Russia, Central Asia, and the Environment

Russia, Central Asia, and the Environment

Monument commemorating firefighters who died as result of ChernobylMoscow, Russia

6 Physiographic Regions:

•Russian Plain

•Urals

•Central Siberian Plateau

•Western Siberian Plateau

•Desert Plateaus of Central Asia

•Mountain Rim

Russian, Transcaucasus, Central Asia’s Physiographic Regions

Climate

•Severe continental climate

•Much of land area is above 60N (applies to Russia only)

•Permafrost (applies to Russia)

•Frozen seaports in the north (applies to Russia)

Russia’s 4 Natural Landscapes Types

1. Tundra- an Arctic wilderness where the climate precludes any agriculture or forestry. Permafrost and very short summers mean that the natural vegetation consists of mosses, lichens, and certain hardy grasses

Siberian Tundra

2. Taiga- ecological zone of boreal coniferous forest

Western SiberiaPhoto: George Archibald, International Crane Association

3. Mixed Forest and Steppe

photo: H. Zeitler

4. Semi-desert and Desert

Kizil Khum desert, Uzbekistan

Russian Environmental History

Soviet central planning placed strong emphasis on industrial output, with very little regard for environmental protection. Result is severe environmental degradation.

Resulting problems:•Overcutting of forests•Widespread use of pesticides•Heavy water pollution•Acid rain•Soil erosion•Desertification•Air pollution•Radioactive contamination

Areas of Environmental Degradation

Russia & NIS Environmental Degradation

Case Study #1: Chernobyl

Ukraine

Belarus

“Doctors at a hospital in Kiev, Ukraine, operate on a patient with thyroid cancer. Normally a very rare disease, thyroid cancer rates have reached epidemic proportions in areas contaminated by fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Fortunately thyroid cancer is fairly easily treated, and success rates have been high.” photo and text: National Geographic

Case Study #2: Irrigation and the Aral Sea

Please read this in your textbook and take detailed notes.

Case Study #3: Energy Extraction, Indigenous Rights, and Pollution

PBS Frontline Video, “Russia: Island on the Edge”http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/05/russia_island_o.html