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Chapter Menu Introduction Section 1: Section 1: The Land Section 2: Section 2: Climate and Vegetation Visual Summary

Chapter Intro 1 In 1991 the powerful Soviet Union broke up into 15 independent republics. Of these, Russia is by far the largest. A study of the physical geography of Russia will explain the factors that make the landscape of this immense country so unique and its natural resources so valuable.

Chapter Intro 2 Section 1: The Land The physical environment affects people and their activities. Russia’s far northern location, interconnected plains and mountain ranges, and large river systems influence human settlement and activities in the region.

Chapter Intro 3 Section 2: Climate and Vegetation Physical processes shape Earth’s surface. Russia’s climate regions and natural vegetation are affected by the country’s location in the far northern latitudes, deep within the interior of the Eurasian landmass.

Chapter Preview-End

Section 1-GTR The Land This section discusses the landforms, water systems, and natural resources of Russia, and how these features influence human settlement and activities in the region.

Section 1-GTR chernozem The Land series permafrost estimate link

Section 1-GTR A.Ural Mountains The Land B.Caucasus Mountains C.Central Siberian Plateau D.Siberia E.Northern European Plain F.West Siberian Plain G.Volga River

A.A B.B Section 1 Do you think that most of Russia is wilderness or inhabited by people? A.Wilderness B.People The Land

Section 1 Russia’s interconnected mountain ranges and plains shape human activities. Landforms Russia is the world’s largest country in total land and geographic extent.

Section 1 Mountains and plateaus: –Ural –Caucasus –Central Siberian Plateau Landforms (cont.)

Section 1 Landforms (cont.) Plains Areas: –Northern European Plain—about 75% of the Russian population lives on this plain. –West Siberian Plain

A.A B.B C.C Section 1 One of the world’s largest areas of flatland is which landform? A.Central Siberian Plateau B.Northern European Plain C.West Siberian Plain

Section 1 Russia’s large river systems are vital for irrigation, transportation routes, electric power, and industries, such as fishing. Water Systems Russia has the longest continuous coastline of any country in the world. Russia also has the largest inland body of water and some of the longest rivers.

Section 1 Water Systems (cont.) Coasts, Seas, Lakes: –Arctic and Pacific oceans –Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea –The Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara –Lake Baikal

Section 1 Water Systems (cont.) Rivers: –The Volga –The Siberian (the Ob’, Irtysh, Yenisey, and Lena) –The Amur River

A.A B.B C.C D.D Section 1 Which inland body of water is the largest in the world? A.Lake Baikal B.Sea of Marmara C.Black Sea D.Caspian Sea

Section 1 Russia has an abundance of natural resources, but many are located in remote, inaccessible areas of the country. Natural Resources Minerals and energy: –Petroleum –Coal

Section 1 Natural Resources (cont.) –Natural gas –Nickel –Aluminum, gemstones, platinum-group metals –Hydroelectric power

Section 1 Natural Resources (cont.) Soil and forest land: –10% of its land can support agriculture –Black Earth Belt—fertile band of soil –One-fifth of the world’s forest lands lie in Russia, but are being depleted. Deforestation in Russia

Section 1 Natural Resources (cont.) The fishing industry: –Salmon, herring, cod, halibut –Russian caviar from sturgeon—this supply has declined.

A.A B.B C.C D.D Section 1 Where are most of Russia’s forest lands? A.Ukraine B.Siberia C.Black Earth Belt D.Northern European Plain

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Section 2-GTR Climate and Vegetation Russia’s location in the far northern latitudes affects its climate regions and natural vegetation.

Section 2-GTR continentality Climate and Vegetation steppe portion tundra taiga role enable

Section 2-GTR A.Arctic Circle Climate and Vegetation

A.A B.B C.C D.D Section 2 What type of climate do you think most of Russia experiences? A.Subarctic B.Humid C.Steppe D.Tundra Climate and Vegetation

Section 2 Russia’s location in the high latitudes of the Eurasian landmass causes extreme differences in climate. High-Latitude Regions Most of Russia is located in the high latitudes—harsh climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Russia: Climate Regions

Section 2 High-Latitude Regions (cont.) Climate regions: –Tundra –Subarctic —contains the taiga

A.A B.B C.C D.D Section 2 How much of Russia does the tundra cover? A.5% B.10% C.15% D.20%

Section 2 Russia’s midlatitude regions have more moderate climates and support most of the country’s agricultural production. Midlatitude Regions Climate regions: –Humid continental Russia: Natural Vegetation

Section 2 Midlatitude Regions (cont.) Russia’s cold climate played an important role in the defeat of Napoleon I in 1812 and of German forces during WWII. Dry climate region: –Steppe

A.A B.B C.C D.D Section 2 Moscow lies in which climate region? A.Steppe B.Tundra C.Humid continental D.Subarctic

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VS 1 A. Northern European Plain Majority of Russia’s population lives here Northern part is poorly drained, creating swamps and marshes Southern part has rich chernozem soil and supports most of Russia’s agricultural production

VS 2 B. Ural Mountains Form a natural boundary between European Russia and Asian Russia Are rich in iron ore and mineral fuels, such as oil and natural gas

VS 3 C. Volga River Vital to Russia, draining much of the eastern part of Russia’s Northern European Plain Provides important transportation links and is used to create hydroelectric power Flows through areas of temperate grasslands and mixed forests

VS 4 D. West Siberian Plain One of the world’s largest areas of flatland — reaching from the Arctic Ocean to Central Asia Lowland areas poorly drained, creating swamps and marshes Location in the far northern latitudes results in a harsh climate with wide extremes of temperatures

VS 5 E. Siberian Rivers Include the Ob’, Irtysh, Yenisey, and Lena Rank among the world’s largest river systems Amur River forms border between Russia and China

VS 6 F. Lake Baikal Deepest freshwater lake in the world Contains 20 percent of Earth’s supply of freshwater

VS 7 G. Forests About one-fifth of world’s remaining forest lands lie in Russia, most in eastern Siberia Located in Russia’s largest climate region, the subarctic

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DFS Trans 1

DFS Trans 2

Vocab1 chernozem (chernuhZYAWM) rich, black topsoil found in the Northern European Plain, especially in Russia and Ukraine

Vocab2 permafrost permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground

Vocab3 continentality the effect of extreme variations in temperature and very little precipitation within the interior portions of a landmass

Vocab4 tundra vast, treeless plains in cold northern climates, characterized by permafrost and small, low plants, such as mosses and shrubs

Vocab5 taiga Russian term for the vast subarctic forest, mostly evergreens, that covers much of Russia and Siberia

Vocab6 steppe wide, grassy plains of Eurasia; also, similar semiarid climate regions elsewhere

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