Central Asia Physical Geography

Steppes

The dominant physical feature of Central Asia is these dry grasslands

Mongolia

The only country within Central Asia that is mostly Buddhist

Ural Mountains

This north-south range separates Siberia from the rest of Russia. It is commonly considered the boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia.

dry

the dominant type of climate in Central Asia

West Siberian Plain

world's largest area of flat land

deciduous

(of plants and shrubs) shedding foliage at the end of the growing season

polluted soil

How have pesticides damaged the land in Central Asia?

Raising livestock and agriculture

How is most of the land in Central Asia used?

Aral Sea

It was once the fourth largest lake in the world but had now dried up and split into several lakes because the rivers that feed it have been diverted for irrigation

Black Sea

Large body of water separating Ukraine from Turkey

Gobi

Large desert on the border between Mongolia and China

Ysyk Kol

Large lake in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Kazakhstan

Largest country in Central Asia by land area

Lake Balkhash

Largest lake entirely within one country in Central Asia

Caspian Sea

Largest lake in the world; Has large petroleum and natural gas reserves underneath it.

Yenisey River

Marks the boundary between the West Siberian lowland and the plateau of Central Siberia.

Tien Shan

Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China. Known as the Celestial Mountains.

Altai

Mountains that extend from northeastern Kazakhstan into southwestern Mongolia

Pamirs

Mountains that form part of the border between Afghanistan and Tajikstan

Petroleum

Often used as a synonym for oil, this natural resource is found in abundance under the Caspian Sea

nomads

Some of the people in Central Asia are still this, which means they move from place to place with their herds of animals.

Hindu Kush

Tall mountain range that extends from Afghanistan into Pakistan

Coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material found in abundance in Central Asia and Siberia

natural gas

A gas with high methane content, found along with various fossil fuels and is used as a fuel. Found in Central Asia and Siberia.

Caucasus Mountains

A mountain system in southeastern Europe between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

petroleum

Another name for oil. Found in abundance under the Caspian Sea and the West Siberian Plain.

Turkmenistan

Ashgabat is the capital of this country that is covered almost entirely by the Kara Kum.

Amur River

Forms the border between Russia and China

collective farm

in a communist country, a large farm formed from many private farms collected into a single unit controlled by the government

indigenous

originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native

Permafrost

permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground

coniferous

referring to vegetation having cones and needle-shaped leaves, including many evergreens, that keep their foliage throughout the winter

Central Siberian Plateau

tableland area in Siberia

Astana

Recently built (mid 1990s) capital city of Kazakhstan.

Ural

River that divides Europe from Asia in western Kazakhstan

Syr Darya

River that feeds the Lesser Aral Sea, which is now a smaller lake entirely within Kazakhstan.

Taiga

a region of evergreen, coniferous forest in the arctic and subarctic tundra regions

Tundra

a vast treeless plain in the Arctic regions between the Arctic Ocean and the tree line

mining

common economic activity throughout Central Asia

agrarian

composed of or pertaining to farmers