RussiaChapter 13 Section 1

Sweeping Across Eurasia

Western Russia vs. Eastern RussiaSome geographers view Europe and Asia as one continent instead of two. These geographers call that continent Eurasia.

These geographers divide Russia into 2 regions known as European or Western Russia and Asian or Eastern Russia.

?Based on the map above, what physical feature divides Russia into

two regions?

Animated Map QuestionsClasszone

1.What is the name of the largest country in the world?

2.What forms the borders between European Russia and Asian Russia?

3.What Russian river is the longest river in Europe?

Russia

Ural Mountains

Volga River

Similarities and DifferencesEuropean or Western

RussiaAsian or Eastern

RussiaMost of

European/Western Russia is covered by the Northern European Plain.

Rich farmland.Many rivers which are

used for transportation.More densely populated.Climate is milder.Russian capital city of

Moscow and other largest cities all located in Western Russia.

Asian or Eastern Russia is the largest.

The huge region of Siberia is located in the East.

Many of Russia’s resources like iron ore, gold, copper, and oil are located in the East.

Eastern Russia’s climate is much colder having river’s frozen most of the year.

Sparsely populated

Russia’s TundraTundra- The tundra is located in far northern

Russia. The tundra is a flat, treeless plain with long harsh winters and short mild summers.

Russia’s TaigaTaiga- is a vast forest that lies south of the tundra.

It is the largest forestland in the world.

Russia’s SteppeSteppe-The steppe is the grassland plain that

stretches south of the taiga. Rich, fertile soil covers much of the steppe.

Climate Map of Russia