1. RUSSIA & THE REPUBLICS
“A land of extremes”

2. --Russia is approximately 3 times the landmass of the United States, and sprawls across two continents Russia & Asia
--crosses 11 times zones

3. MAJOR LANDFORMS Northern European Plain
--75% of the countries population resides here
--Chernozem- called “black earth” is a dark soil that is one of the most fertile in world.
--Ukraine is called regions “Breadbasket”
--3 of the regions largest cities are located here Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev

5. Ural Mountains
--dividing line between Europe & Asia.
--Eurasia: the combined continent of Europe & Asia

6. Ural Mountains from airplane

7. Caucasus Mountains
--separates the Black & Caspian Sea
--border between Russia and Transcaucasia (region that consists of the republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

9. Volga River
--longest river on the European continent.
--flows south from Moscow and drains into Caspian Sea
--carries 60% of Russia’s river traffic

11. Lake Baikal
--deepest lake in the world
--holds 20% of the world’s freshwater
--has world’s only freshwater seal

12. Caspian Sea
--saltwater lake
--largest inland sea

13. --Since 1960’s has lost 80% of it’s volume.
Aral Sea
--saltwater lake
--Since 1960’s has lost 80% of it’s volume.
--could vanish in years

14. Climate & Vegetation of Russia
….remember climate is determined by latitude. What else determines Russia’s climate?
--Also the mountains in the southeast portion of Russia
--Russia’s enormous size.
--continentality: the effect of distance on climate.

15. Siberia has the longest stretch of cold weather.
The rivers and roads of Siberia are permanently frozen. Also known as Permafrost

16. --Russia has a large subartic climate.
--There are huge temperature variations.