Russia Physical Geography

RUSSIA PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

WHY IT MATTERS  In ______the powerful ______broke up into 15 independent republics, of these, Russia is by far the largest  A study of the physical geography of Russia will explain the factors that make the ______of this immense country so unique & its natural resources so ______

WHAT MAKES IT A PHYSICAL REGION  Russia is the ______country in the world, nearly twice as large as the U.S., so large, it’s a region unto itself  2 landforms dominate the ______of this massive nation o ______plains cover nearly half of the country in the west o ______rise over the rest  Climate shapes settlement patterns o While ______in some parts of Russia are ______than others, winter in most of Russia is a challenge o The harsh ______winter has led most people to live in the ______part of the region

THE LAND  Russia is a vast & varied land of ______divided & bordered by ______ranges, tundra, subarctic forests & wide ______& seas  In both total land area & geographic extent, Russia is the worlds largest country covering about _____ million square miles that stretches across parts of ______continents---______& ______ Mountains & Plateaus punctuate the generally ______landscape of Russia

Ural Mountains  The ______Mountains mark the traditional ______between European Russia & ______Russia  The Urals are an old, worn-down series of mountain ranges running ______to ______with an average height of about ______feet o Though modest in height the Urals are rich in ______& minerals fuels such as _____ & natural gas  Mount Narodnaya (also known as Naroda and Poznurr) is the highest ______of the Urals in Russia with an elevation is ______feet o It is the highest point in European Russia outside the ______(geopolitical region at the border of Europe & Asia, situated between the Black & the Caspian sea)

Caucasus Mountains  In southwestern Russia the ______“Caucasus Mountains” lie between the ______& Caspian Seas  The Caucasus Mountains formed largely as the result of a ______plate collision between the ______plate moving northward with respect to the ______plate o The entire region is regularly subjected to strong ______from this activity  This area attracts many human ______because of its moderate ______ The Caucasus Mountains reach their highest elevation at “______” an extinct ______that reaches 18,150 feet (Russia’s ______point)

Central Siberian Plateau  The “Central Siberia Plateau” is made up of sharply demarcated surfaces of varying ______occupying most of ______between the ______& ______rivers covering ______of Siberia o To the ______of the plateau are the ______Mountains (the highest point rising to 5,580 feet) while to the ______are the Eastern Sayan & the Baikal Mountains o To the east the plateau gives way to the low-lying land of the “______” (Turkic Peoples)  Mountain ranges also form a ______natural ______between Russia & China o These mountains mark the southeastern ______of the “Central Siberian Plateau”---a rolling ______with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 feet  Throughout the plateau swiftly flowing ______have carved many ______ The climate is ______with short warm summers & long and very cold winters with most of the territory covered with ______forests with it’s major river being the Lower ______o Known geologically as the “______” (a large region of volcanic rock), mineral resources here are very ______& include coal, iron ore, gold, ______, diamonds & natural ______o Russia is ______only to South ______in the production of platinum, producing ______of all the world's supply

Russian Plain (Northern European Plain/East European Plain)  Most of European Russia is part of or an ______of the Northern European Plain, also known as the “______” that sweeps across western & central ______into ______ It is the largest mountain-______part of the European landscape spanning approximately 1,544,408 square miles & averages about 557 feet in elevation with the highest point of the plain, located in the “Valdai Hills” at 1,138 feet o Valdai Hills is an upland region in north-west of central Russia running north-south, about midway between ______& ______ In Russia the northern part of this plain is very ______& poorly ______, resulting in many ______& ______ The southern part of the plain has ______waterways & a rich black soil known as “______” that supports the production of wheat, ______, rye, oats & other ______ About ______of the Russian ______lives in the Northern European Plain o The region is home to Russia’s most ______cities including Moscow---Capital & St. Petersburg

West Siberian Plain  Farther to the east the Ural Mountains ______the Northern European Plan from another vast plains area known as the “______Siberian Plain”--- mostly in the territory of ______ With almost ____ million square miles it is one of the world’s largest areas of “______” (flatland) o More than ______is less than 330 feet above ______level  At its ______, this plain stretches from the ______Ocean to the grasslands of Central ______ Its lowland areas are poorly ______& consists of some of the worlds largest ______& ______(floodplains)

Water Systems  Russia’s water systems include long ______, seas & ______that provide access to other parts of the world & ______that are also important for ______activities in the country o Russia’s has the worlds longest ______coastline stretching ______miles---from Arctic Ocean to Pacific Ocean  Some of the worlds ______rivers flow through Russia, ______a large portion of the land & providing water for ______o They also serve as ______routes or sources of electric power for many parts of the country o Most of Russia’ longest rivers (carry ______of the country’s water) are located in ______(25% of the population)

Black Sea  The Black Sea provides Russia with a ______-water outlet to the Aegean & Mediterranean Sea through 3 ______controlled ______(the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara & the Dardanelles)  The Black Sea is ______by Europe, Anatolia & the Caucasus & is ultimately ______to the ______Ocean via the Mediterranean & the Aegean Seas & various straits  The Bosphorus Strait connects it to the Sea of ______& the Strait of the ______connects that sea to the ______Sea region of the ______ These waters separate eastern ______& western ______ The Black Sea has an area of 168,500 square miles a maximum depth of ______feet & a volume of 547,000 131,200 cubic miles  Why is it called the “Black Sea” o A lack of ______in the water prevents the development of microorganisms, making it appear black o Sailors of long ago, if caught in a storm, usually died because of the absence of islands at which to harbor & the ferocity of the storms that hit (The Sea of ______) o The intense fogs develop over the Black sea ______the light, making the water appear black & at a certain depth its waters become ______& ______o The Greeks assigned ______for the ______of the compass — black referring to the north & red referring to the south (Red Sea, Yellow Sea & White Sea)

