Physical Geography of Russia
The Land
A. Ural Mountains
B. Caucasus
Mountains
C. Central Siberian
Plateau
D. Siberia
E. Northern
European Plain
F. West Siberian Plain
G. Volga River
Landforms
Russia’s interconnected mountain ranges and
plains shape human activities.
• Russia is the world’s largest country in total land and
geographic extent.
Landforms (cont.)
• Mountains and plateaus:
– Ural
– Caucasus
– Central Siberian Plateau
Landforms (cont.)
• Plains Areas:
– Northern European Plain—about 75% of the
Russian population lives on this plain.
– West Siberian Plain
Water Systems
Russia’s large river systems are vital for irrigation,
transportation routes, electric power, and
industries, such as fishing.
• Russia has the longest continuous coastline of any country
in the world.
• Russia also has the largest inland body of water and some
of the longest rivers.
Water Systems (cont.)
• Coasts, Seas, Lakes:
– Arctic and Pacific oceans
– Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea
– The Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara
– Lake Baikal
Water Systems (cont.)
• Rivers:
– The Volga
– The Siberian (the Ob’, Irtysh, Yenisey, and Lena)
– The Amur River
Natural Resources
Russia has an abundance of natural resources, but
many are located in remote, inaccessible areas of
the country.
• Minerals and energy:
– Petroleum
– Coal
Natural Resources (cont.)
– Natural gas
– Nickel
– Aluminum, gemstones, platinum-group metals
– Hydroelectric power
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Soil and forest land:
– 10% of its land can support agriculture
– Black Earth Belt—fertile band of soil
– One-fifth of the world’s forest lands lie in Russia,
but are being depleted.
Deforestation in Russia
Natural Resources (cont.)
• The fishing industry:
– Salmon, herring, cod, halibut
– Russian caviar from sturgeon—this supply has
declined.
Climate and Vegetation
Russia’s location in the far northern
latitudes affects its climate regions
and natural vegetation.
Climate and Vegetation
A. Arctic Circle
High-Latitude Regions
Russia’s location in the high latitudes of the
Eurasian landmass causes extreme differences in
climate.
• Most of Russia is located in the high latitudes—harsh
climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Russia: Climate Regions
High-Latitude Regions (cont.)
• Climate regions:
– Tundra (vast, treeless plains in cold northern
climates, characterized by permafrost and small,
low plants, such as mosses and shrubs)
– Permafrost (permanently frozen layer of soil
beneath the surface of the ground)
– Subarctic —contains the taiga (Russian term for
the vast subarctic forest, mostly evergreens, that
covers much of Russia and Siberia)
Midlatitude Regions
Russia’s midlatitude regions have more moderate
climates and support most of the country’s
agricultural production.
• Climate regions:
– Humid continental
Russia: Natural Vegetation
Midlatitude Regions (cont.)
• Russia’s cold climate played an important role in the
defeat of Napoleon I in 1812 and of German forces
during WWII.
• Dry climate region:
– Steppe (wide, grassy plains of Eurasia)
Vocab1
chernozem (cher•nuh•ZYAWM)
rich, black topsoil found in the Northern
European Plain, especially in Russia and
Ukraine
Vocab2
permafrost
permanently frozen layer of soil beneath
the surface of the ground
A. Northern European
Plain
• Majority of Russia’s
population lives here
• Northern part is poorly
drained, creating
swamps and marshes
• Southern part has rich
chernozem soil and
supports most of
Russia’s agricultural
production
VS 1
B. Ural Mountains
• Form a natural
boundary between
European Russia and
Asian Russia
• Are rich in iron ore and
mineral fuels, such as
oil and natural gas
VS 2
C. Volga River
• Vital to Russia,
draining much of the
eastern part of Russia’s
Northern European
Plain
• Provides important
transportation links
and is used to create
hydroelectric power
• Flows through areas of
temperate grasslands
and mixed forests
VS 3
D. West Siberian Plain
• One of the world’s
largest areas of
flatland—reaching
from the Arctic Ocean
to Central Asia
• Lowland areas poorly
drained, creating
swamps and marshes
• Location in the far
northern latitudes
results in a harsh
climate with wide
extremes of
temperatures
VS 4
E. Siberian Rivers
• Include the Ob’, Irtysh,
Yenisey, and Lena
• Rank among the
world’s largest river
systems
• Amur River forms
border between Russia
and China
VS 5
F. Lake Baikal
• Deepest freshwater
lake in the world
• Contains 20 percent of
Earth’s supply of
freshwater
VS 6