Why It Matters

RUSSIA

WHY IT MATTERS

In ______the powerful ______broke up into 15 independent republics, of these, Russia is by far the largest
A study of the physical geography of Russia will explain the factors that make the ______of this immense country so unique & its natural resources so ______

WHATMAKES IT A PHYSICAL REGION

Russia is the ______country in the world, nearly twice as large as the U.S., so large, it’s a region unto itself
2 landforms dominate the ______of this massive nation
______plains cover nearly half of the country in the west
______rise over the rest
Climate shapes settlement patterns
While ______in some parts of Russia are ______than others, winter in most of Russia is a challenge
The harsh ______winter has led most people to live in the ______part of the region

THE LAND

Russia is a vast & varied land of ______divided & bordered by ______ranges, tundra, subarctic forests & wide ______& seas
In both total land area & geographic extent, Russia is the worlds largest country covering about _____ million square miles that stretches across parts of ______continents---______
Mountains & Plateaus punctuate the generally ______landscape of Russia

Ural Mountains

The ______Mountains mark the traditional ______between European Russia______Russia
The Urals are an old, worn-down series of mountain ranges running ______to ______with an average height of about ______feet
Though modest in height the Urals are rich in ______& minerals fuels such as _____ & natural gas
Mount Narodnaya (also known as Naroda and Poznurr) is the highest ______of the Urals in Russia with an elevation is ______feet
It is the highest point in European Russia outside the ______(geopolitical region at the border of EuropeAsia, situated between the Black & the Caspian sea)

Caucasus Mountains

In southwestern Russia the ______“Caucasus Mountains” lie between the ______CaspianSeas
The Caucasus Mountains formed largely as the result of a ______plate collision between the ______plate moving northward with respect to the ______plate
The entire region is regularly subjected to strong ______from this activity
This area attracts many human ______because of its moderate ______
The Caucasus Mountains reach their highest elevation at “______” an extinct ______that reaches 18,150 feet (Russia’s ______point)

Central Siberian Plateau

The “Central Siberia Plateau” is made up of sharply demarcated surfaces of varying ______occupying most of ______between the ______rivers covering ______of Siberia
To the ______of the plateau are the ______Mountains (the highest point rising to 5,580 feet) while to the ______are the Eastern Sayan & the Baikal Mountains
To the east the plateau gives way to the low-lying land of the “______” (Turkic Peoples)
Mountain ranges also form a ______natural ______between RussiaChina
These mountains mark the southeastern ______of the “Central Siberian Plateau”---a rolling ______with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 feet
Throughout the plateau swiftly flowing ______have carved many ______
The climate is ______with short warm summers & long and very cold winters with most of the territory covered with ______forests with it’s major river being theLower ______
Known geologically as the “______” (a large region of volcanic rock), mineral resources here are very ______include coal, iron ore, gold, ______, diamondsnatural ______
Russia is ______only to South ______in the production of platinum, producing ______ of all the world's supply

Russian Plain (Northern European Plain/East European Plain)

Most of European Russia is part of or an ______of the Northern European Plain, also known as the “______” that sweeps across western & central ______into ______
It is the largest mountain-______part of the European landscape spanning approximately 1,544,408square miles & averages about 557 feet in elevation with the highest point of the plain, located in the “Valdai Hills” at 1,138 feet
Valdai Hills is an upland region in north-west of central Russia running north-south, about midway between ______
In Russia the northern part of this plain is very ______& poorly ______, resulting in many ______
The southern part of the plain has ______waterways & a rich black soil known as “______” that supports the production of wheat, ______, rye, oats & other ______
About ______of the Russian ______lives in the Northern European Plain
The region is home to Russia’s most ______cities including Moscow---Capital & St. Petersburg

West Siberian Plain

Farther to the east the Ural Mountains______the Northern European Plan from another vast plains area known as the “______Siberian Plain”--- mostly in the territory of ______
With almost ____ million square miles it is one of the world’s largest areas of “______” (flatland)
More than ______is less than 330 feet above ______level
At its ______, this plain stretches from the ______Ocean to the grasslands of Central ______
Its lowland areas are poorly ______& consists of some of the worlds largest ______(floodplains)

Water Systems

Russia’s water systems include long ______, seas & ______that provide access to other parts of the world______that are also important for ______activities in the country
Russia’s has the worlds longest ______coastline stretching ______miles---from Arctic Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Some of the worlds ______rivers flow through Russia, ______a large portion of the land & providing water for ______
They also serve as ______routes or sources of electric power for many parts of the country
Most of Russia’ longest rivers (carry ______of the country’s water) are located in ______(25% of the population)

