Russia

1. Russia Unit 5

2. Ch. 14 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA

3. Vast & Varied Land • The vast and varied landscape of Russia stretches over the continents of Europe and Asia • covers 11 time zones and borders 14 different countries • The Russian climate is a story of extremes • subzero temperatures of eastern Siberia to the humid continental climate of the North European Plain

5. Mountains & Plateaus • Mountain ranges punctuate an otherwise flat landscape. • The Caucasus Mountains contain Mt. Elbrus—Russia's highest point • Ural Mountains mark the traditional border between European Russia and Asian Russia • Mountains also form a rugged border with China

7. Plains Areas • Russia is the world's largest country • vast plains span nearly half of its surface. • West Siberian Plain covers almost 1 million square miles • About 75 percent of Russia's population live on its North European Plain. • This region is home to Russia's major cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg

9. Coasts, Seas, & Lakes • The country contains some of the world's largest lakes • Lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world (20% of the world’s freshwater) • Coastline is 23,400 mi • Most of Russia’s ports are frozen • Seas • The Black Sea- warm water outlet • The Caspian Sea- saltwater lake with no outlet

11. Rivers Most of Russia’s longest rivers are in Siberia. Siberians enjoy the freshwater surplus, but European Russians often face water shortages • Volga River • 4th longest river in Russia & the longest river in Europe. • Drains much of Russia’s N. European Plain • The Volga and its canals link Moscow to the caspian, Black, & Baltic Seas • Siberian Rivers • Rivers flow north • Often blocked by ice, meltwaters often flood the land and create swamps

13. Natural Resources Russia has ample supplies of natural resources • Minerals & Energy • Mineral and energy resources are large but often difficult to tap • Oil, natural gas, & coal • Soil & Forest Land • Only 10 percent of Russia's land can support agriculture • the Black Earth Belt with its rich soil called chernozem supports high yields of wheat, barley, rye, and other crops that feed much of Russia • Forests supply much of the world's timber, and fishing remains an important industry • Russia Fishing Industry • Fish is a staple food in Russia & and important export

14. Climate & 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 away from any moderating ocean influences

17. High Latitude Climate • Tundra • average temperatures remain below zero • Vegetation is limited to mosses, lichen, algae, and dwarf shrubs, due to the region's permafrost and very short growing season • Sub-arctic • dominant climate • spans across European Russian and parts of Siberia • supports the taiga, a densely wooded region that contains the world's largest coniferous forest

18. TUNDRA

19. Subarctic

20. Mid-Latitude Climates • Humid Continental • milder winters and longer summers dominates the mid-latitudes • most people live and the majority of Russia's agriculture is located. • Steppe • small area between the Black and Caspian Seas is Russia's steppe climate • temperate grassland area has dry summers and long, cold, dry winters with swirling, sparse snow

23. The End