Russia
Objective 1: Summarize the Russian geographyObjective 2: Describe history and current events in Russia.Objective 3: Analyze the complex relationships between Russia and her neighbors.
• Caucasus mountains form border between European Russia and Asia
• European Russia’s longest river – Volga runs into Caspian Sea.
• Russia’s longest river – Yenisey • Russia lacks many usable harbors and ports• Lake Baikal – holds 20% of Earth’s fresh water• Steppes – good farmland
• One of the biggest obstacles to human development in Northern Russia is permafrost.
• Trans-Siberian railroad – completed in 1905 allows for transportation from Moscow to Mongolia and sections of China!
Population
• 140 million people• Siberia – 20 people per square mile• Moscow – 10 million people (largest city)• St. Petersburg – 2nd largest city
Religion
• Russians are becoming increasingly religious (why)?
• Majority Orthodox• Other major religions include Muslims,
Protestants, and Jews.• Ethnicity: a majority of Russians are Slavic in
origin.
