Physical Geography of Russia
Lake Baikal
Folders/ Composition books
Crossword
Scissors (if you have them)
Key Terms
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
North European Plain
Siberia
Ural Mountains
Caucasus
Volga River
Caspian Sea
Black Sea
Lake Baikal
Key Terms
• Ural Mountains mountain range where
Europe and Asia meet.
• Caspian Sea the world’s largest inland sea, bo
• Siberia a vast region in Russia, stretching from
the Urals to the Pacific Ocean. Borders the
Caucasus Mountains
• Volga River the longest river in Europe,
located in western Russia
• taiga a forest of mainly evergreen trees
covering much of Russia
Climate
• Russia is mainly cold with short summers
• Russia’s northern coast is tundra, most of the
ground is permafrost (covers 40% of Russia)
• Plant life includes small plants in the north
and the vast taiga.
• Taiga is the largest
forest in the World.
Natural Resources
• Russia has a wealth of natural resources,
including rich soils, timber, metals, precious
gems, and energy resources.
• These resources have been poorly
• managed, however, and many remaining
resources lie in remote Siberia.
North European Plain
• Vital to Russia for
its crops and
industry.
• Coalfields stretch
throughout the
plain.
• Wheat, barley,
beans, and oats
major crops.
Siberia
• Large part of
northern and
central Russia that
crosses Asia. In the
north is the tundra.
• Those who do live
there fish, hunt
seals and walruses,
or herd reindeer.
• People may use
helicopters to travel
between villages.
Ural Mountains
• Mountain
range where
Europe and
Asia meet.
• Known for its
variety of
gems and
stones.
• Platinum,
sapphire,
silver
Caucasus Mountains
• This is a fertile
region of valleys
where many nonRussian people
live.
• Thirteen different
ethnic groups live
in the eight
countries, or
republics, that
border Russia in
this region.
• Many, like the
Armenians, have
cultures far older
than the Russians.
Contains Mount Elbrus, the highest point
in Russia at 18,510 feet.
Volga River
• The longest river
in Europe,
located in
western Russia
• An important
transportation
route.
• These transport
people and
goods from one
city to another.
Caspian Sea
• The Caspian Sea
is about the size
of California.
• It is the largest
inland body of
water in the
world.
• The Caspian Sea
has salt water,
not freshwater.
Black Sea
• Through this sea,
Russia can reach the
Mediterranean Sea.
• Russia touches many
inland bodies of
water. In the
southwest, it
borders on the Black
Sea
• Few harmful sea
animals in the Black
sea, other than the
Rhizostome jellyfish
Lake Baikal
• This is the world’s deepest
freshwater lake. Lake Baikal holds
almost 20 percent of the world’s
unfrozen freshwater. It is also the
world’s oldest lake, dating back
more than 30 million years.
• Some of the plant and fish
species in the lake can be traced
to prehistoric times.
• Unfortunately, a large paper mill
nearby has polluted the Lake
Baikal region. The paper mill is a
major source of jobs and wealth.
The region struggles to both save
the lake and keep the badly
needed industry.
BAIKAL LAKE MONSTER?
Exit Ticket
• 1. It is in the _______________________ that the continents of
Europe and Asia meet. (Sakhalin islands/Ural Mountains)
• 2. The _________________________ provides an important
transportation route through Russia. (Lake Baikal/Volga River)
• 3. The ________________________’s rich, black soil has made it
Russia’s main farming area. (steppe/taiga)
• 4. ______________________ is a cold, empty land of barren plains
and endless forests. (Siberia/Moscow)
• 5. The vast forest of evergreen trees that covers about half of Russia
is called the _______________________. (steppe/taiga)