Caspian Sea  A ______lake located in a deep depression that is the largest ______body of water in the world with a surface area of 143,200 square miles & a volume of 18,800 cubic miles o It accounts for 40 to 44% of the total ______waters of the ______ ______flow into the Caspian but there is no outlet to the ______o Over time water levels in the Caspian Sea ______due to ______& inflow of freshwater

Lake Baikal  Lake “Baikal” lies in Southern Siberia & at nearly 400 miles long, 40 miles wide & over 1 mile deep it is the ______largest lake in Asia & the ______& ______freshwater lake in the world o It is estimated to contain ______of the Earth’s total supply of freshwater & is also the worlds ______lake (25 million years old)

Volga River  Western Russia’s “Volga River” is the ______longest river & most ______river in ______ The Volga & its tributaries ______much of the ______part of Russia’s Northern European Plain  They connect ______to the ______Sea & also link the Volga to the ______Sea providing a ______route to northern Europe as well as hydroelectricity, drinking water & water for irrigation o ______of Russia’s water ______travels along the Volga

Siberia Rivers  The Ob’, Irtysh, Yenisey & ______are among the world’s largest river ______which flow north to the ______Ocean

Amur River  The “Amur River” drains eastward forming the border between ______& ______for about 1,000 miles  Influenced by summer ______winds from the southeast, the Amur River Valley is ______than the rest of Siberia & is Siberia’s main ______area & is the world’s ______longest river

Natural Resources  Russia’s physical geography is both a ______& a ______ The country holds an abundance of natural ______but much of this wealth lies in ______& climatically ______areas & is difficult to tap or utilize o Russia has ______reserves of mineral resources & is especially rich in ______fuels o Russia holds large deposits of ______& ______of the worlds ______however the country’s biggest ______fields lie in remote areas of eastern ______o Russia is also a leading producer of natural ______but much of this resource is located in northern Siberia o Russia also leads the world in ______production & ranks among the top ____ producers of aluminum, ______& platinum-group ______o The rivers also make Russia a leading producer of ______power

Agriculture  Only ______of Russia’s land can support ______because of the cold climate but this is enough farmland to support the population with ______& ______o The “______” is about 250 million acres that stretch from the Ukraine to southwestern Siberia o ______crops from where they are grown in the “______” soils of the south to cities in the north is a challenge since the ______are great  ______of the worlds ______lies in Russia o Pine, ______, spruce, & ______are the types of timber  Because of ______farming & forest ______, forests are shrinking by _____ million acres a year

Aquaculture  ______are important to the Russian ______& economy  ______from the Pacific Ocean & herring, cod, & halibut from the ______Ocean support a flourishing fishing industry  The supply of world famous Russian “______” or (salted fish eggs) has declined due to ______built on the Volga river that has interrupted the migration of the sturgeon that provide eggs ---(expensive delicacy)

CLIMATE & VEGETATION  Much of Russia experiences extreme ______& long ______because of its location in the ______latitudes of the Eurasian landmass  In the county’s remotest northern plateaus the harsh terrain softens only during the very brief ______

High Latitude Regions  Most of Russia is located in the ______latitudes & has a ______climate characterized by long cold winters & short cool summers with ______temperatures varying greatly o ______temperatures often fall below -33F & ______temperatures average 64F o The coldest winter temperatures occur in eastern ______(68N latitude) with January temperatures often falling ______-90F  ______air from the ______moderates the temperature in western Russia but most of Russia lies well within the Eurasian landmass---far away from any moderating ocean ______o As a result much of the country’s ______has more ______variations in temperatures & little precipitation o This effect within the interior portions of a landmass is called “______”

Tundra (High Latitude)  Tundra is located in the far ______part of Russia o A vast ______plain that is almost entirely located in ______(661,2 N latitude) o Tundra covers ______of Russia’s land & only mosses, lichens, ______, & dwarf shrubs grow in the region due to the ______soil in the permafrost

Subarctic (High Latitude)  Russia’s ______climate region is the subarctic which lies south of the Tundra & has some of the worlds ______temperatures o For ______days each year ______covers the ground  The subarctic climate supports the “______” (a boreal forest belt that covers 2/5 of western Russia & extends into much of Siberia) o About the size of the ______the Taiga is the worlds largest ______forest containing about ______of the worlds softwood timber

Mid-Latitude Regions  Russia’s mid-latitude climates are much ______than the high latitude climates with milder winters & ______summers  Although still relatively ______these climates are where most Russians ______& where much of Russia’s ______production takes place

Humid Continental (Mid-Latitude)  Most of Russia’s Northern European Plain & a small part of southern Siberia have humid ______climate o ______lies in this region with ______ranging from 9F---14F in January to 66F---99F in July  Contains mixed forests & ______& is deal for growing ______

Steppe Climate (Mid-Latitude)  An area between the ______& ______Seas north of the Caucasus Mountains make up the Steppe climate region  The temperate ______areas has dry summers & long, cold dry winters with swirling winds & blowing snow  The Steppe’s chernozem soil is rich in ______matter that enables many plants to flourish however the introduction of ______plants & ______by animals has caused damage

War & Winter  Russia’s ______climate played an important role in the defeat of ______in the War of 1812  Napoleon’s army entered Russia but Russian troops ______, ______everything including Moscow along the way “______” o Napoleon intended to use ______& ______for shelter & food & forced to turn back during the winter after realizing Moscow was in flames & there would be no food or shelter o Fewer than 40,000 of the 600,000 soldiers returned to Poland---end of Napoleon’s ______(no army to fight)