A Regional Overview of Russia and the Newly Independent States
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Russia and the Newly Independent States are comprised of
12 countries:
Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
Physical Features:
Feature 1
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains, which are also called the Stone Belt, extend for 2500km from the Kazakh steppes to the frozen coast of the Artic Ocean. The mountain range is divided into five regions: South, Middle, North, Sub-Artic, and Artic Urals. The widest part is called the South Urals. The highest mountains of the South Urals-Yamantau and Bolshoi leremele-are located in the western row of ridges. The middle Urals are the most populated part of the mountain range. The major transport routes connecting Russia and Siberia pass through this section of the Urals. (Peakware, 1998)
Feature 2
Altai Mountains
The Altai mountain range extends 1,200 miles in a southeast-northwest direction. The range goes through the countries of China, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan. The highest peak is Belukha is Russia with an elevation of 14,783 feet. The range is divided into three sub-regions: the Altai proper, the Mongolian Altai and the Gobi Altai. The range is the highest mountain system is southern Siberia. The Katun River is a main attraction for the Altai mountain range bringing in tourists who want to enjoy water activities. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011)
Feature 3
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains are located in Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Serbia. They experience a relatively mild temperature in the winter time with the lower winter temperature around -10 to -15 C. In summer it usually warm and the mountains experience quite a bit of rainfall. The highest point is Gerlachovsky stit at 8,711 feet. The mountain range is usually divided into three parts: the Western Carpathians, the Eastern Carpathians and the Southern Carpathians. The range is the second longest in Europe at 1,056 miles. (Green Ukraine, 2009)
Feature 4
Katun River
The Katun is a river that runs through the Altai Mountains in the Altai Republic of Russia. Its coordinates are 52'25'54"N 85'01'26"E. The river is approximately 428 miles long and its source is the Katun Glacier. The river freezes in late November and thaws in April. It is fed by melting glaciers, smaller rivers and the Chuya River. It looks green because of all the limestone in the water. The river is a mecca for tourists because of the excellent waters for rafting, fishing and camping. (Way to Russia, 2009)
Feature 5
West Siberian Plain
The West Siberian Plain is the largest plain in the world. It is located East of the Ural Mountains and lies mostly in Russia. It covers more than 975,000 square miles. It is a vast lowland with more than 50 percent less than 330 feet above sea level. The plain has eight distinct vegetation regions: tundra, forest-tundra, northern taiga, middle taiga, southern taiga, sub-taiga forest, forest-steppe, and steppe. Winters are harsh and long with the climate either being sub-Artic or continental. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 2006)
12 countries:
Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
Physical Features:
Feature 1
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains, which are also called the Stone Belt, extend for 2500km from the Kazakh steppes to the frozen coast of the Artic Ocean. The mountain range is divided into five regions: South, Middle, North, Sub-Artic, and Artic Urals. The widest part is called the South Urals. The highest mountains of the South Urals-Yamantau and Bolshoi leremele-are located in the western row of ridges. The middle Urals are the most populated part of the mountain range. The major transport routes connecting Russia and Siberia pass through this section of the Urals. (Peakware, 1998)
Feature 2
Altai Mountains
The Altai mountain range extends 1,200 miles in a southeast-northwest direction. The range goes through the countries of China, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan. The highest peak is Belukha is Russia with an elevation of 14,783 feet. The range is divided into three sub-regions: the Altai proper, the Mongolian Altai and the Gobi Altai. The range is the highest mountain system is southern Siberia. The Katun River is a main attraction for the Altai mountain range bringing in tourists who want to enjoy water activities. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011)
Feature 3
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains are located in Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Serbia. They experience a relatively mild temperature in the winter time with the lower winter temperature around -10 to -15 C. In summer it usually warm and the mountains experience quite a bit of rainfall. The highest point is Gerlachovsky stit at 8,711 feet. The mountain range is usually divided into three parts: the Western Carpathians, the Eastern Carpathians and the Southern Carpathians. The range is the second longest in Europe at 1,056 miles. (Green Ukraine, 2009)
Feature 4
Katun River
The Katun is a river that runs through the Altai Mountains in the Altai Republic of Russia. Its coordinates are 52'25'54"N 85'01'26"E. The river is approximately 428 miles long and its source is the Katun Glacier. The river freezes in late November and thaws in April. It is fed by melting glaciers, smaller rivers and the Chuya River. It looks green because of all the limestone in the water. The river is a mecca for tourists because of the excellent waters for rafting, fishing and camping. (Way to Russia, 2009)
Feature 5
West Siberian Plain
The West Siberian Plain is the largest plain in the world. It is located East of the Ural Mountains and lies mostly in Russia. It covers more than 975,000 square miles. It is a vast lowland with more than 50 percent less than 330 feet above sea level. The plain has eight distinct vegetation regions: tundra, forest-tundra, northern taiga, middle taiga, southern taiga, sub-taiga forest, forest-steppe, and steppe. Winters are harsh and long with the climate either being sub-Artic or continental. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 2006)
Climate:
