RUSSIA

The photo above is a classic example of Russian architecture. This is an Eastern Orthodox Church on

‘Red Square’ in Moscow. Red Square is located between the ‘Kremlin, the official residence of the

Russian President, and the commercial district of Moscow.

RUSSIA

Russia is the topic of our first foray into regional geography. It is appropriate because Russia continues

to be regarded today by many as an arch enemy of the United States. The investigation of the Trump

administration’s unproven collusion with Russia to win the 2016 election has been in the news for two

years. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also the frequent subject of media reports and is consistently

portrayed as a villain.

Our issues with Russia are not surprising. We Americans have a history of being leery of Russia dating

back to frontier days when Russia attempted to colonize our west coast as far south as California. This

lack of trust played a role in Sec. of State William Seward’s purchase of Alaska from Russia in the late

1860s. (What a great deal that was…almost as good as Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase.)

RUSSIA

World’s largest country

Located in Asia and Europe

Borders both the Pacific and Arctic Oceans

Russia has almost 23,000 miles of coastline when counting the Caspian and Black Seas

Population: 145,000,000

Largest City: Moscow, 12,000,000+

Currency: Russian Ruble (On March 10, 2019, the Ruble was worth 0.015 of a U.S. dollar)

Language: Russian (русский язык, tr. rússkiy yazýk)

Climate: varied with much TUNDRA, TAIGA, STEPPE, with a scattering of warmer climates

Russia’s lowest recorded temperature: 96 degrees below 0

Highest recorded temperature: 114 degrees

With a land as vast as Russia, there is great variety in weather patterns. However, in most of

Russia, one can count on a long, very cold winter.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The physical geography of a country as vast as Russia is extraordinarily varied and hard to describe in a

few words. But, here are a few highlights:

Much of the eastern and northern portions of Russia are made up of lowland plains.

Much of central Russia is a vast area of steppe terrain-rolling terrain higher in elevation than lowland

plains, often windy, very cold in winter and hot in summer.

Longest River: Volga

Mountain Ranges: Caucasus Mountains located along Russia’s south east border

Ural Mountains are generally consider the divide between Europe and Asia

Highest Peak: Mt. Elbrus, elevation 18,000 ft., in the Caucasus Mountains, a dormant volcano

Largest freshwater Lake: Lake Baikal, in central Russia, is the deepest fresh water lake in the world

It is estimated that 1/5 of all liquid freshwater on earth is in Lake Baikal

Caspian Sea-the largest landlocked body of water in the world in south central Russia

Black Sea—south central Russia

Kamchatka Peninsula- off Russia’s east coast. The peninsula extends into the Pacific northeast of Japan.

GOVERNMENT

Russia at least in name is a Constitutional Republic with 3 ‘Branches of Government’. Russia has a

President (over foreign affairs), Prime Minister (over domestic affairs), a ‘bicameral’ legislature called

the ‘Duma’, and a judicial court system.

The Russian Constitution allows the President to serve a maximum of 2 terms. As set forth by their

constitution, elections are supposed to be monitored with an honest, fair system of counting the ballots.

RUSSIAN ‘DUMA’ IN MOSCOW (Russian legislature meets in this building)

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.

As president Putin is the head of state, meaning that he has authority in conjunction with the legislature

over Russia’s dealings with foreign countries. Prime Minister Medvedev has authority (in conjunction

with the legislature) over domestic affairs.*

*Domestic affairs include internal issues that affect only other Russians. Putin as president is recognized

as holding a higher office and wields more power than Medvedev, the PM.

CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT by international standards is widespread. Given that corruption is and

has been an integral part of Russian life, one might wonder if all Russian elections are handled honestly

and fairly.

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

The Russian economy has adopted some capitalistic principles and is now the 12 largest economy in the

world. (The state of CALIFORNIA statistically generates as much economic activity as all of Russia.)

Russia is blessed with an abundance of all kinds of resources: minerals, petroleum, natural gas, wildlife,

fertile soil, timber, and productive coastal fishing.

Crude oil and natural gas account for about 80% of all Russian exports. Russia possesses a gigantic

reserve of all fossil fuels-oil, natural gas, and coal—that will serve Russia’s future well.

Russia is now an exporter of grain when only a few years ago she had to import grain just to supply her

own people. The message here is that Russia’s improved agricultural practices and implementation of

capitalistic principles has made a huge difference for the Russian people.

The Russian economy with its abundant natural resources is well situated to continue to grow for years

to come IF government remains stable and committed to developing free markets. It is interesting to

note that when Russia lowered its tax rates a few years ago, the economy began to grow. Oddly enough

the government began collecting more tax revenues when taxes were LOWERED. *

But Russia still has improvement to make. An estimated 20% of the Russian people live in poverty while

the average income is equal to about $1,100 a month in American dollars.

*FYI:

You may have noted that when President Trump and Congress lowered taxes last year, our

Americaneconomy experienced a growth spurt marked by the large number of new jobs created, a

decrease in the number of unemployed workers, and a reduction in the number of people receiving

‘food stamps’.

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

With the USSR’s attempts at purging all forms of religion from Russia, it might come as a surprise that

about 40% of Russians claim Eastern Orthodox Christianity as their religion. Only about 13% identify as

atheists. 6% of the population claim to be Muslim. There is NOT STATE CHURCH in Russia so citizens are

much freer to worship in their own way than during the days of the Soviet Union.

THE ARTS IN RUSSIA

BELOW: Russia is noted for its love of music and dance, particularly ballet. Russian composer

Tchaikovsky wrote the Nutcracker and many other compositions appropriate for ballet.

RUSSIAN BALLET DANCERS PERFORM THE ‘NUTCRACKER’

Russian Leo Tolstoy authored War and Peace, one of the great novels ever written. His wisdom lives on

not only in his books but in quotes. Here are three of the quotes. As you read them, give them thought.

“Pay bad people with your goodness, fight their hate with your kindness. Even if you do not achieve

victory over people, you will conquer yourself.”

“Wrong does not cease to be wrong even if the majority share in it.”

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PAGE

What follows are pictures of Russia and its natural beauty. Check them out.

A BARDGE ON THE VOLGA RIVER HEADED SOUTH TOWARD THE CASPIAN SEA.

Winter in Siberia. Siberia would be considered by most people to be a very inhospitable place. Winters

are long and bitterly cold. Adding to the climate issues is Siberia’s size. The region is SPARSELY

POPULATED, so the people who do live there are pretty much isolated from what we would consider

civilization.

Gulags, Russian prisons/labor camps, were established for DISSIDENTS during the early years of the

Communist revolution. Citizens who did not take kindly to oppressive soviet government got a one-way

ticket east to the isolation of Siberia.

On the next page are 2 additional photos taken in Siberia. Lonely it may be, but in places it is a beautiful

land.

IN THE BOTTOM PHOTO YOU CAN SEE A GIANT EVERGREEN FOREST. WHAT IS THE PROPER NAME FOR

THE CLIMATE OF THIS AREA?

LAKE BAIKAL, CENTRAL RUSSIA

MT. ELBRUS, CAUCACUS MOUNTAINS, SE RUSSIA