The Big Idea
Russia is big and cold with vast plains and forests; whereas
the Caucasus countries are small, mountainous, and
warmer.
Main Ideas
• The physical features of Russia and the Caucasus include
plains, mountains, and rivers.
• Climate and plant life change from north to south in
Russia and vary in the Caucasus.
• Russia and the Caucasus have a wealth of resources, but
many are hard to access.


Continents of Europe and Asia meet at the Ural Mountains.

Europe to the west

Asia to the east

Together, they form the landmass of Eurasia.
Russia is the world’s largest country.


Twice the size of the United States
South of Russia is a region known as the Caucasus.

It lies in the Caucasus, the area between the Black Sea and the
Caspian Sea.

Region named for the Caucasus Mountains.

Includes three smaller countries—Georgia, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan
Russia’s capital, Moscow, is located in the Northern European
Plain, which stretches across western, or European, Russia.
To the east are the low-lying Ural Mountains, which are worn
down and rounded from erosion.
Siberia, the vast area between the Urals and the Pacific Ocean,
includes the marshy West Siberian Plain, the Central Siberian
Plateau, and mountain ranges.
Russian Far East, in Eastern Siberia, is part of the Ring of Fire.
Caucasus countries consist mainly of rugged uplands and
mountains, including Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe.
South of the Caucasus Mountains is a plateau.
Lowlands lie along the Black and Caspian Seas.
Rivers


Volga River, in western Russia

Longest river in Europe

Core of Russia’s river
network
Lakes


Ob, Yenisey, and Lena rivers in
Asian part of Russia

Flow northward to Arctic
Ocean
Russia has some 200,000 lakes.
Lake Baikal, in south-central
Siberia, is world’s deepest lake.

Deep enough to hold all the
water in all five of the Great
Lakes

Called the Jewel of Siberia
Seas
• Black and Caspian seas border Russia and the Caucasus.
– Black Sea connects to the Mediterranean Sea and is important
for trade.
– Caspian Sea holds saltwater and is the world’s largest
inland sea.


Russia has short summers and long, snowy winters due in part to its
location along Arctic Circle.
Russia’s northern coast is tundra.

Much of the ground is permafrost, or permanently frozen soil.

Only small plants such as mosses grow there.

Taiga, a vast forest of evergreen trees, covers about half of Russia.

South of the taiga is a flat grassland called the steppe.


Rich, black soil and a warmer climate make this an important farming area.
Caucasus countries are warmer than Russia.

Warm and wet along Black Sea

Hot and Dry in much of Azerbaijan
Natural
Resources
Energy
Resources
Resource
Management
•
Fertile soil for farming in Northern European plain
and steppe
•
Wood from taiga for building and paper products
•
Metals and precious gems
•
Main energy resources include coal, hydroelectricity,
natural gas, and oil.
•
Russia and Azerbaijan have large oil and gas fields.
•
Poorly managed for a long time
•
Many remaining resources are only in remote
Siberia.