In this region winters are long, cold and experiencing only limited daytime hours. Summers are short, with longer days and can range from cool to hot. Precipitation in the summer months comes from rains that come in from the Atlantic Ocean. Winter precipitation involves massive amounts of snowfall. The region's climates include Continental-winter dry, Continental-moist all year and Arctic. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
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Resources:
Resource 1
Oil
The largest producer of natural gas and oil in this region is Russia. The oil industry and its export are key to the region's economic stability. Countless jobs rely on this business. Russia is the world's largest exporter of natural gas and the second-largest exporter. Private oil companies account for more than half of Russia's federal taxes. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resource 2
Platinum
Russia is the largest producer of platinum in the world. Large deposits of platinum were discovered in the Ural Mountains in the early 19th century and mining began in 1823. Kondyr and Korvak mines are Russia's two largest producers of platinum. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Environmental Issues:
Issue 1
Urban and Industrial Pollution
Urban and industrial pollution swept the region during Soviet times. New industries were rapidly developing which made the cities around them expand quickly. There was a disregard for the proper disposal of chemical and industrial waste. The rapidly expanding population of the cities added to the problem of pollution. Nonpoint sources of pollution include raw sewage, automobile exhaust and agricultural chemicals. Rural pollution became just as severe as urban pollution. East of the Ural Mountains industries send chemical and raw sewage directly into the rivers of the area. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Issue 2
Nuclear Waste
This region is the worst in the creation and spreading of nuclear waste in the world. In the past the Soviet military set off approximately 500 nuclear explosions in the deserts of Kazakhstan. The most famous nuclear disaster took place in Chernobyl in 1986. Chernobyl is located in the Ukraine and the explosion of the nuclear power plant spread throughout this region and Eastern Europe. Affected areas include Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Scandinavia. Currently at Soviet military sites there is more than 20 times the amount of radiation in the soil than was released during the Chernobyl explosion. Russia and Kazakhstan have a business with the rest of the world in the disposal of nuclear waste. They claim to dispose of other countries waste by safely storing it and using the profits from this business to clean up nuclear waste in their own countries. To date there have not been any environmental tests conducted to prove the accuracy of these statements. France is one of the biggest of this region's clients in this business. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Population Patterns:
European Asia is the most heavily populated zone in the region with an average of 22 people per square mile. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the region experienced a severe decline in population. This was due to the severe depression that set upon the citizens when the job market collapsed after the Soviet break up. Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia was considered a developed nation with a high standard of living. Post breakup the country spiraled into crisis. More Russians die from alcohol poisoning than any other reason. Male suicide rates are high and often related to alcohol abuse. The depression that set in also decreased the life expenctancy of both males and females. Male life expentancy fell from 63.9 to 59 and females 74.4-72 years of age. The cause of the depression and alcohol abuse stemmed from the social corruption after the breakup and loss of jobs. Divorces rates also skyrocketed with 6 out of every 10 marriages ending in divorce. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Role Of Gender:
Women have always been encouraged to work outside of the home in this region. In the 1970's 90 percent of women in Russia were working full time. Women in this country are expected to work the "double day" which seems prevalent in any country where women are expected to work outside the home. Women are still expected to maintain the household and raise the children on top of working full time. Women often put in longer days in Russian factories and then are expected to take care of the cooking, cleaning and housework. The females of this region are often better educated than men but do not hold as much political power. After the breakup of the Soviet Union women did not far well in the political arena because of age old bias about a women's place. The numbers of women in politics are increasing. The wages of women in Russia are more than 30 percent less than their male counterparts. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Transportation:
Transportation in this region was poorly designed in relation to its geography and tremendous size. Water transport is the cheapest mode but is not very efficient. Most rivers in Russia run North to South and the transportation needs are from East to West. The development of transportation corridors has been limited to the construction season in this region because of the long, harsh winters and complex landscapes. Many of the region's citizens cannot afford a car because of the collapsed job market so other modes of transportation have always been needed. The main roadway through this region is the Trans-Siberian Highway, which parallels the railroad. The highway is not yet completed making rail service the top transportation service in Russia. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religions
Religion 1
Islam
Islam is the main religion throughout this region. It was suppressed during the Soviet reign but has experienced a resurgence since the Soviet fall. Muslim identity has become more important in the political arena and the observance of Islam beliefs has become open in the public. The region does worry about the extremist Islamic groups from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Officials say that the fear of these groups has led to the deaths of innocent Muslims. Thousands of Muslim men get arrested and detained because of the fear in this region due to the terrorist activity of the extremist groups. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religion
