Monday, December 11, 2017 Physical Geography of Russia Objective: complete Warm-Up, write outline notes and discuss the geography of Eastern Europe/mother Russia and view Geography Now: Belarus. География КОЗОЧКИ!!! Do Now: What is the capital of Belarus? Ukraine? What is the Orange Revolution? Volga River- is the longest river in Europe. It flows through central Russia and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Chernozem- a fertile black soil rich in humus, with a lighter lime-rich layer beneath. Such soils typically occur in temperate grasslands such as the Russian steppes and North American prairies.
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Physical Geography of Eastern Europe + Russian Core Landforms Russia has two notable mountain ranges, the Ural Mountains and the Caucasus Mountains. The Ural Mountains form a natural barrier between European Russia and Siberian Russia. Rich in iron ore and mineral fuels, they run in a north-to-south direction and span 1,230 miles from the Arctic Ocean almost to the Caspian Sea. The Caucasus Mountains run east to west along the southwestern portion of the country, forming a natural barrier between Russia and countries to the south. The highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains is Mount Elbrus, which soars to 18,510 feet. It is the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.
Physical Geography of Eastern Europe + Russian Core Landforms Pt. 2 To the west of the Ural Mountains is the Northern European Plain. The southern part of the plain has navigable waterways and rich, black soil called chernozem that supports agriculture. As a result, the majority of Russia s population lives here. East of the Ural Mountains and extending to the Pacific Ocean are the vast stretches of plains and plateaus that make up much of Siberia. The West Siberian Plain covers about one-third of Siberia and is one of the largest low-lying flatlands in the world. It is known for its harsh continental climate and some of the world s largest swamps and wetlands.
Physical Geography of the Eastern Europe + Russian Core Water Systems The (Tia) Volga River and its many tributaries make up the Volga River system. Draining most of western Russia, the Volga travels 2,293 miles, making it the longest river in Europe. The Volga River system is an important commercial, transportation, and hydroelectric resource for millions of Russians. One of the most renowned Siberian lakes is Lake Baikal. Located in southeast Russia, Lake Baikal is the oldest lake in the world (25 million years). It is also the deepest at 5,715 feet. It holds one-fifth of all unfrozen freshwater found on the planet. Known as the Galapagos of Russia because of its age and isolation, Lake Baikal has many unusual freshwater marine species, which are of exceptional value to scientists who study how species evolve.
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Physical Geography of Eastern Europe + Russian Core Climate, Biomes, and Resources The tundra occupies the parts of the subregion that are farthest north and covers about 10 percent of Russia. Here, the sky stays dark for many weeks before and after the winter solstice that occurs around December 22 each year. South of the tundra lies the subarctic climate zone. While not as severe as the tundra climate, this zone only has four months of the year when the temperature rises above 50 F (10 C). As a result, much of the country s interior has more extreme variations in temperature and little precipitation. This climatic effect within the interior areas of a landmass is called continentality.
Physical Geography of Eastern Europe + Russian Core Climate, Biomes, and Resources Pt. 2 Russia s physical geography benefits but also challenges its people. The country has an abundance of natural resources, including one-fifth of the world s forests. Much of this wealth, however, lies in remote and climatically unfavorable areas and is difficult to tap or utilize. For example, Russia holds large petroleum deposits and 16 percent of the world s coal reserves; however, the country s biggest coalfields lie in remote areas of eastern Siberia. Russia is also a leading producer of natural gas, but much of it is located in northern Siberia. It also leads the world in nickel production and ranks among the top three producers of aluminum, gemstones, and platinum-group metals.
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