown in lowlands • Islamic religion from Arab traders • Armenian minority conflicts since 1990’s https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v =Oq. P 3 a. PJMuc. E

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=HAe. WWZijs 3 I Caspian Sea Oil Field Pipelines • Russia says “lake” to share oil • Azer says “inland sea” so no sharing

Caspian Sea Other Resource Caviar from the Black Sturgeon

• • World’s first Christian country ca. 300 AD Landlocked, rocky soil Some industry in Yerevan Azeri minority conflicts since 1990’s

Central Asia

• • • “Land of the Kazakhs” Forced migrations here during USSR era. 131 ethnic groups 9 th largest world country. Largest landlocked ? Pop 15. 4 m World Top 10 in oil/nat. gas Mix of traditional /modern cultures Capital moved from south to north 1998 -possible reasons? ASTANA https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=S_7 MNADv 3 g. Y&feature=em-share_video_user

• “Land of the Uzbeks” • Forced migration of Koreans, Ukrainians here • Landlocked/ pop 29 m • #4 Gold deposits in world • US companies boycotton due to use of child labor to harvest • US troops here 2001 -2005

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER!! • 1950’s USSR wants to grow cotton in dry climate • Diverts rivers flowing into Aral Sea • Destroyed plant/animal/fish habitats • Push factor- people left region https: //www. yo utube. com/watc h? v=5 N_69 c. Wy. Ko

• “Land of the Turkomen”-spread Turkic culture/language to Turkey • Size of California. Pop 5. 1 m • Covered mostly by Kara Kum (Black Sand) Desert. • #4 world rank nat. gas. USA trying to make friends here. • Islam very important, spread across Caspian Sea from Iran

• “Land of the Kyrgyz” • Landlocked /mountainous • Ethnicity/language related to other Turkics Pop 5. 2 m • Traditionally nomadic herders -live in “Yurt”s (pic)…have you ever seen a house like this before? • Though illegal, practice “bride stealing” https: //www. youtu be. com/watch? v=K 3 CVci. Bd. Mo. Y

Dushanbe • “Land of the Tajiks” • Landlocked/mountainous • Pop 7. 6 m related to Persians (Iran) • Poorest of the Republics • Aluminum production, cotton, money sent by foreign workers • #3 in world heroin pro -US concerned

• Location where the cultures and races of Europe meet Asia’s. • Ural Mts. considered the meeting point • 100+ ethnic groups • 200+ languages spoken

Treasure House of Resources Economic Potential-New Markets! Political Instability Could Affect USA