Section 1: Natural Environments

Section 2: History and Culture

Section 3: The Region Today

CHAPTER 17

Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus

SECTION 1

Natural Environments

Question:What are the region’s landforms, rivers, climate and vegetation types, and resources?

RussiaUkraineBelarus

RussiaUkraineBelarus

SECTION 1

Natural Environments

LandformsUral MountainsCaucasus MountainsPripet MarshesCarpathian MountainsCrimean PeninsulaSiberian PlainsKamchatka Peninsula

RiversDnieper RiverDon RiverYenisey RiverAngara RiverLena RiverOb RiverVolga River

Climates/Vegetationhumid continentalsubarctic tundra in the northtaiga forest in the southdeciduous-coniferous forest in the far southsteppe farthest south

Natural Resourceswood from forestsgold and diamondscoal, hydroelectricity, oil, and gascopper, iron ore, manganese, nickel, and platinum

SECTION 2

History and Culture

Question:What are some of the major events in the growth of the Russian Empire?

SECTION 2

History and Culture

800sKiev becomes an important trade center for the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea areas.

800 1400 1600 19001100 1500 1800

1100sEastern, or Orthodox, Christianity is the main religion of Kiev.

Late 1400sPrince Ivan III, of Moscow, wins control over parts of Russia from the Mongols.

1547Ivan the Terrible crowns himself czar of all Russia—north of Kiev to the Arctic Ocean and east to the Urals.

1637Explorers reach the Pacific coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

1800sRussians spread into the Caucasus and Central Asia.

1905Russia retreats to its present-day boundaries with China after losing a war to Japan.

1917The czar resigns and the Bolsheviks overthrow the government in the Russian Revolution.

SECTION 3

The Region Today

Question:What factors contribute to the economic development of the region?

SECTION 3

The Region Today

St. Petersburg RegionWesternized, good

transportation, trade with European cities, draws tourists and high-tech

industries

Moscow Regioneconomic center,

transportation hub, access to raw

materials, millions of Russian workers

Ukraine and Kievcentrally located; rich agricultural

energy; human resources; agriculture; heavy industry;

metalworking

SiberiaTrans-Siberian

Railroad; lumber, mining, and oil; small

labor force

Volga and Uralsheavy industry,

abundant hydroelectricity,

refineries and petrochemicals, mineral resources and smelters

The Russian Far Eastfactories, forest and

mineral resources, naval bases, commercial fishing

Belarus and Minskfew resources, educated labor force, wood product industries,

outdated plants

Economic Development

1. What are the main physical characteristics of the two huge areas west and east of the Ural Mountains?

2. What are some resources that Russia has in large quantities?

3. Across what physical region did early migrants come to Russia and its neighbors? How did those newcomers shape the region’s culture?

4. Where do most of the region’s people live?5. What environmental problems remain from the

Soviet era?

1. What are the main physical characteristics of the two huge areas west and east of the Ural Mountains?

2. What are some resources that Russia has in large quantities?

3. Across what physical region did early migrants come to Russia and its neighbors? How did those newcomers shape the region’s culture?

4. Where do most of the region’s people live?5. What environmental problems remain from the

Soviet era?

CHAPTER 17

Chapter Wrap-Up