Orthodox Christianity
Is the predominant religion of the area after Islamic beliefs. Christianity was brought into the region in about 1000 via Constantinople and was instrumental in the development of Ukraine and European Russia. Slavic art and architecture were influenced by Greek Christian missionaries. The missionaries are brought the Cyrillic alphabet which is still used in most of the region's countries. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Country of Focus:
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a huge country the size of Western Europe that has vast mineral resources. It has varied geological features with stretches of mountains, energy-rich lowlands, Siberian climate and terrain, through the arid , steppes of the central region. Its coordinates are 51'10'N71'30'E. Its official language is Kazakh with Russian being its second official language. It was the last Soviet republic to declare itself an independent nation following the breakup of the Soviet Union. According to the 2009 census 60% of people are Kazakh, 25% are Russian and the remaining are Uzbek. It has a population of more than 16 million people. The largest city in Kazakhstan is Almaty. The nation is culturally and ethnically diverse with religious freedom. Islamic belief makes up about 70% of the nation's beliefs with Christianity making up most of the rest. The country, like Russia, relies on the pil industry for its economic growth and development. (BBC News, 2011)
Technology:
Russia has been experiencing strong economic growth in recent years due to its oil resources and production but also partially from its burgeoning technological advancements. The United States has been encouraging the tehnological advancement of this region because of the overall reliance the world has on technology. The Strategy for the Development of Russia's Information Society was approved in Russia in 2007 to bolster the industry. Russia remains stuck on its reliance of natural gas but is showing encouraging signs with the passing of the Society. (Institute of Contemporary Development, 2008)
References:
Pulsipher, A. & Pulsipher L. (2008) World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives (4th Edition) New York: Freeman Company
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (2006) Russia. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38578/Russia
Way to Russia (2009) Where to Go at Altai Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.waytorussia.net/Altay/Katun.html
Green Ukraine (2009) Guide to the Carpathian Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.green/ukraine.com/
Peakware (1998) Ural Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.peakware.com/areas.html
The Institute of Contemporary Development. (2008). Information Technology and Russia's Future. Retrieved from: http://www.riocenter.ru/en/_priorities/competitive_economy
BBC News (2011) Kazakhstan: Country Profile. Retrieved from: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.ci.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country
Photos: Creative Commons. (2011) Retrieved from: http://www.weebly.com/
Resource 1
Oil
The largest producer of natural gas and oil in this region is Russia. The oil industry and its export are key to the region's economic stability. Countless jobs rely on this business. Russia is the world's largest exporter of natural gas and the second-largest exporter. Private oil companies account for more than half of Russia's federal taxes. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resource 2
Platinum
Russia is the largest producer of platinum in the world. Large deposits of platinum were discovered in the Ural Mountains in the early 19th century and mining began in 1823. Kondyr and Korvak mines are Russia's two largest producers of platinum. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Environmental Issues:
Issue 1
Urban and Industrial Pollution
Urban and industrial pollution swept the region during Soviet times. New industries were rapidly developing which made the cities around them expand quickly. There was a disregard for the proper disposal of chemical and industrial waste. The rapidly expanding population of the cities added to the problem of pollution. Nonpoint sources of pollution include raw sewage, automobile exhaust and agricultural chemicals. Rural pollution became just as severe as urban pollution. East of the Ural Mountains industries send chemical and raw sewage directly into the rivers of the area. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Issue 2
Nuclear Waste
This region is the worst in the creation and spreading of nuclear waste in the world. In the past the Soviet military set off approximately 500 nuclear explosions in the deserts of Kazakhstan. The most famous nuclear disaster took place in Chernobyl in 1986. Chernobyl is located in the Ukraine and the explosion of the nuclear power plant spread throughout this region and Eastern Europe. Affected areas include Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Scandinavia. Currently at Soviet military sites there is more than 20 times the amount of radiation in the soil than was released during the Chernobyl explosion. Russia and Kazakhstan have a business with the rest of the world in the disposal of nuclear waste. They claim to dispose of other countries waste by safely storing it and using the profits from this business to clean up nuclear waste in their own countries. To date there have not been any environmental tests conducted to prove the accuracy of these statements. France is one of the biggest of this region's clients in this business. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Population Patterns:
