RUSSIA

1
RUSSIA THE REPUBLICS

• Nearly one sixth of the earths land surface, it
  is over eight and a half million square miles.
  Russia is the largest country in the world in
  landmass.

2
VOLGA RIVER

• The Volga river is the 4th longest river in
  Russia and the longest river in Europe
• Draining much of Russias North European Plains,
  the Volga River and its canals link the Moscow
  area to the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and Baltic
  Seas.

3
Siberian Rivers

• Siberian Rivers flow north to the Artic Ocean.
• Blocked by ice, the melted waters often flood the
  land and create vast swamps.

4
Ural Mountains separate Northern European Plain
and West Siberian Plain. Divides Europe and Asia
5
Lake Baikal oldest and deepest freshwater lake
in the world. It contains 20 of worlds
freshwater and located in Siberia.
6
Other Lakes
Aral Sea Central Asian lake located between the
countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Once one
of the worlds largest lakes. It is shrinking
due to over irrigation.
Caspian Sea Worlds largest lake. Much of
Central Asias petroleum reserves are here.
7
NATURAL RESOURCESMinerals and Energy

• Russia has huge mineral resources.
• It is especially rich in mineral fuels such as
  oil, natural gas, and coal
• Russias rivers make it a leading producer of
  hydroelectric power.

8
Trans-Siberian Railroad Longest railway in the
world extending from Moscow to the Sea of Japan.
Facilitated the settlement of Far-East Russia and
the export of resources from Siberia.
9
SOIL AND FOREST LAND

• Because of Russias generally cold climate, only
  about 10 of its land is suitable for farming.
• Chernozem is a rich, fertile soil Black Earth
  Belt that stretches from Ukraine to Southwestern
  Russia, supplying the country with grains, sugar
  beets and other produce.
• Russian forests supply much of the worlds timber.

10
Russias Fishing Industry

• Fish is a staple food in Russia and also an
  important export product to the rest of the
  world.
• What item is served at fancy cocktail parties
  with champagne?

11
RUSSIAS CLIMATE AND 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 from any moderating ocean
  influences.

12
HIGH LATITUDE CLIMATES THE TUNDRA

• The tundra, a vast, treeless plain, covers about
  10 of Russia
• The weather is always cold, and little grows
  there because of the short growing season and the
  thin acidic soil.

Tundra flowers and vegetation
13
HIGH LATITUDE CLIMATE THE SUBARTIC

• The sub arctic lies just south of the tundra.
• The sub arctic has snow for up to 250 days of the
  year
• The taiga is a forest belt in the sub arctic that
  is the worlds largest coniferous forest.
• It contains 1/3 of the worlds softwood timber.

14
LIVING IN A HIGH LATITUDE CLIMATE

• Russians must be creative to live in an extremely
  cold climate.
• Builders plan for the cold when they construct
  buildings, and cars are made from a special type
  of steel that will not crack in the cold.
• Large amounts of oil, gas, wood, and coal are
  used to keep warm

15
MID LATITUDE CLIMATESHUMID CONTINENTAL

• Most of the North European Plain and some of
  southern Siberia have a humid continental
  climate, with long snowy, relatively mild
  winters.
• This climate is similar to what we have in the US
  Midwest and Northeast.
• Farther south, the forest gradually merge into
  temperate fertile grasslands.

16
WAR AND WINTER

• Russias cold climate was helpful in World War II
  because Russian soldiers, who were used to the
  cold, fought well against the German soldiers,
  who were unprepared for a brutal winter
• The Russian Winter in essence, helped defeat the
  Nazi Army.

17
MID LATITUDE CLIMATESSTEPPE

• The steppe, is a savanna, it is climate region
  has dry summers and long, cold, dry winters.
• Its rich soil enables a variety of grasses and
  plants to flourish.