Russia Chapter 14: Russia

Landforms of Russia

Landforms Mountains and Plateaus Ural Mountains - dividing line between European Russia and Asian Russia. Very old range- worn down by time. Caucasus Mtns .- between the Black and Caspian Seas. Rugged. Central Siberian Plateau - streams have carved out rugged canyons. Kamchatka Mtns - (Kamchatka Peninsula) Volcanic mtns. 29 active volcanoes.

Landforms Plains Russian Plain - most of Western Russia is a vast rolling prairie. Many swamps and lakes. Chernozem- rich black soil. 75% of Russians live on Russian Plain. (only 10% of Russia is suitable to farm due to climate) Western Siberian Plain- East of Urals- largest areas of flat land. Both plains produce most Russian food. Siberia - Eastern Russia- Short summers, long cold winters, permafrost.

Landforms Water Systems Coasts, Seas, Lakes Coastline - Russia has more coast line than any other country (23,000 miles) much of it is frozen during the winter. Seas - (Baltic, Black, Caspian) Caspian - largest inland body of water. Seas important for fishing. Lake Baikal - Deepest Lake in the world - 1 mile deep, 20% of earth’s fresh water.

Water Systems Cont. Rivers Some of the longest rivers in the world drain vast areas of Russia. Provide transportation, electricity, irrigation, fresh water. (See Map 359) Western – Volga - carries most transported goods in west. Eastern Rivers - Ob, Yenisey, Lena- part of the largest Asian river system. Drain vast parts of Siberia.

Natural Resources Petroleum - vast reserves, much is located in Siberia (hard to get to/transport) Coal - 16% of world’s Coal (also in Siberia) Russia leads the world in Hydroelectric power. Soils Only 10% of Russia is suitable to Farm. That is still 250 million acres. Southwestern Russia has best soils. Transporting food is a major problem for Russia. Rail and shipping. Permafrost is a problem (layer of permanently frozen soil)

Natural Resources Timber Fishing Russia has 1/5 of the world’s trees. (75% in Siberia) Pines, Firs, Cedars, Spruce provide for a strong commercial logging industry. Siberian winters complicate this process. Fishing Salmon, Cod, Halibut are fished in Russia’s rivers and seas. Russian Caviar is a major export. (Sturgeon eggs) Arctic Ocean not easy to fish most of the year.

Russian Climate and Vegetation

High-Latitude Regions Most of Russia is located in High-Latitudes. This creates a harsh climate. Short-Cool Summers, Long-COLD Winters. Eastern Russia is colder. Western Russia influenced by warmer air from the Atlantic. Verkhoyansk: low temp. -89 degrees, Oymyakon: -96 degrees (without wind chill) Both are in Siberia!

Continentality Much of Russia is far from any large body of water. This produces extreme variations in temp. and little precipitation. Land that is far away from a body of water usually has more extreme changes in temperature and less precipitation. Interior regions of continents all experience Continentality. (greater temp. variation and less precip.)

Tundra Vast treeless plains of grasslands cover most of northern Russia. (Tundra = Treeless Plain) Above the arctic circle. Average annual temp. is below freezing. Short summer does allow for a brief growing season of mostly grass and moss.

Sun-Arctic Russia’s largest climate zone. Mostly Taiga forest. Taiga - largest coniferous forest on earth- contains ½ of the world’s softwoods.

Humid Continental Southwestern Russia: Warmer climate. Fertile Chernozem and Mixed forests and grasslands.

Steppe Temperate climate, grasslands, Chernozem soil is perfect for dry land agriculture (grains) Almost Desert

Russian Winter and War Winter cold has been a hardship for the Russian people for centuries. Winter has also helped save Russia during War! 1812 - Napoleon’s Army suffers during the cold winter. Cold and snow helped defeat the French and save Russia. 1942-43 - Hitler’s Army is stopped by extreme cold and snow during Nazi invasion of USSR. The Russian’s counter attack and drive the German’s out. Russia is saved again!