Although Russia is one country, several factors justify it being classified as a region of its own. Russia's huge size, an area of more than 6.5 million square miles makes it the largest nation on Earth. The vast and varied landscape of Russia streches over two continents - Europe and Asia- and covers 11 time zones. The Russian climate is a story of extreme, ranging from the subzero temperatures of eastern Siberia to teh humid continental climate of Nroth European Plain. The coutnries of central Asia are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, all of which used to be part of the Russian empire.
The region's vast plains span nearly half of its surface. About 73% of the population live in urban areas, and 75% live on the NOrth European Plain. This region is home to Russia's major cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Mountain ranges punctuate an otherwise flat landscape. The Caucasus Mountains contain Mt. Elbrus, Russia's highest point. The Ural Mouintains extend some 1,500 miles from teh Arctic tundra to the Caspian Sea. They mark the traditional boundary between the North European Plain (European Russia) and the Siberian PLains (Asian Russia).
Russia has ample supplies of natural resources. The vast country contains some of the world's largest lakes and Europe's longest river. These waterays contain one fourth of the world's fresh water. Only 8% of Russia's land can support agriculture, but the Black Earth Belt with its rich soil called chernozem supports high yields of wheat, barley, oats, rye, potatoes, sugar beets, and other crops that feed much of Russia. Forests supply much of the world's timber, and fishing reamins an important industry.
By the 17th century, Czar Peter I (the Great) encouraged the development of metallurgy. Iron is still mined in Russia today along with gold, silver, bauxite, lead, copper, nickel, and uranium. Russia is a leading producer of coal, oil, and natural gas. The country also has rich deposits of precious gems, such as diamonds, emeralds, topa, and amethyst. These mineral and enery resources are large but often difficult to tap.
Russia is a country of climate extremes. In most of northern and western Russia, spring and autumn are short transitions between hot summers and frigid winters. On the northern fringes of Russia's high-latitude climate lies the tundra, where temperatures hover below zero. Temperatures near Verkhoysansk, in the Siberian tundra, are colder than any other location outside of Antarctica. Tundra vegetation is limited to mosses, lichen, algae, and dwarf shrbus, due to the region's permafrost and very short growing season.
Russia's dominant climate, the subarctic, spans across European Russia and parts of Siberia. This climate supports the taiga, a densely-wooded region that contains the world's largest coniferos forest. A humid continental climate with milder winters and longer summers dominates teh mid-latitidues, where most people live adn the majority of Russia's agirculture is located. In a small area between the Black and Caspian Seas is Russia's steppe cliamte. This temperate grassland area has dry summers and long, cold, dry winter with swirling, sparse snow.
Central Asia is a landlocked region that includes high plains, immense grassy steppes, and rugged mountains. The mountains block moisture, resulting in a dry climate. Without an ocean or larger body of water to temper the weather, the region can experience extreme temperatures fluctuations. Desert regions, whcih constitute about 60% of the land area, can go form freezing to sweltering temperatures. Other parts of the region have more precipitation and experience a humid continental climate with snow in teh winter months. The countries of central Asia have abundant mineral and natural gas reserves. However, sparse population adn inadequate infrastructure for transportation make it difficult to capitalize on these resources.
Learning:
Read Glencoe World Geography pages 332-356
Look through the following links:
Natural landmarks of Russia
Russia’s climate zones
Tundra and taiga biomes
Steppe biome
Principle rivers of Russia
Assignments:
Learn about the wildlife of Russia. Learn about animals unique to the region. Find out which speicis are endangered and what is being done to protect them. Write a paragraph or two on what you find.
Mapping:
Add the natural features of this region to your map. Use the shape of the continent to carefully determine placement of mountain ranges, major rivers, and lakes. Add and label bays, ilands and inlets as you want.
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