RUSSIA AND OTHERS SECTION 1 LANDFORMS AND RESOURCES

RUSSIA AND OTHERS

SECTION 1: LANDFORMS AND RESOURCES

NORTHERN LANDFORMS Northern European Plain Chernozem: black earth; some of the world’s richest soils Large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg

NORTHERN LANDFORMS CONTINUED West Siberian Plain Begins at Ural Mountains and stretches to the Yenisey Rivers here flow to the Arctic Ocean

SOUTHERN LANDFORMS The Caucasus Mountains: between Black and Caspian Seas Form border between Russia and Transcaucasia: region consisting of republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

RIVERS AND LAKES

DRAINAGE BASINS AND RIVERS Main Russian drainage basins: Arctic Ocean, Caspian Sea, Pacific Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Aral Sea Arctic basin is the largest (Ob, Yenisey, and Lena Rivers)— drains 3 million sq. miles

VOLGA RIVER Longest river on the European continent Begins near Moscow and flows south 2300 miles long Ends at Caspian Sea Carries 60% of Russia’s river traffic

LAKES Area contains the world’s largest lakes Caspian Sea: saltwater lake 750 miles wide (largest inland sea) Aral Sea: saltwater lake Could vanish within 30 years

LAKE BAIKAL Deepest lake in the world (more than 1 mile) Nearly 400 miles wide Holds 20% of world’s fresh water 1200 unique species of plants and animals

REGIONAL RESOURCES

ABUNDANT RESOURCES Huge coal reserves, deposits of iron ore The region is a leader in oil production and natural gas Russia’s forests hold 1/5 (20%) of the world’s timber resources One of world’s largest producers of hydroelectric power

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Harsh climates and rugged terrain make movement of resources difficult Many resources are in Siberia: part of Russia that lies on the Asian continent

SECTION 2: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

CONTINENTALITY Def: the effect of distance on climate Most of Russia is hundreds of miles away from the sea This effects precipitation and temperature

VEGETATION REGIONS

TUNDRA Most northern section of Russia Mosses, lichens, small herbs, and low shrubs

FOREST Taiga: south of Russian tundra; largest forest in the world Mostly coniferous trees Deciduous trees become more prominent in the lower latitudes

STEPPE Temperate grassland Extends from southern Ukraine through northern Kazakhstan Chernozem

DESERT The 2 major deserts in Central Asia cover an area of c. 230, 000 sq. miles

SECTION 3: HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

THE SHRINKING ARAL SEA Water for Aral Sea comes mostly from the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers 1950 s: governments diverted water for irrigation

EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURE Pesticides and fertilizers were entering the Aral Sea through Runoff: rainfall not absorbed by the ground that runs into streams and rivers Killed all species of fish Disease spread as sediment exposed from the drying of the Sea was carried by wind over population areas

THE RUSSIAN WINTER

COPING IN SIBERIA C. 32 million people live in Siberia Temps can reach -90°F in winter and 94°F in summer Warmer temps melt ice and snow and leave pools of water for mosquitoes and black flies Hard to build on permafrost ground

WAR AND “GENERAL WINTER” The cold climate sometimes helps Russia Napoleon was turned back in the early 1800 s Began retreat with 100, 000 men Returned with fewer than 10, 000 The winter saved Russia from French occupation

CROSSING THE “WILD EAST”

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD Links Moscow to Vladivostok More than 5, 700 miles, crossing 7 time zones Construction lasted from 1891 -1903 Built mainly to speed up travel time of resources

TIME ZONES Created in 1884 World divided into 24 time zones Each time zone represents 15° longitude (360°⁄24 hours=15°) Prime Meridian is starting point (0°) Base time is called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) International Date Line set at 180°