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Russia’s Land Size
• A comparatively small (<145 million[The USSR had 293 m.]) and concentrated population.
• Concentrated development.• Multicultural state.• Minimal ports; limited access to a warm water
masses (except the Pacific at Vladivostok).• Dimensions
– Spans 11 time zones.– Gulf of Finland to Alaska (west to east), and well
above the arctic circle to New York city (north to south)
– Twice the size of the US or China.– Siberia: “sleeping land”.– Russia makes up 76.6% of the total territory of the
former USSR (17,075,400 km--almost twice the size of the US).
Russian Climate• Affected by 3 natural
conditions.• Latitudinal position:
– Colder climate with increasing latitude.
– 60˚ North latitude line; split the country in half.
• Continental position:– Dryer air.– Limited temperature
regulation by oceanic masses.
• Altitudinal effect:– Colder climate with
increasing altitude.– Location of major
mountains.– Limited impact for
Russia.
Northern Landforms– Northern European Plain
• Eastern Europe and western Russia
• Chernozem: Black earth, especially good for agriculture
• 75% of region’s population– West Siberian Plain
• Separated from NEP by Urals• Rivers flow North to Arctic
– Central Siberian Plateau• East of Yenisey River• High plateaus and mountains
– Russian Far East• East of Lena River• Volcanic Mountain ranges • Russia and Japan claim
ownership of Kuril Islands
Russia and Alaska: the small islands are 2.4 miles apart, the mainlands are 55 miles apart
Mountains
• Mountains: divide and border the region– Ural Mountains
divide Europe and Asia
– Caucasus Mountains are very rugged; isolate people
– Central Asian mountains (Tian Shan and Paimirs) are pretty rugged as well
– Pacific coast = lots of large mountains
Water• Volga: Europe’s longest• Most Russian rivers run
S N– Problem: mouths frozen
most of the year• Creates floods as water
backs up• Use icebreakers to free up
channels
• Caspian and Aral Seas actually saltwater lakes– Aral Sea lost 80% of
water in last 40 years– Could be gone in 20-30
years• Lake Baikal
– Deepest lake in the world– 20% of world’s fresh
water– 400 miles north to south
Regional Climates• Weather similar to
Canada and Alaska– Summers can be mild– Winters = long, cold
• Shorter days the further north you are
– Siberia is harshest• - 40° F; Winter =
habitation fogs (pollution)
• Subarctic and Tundra in northern Siberia– Permafrost (up to 300
feet deep)• Humid continental in
European part (NYC, Chicago)
• Steppe along Russia’s southern border
• Steppe and desert in Central Asia
• Mediterranean / Highland in Caucasus
Dailies: Physical Russia
• What is the population of Russia in comparison with the US?
• Where do most people in Russia live?
• Describe Siberia.• What did Russia used to be called?
How many Republics broke away?• List as many things as you can
about Russian culture. Yes, you can include food.