RussiaandCentralAsia.pptVIP

Russia and Central Asia Leading countries GDP-- Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan Land Size--Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan Population--Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Physical Characteristics Vast time zone--Spans two continents (Europe and Asia), covers 11 time zones Vast area of tundra, taiga, permafrost, and steppe varied climate regions huge black earth belt (rich Chernozem soil) Mountains Caucasus Ural Mountains (divide Europe from Asia) Siberia (the sleeping land), located east of the Urals Major oil, natural gas, and mineral resoures Many water features (be able to put on a map) Volga River Ob River Amur River Lake Baikal Caspian Sea Aral Sea Bering Strait Pacific Ocean Arctic Ocean Physical Characteristics Some rivers flow northward to the Arctic Ocean Economic Characteristics Transition from communist to free market economy Farming and Industry concentrated in the Fertile Triangle region, home of rich Chernozem soils (wheat farming) Infrastructure--Trans Siberian Railroad plus systems of rivers, and canals and railroads Energy resources--Hydroelectric power, oil and natural gas Economic characteristics cont. Russian natural resources are not fully developed due to climate, limited transportation links, and vastness of the country Foreign competition for investment in the region (oil pipeline) widespread pollution shrinking of the Aral Sea due to the diverting of rivers feeding the sea (irrigation) political and economic difficulties after the breakup of the Soviet Union cotton production in Central Asia Cultural Characteristics Diverse ethnic groups, customs, and traditions (many of Turkic and Mongol heritage) Cultural Heritage Ballet Fabergé eggs Music Icons Matrioshka dolls Oriental carpets Samovars Cultural Landscape -Russian Orthodox churches -St. Basil’s Church -Red Square -Kremlin -mosques, minarets -Siberian villages -Soviet style apartment blocks Cultural characteristics cont. Cities as a center of culture and trade Moscow S