1. Geography of Russia

2. Plains 1. North European Plain—economic center for ¾ of regions people because of chernozem—Moscow and the Ukraine— one of Europe’s best ag. Areas 2. West Siberian Plain—world’s largest flat area but swamps, marshes, frozen land, evergreen forests

3. Mountains/Plateaus 1. Carpathians-border Ukraine in west-part of Euro Alpine 2. Caucasus-between Black/Caspian Seas- heavily forested 3. Urals-mineral rich-divides European Russia from Siberia-worn down like Appalachian Mtns 4. E. Siberian Uplands/Central Sib. Plateau-vast area of forest, mtns, plateaus and exiles!!!

4. Caucasus

5. Seas/Lakes 1. Icy H2O-White, Barents, Kara, E. Siberian 2. Cold H2O-Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea in N.E. 3. Warm H2O-Black Sea-flows into Med. Sea 4. Salty Inland H2O-Caspian Sea-largest inland body of H2O in world 5. Shrinking H2O-Aral Sea-Soviets over-irrigating from it 6. Deep/Old H2O-Lake Baikal-oldest, deepest fresh H2O in world ***1/5 of earth’s total freshwater*** ***1/5 of earth’s total freshwater***

6. Sea of Okhotsk

7. Black Sea

8. Caspian Sea

9. Aral Sea

10. Lake Baikal

11. Rivers Blessed with long, navigable rivers especially in the Plains—Dnieper, Don, Dniester and Matushka Volga 4 of worlds 12 largest rivers—Lena, Ob, Yenisey, Irtysh

12. Lena River

13. Ob River

14. Chapter 15 Sect. 1-population patterns

15. Ethnic Diversity Over 70 distinct ethnic groups (80% ethnic Russian) -Russian was official language during Soviet era -native language ½ of people -still spoken today along with over 100 native languages  Slavs -largest ethnic group (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus)  Turkic -most live in SW Russia and the central Asian republics -almost all are Muslim -almost all are Muslim  Caucasian -live in Caucasus region -few except for Armenians, Georgians, and Azeris

16. Population Density and Distribution 285 million live in Russia and Eurasian Republics -Russia—largest(143million)  Density-22 people per square mile  most people live between Baltic and Black Seas  3 major cities are Moscow, St. Pete, Volgograd

17. History/Govt of Russia/Eurasia

18. History 1400’s-Ivan III (the Great) drove out Mongols and brought Slavic groups together to for Russia **established Moscow as religious/political center—used to be Kiev 1533- Ivan IV (the Terrible) became 1 st “czar” of Russia and crushed all opposition. Expanded borders into non- Slav territories. 1400-1600’s-Europe advances in science/technology—Russia does not!! **Czar Peter I (the Great) comes to power-modernize Russia into European nation—St. Petersburg is new capital

19. History Late 1800’s-Russians tired of czars- peasants, serfs and factory workers are poor and discontent—many call for socialism—ownership by peasants & workers (Karl Marx) WWI-Russia is getting thumped-hunger, shortages of everything—March 1917 the Czar must go!! Nov. 1917-Bolsheviks proclaim socialist revolution Vladimir Lenin—promises “peace, land, and bread” and Russia out of WWI 1921-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) formed— Moscow is capital

20. History Late 1920’s-Joseph Stalin seeks to make Russia into world’s great industrial powers—millions die in purges/work camps/worked to death!!—took control of factories and farms 1941-Germany invades and WWII is on—30 million Russians die—Russia fights with U.S. and Allies and gains territory/power at end of WWII Cold War-1950’s-1980’s sought world influence by any means short of total war. Korea/Vietnam Wars-U.S. must contain spread of Communism

21. History 1990-Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia break away 1991-1 st democratic election in Russia— Boris Yeltsin wins! 1993-new constitution gives Yeltsin sweeping powers for political/econ reform Problem: extreme nationalist & Commies elected to Parliament and they won’t cooperate!! Russia today— inflation, shortages, crime, instability! Today Russian President is Dmitry Medvedev