Russia and the Republics

Russia is 1.8 times the size of the US

Why are there so many time zones in Russia?

Northern Landforms Intro North European Plain 1/6 of world landmass Lowland From west to Ural Mtns Chernozem – fertile soil of plain Lots of agriculture here Ukraine – breadbasket of Russia 75% of population Moscow (Russian cap), St Petersburg, Kiev (Ukraine)

What does it mean to be the “breadbasket”? What geographic attributes make Ukraine good for growing wheat?

What part of Russia is the most populated? Why do you think that is?

West Siberian Plain E of Ural mountains to Yenisey River Arctic Ocean to foothills of Altay Mtns Slopes downhill to North Rivers drain to Arctic Ocean What kinds of temperatures does this area experience? Why?

Central Siberian Plateau and Russian Far East Uplands and mountains dominant High plateaus 1-2000 ft Far East East of Lena River Volcanic ranges Kamchatka peninsula 120 volcanoes 20 active

Why are there so many volcanoes on the Kamchatka peninsula?

Sakhalin, Kuril Islands Seized from Japan after WWII Japan still claims

Southern landforms Caucasus and Other Mtns Caucasus btw Black and Caspian Seas form border btw Russia and Transcaucasia Trans= Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

Why is it called Trans Caucasia?

Further east Tian Shan and other mountains Southeastern border of Central Asia Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Block moisture from south Create arid climate in central Asia

Why is this area so dry?

Turan Plain Lowlands East of Caspian Sea 2 rivers Syr Darya Amu Darya Very dry area – 2 deserts Kara Kum Kyzyl Kum

Why is this area so dry?

Rivers and Lakes Drainage Basins and Rivers Drainage basin=area drained by river + tributaries Arctic Basin Ob Yenisey Lena flows 1,750,000 cubic ft/sec Caspian Volga Longest river in Europe 60% Russia’s river traffic

Volga drainage basin

What are 2 reasons the Volga is Russia’s most important river?

Lakes Caspian Sea Saltwater 750 mi North to South Largest inland sea-world Aral Sea Lost 80% water since 1960 Used water for extensive irrigation Will vanish soon

Aral Sea

What is causing the Aral Sea to disappear?

Lake Baikal Deepest in world 1 mile 400 mi north to south 20% world’s fresh water 1200 species unique to lake In a Rift Valley – continental plates are ripping apart!

The oldest, deepest rift valley on Earth is the Baikal Rift Zone in southern SiberThe oldest, deepest rift valley on Earth is the Baikal Rift Zone in southern Siberia, marked by largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal. The deepest parts of Lake Baikal are 1,642 meters (5,387 feet), and are getting deeper as the Amur plate rifts eastward away from the Eurasian plate at a rate of about 4 to 5 millimeters (.16 to .2 inch) a year.ia, marked by largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal. The deepest parts of Lake Baikal are 1,642 meters (5,387 feet), and are getting deeper as the Amur plate rifts eastward away from the Eurasian plate at a rate of about 4 to 5 millimeters (.16 to .2 inch) a year.

What is a Rift Valley? How is it formed?

Regional Resources Intro Lots of resources Transportation difficult Abundant Resources Coal Iron, metals Oil & gas Forests 1/5 world total Hydroelectric- rivers

What percent of the world’s forest are in this region? Forests

An explosion at Russia's largest power generator—the Sayano-Shushenkaya hydroelectric plant in Siberia—has killed at least 12 people, and another 64 are thought to be lost in the wreckage. It's an environmental disaster of monumental proportions: in addition to the tragic deaths, the damaged plant has released an oil slick over 10 miles of the surface of nearby Yenisei River August, 2009

Regional Resources cont’d Resource Management Harvest and transport difficult Harsh climate Long distances Siberia Source of many resources In far east – long distances Frigid temps

Why is having a transcontinental railroad a big deal Why is having a transcontinental railroad a big deal? How does it help Russia?

Environmental damage Mining Oil/gas production Thermal pollution Hot discharge from dams/hydroelectric plants Little government control of pollution

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Pollution is a major problem. The former Soviet Union didn’t care, so many areas of the region are contaminated.