Russia

The Caspian Sea is about as large as which state in the U.S.? Describe it's size compared to other's like it in the world. Salt or freshwater?

California; it's the largest inland body of water in the world; salt water

How does pollution spread in Russia? How does water pollution affect Russians?

Chemicals used in agriculture and industry often end up in river and lakes. Poor sewer systems also cause water pollution. More than half of Russia's people do not have safe drinking water.

How have cold winters played an important role in Russia's history?

During WWII, bitter cold halted the German army's advance into Russia. Better-prepared Russian troops soon forced the Germans to retreat.

Why is pollution so bad in Russia today? How is pollution today? What is the effect on humans in Russia?

For most of the 1900s, Russia's leaders stressed economic growth. They ignored the damage this growth caused to the environment. Today, smog blankets many of Russia's cities. Factories pour pollutants into the air. Many Russians suffer from lung diseases and cancer.

What peninsula is part of the Ring of Fire? Describe how the Ring of Fire and mountains/volcanoes play are related on this peninsula. (3 total)

Kamchatka Peninsula: -The mountains that rise here are part of the Ring of Fire -Ring of Fire: a region along the rim of the Pacific Ocean where tectonic plates meet and cause Earth's crust to be unstable -As a result, Kamchatka has many volcanoes

What is the world's deepest freshwater lake?

Lake Baikal

Describe seasons in Russia.

Large areas of Russia experience only winter- and summer-like conditions. Spring and autumn are simply brief periods of changing weather.

Name the three rivers in Russia that are among the longest in the world.

Lena; Yenisey; Ob

In Siberia, in which direction do most rivers flow?

Many rivers here begin in mountains in the south and flow north across marshy lowlands, emptying into the frigid Arctic Ocean.

Does Russia benefit from being so close to the seas/oceans? Why or why not?

No; it is so northern that most of its coast lies along waters that are frozen for much of the year.

Describe Northern Siberia: the landscape and the people.

Northern Siberia is a vast treeless plain that remains frozen much of the year. The few people who live here make their living fishing, hunting seals and walruses, or herding reindeer.

What is Russia's general climate?

Russia has a generally cool to cold climate.

How large is Russia? Compared to the U.S.?

Russia is the world's largest country; it is twice the size of the U.S.

What is a major area of Asian Russia? *Don't over think it!!

Siberia

What kind of landforms lie in the south and east? The north and west?

South and east - rugged mountains and plateaus North and west - vast lowland plains that reach to the horizon

Describe Southern Siberia. What covers this region? How do people living there make their living?

Southern Siberia is a region of dense forests, covered by plains, plateaus, and mountain ranges. Here, people make their living by lumbering or hunting.

*Very* briefly describe St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is a large port city near the Baltic Sea.

What is significant about the Caucasus Mountains [Area]? Explain these occurrences.

The Caucasus area is prone to destructive earthquakes because it is located near a fault line.

Name a major physical feature in European Russia and describe it's significance. (3) What two major cities are located here? (2) What two economic activities are abundant in this area? (2)

The Northern European Plain: -Fertile -Russia's mildest climate -Contains about 75% of Russian population -Moscow > major city located on this area -St Petersburg > major city located on this area -Agriculture is abundant here -Industry is abundant here

What main mountain chain divides the two sides of Russia? What are those two sides?

The Ural Mountains divide European and Asian Russia.

Describe the height of the Ural Mountains.

The Urals are not very tall due to much erosion over the years.

What lies south of the tundra of Russia? Describe it. How big is it?

The taiga, the world's largest coniferous forest, stretching about 4,000 miles, is roughly the size of the U.S.

Name and describe the location of one warm water seaport that Russia has.

Through the Black Sea in the southwest, Russian ships have a warm-water route to the Mediterranean Sea.

Describe the resource of timber as it relates to Russia. Where is it very abundant?

Trees cover much of Siberia. Russia produces a great amount of softwood.

What is European Russia's main river? What have they long relied on it for?

Volga; transportation

Does Russia have many resources to offer?

YES!!!

Permafrost

a permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface

Smog

a thick haze of fog and chemicals

Pollutants

chemicals and smoke particles that cause pollution

Northern Siberia has one of the ___________ climates in the world.

coldest

Lake Baikal is the world's what?

deepest freshwater lake

Why does icy Arctic air flow into the north part of Russia?

elevations are to low to prevent it

Besides the major physical feature in European Russia, where else does good farmland also lie? What does this area consist of?

farther south, along the Volga and other rivers; consists of a nearly treeless grassy plain

Are the many or few seaport that are free of ice year-round?

few

What is the Caspian Sea an important resource for? Describe what and where deposits are found in association with the Caspian Sea.

fishing; major oil and gas deposits are found near or under the Caspian Sea

Which resource is Russia a leader in reserves of? What other major resource does it have? Describe the significance of this resource. What are some other important metals here?

fossil fuels - oil, natural gas, and coal; iron ore; Russians have used this to develop a large steel industry; copper and gold

According to latitudes, where does most of Russia lie? What happens as a result of that? Most of Russia lies where according to area on the land (inland, coastline, islands, etc.)? What is far away from because of that?

in the high latitudes; Russia receives very little of the sun's heat even during the summer; inland; the moist, warm currents of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that help moderate temperature in other parts of the world

Where does permafrost occur? How does it happen? What are the only things that can survive here?

northern and eastern areas of Russia; the tundra climate is so cold that moisture in the soil cannot evaporate - cold temperatures and lack of precipitation cause permafrost; mosses, lichens, and small shrubs

In Russia's southeast, what stops warm air coming from the lower latitudes?

tall mountains

What unique animal lives in Lake Baikal? What is so unique about it?

the Baikal seal, or nerpa; the only type of seal that lives in freshwater

Taiga

the world's largest coniferous forest

Softwood

wood from evergreen trees that is used in buildings and for making furniture

Name the resources that Russia has an abundance of.

-fossil fuels - oil, natural gas, and coal -iron ore -copper -gold -timber

Why are resources in Siberia so hard to get to and use?

-lack of infrastructure -cold climate +workers must try to stay warm +workers must try to keep their equipment from freezing

What inhibits humans' ability to use Russia's many resources? (2, general)

-large size -cold climate

How is Russia rebuilding, repairing, and cleaning up the pollution that harms the environment?

-other countries are providing aid to improve sewage systems and clean up heavily polluted sites -cities are building more efficient power plants that use less energy and burn fuel more cleanly

How much of the world's softwood does Russia produce? Which kind of trees does softwood come from? What is softwood used for?

1/5 (20%); evergreens; buildings and making furniture

How much of the world's unfrozen freshwater supply does Lake Baikal hold?

1/5; 20%

Give an example of how Russia has made some advances in technology to make it easier to collect Siberia's resources.

A pipeline now carries natural gas from Siberia to Europe.

What do the currents of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans do? Why?

Because the currents are warm and moist, they help moderate temperature in other parts of the world.