Russia physical geography

Russia’s size vs. US

Russia Map activity• Turn to pg. 362- refer to US vs. Russia sizeAnswer in notebook or on loose-leaf:1. Which country is more densely populated? Why do you

think this is?2. Where do you think most people in Russia live? Why?3. How do you think people who live in different parts of

Russia make their living?4. Label map using map pgs. 364- 365 or 100 in atlas- you

must label at least 25 of the 38 features/places

Daily Agenda- 1/5/16• Objective: Describe the physical features of Russia and label a map of

Russia; Explain how Russia’s extreme climate affects life there.

1. Overview of Russia’s geography/notes2. Complete Russia map with color- use pg. 1003. Complete 15-1 reading assignment using (new)

textbooks (first 5 pages)4. Hand in all assignments!

Daily Agenda- Weds. 1/6/16• Objective: Describe the physical features and climate of Russia; • Explain how Russia’s extreme climate affects life there.

1. Overview of Russia’s climate/notes2. Complete 15-2 reading assignment using (new)

textbooks3. Complete prompt in 1-2 paragraphs on same loose-leaf.4. Hand in all assignments!

After the map:On a separate piece of paper, answer the following in one- two paragraphs.

•How do you think Russia’s location and climate affect the way people live?

•Consider:•Extreme weather, landforms•Resources and resource management (how they are used)• Jobs/economy

Russia’s vast, cold landscapes include mountain ranges, plains, and evergreen forests. The country is also rich in natural resources, especially those used to create energy. To take advantage of these resources, however, Russia’s people must overcome problems created by the country’s landforms and climate.

How do Russia’s location and landforms affect its population and its use of resources?

Essential Question

Russia- Physical Geography• Largest country on Earth•Many resources in Russia and the Republics are in hard-

to-reach regions with brutal climates•Northern European Plain an extensive lowland area • Chernozem—world’s most fertile soil, abundant in area• Some consider Europe and Asia as single continent—

Eurasia

The Russian Winter defeats Napolean• http://my.hrw.com/ss_2012/mmc/siberia/index.html• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9vBQ_j1L1I• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=458Gw-Xw0u0

After Viewing:1. How did Russia’s climate affect Napolean’s invasion? (3 ways)2. How do you think severe winters affect Russians’ lifestyles?

Changes occur in the use and importance of natural resources.

Section 1: Physical Features

Location•Central Asia= includes “stan” republics•Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Russia is the world’s largest country.

Twice as big as U.S.Straddles Europe & Asia.

Ural Mountains are dividing line between Europe and Asia.

Landforms & Waterways

There is a very long northern coastline.

Frozen most of year and few ports.

Black Sea ports used for most shipping.

Vast Northern Land

Regional Resources & Problems• Many resources- coal, iron ore, natural gas, oil, petroleum, timber

(softwood), hydroelectricity • Issues of transportation, harsh climate

Resources and problems• Siberia- Coldest temperatures in the world- frigid and

dark for long periods•Most rivers frozen for months•Difficult to use natural resources•Mining- strips the land• Thermal pollution

RUSSIA’S REGIONS

• The land surface of Planet Earth can be divided up into a number of large regions, named after the dominant vegetation type (such as forest) or landscape (such as desert)• These regions are called biomes• Russia is such a large country that many of the major

biomes can be found there

GLOBAL BIOMES

15-2 Climate and Vegetation

Mostly on northern European plain.

Mildest part of Russia 75% of people live on Northern European Plain.

Most agriculture & industry. Moscow & St. Petersburg.

European Russia

Siberia—one of coldest places on Earth.

Frozen most of the year. Few people live here. Hunting, fishing, lumber.

Asian Russia

Kamchatka Peninsula in the east.

Lined with volcanoes.

Asian Russia

Many rivers Volga most important river.

Many flow into Arctic Ocean.

Caspian Sea: world’s largest inland body of water.

Inland Waters

Major oil and gas deposits near Caspian Sea.

Lake Baikal: world’s deepest freshwater lake.

World’s largest supply of unfrozen freshwater.

Inland Waters

HOT DESERT• Russia has tiny

pockets of true desert

• Look for this on the map close to the Caspian Sea

GRASSLAND (STEPPE)

• Russia’s grasslands • Traditionally, the Cossack

people travelled on horseback

DECIDUOUS FOREST

• This Russian biome is shared with the UK

• Where is the nearest deciduous forest to where you live?

