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Introduction to Northern Eurasia. Northern Eurasia is made up of those countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. Areal names of the Former Soviet Union. Czarist (Tsarist) Russia/ImperialRussia/Russian Empire Soviet Union or USSR Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
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Northern Eurasia is made up of those countries that were once part of the Soviet Union
Areal names of the Former Soviet Union • Czarist (Tsarist) Russia/ImperialRussia/Russian Empire • Soviet Union or USSR • Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) • Russia and the Near Abroad • Regions-European Russia, Asiatic Russia, Transcaucasus, Siberia, The Baltic States, Central Asia
Regions European Russia Central Asian Republics Caucasus Siberia Baltic States Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine
General Pattern of Landforms • Plains in the West • Mountains and highlands in the East • Varies to the South
Major Physical Attributes: • Large size
Major Physical Attributes: • Northern Location
Major Physical Attributes: • Restricted access to world’s seas
Major Physical Attributes: • Several large lakes and inland seas
Climate • Harsh in the north and in Siberia • Humid continental in Europe • Arid/semiarid in Central Asia
Four broad vegetation zones • Tundra • Forest/taiga • Grassland • Desert
The physical geography of N. Eurasia has influenced its history • Western border links to Western ideas (language, culture, religion) • Huge border is difficult to protect. • Large land area and climate make it difficult to conquer • Many different ethnic groups widely dispersed • Large area is difficult to administer • Desire to gain and protect warm water ports • Vast natural resources, but difficult to exploit.
The core area and most of the population is located in the west--the European part of N. Eurasia
Period of Communist control lasted from 1917 to 1991 1917 Bolshevik Revolution overthrew Czar Nicholas II.
Many challenges are being faced as this realm transitions away from communism. • Economic problems--high unemployment, poor economic decisions, inefficient and outdated industries • Social problems--ethnic clashes, loss of communist safety net, organized crime
Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism • Aral Sea at 10% capacity
Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism • Aral Sea at 10% capacity
Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism • Aral Sea
Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Toxic waste
Environmental degradation is one legacy of communism Industrial pollution
Contributions from this realm; • Peter Tchaikovski • Dostoyevsky • Leo Tolstoy • Mikhail Baryshnikov • Marc Chagall • Dmitry Mendeleyev • Igor Stravinsky • Ivan Pavlov • Sergei Prokofiev • Yuri Gagarian