1. Russia
Unit 5

2. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA
Ch. 14
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA

3. Vast & Varied Land
The vast and varied landscape of Russia stretches over the continents of Europe and Asia
covers 11 time zones and borders 14 different countries
The Russian climate is a story of extremes
subzero temperatures of eastern Siberia to the humid continental climate of the North European Plain

5. Mountains & Plateaus
Mountain ranges punctuate an otherwise flat landscape.
The Caucasus Mountains contain Mt. Elbrus—Russia's highest point
Ural Mountains mark the traditional border between European Russia and Asian Russia
Mountains also form a rugged border with China

7. Plains Areas Russia is the world's largest country
vast plains span nearly half of its surface.
West Siberian Plain covers almost 1 million square miles
About 75 percent of Russia's population live on its North European Plain.
This region is home to Russia's major cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg

9. Coasts, Seas, & Lakes
The country contains some of the world's largest lakes
Lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world (20% of the world’s freshwater)
Coastline is 23,400 mi
Most of Russia’s ports are frozen
Seas
The Black Sea- warm water outlet
The Caspian Sea- saltwater lake with no outlet

11. Rivers
Most of Russia’s longest rivers are in Siberia. Siberians enjoy the freshwater surplus, but European Russians often face water shortages
Volga River
4th longest river in Russia & the longest river in Europe.
Drains much of Russia’s N. European Plain
The Volga and its canals link Moscow to the caspian, Black, & Baltic Seas
Siberian Rivers
Rivers flow north
Often blocked by ice, meltwaters often flood the land and create swamps

13. Natural Resources Minerals & Energy Soil & Forest Land
Russia has ample supplies of natural resources
Minerals & Energy
Mineral and energy resources are large but often difficult to tap
Oil, natural gas, & coal
Soil & Forest Land
Only 10 percent of Russia's land can support agriculture
the Black Earth Belt with its rich soil called chernozem supports high yields of wheat, barley, rye, and other crops that feed much of Russia
Forests supply much of the world's timber, and fishing remains an important industry
Russia Fishing Industry
Fish is a staple food in Russia & and important export

14. Climate & Vegetation
Most of Russia has a harsh climate with long, cold winters and short, relatively cool summers
Lying well within the Eurasian landmass, most of the country is far away from any moderating ocean influences

17. High Latitude Climate Tundra Sub-arctic
average temperatures remain below zero
Vegetation is limited to mosses, lichen, algae, and dwarf shrubs, due to the region's permafrost and very short growing season
Sub-arctic
dominant climate
spans across European Russian and parts of Siberia
supports the taiga, a densely wooded region that contains the world's largest coniferous forest

18. TUNDRA

19. Subarctic

20. Mid-Latitude Climates
Humid Continental
milder winters and longer summers dominates the mid-latitudes
most people live and the majority of Russia's agriculture is located.
Steppe
small area between the Black and Caspian Seas is Russia's steppe climate
temperate grassland area has dry summers and long, cold, dry winters with swirling, sparse snow

23. The End