RUSSIA’S ECONOMIC & CULTURAL GEOGRAHPY

BY: SHARON WESTERHOLMLA VERNIA HIGH SCHOOL

Natural Resources

• Russia and Central Asia have many different types of natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable.

• Renewable? Nonrenewable?

Energy Resources

• Russia has abundant sources of natural gas, coal, and oil. Russia also produces energy with nuclear power and hydroelectric power.

Chernobyl

• In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located in the Ukraine exploded. The explosion released massive amounts of radiation and the entire city of over 300,000 people had to be evacuated.

• Soviet officials were slow to alert people…international pressure prompted officials to improve safety standards.

Chechnya

• In 1990s, separatist movements threatened Russia’s stability.

• Various ethnic groups fought for independence.• By 2001, 1000s misplaced and Chechens face

food shortages and destroyed oil-based economy in the area.

• Drained economic development funds from rest of Russia.

Oil Pipelines

• The Russian economy has been expanding because of increased investment in the oil industry. After the fall of communism many foreign companies invested in the Russian oil industry.

Capital Resources

A. Western Russia has a well developed infrastructure to include a system of railroads, roads, and canals.

B. Siberia has a poor infrastructure. The Trans-Siberian railroad runs through Siberia but there are not many roads or railroads.

Early historical geography of Russia

• Western part of country was originally settled by Vikings around the 600s A.D.

• Early 1200s, the Mongols conquered much of the region.

• After the Mongols were ran out, leaders from Moscow formed a monarchy & expanded control throughout Asia.

Russia U.S.S.R. Russia • King: Czar Nicholas II (Pre-1917)• He had five children (one of them was Anastasia)• Czar Nicholas II led an unlimited government• People began to protest against the czar• The Russian Revolution (1917) replaced the czar• The king and his family were held under house arrest and executed

• Communism (1917-1989)• Vladimir Lenin leads efforts to establish a communist state in the early 1920s.• Russia and several surrounding states unite to form the U.S.S.R. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic)• Communist leaders establish the USSR as an unlimited government • Communism/USSR existed for about 70 years.

• Capitalism/Free Enterprise (1991 to Present• After 1989, big changes came to Russia.• Soviet leader Gorbachev introduced reforms promoting a freer society, less government control,

and free market policies.• The union dissolved in 1991 leading to 15 new nations struggling to form limited governments and

more open markets.• Today’s government is a democracy that shows signs of moving towards more more government control.

Russia’s Cultural Geography

• One of the widest variety of ethnic groups in the world.

• Despite variety…80% are ethnic Russians

Cultural Geography of Russia

• Russia is experiencing a cultural renewal after years of being dictated to by the USSR gov’t.

• Spiritual renewal, traditions, education and arts are being rediscovered.

• Post Soviet Russian schools are more open to new ideas, & methods…low budgets, overcrowding, & disrepair.

Economic System

• From 1917 to 1990 Russia was communist and it had a command economy. In a command economy the government controls all means of production. People cannot own land or businesses.

• Gorbachev’s policies of “perestroika” (economic restructuring) & “glasnost” (political openness) led to way to new economic system.

Economic Challenges

• The resources in Siberia are difficult to develop due to climate, limited transportation links, and vastness of the country.

Environmental Challenges

• There is widespread pollution in Russia. A few examples are:

A. Oil spills from poorly maintained pipelines.B. Radioactive waste from nuclear power

plants and nuclear submarines.C. Air pollution from factories with poor air

quality standards

The Kremlin

Center ofGovernmentlocated in Moscow, theCapital.

Red Square

St. Basil’s CathedralSt. Basil’s Cathedral is a beautiful building in Moscow’s Red Square.

Because of its many towers it almost looks like a fairy-tale castle or gingerbread house.

The “onion dome” shape is found often in Russian church architecture.

Russian Orthodox Churches

Mosques, Minarets

Icons

Russian Ballet

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilich (Swan Lake, The Nutcracker)(1840-1893)

The Bolshoi Theater

Russian Ballet

Matryoshka Dolls

popular toy in Russia is a nesting doll called Matryoshka. The grandfathers carved them out of wood for the grandmothers or babushkas to use to tell stories to their grandchildren.

Faberge EggsLong ago, the Russian empire was ruled by a succession of czars. During this time it was a tradition to give special eggs as gifts. A Jeweler named Peter Fabergé created beautiful eggs for the czars to give to their wives and mothers. The eggs, were decorated with gold, silver, and gemstones. 50 of the eggs still exist today…8 are unknown whereabouts but each is valued at million of dollars!

Estimated to be valued at 18 million to 24 million dollars!

It stands 5 inches! This belongs to the Forbes familyprivate collection. It will be auction at Sotheby’s.