RUSSIA
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Russia 2-4
RUSSIA
Table of Contents
Geography & Climate
Page 3
Plants & Animals
Page 8
Cities & Landmarks
Page 11
Industry, Transportation, Transportatio n, & Agriculture
Page 16
History & Government
Page 19
Sports & Leisure
Page 23
Culture
Page 25
Religion & Holidays
Page 29
Food & Shopping
Page 33
A Russian Fairy Tale
Page 39
Vocabulary
Page 44
Answer Key
Page 46
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Russia 2-4
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE
Russia is the largest country in the world. It is nearly twice the size of the United United States. It is so big that it's located in two different continents: Europe and Asia. Most of Russia is on the continent of Asia. The part of Russia west of the Ural Mountains is in the continent continent of Europe. Russia borders the the Arctic Ocean in the north, and is between Europe and the Pacific Ocean on the east and west. Landscape and Climate Russia is a huge country, covering 11 times zones. When it is breakfast time in Vladivostock, in the far east, it is already bedtime in St. Petersburg. Average Temperatures
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January
July
St. Petersburg
16oF
63oF
Moscow
16oF
66oF
Volgograd
14oF
82oF
Astrakhan
-49oF
63oF
Yakutsk
-76oF
77oF
Russia 2-4
Tundra
Taiga
Steppe
Except for Caucasus Mountains in the south, and the Ural Mountains, most of Russia is flat. The land in the far north near the Arctic Circle is known as the tundra (frozen, treeless wasteland ). ). The climate is one of the harshest on earth, with long, cold winters and short summers. The soil in the tundra is permanently frozen. South of the tundra is a huge forested area called the taiga (forests), which extends across the whole of central Russia. The land is frozen throughout winter. In summer, the top layer melts, forming pools and marshes. Below the taiga is a narrow band of flat grasslands, known as steppes (flat land ). ). Winters in the steppes bring cold winds, snow and very long, dark nights. Summer brings hot, dry winds. In the autumn, cold rains turn the rich soil of the steppes into seas of mud. Further south are mountains and semi-desert. The weather here is milder. A narrow strip of land along the Black Sea has a warm climate with long, sunny summers. Some the world's longest rivers are found in Russia. The wide Volga River River flows through European Russia before emptying into the Caspian Sea. The Ob, Yenisei and Lena rivers flow north through Siberia to the Arctic Ocean. Lake Baikal in Siberia is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. There are 2,000 different types of plants and animals living in the lake. lake. Some people even believe it has its own lake monster. © TheTeachersDesk.info All Rights Reserved
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Russia 2-4
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE WORKSHEET 1.
Circl ircle e the the ocea oceans ns which hich bord border er Russi ussia. a. Atlantic
Arctic
Indian
Pacific
2.
On what what cont contin inent ent is Russ Russia ia? ? ____ _______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____ __
3.
Russi ussia a is is ___ _____ ____ ____ ____ __ the the Uni Unitted Stat States es.. a. b. c.
smaller than the same size as larger than
4.
How How many many time time zone zones s does does Russ Russia ia have have? ? ____ ______ ____ ____ __
5.
Which hich of the the fol follo low wing ing desc descri ribe bes s the the tund tundra ra? ? a. b. c.
6.
cold cold wint winter ers, s, shor shortt sum summe mers rs,, perm perman anen entl tly y froz frozen en soi soill froz frozen en land land in wint winter er,, poo pools ls and and mar marsh shes es in summ summer er flat flat gras grassl slan ands ds;; win winds ds,, snow snow,, long long wint winter er nig night hts, s, muddy muddy in fall fall
Which hich of the the fol follo low wing ing des desc cribe ribes s the the taig taiga? a? a. b. c.
7.
cold cold wint winter ers, s, shor shortt sum summe mers rs,, perm perman anen entl tly y froz frozen en soi soill froz frozen en land land in wint winter er,, poo pools ls and and mar marsh shes es in summ summer er flat flat gras grassl slan ands ds;; win winds ds,, snow snow,, long long wint winter er nig night hts, s, muddy muddy in fall fall
Whic Which h of the the foll follow owin ing g desc descri ribe bes s the the step steppe pes? s? a. b. c.
cold cold wint winter ers, s, shor shortt sum summe mers rs,, perm perman anen entl tly y froz frozen en soi soill froz frozen en land land in wint winter er,, poo pools ls and and mar marsh shes es in summ summer er flat flat gras grassl slan ands ds;; win winds ds,, snow snow,, long long wint winter er nig night hts, s, muddy muddy in fall fall
8-10. Name 3 rivers rivers found found in Russia. Russia.
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Russia 2-4
11.
What What is the average average tempera temperatur ture e in Moscow Moscow during during the the summe summer? r? _____ _____
12.
What What is the aver average age tempe temperat rature ure in in St. St. Peter Petersbur sburg g during during the the wint winter? er? ____ ____
Mapping: use blank outline map on next page. 13.
Draw Draw a brown brown line line showing showing where where the the Ural Ural Mountai Mountains ns are locate located. d.
14.
Draw Draw a red red star star or or cir circl cle e and and labe labell Mos Mosco cow. w.
15.
Draw Draw blue blue lines lines for for each each of the the foll followin owing g rivers rivers:: Volga, Volga, Ob, Lena, Lena, Yenis Yenisei ei
16.
Lightly Lightly shade shade the the part part of Russia Russia that is part part of the conti continent nent of Europ Europe e green.
17.
Lightly Lightly shade shade the the part part of Russia Russia that is part part of the conti continent nent of Asia Asia red. red.
18. 18.
Labe Labell the the map map 'Ru 'Russ ssia ia'' in in bla black ck..
19.
Label Label the the Arct Arctic ic & Pac Pacif ific ic Oce Oceans ans and and colo colorr them them blu blue, e,
20.
Label Label the cardina cardinall directi directions ons:: north, north, south, south, east, east, and west. west.
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Russia 2-4
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Russia 2-4
