1. Physical Geography of Russia and the Republics
A Land of Extremes

2. Russia and the Republics
Size
1/6 of the Earth’s land surface
3x the land area of the United States
Crosses 11 time zones
Population
75% of the population live in the Northern European Plain
Largest cities: Moscow, Russia’s capital; St. Petersburg; and Kiev, the capital of Ukraine

3. The Republics Transcaucasia
Separated from Russia by the Caucasus Mountains
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
Central Asia
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

4. The Republics Western Republics
Belarus, Moldova Ukraine and the Baltic Republics
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
The Republics

5. Siberia
Makes up 77% of Russia’s area but only 25% of its population lives there
The Trans-Siberian Railroad connects Siberia with the rest of Russia
5,753 miles, 7 time zones

6. Volga River Longest river on the European continent Begins near Moscow
Flows south - drains into the Caspian Sea
Carries 60% of Russia’s river traffic

7. Lakes Caspian Sea Lake Baikal Aral Sea Also a saltwater lake
Actually a saltwater lake
Largest inland sea in the world
Lake Baikal
Deepest lake in the world
20% of the world’s fresh water
5,387' (1,642 m) deep
Aral Sea
Also a saltwater lake
Shrinking drastically since the 1960s
Extensive irrigation projects diverting water away from the rivers that feed the lake

8. Abundant Resources Huge reserves of coal, iron ore, and metals
Leading producer of oil & natural gas
1/5 of the world’s timber resources
World’s largest producer of hydroelectric power
Harsh climates, rugged terrain, and vast distances make it difficult to remove resources and transport them to markets

9. History and Government of Russia and the Republics
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union

10. Industrialization Peter the Great – (1682-1725)
Czar – emperor of Russia
Moved capital to St. Petersburg
“Window to the West”
Modernized Russia
Wanted Russia to be more “western”
Russia was slow to industrialize, trailing Europe by half a century
Industrialization brings harsh working conditions and low wages
Peoples’ unrest and anger with czars grows

11. Rise of the Soviet Union
Russian Revolution – 1917
People revolt and Czar Nicholas II and family executed
V.I. Lenin’s Communist Party takes control of government and economy
1922 Communist party forms Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) – moved capital back to Moscow

13. Command Economy Soviet leaders adopt a command economy
Central government makes all major economic decisions
Controls wealth: land, mines, factories, banks, and transportation systems
Decides what products and crops are produced; set prices

14. World War II Joseph Stalin leader of USSR
Leads fight against Nazi Germany
Relations between USSR and its allies (including U.S.) began to worsen
After war, pro-Soviet governments installed in Eastern Europe

15. Cold War
1940s - Tensions grow as U.S. fears worldwide Communist expansion
Called the Cold War because never grew to open warfare
1980s – New Leader Mikhail Gorbachev allows more economic and political freedom
Leads to collapse of the Soviet Union
End of the Cold War in 1991

17. Fall of the Soviet Union
Region divides into 15 independent Republics
Russia is largest, most powerful Republic
Has a popularly elected president, two-chamber Federal Assembly (Federal Republic)

20. VICE: The Coldest War Start at minute 15

21. New Republic…Yes/No?
Imagine you are a resident of one of the new Republics of the former USSR…. Do you agree or disagree with the independence of your country or do you wish you we’re still under Russia’s control? Illustrate your reasoning. Be creative - Use color!