RUSSIARUSSIA

Russian FederationRussian Federation

General InformationGeneral Information

Russian armed forces were badly Russian armed forces were badly beaten during WWI.beaten during WWI.

These defeats caused civil unrest These defeats caused civil unrest and rioting.and rioting.

In 1917, the Romanov Dynasty In 1917, the Romanov Dynasty (ruling family for over 300 years) fell.(ruling family for over 300 years) fell.

Vladimir Lenin and a Vladimir Lenin and a group known as the group known as the Communists seized Communists seized power.power.

The USSR was The USSR was formed.formed.

Josef Stalin became Josef Stalin became ruler and stayed in ruler and stayed in power from 1928-power from 1928-1953. 1953.

Stalin killed tens of Stalin killed tens of millions of people in millions of people in order to try to order to try to strengthen Russian strengthen Russian dominance of the dominance of the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

Soviet Society did not progress for Soviet Society did not progress for decades.decades.

General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev gained power.gained power.

Gorbachev introduced “Glasnost” Gorbachev introduced “Glasnost” meaning openness as well as meaning openness as well as “Perestroika” which means “Perestroika” which means restructuring.restructuring.

These concepts tried to modernize These concepts tried to modernize communism.communism.

Instead of reaching those goals, Soviet Instead of reaching those goals, Soviet Society splintered into 15 independent Society splintered into 15 independent republics in 12/1991.republics in 12/1991.

Russia has since made Russia has since made attempts to build a attempts to build a democratic system of democratic system of politics. politics.

They are also trying to They are also trying to build a market economy.build a market economy.

In an area known as In an area known as Chechnya, there is a Chechnya, there is a problem with rebel problem with rebel Guerilla warfare.Guerilla warfare.

LocationLocation

Absolute:Absolute:

60°N Latitude, and 100°East 60°N Latitude, and 100°East Longitude.Longitude.

Relative:Relative:

Northern Asia, East of the Ural Northern Asia, East of the Ural Mountains. Borders the Arctic Ocean. Mountains. Borders the Arctic Ocean. Wedged between Europe and the Wedged between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean.North Pacific Ocean.

Place:Place:

Approximately 1.8 Approximately 1.8 times the size of the times the size of the U.S.A.U.S.A.

Climate ranges from Climate ranges from steppes in the south steppes in the south to a more humid to a more humid feeling in most parts feeling in most parts of European Russia. of European Russia. Siberia is Subarctic, Siberia is Subarctic, and in the North, and in the North, there is frozen there is frozen tundra. tundra.

Terrain:Terrain:

Broad plains with low hills on the Broad plains with low hills on the western side of the Urals.western side of the Urals.

Natural Hazards:Natural Hazards:

Siberia is mostly Permafrost. Kuril Siberia is mostly Permafrost. Kuril Islands are subject to intense Islands are subject to intense volcanic activity. Kamchatka volcanic activity. Kamchatka Peninsula has earthquakes and Peninsula has earthquakes and volcanic activity. There are spring volcanic activity. There are spring floods and summer forest fires in floods and summer forest fires in Siberia and European Russia.Siberia and European Russia.

Ethnicity is Ethnicity is Russian.Russian.

Ethnic Ethnic Percentages:Percentages:

Russian 81.5%

Tatar 3.8%

Ukranian 3%

Chuvash 1.2%

Bashkir 0.9%

Belarusian 0.8%

Moldavian 0.7%

Other 8.1%

Religions:Religions:

Russian Orthodox, Muslim, and Russian Orthodox, Muslim, and Other.Other.

Government is a Federation.Government is a Federation.Capital is Moscow.Capital is Moscow.Unit of currency is known as the Unit of currency is known as the

ruble.ruble.

Human and Environmental Human and Environmental Interaction:Interaction:

Air pollution from Air pollution from industry.industry.

Coal fired electric plants.Coal fired electric plants. Industrial, municipal, and Industrial, municipal, and

agricultural pollution.agricultural pollution. DeforestationDeforestation Soil ErosionSoil Erosion Radioactive Radioactive

contamination.contamination. Toxic waste.Toxic waste. Obsolete pesticides.Obsolete pesticides.

Movement:Movement:RailwaysRailwaysWaterwaysWaterwaysHighwaysHighwaysPipelinesPipelinesPorts and Ports and

HarborsHarborsAirports: 2,743 Airports: 2,743

total. 471 are total. 471 are paved.paved.

Illicit Drugs:Illicit Drugs:

Cannabis, Opium, and Cannabis, Opium, and Methamphetamines are cultivated in Methamphetamines are cultivated in small supplies. The government is small supplies. The government is trying hard to limit or eradicate this.trying hard to limit or eradicate this.

Region:Region:

China and Russia need to find a China and Russia need to find a solution for disputes over fertile solution for disputes over fertile island land. Boundary with Georgia island land. Boundary with Georgia is in dispute. Also, The islands of is in dispute. Also, The islands of Etorufu, Habomai, Kunashin, and Etorufu, Habomai, Kunashin, and Shikotan are being disputed with Shikotan are being disputed with Japan.Japan.