Black Sea

The Black Sea provides Russia with a ______-water outlet to the Aegean & Mediterranean Sea through 3 ______controlled ______(the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara & the Dardanelles)
The Black Sea is ______by Europe, Anatolia & the Caucasus & is ultimately ______to the ______Ocean via the Mediterranean & the Aegean Seas various straits
The Bosphorus Strait connects it to the Sea of ______& the Strait of the ______connects that sea to the ______Sea region of the ______
These waters separate eastern ______& western ______
The Black Sea has an area of 168,500 square miles a maximum depth of ______feet & a volume of 547,000 131,200 cubic miles
Why is it called the “Black Sea”
A lack of ______in the water prevents the development of microorganisms, making it appear black
Sailors of long ago, if caught in a storm, usually died because of the absence of islands at which to harbor & the ferocity of the storms that hit (The Sea of ______)
The intense fogs develop over the Black sea______the light, making the water appear black & at a certain depth its waters become ______
The Greeks assigned ______for the ______ of the compass — black referring to the north & red referring to the south (Red Sea, Yellow Sea & White Sea)

Caspian Sea

A ______lake located in a deep depression that is the largest ______body of water in the world with a surface area of 143,200 square miles & a volume of 18,800 cubic miles
It accounts for 40 to 44% of the total ______waters of the ______
______flow into the Caspian but there is no outlet to the ______
Over time water levels in the Caspian Sea______due to ______& inflow of freshwater

LakeBaikal

Lake “Baikal” lies in Southern Siberia & at nearly 400 miles long, 40 miles wide & over 1 mile deep it is the ______largest lake in Asia & the ______freshwater lake in the world
It is estimated to contain ______ of the Earth’s total supply of freshwater & is also the worlds ______lake (25 million years old)

VolgaRiver

Western Russia’s “VolgaRiver” is the ______longest river & most ______river in ______
The Volga & its tributaries ______much of the ______part of Russia’s Northern European Plain
They connect ______to the ______Sea & also link the Volga to the ______Sea providing a ______route to northern Europe as well as hydroelectricity, drinking water & water for irrigation
______of Russia’s water ______travels along the Volga

Siberia Rivers

The Ob’, Irtysh, Yenisey & ______are among the world’s largest river ______which flow north to the ______Ocean

Amur River

The “Amur River” drains eastward forming the border between ______for about 1,000 miles
Influenced by summer ______winds from the southeast, the Amur RiverValley is ______than the rest of Siberia & is Siberia’s main ______area & is the world’s ______longest river

Natural Resources

Russia’s physical geography is both a ______& a ______
The country holds an abundance of natural ______but much of this wealth lies in ______& climatically ______areas & is difficult to tap or utilize
Russia has ______reserves of mineral resources & is especially rich in ______fuels
Russia holds large deposits of ______of the worlds ______however the country’s biggest ______fields lie in remote areas of eastern ______
Russia is also a leading producer of natural ______but much of this resource is located in northern Siberia
Russia also leads the world in ______production & ranks among the top ____ producers of aluminum, ______& platinum-group ______
The rivers also make Russia a leading producer of ______power

Agriculture

Only ______ofRussia’s land can support ______because of the cold climate but this is enough farmland to support the population with ______
The “______” is about 250 million acres that stretch from the Ukraine to southwestern Siberia
______crops from where they are grown in the “______” soils of the south to cities in the north is a challenge since the ______are great
______of the worlds ______lies in Russia
Pine, ______, spruce, & ______are the types of timber
Because of ______farming & forest ______, forests are shrinking by _____ million acres a year

Aquaculture

______are important to the Russian ______& economy
______from the Pacific Oceanherring, cod, & halibut from the ______Ocean support a flourishing fishing industry
The supply of world famous Russian “______” or (saltedfish eggs) has declined due to ______built on the Volga river that has interrupted the migration of the sturgeon that provide eggs ---(expensive delicacy)

CLIMATE & VEGETATION

Much of Russia experiences extreme ______& long ______because of its location in the ______latitudes of the Eurasian landmass
In the county’s remotest northern plateaus the harsh terrain softens only during the very brief ______

