Meanwhile in Russia…
Russia and the Republics
1) Location
 Russia – The biggest one
Four Main Chunks!

European Republics – Ukraine, Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Moldova and Belorussia

Caucasus Republics – Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Central Asian Republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Mountain Ranges
 Ural Mts.
 Separate Northern
European Plain and
Western Siberian Plain
 Caucasus Mts.
 Separate Russia from
Transcaucasia
 Tian Shan
 Very tall mountains that
prevent moisture and
cause arid climate
Rivers and Lakes
Rivers
•Ob (5th)
•Yenisey (7th)
•Lena
•Volga
Seas & Lakes
•Caspian Sea
•Largest Lake in the
World
•Aral Sea (Lake Aral)
•Lost 90% of water
since 1960
(irrigation)
•Baikal
•Deepest Lake in
World 5,715 feet
(Over 1 Mile)
•20% of world’s
freshwater!
2) Human Environment Interaction
Physical Geography

Russia is the largest country in the world.

Russia has a variety of landscapes, ranging from
tundra to steppes, from deserts to mountains, from
glaciers to volcanoes.

Siberia – part of Russia East of Ural Mountains

Tundra – Soil is frozen

Taiga – Season forest located south of the Tundra

The Urals are the oldest mountains in the world

Lake Baikal is the world's deepest lake and largest
reservoir of fresh water on earth.

Climate
Extremely cold most of the year!
 Continentality: No wind or ocean currents to moderate temperature or bring precipitation!
Plains
 Northern European Plain
 Contains Chernozem – Fertile Soil
75% of population of Russia live in this area
 Western Siberian Plain
 Between Ural Mountains and Yenisey River
Resources
 Resources
 Oil
 Timber
 Coal
 Iron Ore
 Hydroelectric Power
 Problems
 Resources are located in remote places (Siberia)
 Use without polluting

Chernobyl: Nuclear Disaster
Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant in the USSR, in
what is now Ukraine.

On April 26th, 1986 one of the reactors got out of
control, and exploded (not a nuclear explosion).

Because of the design of the reactor, radiation was
released into the atmosphere, spreading across Europe
and eventually the world.

300,000 people were forced to leave their homes
forever. Cancer and leukemia rates in the region
increased drastically.

Cleanup cost billions, and involved hundred of
thousands of workers, many of whom now suffer health
problems. The area is still empty and somewhat
hazardous even today.
Draining the Aral Sea
3) Movement
Population and Demographics of Russia and the Republics

Russia and the
European republics
generally have
aging, shrinking
populations.

Central Asian
republics have fewer
people but higher
birthrates,
increasing their
small populations.
Trans-Siberian Railroad
 5,700 miles long
 Crosses 7 Times Zones
 Connects more populated areas with
areas that contain the most resources
(coal, iron ore)
 Helped settle uninhabited areas
4) Place
Historical Overview of Russia and the Republics

Ancient Russia – Slavic tribes conquered by Vikings
called the “Rus”.

Medieval Russia – (800’s – 1300’s) – Kievan Rus, then
later Muscovy ruled area.

The Mongol Yoke (1270’s – 1500’s) – Golden Horde
invaded Russia, ruled for two centuries off and on.

Russian Empire (1500’s – 1918) – Russia ruled by the
Czars, until Russian Revolution and Romanov family
killed in 1918

Soviet Union (1918-1991) – Communist government
ruled the entire region as one country, until ended by
Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991.

Commonwealth of Independent States (1992Present) – Loose alliance of Russia and the various
Republics.
Economy of Russia and the Republics
 Until 1991, Soviet Union was a
Communist country.
 Russia and republics have ample
natural resources, but struggling
economies.
 Economies are usually dominated
by “oligarchs”, wealthy
businessmen often tied to
organized crime.
 Government corruption and old
infrastructure hinder
development. Russia especially
has advanced sciences, but lags in
technological application.
5) Regions
Russia

Largest nation in the region

143,000,000

Per Capita GDP $18,000

Predominantly Russian Orthodox Christian, with
large Muslim populations in the south.

Demographic Changes: Low birthrates among
Russians and high birthrates among Muslim
populations are changing several nations.

Vladimir Putin rules Russia through personal
influence and official powers.

Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed
infrastructure, severe pollution, and government
corruption remain big problems.

Russia’s Place in the World: The Soviet Union was
a superpower, but Russia is much weaker than in
the past. They want to be on top again, and
Vladimir Putin is trying to regain this position.
European Republics

Region includes: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus,
Moldova, and Ukraine

Most speak Russian or related Slavic languages.

Most practice Orthodox Christianity.

Ukraine is largest and most successful republic
outside Russia.

Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed
infrastructure, severe pollution, and government
corruption remain big problems.

Governments of region have tried to modernize and
remove Communist influences.
Caucasus Region
 Region includes: Georgia, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and parts of Russia
 Separatism and Ethnic Conflict: Ethnic
groups in Chechnya and other places are
fighting to have their own countries.
 Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed
infrastructure, severe pollution, and
government corruption remain big
problems.
Central Asian Republics

Region includes: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan

Most can speak Russian, but local
languages are related to Persian or
Turkish.

90%+ of Central Asians practice Sunni
Islam, but many other religions are
present in small numbers.

Central Asian republics dominated by exCommunists or dictators… same president
since 1990.

Lingering effects of Communism:
Decayed infrastructure, severe pollution,
and government corruption remain big
problems.
Supplemental Video
Fall of Communism
•
Berlin Wall Comes Down on Nov 9th, 1989
•
Official End of Cold War on Dec 3rd, 1989
Yeltsin
•
Russians Reject Communists on Aug 19th, 1991
Chechnya
·
War on Chechnya (1998)
·
War in Chechnya (news footage 2000)
Putin
•
Vladimir Putin on PBS (10:00)