Chapter 14

Amur River

Forms the border between Russia and China

Permafrost

Ground that is permanently frozen

Explain difference between tundra and subartic climate zones.

Tundra = treeless, subartic=coniferous forests

Arctic Circle

66.5 degrees north of the equator

chernozem soil

A Russian term for dark, fertile soil, often associated with grassland settings in southern Russia and Ukraine.

Central Siberian Plateau

A rolling plateau that has elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 feet. Home to canyons carved out by rivers.

Russia's Steppe Climate region

A temperate grassland with dry summers and long, cold, dry winters with swirling winds and blowing snow. Between the black and caspian seas north of the caucus mountains and a band along russias border with Kazakhstan make up Russia's Steppe region

Tundra

A vast treeless plain that lies north of the artic circle where the average temperature is below freezing and the sky stays dark for many weeks before and after December 22. Tundra covers about 10 percent of Russia

How much of the world's remaining forest land lie in the eastern Siberia part of Russia?

About one fifth

Lake Baikal

Deepest freshwater lake in the world, contains 20 percent of the earths supply of freshwater

What kind of climate covers the largest area of Russia?

Humid continental.

Where do Russia's coldest winter temperatures occur?

In eastern Siberia, where the greatest areas of subartic and tundra climates exist.

Siberian Rivers

Include the Ob', Irtysh, Yenisey and Lena. They rank among the world largest river systems. The Amur river forms border between Russia and China

Why do you think most Russians live in the midlatitude climates?

It has a more temperate climate and agriculture functions better.

Northern European Plain

Majority of Russia's population lives here; northern part is poorly drained, creating swamps and marshes, southern part has rich soil and supports most of Russia's agricultural production.

Caucus Mountains

Mountain range between the Caspian and Black seas

What problem limits Russia's use of its waterways?

Russia's far northern location means that its waterways are frozen part of the year.

Siberia

Russia's great frontier region, a vast territory of what is now central and eastern Russia, most of it unsuited to agriculture but rich in mineral resources and fur-bearing animals.

How does Russia's latitude affect its climate?

The climate is cold because it is in a high latitude. It gets colder the further north you go. Also, it gives Russia long, cold winters and short, relatively cool summers.

Volga River

The longest river in Europe and Russia's most important commercial river that provides important transportation links and creates hydroelectric power.

The tiaga

a boreal forest belt that covers two fifths of western Russia and extends into much of Siberia

Ural Mountains

a mountain range that separates Europe from Asia

Black sea

a sea between Europe and Asia

What type of vegetation is most common in Russia's boreal forest?

coniferous trees

Explain difference between humid continental and steppe climate.

humid continental= enough rain for mixed forests. Steppe= dry

Western Siberian Plain

plain in the middle of Russia that separates Asian Russia from European Russia. Located in the far northern latitudes which results in harsh climate with wide temperature extremes.

What kind of vegetation is found in southwestern Russia?

temperate grassland.

continentality

the effect of extreme variation in temperature and very little precipitation within the interior portions of a landmass without the moderating influence of the ocean.

humid continental climate

weather pattern characterized by long, cold, snowy winters and short, warm to cool summers. Most of Russia's Northern European Plain and a small part of southern Siberia have a humid continental climate