High Latitude Regions

Most of Russia is located in the ______latitudes & has a ______climate characterized by long cold winters & short cool summers with ______temperatures varying greatly
______temperatures often fall below -33F & ______temperatures average 64F
The coldest winter temperatures occur in eastern ______(68N latitude) with January temperatures often falling ______-90F
______air from the ______moderates the temperature in western Russia but most of Russia lies well within the Eurasian landmass---far away from any moderating ocean ______
As a result much of the country’s ______has more ______variations in temperatures & little precipitation
This effect within the interior portions of a landmass is called “______”

Tundra (High Latitude)

Tundra is located in the far______part of Russia
A vast ______plain that is almost entirely located in ______(661,2 N latitude)
Tundra covers ______of Russia’s land & only mosses, lichens, ______, & dwarf shrubs grow in the region due to the ______soil in the permafrost

Subarctic (High Latitude)

Russia’s ______climate region is the subarctic which lies south of the Tundra & has some of the worlds ______temperatures
For ______days each year ______covers the ground
The subarctic climate supports the “______” (a boreal forest belt that covers 2/5 of western Russia & extends into much of Siberia)
About the size of the ______the Taiga is the worlds largest ______forest containing about ______of the worlds softwood timber

Mid-Latitude Regions

Russia’s mid-latitude climates are much ______than the high latitude climates with milder winters & ______summers
Although still relatively ______these climates are where most Russians ______& where much of Russia’s ______production takes place

Humid Continental (Mid-Latitude)

Most of Russia’s Northern European Plain & a small part of southern Siberia have humid ______climate
______lies in this region with ______ranging from 9F---14F in January to 66F---99F in July
Contains mixed forests & ______& is deal for growing ______

Steppe Climate (Mid-Latitude)

An area between the ______Seas north of the Caucasus Mountains make up the Steppe climate region
The temperate ______areas has dry summers & long, cold dry winters with swirling winds & blowing snow
The Steppe’s chernozem soil is rich in ______matter that enables many plants to flourish however the introduction of ______plants & ______by animals has caused damage

War & Winter

Russia’s ______climate played an important role in the defeat of ______in the War of 1812
Napoleon’s army entered Russiabut Russian troops ______, ______everything including Moscowalong the way “______”
Napoleon intended to use ______for shelter & food & forced to turn back during the winter after realizing Moscow was in flames & there would be no food or shelter
Fewer than 40,000 of the 600,000 soldiers returned to Poland---end of Napoleon’s ______(no army to fight)

WHATMAKES IT A CULTURAL REGION

Russia is ______by its people& though the region is home to dozens of ethnic groups, more than ______of the people are ______Russianswho share a common language, common history & a long tradition of strong central government
For most of the 1900s Russia was part of the ______& led by ______dictators which put forth a government ______economy
In the early 1990s the Soviet union______& the Russians adopted ______& a ______economy

Population Patterns

Russia today is home to one of the widest varieties of ethnic groups in the world---______different ethnic groups making up the ______million people that live in Russia
An “______” is a group of people that shares a common ancestry, language, religion, customs, and or combination of these
Ethnic Russians are part of a larger ethnic group who have dominated the country’s politics culture known as the “______” (a linguistic & ethnic branch of Indo-European peoples that include Poles, Serbs, Ukrainians & other eastern Europeans)---______of the population
“Caucasian People”are another large group of diverse peoples that live in the ______region (southwesternRussia)
“______Peoples” are a group of people that live in the Caucasus area the middle ______area
About ______ of all Russians live in the western Russiadue to the rich soil, waterways & milder ______
It is also home to the biggest ______areas as well as Russia’s capital ______(largest industrial city)
East of the Ural Mountains only ______of Russia’s population lives in ______due to the frozen tundra, mountains & ______that make this area unsuitable for ______
During the Soviet era many people moved ______of the country to non-Russian Republicsof the Soviet Unionbecause of ______conditions but now many people are moving ______to their “______” which is causing a ______population growth
Today more people are moving ______than moving ______

Culture

Since the fall of the Soviet Union millions of Russians are ______their faiths & ______& expressing themselves ______

