Russia: Landforms & resources

1. Russia: Landforms & resources

2. Russia & the Republics occupy a tremendous expanse of territory • Approximately 3 times the land area of the United States! • The region sprawls across both Europe & Asia and cross 11 time zones.

3. Russia & the Republics take up nearly 1/6 of the earth’s land surface-over 8 ½ million square miles!!

4. The Northern European Plain • Extensive lowland area. • Stretches for over 1,000 miles from the western border of Russia & the Republics to the Ural Mountains.

5. One of the world’s most fertile soils-chernozem or black earth is abundant on this plain. • Sometimes occurs in layers 3 feet deep or more.

6. Nearly 75% of the region’s 290 million people live on this plain. • Three of the region’s largest cities are located there: Moscow (Russia’s capital), St. Petersburg, & Kiev (Ukraine’s capital)

7. West Siberian Plain • The Ural Mountains separate the Northern Plain & West Siberian plains.

8. Some geographers recognize the Urals as a dividing line between Europe & Asia. • Others consider Europe & Asia to be a single continent, which they call Eurasia.

9. The West Siberian Plain lies between the Urals & the Yenisey River & between the shores of the Arctic Ocean. • Because the plain tilts northward, is rivers flow toward the Arctic Ocean.

10. High plateaus with average heights of 1,000 to 2,000 feet make up the Central Siberian Plateau, which lies between the Yenisey & Lena Rivers.

11. East of the Lena River lies the Russian Far East and its complex system of volcanoes. • The Kamchatka Peninsula alone contains 120 volcanoes, 20 of which are still active.

12. The Caucasus Mountains stretch across the land that separates the Black & Caspian Sea.

13. The mountains form the border between Russia & Transcaucasia-a region that consists of the republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, & Georgia.

14. Central Asia-a region that includes the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, & Uzbekistan.

15. This region has mountain ranges so high that they prevent moist air from entering the region from the south, contributing to the arid climate of Central Asia.

16. Turan Plain • This extensive lowland lies between the Caspian Sea and the mountains & uplands of Central Asia. • Two large deserts stretch across the plain-the Kara Kum and the Kyzyl Kum.

17. Drainage Basins & Rivers • The region’s rivers flow through a number of large drainage basins. • Drainage basin-an area drained by a major river and its tributaries.

18. Major drainage basins in Russia & the Republics are the Arctic Ocean, Caspian Sea, Pacific Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, & Aral Sea

19. Arctic Basin • Arctic Basin is the region’s largest. • The basin’s rivers, the Ob, Yenisey, & the Lena drain an area of more than 3 million square miles.

20. The Volga River is the longest river on the European continent & drains the Caspian Sea basin. • This important waterway carries about 60% of Russia’s river traffic.

21. The Caspian Sea, which is actually a saltwater lake, stretches nearly 750 miles from north to south. • This makes it the largest inland sea in the world.

22. The Aral Sea, which lies east of the Caspian, is also a saltwater lake.

23. Since the 1960s, the Aral has lost about 80% of its water volume. • This loss is result of extensive irrigation projects. • Unless drastic action is taken, the Aral Sea could vanish within 20 to 30 years.

24. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. • At its deepest point, it is more than a mile from the surface to the bottom. • From north to south, it stretches nearly 400 miles. • It holds 20% of the world’s fresh water.

26. Though Lake Baikal has some pollution, it is remarkably clean. • Thousands of species of plants & animals live in the lake. • 1,200 species are unique to Lake Baikal. • Including the world’s only freshwater seal.

27. Regional Resources • Russia & the Republics have a great wealth of natural resources • Regional leaders have found it difficult to properly manage these resources.

28. One challenge has been how to transport resources from harsh & distant regions. • Another had been how to use the resources without damaging the environment.

29. Abundant Resources • Russia & the Republics have huge reserves of coal & deposits of iron ore. • Region is also a leading producer of oil & natural gas. • Petroleum deposits around the Caspian Sea are among the world’s largest.

30. Russia’s forest hold 1/5 of the world’s timber resources. • The region’s powerful rivers make it one of the world’s largest producers of hydroelectric power.

31. Resource Management • Harsh climates, rugged terrain, & vast distances make it difficult to remove resources from the ground & transport them to markets.

32. Many of these resources are located in the frigid arctic and subarctic region of Siberia. • Siberia is the part of Russia that lies on the continent of Asia. • Businesses find it difficult to attract workers to this area.

33. Russia’s hydroelectric plants have caused substantial damage. • Dams & the plant’s discharge of unusually hot water known as thermal pollution have caused damage to surrounding plant & animal habitats.