Physical geography & climate Flashcards
How much of the Earth’s land does Russia and the Eurasian republics take up?
one sixth
What separates the North from the West?
The Ural mountains
Are the Ural mountains low or high?
Relatively low
What are steppes used for?
Agriculture & grazing
What keeps countries such as Kazakhstan and Tajikistan isolated?
Deserts and Mountains
What are the countries in the Caucasus mountains?
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
What are the countries in Central Asia?
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Why do few ports stay open to trade all year long?
Because so much of Russia’s coastline lies to the north of the Arctic circle
What is a port that is ice-free most of the time and why?
Murmansk, because the North Atlantic Drift warms the waters
What is permafrost?
permanently frozen ground
What percentage of Russia’s ground is permafrost?
1/2
Are some parts of Russia warm?
Yes
Why does Moscow have long, dark winters?
Because the northern part of Russia is a coastal plain with no natural barriers to keep out arctic winds (high northern latitudes)
What 2 vegetations exist in Russia?
Tundra & Taiga
Where does Tundra exist?
Siberia