Language & Religion

Although more than _____ languages are spoken in Russia today, ______is the country’s official language
______Russians generally speak only this language while others are ______& speak their own language
The Soviet Government strictly ______religious practices______against certain groups
The Government promoted ______(belief that there is no God or other supreme being) until the late 1980s they began to relax its restrictions on religion
The “______” Church (Christianity) had been central to Russian culture for ______years before the ______revolution in 1917
Today most Russians who claim a religious affiliation belong to the ______branch of the ______Church
Today ______(Sunni branch) is ______most practiced religion (Caucasus region) followed by Roman Catholic______
People practicing ______ were persecuted in Russia by only being allowed to ______in certain areas, not being able to own ______& often being targets of ______(pogroms)
As a result many ______migrated to the ______
______ is practiced in regions near the Caspian Sea with only a small number of Buddhists living in some of the larger cities such as St. PetersburgMoscow (______to Buddhist centers & facilities)

Education & Healthcare

During the Soviet Era ______was free but mandatory with an emphasis placed on ______rather than language, history & literature
This produced generations of ______-focused government officials who along with prominent educators, ______& artists made up the Soviet “______”---intellectual elite
After the ______- of the Soviet Union the curriculum changed dramatically with a more ______approach to subjects that included language, ______& literature
Today students have a ______of different types of ______but the country’s economy has limited school ______
Students ______school because they are focusing on earning ______ rather than an education & teachers leave the teaching profession due to low ______ & low morale
Russia is experiencing a demographic decline as the quality & availability of ______has worsened
The average ______expectancy in Russia is ______years old---12 years shorter than the U.S.
Infant mortality rate is ______---6.6 in the U.S. (per 1,000 births)
Since 1992 Russia has experienced a “______population growth” due to lifestyle changes such as smoking ______, Drinking ______& Poor healthcare
Additionally an ______population, rising infertility & increasing rates of infectious ______(AIDS) have put a strain on an already struggling healthcare system
The ______are that are still run by the government are often ______& lose capable medical staff because of poor ______

The Arts

The arts in Russia were often inspired by ______but changed its focus to nonreligious themes in the early 1500s when Peter the Great introduced ______culture
The Soviet government ______artistic expression & believed that it was the artist’s duty to ______the government’s achievements in their work---“______”
Artists who did not follow these guidelines were ______or ______
Some artists ______their works out of Russia on onto the “______” for sale
These items would become ______in other countries because they were hard to get---very ______

Family Life & Leisure

Living conditions affect family life & due to ______shortages most families live in large ______blocks
The apartments are usually very ______with each having a small kitchen, 1 bedroom, living room & 1 bathroom for a family of ______
______family members often live together (grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins)
______is popular & Russians often attend concerts, theater & ______
Sports (amateur & professional) are also popular---______, track & field & ______skating

History & Government

Russia’s historical roots go back to the 600s when Slav farmers, hunters & fishers settled near the ______of the Northern ______Plain
Since the ______of the Soviet Union, Russians have struggled to move beyond the ______period of their past & although difficult, the country is making steps toward ______& a market economy

Rise & Fall Of Soviet Union

The ______invaded in 1294 & formed the “Mongol Empire” led by Genghis ______
Prince “Ivan III” (Ivan the ______) brought many Slav (ethnic linguistic branch of Indo-European peoples)territories under his control by ______the Mongol rule in Russia by refusing to pay tribute
Why was he so GREAT??---glad you asked
He ______the territory of his state, ______the Kremlin in Moscow, laid the foundations of the Russian State that became a huge ______& was had one of the ______reigns of any Russian ruler---43 years (1462-1505)
He built huge fortress in Moscow (Kremlin) & filled with ______
Ivan died in 1505, leaving ______to his son Vasili

Ivan the IV (Ivan III’s grandson) became first crowned ______in 1533 7 ruled until his death in 1584
Crushed all ______the borders (Ivan the ______)
Why was he so TERRIBLE??---u probably shouldn’t have asked
In 1560, Ivan IV thought that many of his top military personnel were responsible for the ______of his wife suspected them of trying to replace Ivan IV with his ______
Those military personnel refused to swear an oath of allegiance to Ivan’s son when Ivan was very sick so this led to Ivan IV ______many of his top military members as well as at least ______other people that were killed at Ivan’s request through the years
Ivan IV beat his daughter-in-law for wearing ______clothing while she was ______(she showedtoo much skin)causeing her to lose her child (miscarriage) & when his son (Lil’ Ivan) confronted his father over this action a ______ensued in which Ivan IV hit his son in the head with a ______- staff (sharpe pointed knife) causing the death of Ivan’s son

The next dynasty “______Czars” ruled from 1613 until the Russian ______in 1917

Russian Revolution