Exploring Russia and the Republics

The Five Themes of Geography

Location Place Movement HEI RegionHome

Location

Location

• Major Cities• Major Landforms• Major Bodies of Water• Major Landmarks

Russia is the world’s largest country – nearly twice the size of Canada. Russia stretches across Europe and Asia form the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean to the Black and Caspian Seas. Asian Russia is often called “Siberia.”It covers 11 time zones!!!!!

This is a map of the Arctic Ocean, or North Pole. Russia stretches from 42° N latitude to 81° N latitude and from 30° E longitude to 170° W longitude.

LocationMajor Cities

Location

• Major Cities• Major Landforms• Major Bodies of Water• Major Landmarks

The major cities of Russia and the Republics stretch from Chernobyl, Ukraine, the site of the 1986 nuclear reactor disaster, to the southwestern port city of Vladivostok.

LocationMajor Bodies of Water

Location

• Major Cities• Major Landforms• Major Bodies of Water• Major Landmarks

In European Russia, the Volga River , Europe’ longest river, serves as a major trading route. Since the northern seas remain frozen most of the year, the Baltic and Black Seas remain extremely important for Russian shipping.. Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest lake.

LocationMajor Landforms

Location

• Major Cities• Major Landforms• Major Bodies of Water• Major Landmarks

West of the Ural Mountains, Russia is dominated by the fertile Northern European Plain. East of the Ural Mountains, lies the West Siberian Plain, then the Central Siberian Plateau with mountain ranges dominating the far east.

LocationMajor Landmarks

Location

• Major Cities• Major Landforms• Major Bodies of Water• Major Landmarks

St. Basil Cathedral (above), in Moscow, was built in 1555-1561 by Ivan the Terrible.

The site of the Kremlin (below), in Moscow, has been inhabited by the czars for centuries. The current building was constructed in 1516. It now serves as the center for the Russian national government. It sits along the Moscow River and Red Square near St. Basil’s Cathedral.

PlaceHuman Characteristics

• Language & Culture• Economy• Government• Historical Background

Physical Characteristics

• Vegetation & Wildlife

• Climate

• Soil

• Resources

PlaceLanguage & Culture

Human Characteristics

• Language & Culture• Economy• Government• Historical Background

A Russian Folk Art, (left) nesting dolls have been popular toys for children since the 19th century.

The Russian alphabet has 33 letters.

“War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy (1865) is not only a classic piece of Russian literature, but is also considered one of the best novels in the world.

Mikhail Baryshnikov (left) is often considered the world’s greatest living dancer. In Russia, ballet is an important aspect of culture.

Russia is also known for its love of sports. Maria Sharapova (above) is currently ranked 5th in the world.

PlaceClimate

Russia has several types of climate. Since it is so far north most of the country has a subarctic climate. Russia has four seasons with extremely long and cold winters.

Physical Characteristics

• Vegetation & Wildlife

• Climate

• Soil

• Resources

PlaceEconomy

Human Characteristics

• Language & Culture• Economy• Government• Historical Background

The Russian currency, or money, is called the ruble.

Russia’s per capita GDP was $12,200 in 2006.

The Russian economy is made up of:5% farming40% industry55% services

Russia’s unemployment rate is rather high at 6.6%.

Russia produces 9.4 million barrels of oil per day, second in the world only to Saudi Arabia.

Russia produces more natural gas than any other country in the world.

PlaceGovernment

LocationHome Place Movement HEI Region

Human Characteristics

• Language & Culture• Economy• Government• Historical Background

Vladimir Putin is the President of the Russian Federation.

Although Russia today is a representative democracy, President Putin has recently given more power to the central government and democracy in Russia remains weak.

PlaceHistorical Background

Human Characteristics

• Language & Culture• Economy• Government• Historical Background Czar Nicholas II

was czar from 1894-1917 until the Communists overthrew him.

Czar Nicholas II and his family who were all executed at Yekaterinburg in 1917.

Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Communist Revolution in Russia and first head of the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin was the head of the Soviet Union from 1922-1953. He was best known for putting down anyone who criticized him and sending many people to prisons in Siberia.

Mikhail Gorbachev was head of the Soviet Union from 1985-1991. He is known for reforming the Communist Party which ultimately led to the fall of the Soviet Union.

PlaceSoil

Physical Characteristics

• Vegetation & Wildlife

• Climate

• Soil

• Resources

In southwestern Russia, the soil is some of the most fertile in the world. Here they raise grain, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, beef, and milk.

PlaceResources

Physical Characteristics

• Vegetation & Wildlife

• Climate

• Soil

• Resources

Russia’s resources are plentiful, but they are spread out and difficult to get to and transport to populated areas.

PlaceVegetation & Wildlife

Forests stretch across eastern Russia.

The Siberian tiger is recovering after nearly becoming extinct.

Scientists believe that climate change is making Russian bears more aggressive.

Cranes live in wildlife reserves in eastern Russia.

Physical Characteristics

• Vegetation & Wildlife

• Climate

• Soil

• Resources

Movement

Ideas

Goods

People

MovementPeople

People

Goods

Ideas

The Trans-Siberian Railroad travels from Moscow to Vladivostok in the far east.

The Trans-Siberian Railroad links Russia’s far east with the more developed west. Many people travel across Russia on this railroad.

MovementGoods

People

Goods

Ideas

Russia exports a lot of lumber from its vast forests. They also export oil, natural gas, metals, chemicals, and manufactured military products to countries all over the world.

MovementIdeas

People

Goods

Ideas

The biggest idea that has diffused from Russia is communism. During the Soviet Era, the Soviet Union influenced many countries to accept a communist government, including China, North Korea, Cuba, and others.

Soviet propaganda posters

HEI

Adaptations to Environment

Environmental Change

Depending on the Environment

HEIDepending on the Environment

Russians depend on their environment for resources like oil, natural gas, lumber, and coal.

Russians depend on their environment to grow a variety of crops, such as grain, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, beef, and milk.

Adaptations to Environment

Environmental Change

Depending on the Environment

HEIEnvironmental Change

The nuclear reactor disaster at Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 destroyed the surrounding environment. The water, trees, and wildlife in the area all suffered, as did over 237 people, 31 of which died within 3 months of the disaster. People are still sick from the disaster even today. There have been many nuclear accidents in Russia, but Chernobyl was the worst.

Hydro-electric power is made by dams which flood the natural environment to create a reservoir of water. The electricity made by the dams provides many people with power for their homes.

Adaptations to Environment

Environmental Change

Depending on the Environment

HEIAdaptations to Environment

Region

Adaptations to Environment

Environmental Change

Depending on the Environment

Russians need to adapt to the harsh weather conditions by wearing warm clothing and driving through snow and ice.

Region

• Population

• Ethnic Groups

LocationHome Place Movement HEI Region

Human Regions Physical Regions

• Vegetation

RegionPopulation

LocationHome Place Movement HEI Region

Human Regions

Most people live in the southwestern European part of Russia because the climate is mild, the soil is fertile, there are resources, and trade with Europe is easier.

• Population

• Ethnic Groups

RegionEthnic Groups

LocationHome Place Movement HEI Region

Human Regions

There are many different and unique ethnic groups in Russia.

• Population

• Ethnic Groups

RegionVegetation

LocationHome Place Movement HEI Region

Physical Regions

There are many different types of vegetation in Russia, but coniferous forests cover most of the land.

• Vegetation