 Russia Notes
Name_____________________________Per_____
 Russia
 Location
o Russia – The biggest one
o European Republics – Ukraine, Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania), Moldova and Belorussia
o Caucasus Republics – Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
o Central Asian Republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
 Mountain Ranges
o Ural Mts.
 Separate Northern European Plain and Western
Siberian Plain
o Caucasus Mts.
 Separate Russia from Transcaucasia
o Tian Shan
 Very tall mountains that prevent moisture and cause
arid climate
 Rivers and Lakes
o Rivers
 Ob (5th); Yenisey (7th); Lena; Volga
 Seas & Lakes
o Caspian Sea
 Largest Lake in the World
o Aral Sea (Lake Aral)
 Lost 90% of water since 1960 (irrigation)
o Baikal
 Deepest Lake in World 5,715 feet (Over 1 Mile)
 20% of world’s freshwater!
 Human Environment Interaction
 Physical Geography
o Russia is the largest country in the world.
o Russia has a variety of landscapes, ranging from tundra to
steppes, from deserts to mountains, from glaciers to
volcanoes.
o Siberia – part of Russia East of Ural Mountains
 Tundra – Soil is frozen
 Taiga – Season forest located south of the Tundra
o The Urals are the oldest mountains in the world
o Lake Baikal is the world's deepest lake and largest reservoir
of fresh water on earth.
 Climate
o Extremely cold most of the year!
o Continentality: No wind or ocean currents to moderate
temperature or bring precipitation!
o Plains
 Northern European Plain
 Contains Chernozem – Fertile Soil
 75% of population of Russia live in this area
o Western Siberian Plain
 Between Ural Mountains and Yenisey River
 Resources
o Resources
o Oil
o Timber
o Coal
o Iron Ore
o Hydroelectric Power
 Problems
o Resources are located in remote places (Siberia)
o Use without polluting
 Chernobyl: Nuclear Disaster
o Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant in the USSR, in what is
now Ukraine.
o On April 26th, 1986 one of the reactors got out of control,
and exploded (not a nuclear explosion).
o Because of the design of the reactor, radiation was
released into the atmosphere, spreading across Europe and
eventually the world.
o 300,000 people were forced to leave their homes forever.
Cancer and leukemia rates in the region increased
drastically.
o Cleanup cost billions, and involved hundreds of thousands of
workers, many of whom now suffer health problems. The
area is still empty and somewhat hazardous even today.
 Movement
 Population and Demographics of Russia and the Republics
o Russia and the European republics generally have aging,
shrinking populations.
o Central Asian republics have fewer people but higher
birthrates, increasing their small populations.
o Trans-Siberian Railroad5,700 miles long
o Crosses 7 Times Zones
o Connects more populated areas with areas that contain the
most resources (coal, iron ore)
o Helped settle uninhabited areas
 Place
o Ancient Russia – Slavic tribes conquered by Vikings called
the “Rus”.
o Medieval Russia – (800’s – 1300’s) – Kievan Rus, then later
Muscovy ruled area.
o The Mongol Yoke (1270’s – 1500’s) – Golden Horde invaded
Russia, ruled for two centuries off and on.
o Russian Empire (1500’s – 1918) – Russia ruled by the Czars,
until Russian Revolution and Romanov family killed in 1918
o Soviet Union (1918-1991) – Communist government ruled the
entire region as one country, until ended by Mikhail
Gorbachev in 1991.
o Commonwealth of Independent States (1992-Present) –
Loose alliance of Russia and the various Republics.
 Economy of Russia and the Republics
o Until 1991, Soviet Union was a Communist country.
o Russia and republics have ample natural resources, but
struggling economies.
o Economies are usually dominated by “oligarchs”, wealthy
businessmen often tied to organized crime.
o Government corruption and old infrastructure hinder
development. Russia especially has advanced sciences, but
lags in technological application.
 Regions
 Russia
o Largest nation in the region
o 143,000,000
o Per Capita GDP $18,000
o Predominantly Russian Orthodox Christian, with large
Muslim populations in the south.
o Demographic Changes: Low birthrates among Russians and
high birthrates among Muslim populations are changing
several nations.
o Vladimir Putin rules Russia through personal influence and
official powers.
o Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed infrastructure,
severe pollution, and government corruption remain big
problems.
o 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
o Region includes: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova,
and Ukraine
o Most speak Russian or related Slavic languages.
o Most practice Orthodox Christianity.
o Ukraine is largest and most successful republic outside
Russia.
o Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed infrastructure,
severe pollution, and government corruption remain big
problems.
o Governments of region have tried to modernize and remove
Communist influences.
 Caucasus Region
o Region includes: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and parts of
Russia
o Separatism and Ethnic Conflict: Ethnic groups in Chechnya
and other places are fighting to have their own countries.
o Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed infrastructure,
severe pollution, and government corruption remain big
problems.
 Central Asian Republics
o Region includes: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
o Most can speak Russian, but local languages are related to
Persian or Turkish.
o 90%+ of Central Asians practice Sunni Islam, but many
other religions are present in small numbers.
o Central Asian republics dominated by ex-Communists or
dictators… same president since 1990.
o Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed infrastructure,
severe pollution, and government corruption remain big
problems.