RUSSIAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Climate Although Russia has almost every climate region it is mostly Subarctic and Humid Continental

Vegetation Tundra – permafrost grasslands with scattered shrubs in the north Taiga – dense evergreen forest Ideal for Russian lumber industry Chernozem – means “black earth” steppe- grassland region Southern Russia Ideal for agriculture Tundra Taiga Chernozem

RUSSIAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY “Transcontinental countries” touch two or more continents Countries that touch both European and Asian continents are called Eurasia Ural Mountains is the primary boundary of the two continents EUROPE ASIA Beyond the Ural Mountains there are 9 other landforms that separate Europe from Asia, how many can you guess?

Ural Mountains Ural River Caspian Sea Caucasus Mt. (origin of the word Caucasian) Black Sea Bosporus Strait Marmara Sea (smallest sea) Dardanelles Strait Aegean Sea Mediterranean HOW MANY COUNTRIES ARE EURASIAN?

There are 5 countries that make up Eurasia, what are they? Russia Kazakhstan Azerbaijan Georgia Turkey ASIA EUROPE

Russia’s Southern Boundary Black sea, Caucasus Mountains, Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China

RUSSIAN LAKES Russia’s largest lake in the Caspian Sea Caspian is a Sea due to its size and salt content, however, by definition a lake is a landlocked body of water It is about the same size as California Caspian Sea contain large amounts of oil

LAKE BAIKAL Largest fresh water lake in the world in volume. Second only to the Caspian Sea in size. 5370 feet deep Contains 20% of all the worlds fresh water 1,085 species of plants and 1,550 species and varieties of animals – many are found only here. Scientist believe there are still many species left to find, but water is too dark and deep to explore

LAKE BAIKAL

ARAL SEA Aral Sea is also a lake Aral Sea is shrinking – WHY Shrinking Aral Sea Aral Sea is also a lake Aral Sea is shrinking – WHY Environmental and climatic changes Diversion of water from the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers Poor management of resources has damaged the region’s environment

VOLGA RIVER Nearly 75% of Russia’s population lives in Europe Largest River in Russia Eleven out of Russia’s 20 largest cities are located on the Volga (Including Moscow) Nearly 75% of Russia’s population lives in Europe

SIBERIA Means “STEPPING LAND” All land located east of the Ural Mountains No warm ocean currents reach Russia Many resources; timber, oil, and coal mining

SIBERIA TWO REGIONS West Siberian Plain – is flat frozen tundra and woodlands Central Siberian Plateau – located in mid- Asia (high flat peaks)

Wooly Mammoths Siberian Arctic Fox Siberian Tiger 480 bear paws from pelt trafficking

BERING STRAIT Separates the United States from Russia Only 53 miles wide