Artwork: Ivan Shishkin

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Russia and the Environment
Artwork Ivan Shishkin
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• 5 Physiographic Regions
• Russian Plain
• Urals
• Central Siberian Plateau
• Western Siberian Plateau
• Mountain Rim

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• Climate
• Severe continental climate
• Much of land area is above 60N
• Permafrost
• Frozen seaports in the north

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Russian, Transcaucasus, Central Asias
Physiographic Regions
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Russias 5 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
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Siberian Tundra
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2. Taiga- ecological zone of boreal coniferous
forest 3. Mixed forest- wooded area comprised
of a variety of tree species, both hardwoods and
softwoods
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4. Steppe - semiarid, treeless, grassland
plains photo H. Zeitler
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5. Mountain Rim example Mountain in Vladivostok
Region, Russia
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• 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

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Areas of Environmental Degradation
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Russian Environmental Degradation Chernobyl
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Lake Baykal
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• Russians in Two Different Landscapes
• Film 1 The Steppes of North Caucasus
• Film Questions
• What kind of climatic and physiographic
  characteristics exist in this part of Russia?
• How do people make a living here?
• How do they adjust to this climate and landscape?
• What are some of the political and ecological
  challenges?

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• Film 2 Norilsk Life in the Arctic
• Film Questions
• What kind of climatic and physiographic
  characteristics exist in this part of Russia?
• How do people make a living here?
• How do they adjust to this climate and landscape?
• What are some of the political and ecological
  challenges?
• How are indigenous people impacted by this way of
  making a living?