RUSSIA AND THE REPUBLICS

Physical Geography of Russia and the Republics

Chernozem: (black earth) World’s most fertile soil 75% of Russia’s population lives here Stretches 1,000 miles Chernozem

Ural Mountains The mountain ranges that separate the Northern European and West Siberian Plains; the dividing line between Europe and Asia

Central Asia Countries Includes the countries: Armenia, Georgia, & Azerbaijan Transcaucasia Central Asia Countries Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Caucasus Mtns.

Europe Eurasia Eurasia Asia the combined continent of Europe & Asia Africa Australia

the part of Russia that lies on the continent of Asia Siberia the part of Russia that lies on the continent of Asia

Longest in European continent Caspian Sea Saltwater Lake Rivers & Lakes Volga River Longest in European continent Lake Baikal Aral Sea

Coal Oil Hydroelectric Power Dense Forests Resources

Russia’s 10 Time Zones

Siberia --> Permafrost Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C 150,000,000 population. A former “gulag” Soviet prison camp.

Lake Baikal, Siberia The oldest and deepest lake in the world. 20% of the world’s total unfrozen water supply.

Major Regional Divisions of the Former U. S. S. R. Chernozen Soil

Climate and Vegetation Section Two: Climate and Vegetation

Steppes: “Soviet” Breadbasket

Vegetation Regions in Russia Tundra Forest Steppe Desert

TAIGA Largest forest on the earth; lies south of the Arctic Circle in Eurasia. The taiga contains primarily coniferous (cone bearing) trees.

Human Environment Interaction Section Three: Human Environment Interaction

The Russian Winter The Russian Summer As cold as -90 degrees As hot at 94 degrees

Connects Moscow to Vladivostok 5,700 miles long Crosses 7 time zones Connects Moscow to Vladivostok Trans-Siberian Railroad

Trans-Siberian Railroad Completed in 1905.

Trans-Siberian Railroad The main line runs 5,785 miles.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA AND THE REPUBLICS

Baltic Republics Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea

Republics Armenia Georgia Azerbaijan Gateway between Europe and Asia Trade routes through the Black Sea

Religion Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Two of the oldest Christian countries in the world Converted to Islam in the 7th century by invaders

Invaders Rule Czarist Rule: Soviet Rule: 1723 Control of Azerbaijan 1801 Control of Georgia 1828 Control of Armenia Soviet Rule: 1920s Red Army takes control of Transcaucasia

Economy Georgia Grapes for wine Azerbaijan Armenia Oil Tea

These countries were on the SILK ROAD trading route. Republics Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Tajikistan Uzbekistan These countries were on the SILK ROAD trading route.

The Great Game Russia wins control of the region in 1920 and remains in control until 1991. A struggle between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for control of Central Asia in the 19th century.

The "NEW" Great Game 1949-1989 Nuclear Testing in this region caused increase in leukemia, thyroid cancer, birth defects, and mental illness. Nations all over the world are beginning to compete for profits from the region’s newly discovered oil resources.

One of Russia’s most famous Czars was Peter the Great. The emperor of Russia prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent creation of the Soviet Union in 1922. One of Russia’s most famous Czars was Peter the Great.

Russian Revolution The revolt of 1917, in which the Russian Communist Party, led by V.I. Lenin, took control of the government from the czars. V.I. Lenin, leader of the Communist Party.

USSR the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or Soviet Union, formed in 1922 by the Communists and officially dissolved in 1991.

Can you identify the men in this photo collage? Cold War the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II, called “cold” because it never escalated into open warfare Can you identify the men in this photo collage?

Command Economy A type of economic system in which production of goods and services is determined by a central government, which usually owns the means of production. Also called a planned economy.

TODAY’S ISSUES: RUSSIA AND THE REPUBLICS

CHECHNYA + Remained a part of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union + Has experienced more violence than any other republic + Chechnya declared independence from Russia and so Russia invaded them leading to 100,000 casualties in the 1990’s

The selling of government owned business to private citizens Privatization The selling of government owned business to private citizens

Distance Decay A term referring to the concept that increasing distances between places tend to reduce interaction among them.

The End