RUSSIA ANDTHE REPUBLICS

Physical Geography of Physical Geography of Russia and the RepublicsRussia and the Republics

Chernozem

Chernozem: (black earth)

World’s most fertile soil

75% of Russia’s population lives here

Stretches 1,000 miles

The mountain ranges that separate the

Northern European and West Siberian

Plains; the dividing line between Europe and

Asia

Includes the countries:

Armenia, Georgia, & Azerbaijan

Caucasus Mtns.

Central Asia Countries

Kazakhstan Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Volga River

Longest in European continent

Lake Baikal

Caspian Sea

Saltwater Lake

Aral Sea

Dense Forests

Coal

Hydroelectric Power

Oil

Russia’s Russia’s 1010 Time ZonesTime ZonesRussia’s Russia’s 1010 Time ZonesTime Zones

Siberia --> Siberia --> PermafrostPermafrostSiberia --> Siberia --> PermafrostPermafrost

e Average temperatures of January Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C July from 1 to 25°C

e 150,000,000 population.150,000,000 population.e A former “A former “gulaggulag”” Soviet prison camp. Soviet prison camp.

Lake Baikal, SiberiaLake Baikal, SiberiaLake Baikal, SiberiaLake Baikal, Siberia

e The oldest and The oldest and deepestdeepest lake in the world. lake in the world.

e 20% of the world’s 20% of the world’s totaltotal unfrozen water supply. unfrozen water supply.

Major Regional Divisions of Major Regional Divisions of the Former U. S. S. R.the Former U. S. S. R.

Major Regional Divisions of Major Regional Divisions of the Former U. S. S. R.the Former U. S. S. R.

Chernozen SoilChernozen Soil

Section Two:

Climate and Vegetation

SteppesSteppes: “Soviet” : “Soviet” BreadbasketBreadbasket

SteppesSteppes: “Soviet” : “Soviet” BreadbasketBreadbasket

Largest forest on the earth; lies

south of the Arctic Circle in Eurasia.

The taiga contains primarily

coniferous (cone bearing) trees.

Section Three:

Human Environment Interaction

As cold as -90 degrees

As hot at 94 degrees

5,700 miles long

Crosses 7 time zones

Connects Moscow to Vladivostok

Trans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian Railroad

e Completed in Completed in 1905.1905.

Trans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian RailroadTrans-Siberian Railroad

e TThe main line runs 5,785 miles.he main line runs 5,785 miles.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA AND THE OF RUSSIA AND THE

REPUBLICSREPUBLICS

Estonia,Latvia, andLithuania, located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea

Republics• Armenia• Georgia• Azerbaijan• Gateway between

Europe and Asia• Trade routes

through the Black Sea

Georgia

ArmeniaAzerbaijan

Two of the oldest Christian countries

in the world

Converted to Islam in the 7th century

by invaders

Czarist Rule:•1723

•Control of Azerbaijan

•1801

•Control of Georgia

•1828

•Control of Armenia

Soviet Rule:•1920s

•Red Army takes control of Transcaucasia

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Armenia

Grapes for wine

Oil

Tea

•Kazakhstan

•Kyrgyzstan

•Turkmenistan

•Tajikistan

•Uzbekistan

These countries were on the SILK

ROAD trading route.

A struggle between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for control of Central Asia in the 19th century.

Russia wins control of the region in 1920 and remains in control until 1991.

Nuclear Testing in this region

caused increase in leukemia,

thyroid cancer, birth defects, and mental

illness.

Nations all over the world are beginning to compete for profits from the region’s newly discovered oil resources.

The emperor of Russia prior to

the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent

creation of the Soviet Union in

1922.

One of Russia’s most famous Czars was Peter the Great.

The revolt of 1917, in which

the Russian Communist

Party, led by V.I. Lenin, took

control of the government from

the czars.

V.I. Lenin, leader of the Communist Party.

the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or Soviet Union,

formed in 1922 by the Communists and officially

dissolved in 1991.

the conflict between the United States and the Soviet

Union after World War II, called “cold” because it

never escalated into open warfare Can you identify the men in this photo collage?

A type of economic system in which production of goods and services is determined by a central government, which

usually owns the means of production. Also called a planned economy.

TODAY’S ISSUES: RUSSIA AND THE REPUBLICS

+ Remained a part + Remained a part of Russia after the of Russia after the collapse of the collapse of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

+ Has experienced + Has experienced more violence than more violence than any other republicany other republic

+ Chechnya + Chechnya declared declared independence from independence from Russia and so Russia and so Russia invaded Russia invaded them leading to them leading to 100,000 casualties 100,000 casualties in the 1990’sin the 1990’s

The selling of government

owned business to private citizens

A term referring to A term referring to the concept that the concept that

increasing increasing distances between distances between

places tend to places tend to reduce interaction reduce interaction

among themamong them..