CONIFEROUS FOREST

• Much of Russia is covered with this vegetation

• Also called boreal forest or taiga

ARCTIC TUNDRA

• Too cold for trees• The ground is frozen, this is

called permafrost

THAWINGTUNDRA

• In Spring, the surface active layer thaws

• The ground becomes boggy and difficult to travel on, or build on

POLAR DESERT

• Hot desert is found in the far south of Russia

• Whereas, polar desert is found in the far north of Russia

EDGE OF THE ICE SHEET

• Can you see the houses? They give you an idea of the scale of this image

• Quite literally, this is the edge of the world!

URAL MOUNTAINS

• The environment in Russia changes because of latitude as well as latitude

ALPINE VEGETATION• Mountains have their own

biome: alpine tundra• Strong winds result in

low-lying vegetation

AMAZING LANDSCAPES• This is a river in northern

Siberia• Few people have ever

visited here

AMAZING LANDSCAPES

• In tundra regions, patterned ground can be seen

• Physical processes produce shapes called polygons, many metres wide

CRUEL LANDSCAPE

• During the years of the Soviet Union, prisons were built in tundra regions, called gulags

• The remains of a gulag can be seen here

CLIMATE CHANGE

Melting ice Arctic ice is thinning and breaks up sooner each year

Might it be gone altogether by the end of the century?

CLIMATE CHANGE

Melting tundra Scientists are concerned with methane release

Retreating tree line Is the boreal (taiga) forest marching northwards?

Very little solar heat in the summer.

Most of Russia lies far from warm ocean currents.

No mountains to stop arctic winds

Very short spring & autumn seasons.

Cold Climate

Climate• Temperature extremes coldest winters in Eastern

Siberia•Continentality- effect of distance from sea on climate•Warm air from Atlantic Ocean = moderates

temperature in some areas of European Russia most of Russia well within Eurasian landmass + far from moderating ocean influences.

Vegetation• Tundra- vast, treeless plan, polar region• Most of Russia• Some parts even use rivers and lakes as roads in winter • Permafrost• Permanently frozen soil in Siberia

Warm & rainy summers Cold & snowy winters. Permafrost: permanently

frozen layer of soil beneath the surface.

Cold Climate

Vegetation• Forest- taiga- largest forest on earthMostly coniferous trees

Taiga: world’s largest coniferous forest.

Forest is roughly the size of the United States.

Cold Climate

Daily Agenda- Thurs. 1/7/16• Objective: Explain the Human-environment interaction in Russia; Explain how

attempts to overcome the region’s geographic limits has had negative consequences; • Explain how Russia’s extreme climate affects life there.

1. Take Russia Map quiz- hand in bin.2. Take a 15-3 assignment and begin using textbook.3. Overview of Russia’s current environmental issues4. Complete 15-3 reading assignment using (new) textbooks5. Quiz/vocab review.6. Ch. 15 Quiz and packet due Monday!

Challenges Russian Creativity• Must make adjustments to climate in all aspects of their lives jobs +

transportation + food + water + heat + clothing + plumbing.• What could be done to adapt?• Extremely cold temperatures = oil, gas, wood, coal and wearing

layers of clothing made of wool or fur help to stay warm.

15-3 Human-Environment Interaction• How do Russians impact their environment both positively and

negatively? (Brainstorm/List now)

Although Russia has plentiful resources, many of them are in remote Siberia and are difficult to obtain.

Natural Resources

Have you ever worked or played outside in the extreme cold of winter?

Russia has the most reserves of fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels include oil, natural gas, & coal.

Mined minerals include iron ore, copper, & gold.

Natural Resources

Timber a major resource. Softwood: wood from

evergreen trees used in making buildings & furniture.

Natural Resources

Cold climate limits access to resources

Lack of infrastructure. Cold temperatures can

freeze engines of equipment.

Infrastructure is the system of roads & railroads for transporting materials.

Natural Resources

Why are Russia’s natural resources difficult to gather?

Knowledge Check

How do Russia’s landforms effect the country’s climate?

Knowledge Check

As Russia’s economy expanded, the country’s environment was poorly cared for.

Russia’s Environment

What might happen if the garbage in your neighborhood was disposed of properly?

Economic growth damaged the environment

Smog: thick haze of fog & chemicals.

Pollutants: chemicals and smoke particles that cause pollution

Many Russians suffer from cancer.

Russia’s Environment

Industrial chemicals have polluted lakes & rivers.

Decline in animal species. Poor sewer systems. ½ of Russia lacks clean

drinking water.

Water Pollution

Attempting to improve sewage systems

Building energy efficient power plants

Cleaning up polluted sites.

Cleaning Up

What government policies harmed Russia’s environment?

Knowledge Check

Categorize the following terms (they can be used in more than one category):

Central Asia - tundra Siberia - permafrost Runoff - Steppe Taiga - Aral Sea Czar - Caspian Sea Continentality - Smog Fossil Fuels - Eurasia

Quiz Review: List-group-label