Russia Region
• Soviet Union – single country 1917-1991
– Also called “U.S.S.R.”
• Now 15 separate countries
Russia’s History •
Before 1917
– Russian Empire
– Led by a czar (king)
History
• Revolution in 1917
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Led by Vladimir Lenin 
Overthrew Czar
Communism began (‘til 1991)
Name changed to Soviet Union
Russia
• Largest country in world
• Compared to USA…
Russia
• On 2 continents – Europe & Asia
• What divides Europe & Asia?
Europe / Asia Division
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Black Sea
Caucasus Mtns.
Caspian Sea
Ural Mtns.
Caucasus Mtns.
&
• Highest Mountains of Europe
– Mt. Elbrus, 18,500’
Ural Mtns.
• ~2000’
CAUCASUS MTNS - GEORGIA
Siberia
• E. Russia
• E. of Urals
Siberia
• Extreme
Temperatures
– Summer…
– Winter…
– Coldest
inhabited…
Siberia
• Mostly “Taiga” Forest
– Largest…
• Tundra Grasses
– Arctic Coast
Tundra – Reindeer (Caribou) Herding
Siberia
• Oil
• Russia…
Lake Baikal
• Deepest Lake…
• 20% of World’s…
Kamchatka
• On Pacific Ring of Fire
– Volcanoes
http://volcanogeek.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/kamchatka-with-bear.jpg
Russia’s Population
• Russia: #9 in World
• Population is Declining
Religion in Russia
• Mostly Orthodox Christian
Russian Cities
• Moscow
– Capital & Largest City
St. Petersburg
• Capital, 1700s-1917
St. Petersburg
• “Venice of the North”
St. Petersburg
• Hermitage Museum
– Was Czar’s Palace
Central Asia
• Kazakhstan
• Uzbekistan
• Turkmenistan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan
RELIGION
• Islam (Muslims)
Climate of Central Asia
• Desert & Semi-desert
• Very Cold Winters
Aral Sea
• Between Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan
• Rivers diverted for irrigation
– Cotton, Rice
• Less Water reaches the Aral Sea
– Aral Sea is shrinking
Aral Sea
• Lost 75% of its Volume since 1960
Aral Sea