European Asia is the most heavily populated zone in the region with an average of 22 people per square mile. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the region experienced a severe decline in population. This was due to the severe depression that set upon the citizens when the job market collapsed after the Soviet break up. Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia was considered a developed nation with a high standard of living. Post breakup the country spiraled into crisis. More Russians die from alcohol poisoning than any other reason. Male suicide rates are high and often related to alcohol abuse. The depression that set in also decreased the life expenctancy of both males and females. Male life expentancy fell from 63.9 to 59 and females 74.4-72 years of age. The cause of the depression and alcohol abuse stemmed from the social corruption after the breakup and loss of jobs. Divorces rates also skyrocketed with 6 out of every 10 marriages ending in divorce. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Role Of Gender:
Women have always been encouraged to work outside of the home in this region. In the 1970's 90 percent of women in Russia were working full time. Women in this country are expected to work the "double day" which seems prevalent in any country where women are expected to work outside the home. Women are still expected to maintain the household and raise the children on top of working full time. Women often put in longer days in Russian factories and then are expected to take care of the cooking, cleaning and housework. The females of this region are often better educated than men but do not hold as much political power. After the breakup of the Soviet Union women did not far well in the political arena because of age old bias about a women's place. The numbers of women in politics are increasing. The wages of women in Russia are more than 30 percent less than their male counterparts. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Transportation:
Transportation in this region was poorly designed in relation to its geography and tremendous size. Water transport is the cheapest mode but is not very efficient. Most rivers in Russia run North to South and the transportation needs are from East to West. The development of transportation corridors has been limited to the construction season in this region because of the long, harsh winters and complex landscapes. Many of the region's citizens cannot afford a car because of the collapsed job market so other modes of transportation have always been needed. The main roadway through this region is the Trans-Siberian Highway, which parallels the railroad. The highway is not yet completed making rail service the top transportation service in Russia. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religions
Religion 1
Islam
Islam is the main religion throughout this region. It was suppressed during the Soviet reign but has experienced a resurgence since the Soviet fall. Muslim identity has become more important in the political arena and the observance of Islam beliefs has become open in the public. The region does worry about the extremist Islamic groups from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Officials say that the fear of these groups has led to the deaths of innocent Muslims. Thousands of Muslim men get arrested and detained because of the fear in this region due to the terrorist activity of the extremist groups. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religion
Orthodox Christianity
Is the predominant religion of the area after Islamic beliefs. Christianity was brought into the region in about 1000 via Constantinople and was instrumental in the development of Ukraine and European Russia. Slavic art and architecture were influenced by Greek Christian missionaries. The missionaries are brought the Cyrillic alphabet which is still used in most of the region's countries. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Country of Focus:
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a huge country the size of Western Europe that has vast mineral resources. It has varied geological features with stretches of mountains, energy-rich lowlands, Siberian climate and terrain, through the arid , steppes of the central region. Its coordinates are 51'10'N71'30'E. Its official language is Kazakh with Russian being its second official language. It was the last Soviet republic to declare itself an independent nation following the breakup of the Soviet Union. According to the 2009 census 60% of people are Kazakh, 25% are Russian and the remaining are Uzbek. It has a population of more than 16 million people. The largest city in Kazakhstan is Almaty. The nation is culturally and ethnically diverse with religious freedom. Islamic belief makes up about 70% of the nation's beliefs with Christianity making up most of the rest. The country, like Russia, relies on the pil industry for its economic growth and development. (BBC News, 2011)
Technology:
Russia has been experiencing strong economic growth in recent years due to its oil resources and production but also partially from its burgeoning technological advancements. The United States has been encouraging the tehnological advancement of this region because of the overall reliance the world has on technology. The Strategy for the Development of Russia's Information Society was approved in Russia in 2007 to bolster the industry. Russia remains stuck on its reliance of natural gas but is showing encouraging signs with the passing of the Society. (Institute of Contemporary Development, 2008)
References:
Pulsipher, A. & Pulsipher L. (2008) World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives (4th Edition) New York: Freeman Company
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (2006) Russia. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38578/Russia
Way to Russia (2009) Where to Go at Altai Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.waytorussia.net/Altay/Katun.html
Green Ukraine (2009) Guide to the Carpathian Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.green/ukraine.com/
Peakware (1998) Ural Mountains. Retrieved from: http://www.peakware.com/areas.html
The Institute of Contemporary Development. (2008). Information Technology and Russia's Future. Retrieved from: http://www.riocenter.ru/en/_priorities/competitive_economy
BBC News (2011) Kazakhstan: Country Profile. Retrieved from: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.ci.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country
Photos: Creative Commons. (2011) Retrieved from: http://www.weebly.com/