Russia and the Republics
1) Location
Four Main Chunks!
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Russia – The biggest one of the 14 former republics that made up the USSR
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
•Lost 90% of water
since 1960
(irrigation)
•Baikal
•Deepest Lake in
World 5,715 feet
(Over 1 Mile)
•20% of freshwater
in world
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
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!
Resources
• Resources
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Oil
Timber
Coal
Iron Ore
Hydroelectric Power
• Problems
– Resources are located in remote places (Siberia)
– Use without polluting
Chernobyl: Nuclear Disaster
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Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant in the USSR, in
what is now Ukraine.
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On April 26th, 1986 one of the reactors got out of
control, and exploded (not a nuclear explosion).
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Because of the design of the reactor, radiation was
released into the atmosphere, spreading across
Europe and eventually the world.
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300,000 people were forced to leave their homes
forever. Cancer and leukemia rates in the region
increased drastically.
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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.
Links
Nukemap
Nuclear Testing Dots
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
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Ancient Russia – Slavic tribes conquered by
Vikings called the “Rus”.
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Medieval Russia – (800’s – 1300’s) – Kievan
Rus, then later Muscovy ruled area.
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The Mongol Yoke (1270’s – 1500’s) – Golden
Horde invaded Russia, ruled for two centuries
off and on.
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Russian Empire (1500’s – 1918) – Russia ruled
by the Czars, until Romanov family killed in
1918
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Soviet Union (1918-1991) – Communist
government ruled the entire region as one
country, until ended by Mikhail Gorbachev in
1991.
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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
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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.
2014 Winter
Olympics
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The 2014 Winter Olympics are located in Sochi,
on the coast of the Black Sea
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This is less than twenty miles from a part of
Russia noted for unrest and civil war, including a
bloody 1990’s struggle in neighboring Chechnya,
and a war between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
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Security and terrorism are of course primary
concerns, due to the troubles over ethnic and
religious conflicts in the region.
European Republics
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Region includes: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine
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Most speak Russian or related Slavic
languages.
Most practice Orthodox Christianity.
Ukraine is largest and most successful republic
outside Russia.
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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.
Unrest in the
Ukraine
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Ukraine is divided between two major groups
– a pro-Russian eastern part, and a proEuropean western part.
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The Ukrainian government was recently faced
with a choice between a trade agreement
with Russia, or with the EU. Either choice
would pull Ukraine closer to the Russia or the
EU.
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When the government changed its mind, and
leaned towards Russia, the choice was very
unpopular. Accusations of corruption led to
demonstrations in Kiev, which have escalated
into civil unrest and violence.
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These protests, called “Euromaidan”, involve
up to 50,000-200,000 each day for weeks.
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.
Chechnya
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Chechnya is a small part of Russia in the Caucasus, with a
non-Russian, Sunni Muslim majority. They have resented
Russian rule for many years, and broke away in 1991 after
the fall of Communism.
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In 1996, Russia sent in its army to reconquer the region. This
led to a decade of vicious warfare and terrorism, including
terrorist attacks in a Moscow opera house and a school in
Beslan that left hundreds dead. The Boston Marathon
bombers were Chechens, and trained there.
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The region has still not recovered from the war, and remains
a primary source of danger for terrorism during the 2014
Olympics in nearby Sochi.
Central Asian Republics
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Region includes: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
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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.
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Central Asian republics dominated by ex-Communists
or semi-dictators… mostly the same president since
1990’s. Economies centered on resources – minerals,
oil, and natural gas.
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Lingering effects of Communism: Decayed
infrastructure, severe pollution, and government
corruption remain big problems.
Supplemental Video
Fall of Communism
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Berlin Wall Comes Down on Nov 9th, 1989
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Official End of Cold War on Dec 3rd, 1989
Yeltsin
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Russians Reject Communists on Aug 19th, 1991
Chechnya
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War on Chechnya (1998)
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War in Chechnya (news footage 2000)
Putin
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Vladimir Putin on PBS (10:00)