Physical Geography of Russia
Chapter 14
Unit 5
A Vast and Varied Land
• Russia stretches across parts of Europe and Asia.
• Russia is a huge land of plains divided and
bordered by mountains and plateaus.
• Urals- old, worn-down mountains that mark the
boundary between European and Asian parts of
Russia.
• Caucasus Mountains- southwest of Russia, reach
their highest point at Mount Elbrus, 18,510 ft.
• Mountain ranges also form a rugged natural
boundary between Russia and China.
http://coloradomountainclub.blogspot.com/2010/06/r
Vast and Varied Land
• North European Plain covers most of European Russia.
– 75 % of Russian population lives in the southern part of
this plain.
– West Siberian Plain- covers almost 1 million square miles.
Russia has the longest continuous coastline of any country, at
23,400 miles.
Most Russian ports are frozen for at least part of the year.
Lake Baikal- deepest freshwater lake in the world- located in
southern Siberia. (20% of Earth’s freshwater)
A. Black Sea- Russia’s warm water outlet to the
Mediterranean Sea
B. Caspian Sea- actually a saltwater lake with no outlet.
Lake Baikal
* It is 6,365 feet deep.

It has characteristics common to
both seas and lakes.

It is one of the world's smallest
seas
It is also one of the world’s
largest lakes.
It is 152,085 square feet.


Caspian Sea
http://www.ceoe.ud
el.edu/blacksea/che
mistry/jellyfish.html
http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM5GYTLWFE_index_1.html
Rivers
• Most of Russia’s longest rivers are in sparsely
populated Siberia. Siberians enjoy a surplus of
freshwater, but European Russians often face
water shortages or problems with water quality.
A. Volga River- 4th longest river in Russia.
Drains much of N. European Plain and links
Moscow to the Caspian, Black, and Baltic Seas.
B. Siberian Rivers- flow north to the Arctic
Ocean. Blocked by ice, meltwaters often flood the
land and create vast swamps.
Siberian Rivers
Natural Resources
• Huge mineral resources: mineral fuels such as oil,
natural gas, and coal.
• Rivers make Russia a leading hydroelectric power.
• Because of generally cold climate, only about 10% of
Russia’s land is suitable for farming.
• “Black Earth Belt”- rich, fertile area stretches from
Ukraine to southwestern Russia- supplies grains, sugar
beets, and other produce.
• 1/5 of the world’s forested land is in Siberia. Russian
forests supply much of the world’s timber.
• Fish is a staple food, and also an important export.
http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/top-five-russian-goldstocks/2709
Russia’s Climate and Vegetation
Most of Russia has a harsh climate with long, cold winters and
short, relatively cool summers.
A. Tundra- vast, treeless plain that covers about 10 % of
Russia. Always cold, little growth.
B. Subarctic- south of the tundra. Snow for up to 250 days of
the year.
-
Taiga- forest belt in the subarctic that is the world’s largest
coniferous forest. Contains ½ of the world’s softwood timber.
C. Russians are creative when living in an extremely cold climate.
Builders plan for cold when they construct buildings, and cars
are made from a special type of steel that will not crack in the
cold. Large amounts of oil, gas, wood, and coal are used to
keep warm
Climate and Vegetation
History- Russia’s cold climate was helpful in
defeating Napoleon in 1812 and the Germans in
WWII. (354-355)
Humid Continental- most of the North European
Plain and some of southern Siberia have a humid
continental climate, with long, snowy, relatively
mild winters. Ex: Moscow- 9 to 21 degrees in
January and 56 to 75 degrees in July.
Steppe- dry summers and long, cold, dry winters.
Rich soil enables a variety of grasses and plants to
flourish.