Physical Geography of Russia

1
Physical Geography of Russia

• The Land

2
Plains Area

• Three Plains connect Europe and Asia.
• North European Plain
• West Siberian Plain
• Turan Lowland

3
North European Plain

• Center of Economic Life
• Ukraine
• Best Farming Area (Chernozem)
• Major Cities
• Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev
• Major Rivers
• Volga, Dneister, Dneiper, Don

4
West Siberian Plain

• Location
• East of Ural Mountains
• No major cities
• Rivers
• Ob, Irytysh, Yenisey
• Landforms
• Swamps, Marshes, Frozen Land, Evergreen Forest

5
Turan Lowlands

• Location
• Between the Caspian Sea and Tian Shan Range
• Description
• Few Irrigated Areas, Dune Covered Kums
• Deserts
• Karakum-Black Sand
• Kyzylkum-Red Sand

6
Seas and Lakes

• The Black Sea
• Warm Water
• Flows South to Mediterranean Sea
• Caspian Sea
• Largest Inland Body of Water
• Really a saltwater lake
• Lake Baikal
• Oldest and Deepest Lake
• Holds 1/5th of the worlds total freshwater

7
Rivers

• Description
• Long, Navigable
• Roles
• Trade, Hydroelectric Power, Irrigation, Water for
  Industry, Communication
• Matushka Volga-Mother Volga
• Longest River in European Russia
• Directional Flow
• Most flow N and are frozen 4-6 months a year

8
Natural Resources

• Rich in Natural Resources
• Largest producer of
• Magnesium and chromium
• 2nd Largest Producer of
• Gold
• Problems
• Technology
• Weather

9
The Black Earth Belt

• Location
• Ukraine to Siberia
• Ukraine
• Breadbasket of the Soviet Union
• Crops
• Wheat, rye, oats, barley, sugar beets

10
Physical Geography of Europe

• Climate and Vegetation

11
Climate Regions

• What impacts their climate?
• Size, location and mountains
• Two Major Types of Climates
• Humid Continental and Subarctic
• Tundra-North Coast thru Siberia
• Permafrost-Frozen layer of soil
• Steppes-Western Shores of Black Sea to Altai
  Mountains