1. Russia and the Eurasian Republics. The Largest region we will study, spanning two continents and including eleven time zones. Can you say BIG?!?!?!

3. Countries as ranked by GDP Kazakhstan Turkmenistan

4. Countries as ranked by land size Kazakhstan Turkmenistan

5. Countries ranked by population Russia Kazakhstan Uzbekistan

6. Physical Region Vast areas of: ermafrost: permanently frozen subsoil.Permafrost: permanently frozen subsoil.

7. Taiga: sub arctic coniferous forests.

8. Steppe: semi-arid grasslands.

9. Black Earth Belt: rich-fertile soil. Chernozem

10. Arctic OceanThe Ob river flows northward into the Arctic Ocean

11. Water Features Volga River Ob river Amur River Lake Baikal Caspian SeaCaspian Sea Aral Sea Bering StraitBering Strait Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean

14. Caucasus located between the Black and Caspian Seas. Mountains: Caucasus located between the Black and Caspian Seas.

15. Mountains: Urals ( divides Europe from Asia)

16. Russian Natural resources harsh climateNot well-developed due to harsh climate Limited transportation links and vastness of the country Foreign competition for investment in the region (oil pipelines) Widespread pollution Shrinking of the Aral Sea Political and Economic difficulties after the breakup of the Soviet Union CottonCotton production in Central Asia

17. Siberia UralsThe Sleeping Land: located east of the Urals ilgasMajor oil, natural gas, and mineral resources

19. Human Impact on the Environment Aral Sea irrigationWater diversion from the Aral Sea: for irrigation

20. Before 1996 After 2003

21. Environmental Changes Chernobyl)Pollution: (Chernobyl) Nuclear power plant explodes after meltdown and radioactive fallout spreads across EuropeNuclear power plant explodes after meltdown and radioactive fallout spreads across Europe

22. evacuated. After the Chernobyl explosion entire towns had to be evacuated.

23. A Nuclear Reactor

24. A concrete tomb was built to try to contain the radioactive ruins.

25. Connecting European Russia with Siberia and the Pacific Coast. From Moscow to Vladivostok. The Trans-Siberian Railroad Connecting European Russia with Siberia and the Pacific Coast. From Moscow to Vladivostok.

27. Trains at one of the many stations.

28. Miles of track cross sparsely populated countryside.

29. Climatic conditions are often cold in these sub arctic areas.

30. Typical sights are Siberian villages like this one.

31. Or perhaps old Soviet style block Apartments.

32. The route ends at the harbor of Vladivostok.

33. Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest Lake is located in western Russia near the Trans- Siberian R.R.

34. Novosibirsk A city that grew up along the Trans-Siberian Railroad

35. Cultural Characteristics Diverse ethnic groups, customs and traditions Many of Turkic and Mongol Heritage

36. Faberge Eggs

37. Created to celebrate…

38. Coronations, Royal births, Easter, etc.

39. The Bolshoi Ballet.

40. most famous in the world It is the most famous in the world.

41. Trained in the classical style.

42. travel the world to perform They travel the world to perform.

43. Catch a performance if you go to Moscow.

44. Icons Religious Paintings and mosaics of the Jesus, the Saints and other religious figures.Religious Paintings and mosaics of the Jesus, the Saints and other religious figures.

45. Symbols that decorate Eastern Orthodox churches with Saints and other religious figures from Christian tradition.

46. handmade nesting dolls resembling a Russian peasant womanhave been a favorite for centuries. Matrioshka Dolls: handmade nesting dolls resembling a Russian peasant woman have been a favorite for centuries.

48. Samovars

49. Samovars are traditionally used to brew tea to ward off the Russian chill.

50. St. Basil’s Cathedral.

51. St. Basil’s was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the Russian conquest of the Mongols.

52. The Church of the Annunciation. Evidence of Eastern Orthodox Religion

53. These cathedrals are part of the complex that became known as the Kremlin. It is the heart of Moscow and contains Red Square. Red Square(next slide) was the site of the famous May Day Parades held during the Communist era and where Lenin, the Father of the Bolshevik revolution, is entombed.

55. The Kremlin at night.

56. Economic Characteristics ommand EconomyFree MarketTransition from Command Economy to Free Market economy centered around Capitalism.

57. The Russian government is struggling with the transition from Communism..

58. to Democracy.