Northern EurasiaNorthern Eurasia

Mother Mother RussiaRussia and and the former the former Soviet UnionSoviet Union

Former U.S.S.R. Northern Former U.S.S.R. Northern EurasiaEurasia

The World’s largest The World’s largest countrycountry

Russia is the worlds largest Russia is the worlds largest country at over 6.5 million country at over 6.5 million square milessquare miles

Nearly twice the size of the Nearly twice the size of the U.S.U.S.

Russia has 11 time zonesRussia has 11 time zones

Straddling Two ContinentsStraddling Two Continents

Harsh climate zonesHarsh climate zones

Much of the region is covered by Much of the region is covered by dramatically cold conditions dramatically cold conditions throughout much of the year.throughout much of the year.

Legendary Siberia with its steppe, Legendary Siberia with its steppe, tundra, and taiga ecosystemstundra, and taiga ecosystems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTnvcSU4Mao

A frozen Arctic Ocean prevents A frozen Arctic Ocean prevents northern developmentnorthern development

Small Russian Orthodox Church in Small Russian Orthodox Church in SiberiaSiberia

Taiga (left) and Tundra Taiga (left) and Tundra (right)(right)

Steppe (grasslands)Steppe (grasslands)Rich soil called Rich soil called

“chernozem”“chernozem” “black “black earth” in Russianearth” in Russian

What’s in Siberia?What’s in Siberia? Tremendous natural resourcesTremendous natural resources TimberTimber FreshwaterFreshwater World’s largest natural gas World’s largest natural gas

regionregion Minerals such as:Minerals such as:

Gold, silver, diamonds, uranium, Gold, silver, diamonds, uranium, nickel, iron, platinum, coalnickel, iron, platinum, coal

Lake Baikal – the worlds deepest Lake Baikal – the worlds deepest freshwater lake – 5,315 ft. deepfreshwater lake – 5,315 ft. deep

Interesting Facts About Lake Interesting Facts About Lake BaikalBaikal

It would take all the rivers of It would take all the rivers of the world - nearly one year to the world - nearly one year to fill lake Baikal's basin. fill lake Baikal's basin.

one fifth of the world's one fifth of the world's freshwater reservesfreshwater reserves

It covers 31,500 sq. km and It covers 31,500 sq. km and is 636 km. long, an average is 636 km. long, an average of 48 km wide, and 79.4 km of 48 km wide, and 79.4 km at its widest point. at its widest point.

Geographic IssuesGeographic Issues

What makes Russia’s What makes Russia’s geography so difficult and a geography so difficult and a

virtual curse?virtual curse? Vast size to population Vast size to population

centers and marketscenters and markets Harsh climateHarsh climate

Russia’s Oil PipelinesRussia’s Oil Pipelines

Caspian Sea regionCaspian Sea regionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAeWWZijs3I

Today’s RussiaToday’s Russia A young democracy with A young democracy with

authoritarian leadership.authoritarian leadership. An economy strongly An economy strongly

dependent on energy exportsdependent on energy exports A growing rich/poor divideA growing rich/poor divide A potential demographic A potential demographic

crisiscrisis

Who is this man?Who is this man?

Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin From January 2000 to March From January 2000 to March

2008, the President and de 2008, the President and de facto dictator of Russia.facto dictator of Russia.

Became Prime Minister and Became Prime Minister and re-elected President in 2012.re-elected President in 2012.

Dmitry Medvedev was Dmitry Medvedev was handpicked to succeed him handpicked to succeed him and now has switched back and now has switched back to Prime Minister.to Prime Minister.

Authoritarian MeasuresAuthoritarian Measures

Nationalized many industries Nationalized many industries including gas and oil companiesincluding gas and oil companies

Nationalized media outlets and Nationalized media outlets and censured journalists (many censured journalists (many have been murdered)have been murdered)

Controlled political parties and Controlled political parties and eliminated perceived threatseliminated perceived threats

Energy Driven EconomyEnergy Driven Economy Oil and gas prices Oil and gas prices

have been rising have been rising since 1999since 1999

This has brought in This has brought in much needed money much needed money for infrastructurefor infrastructure

Has driven foreign Has driven foreign policypolicy

Not all Russians Not all Russians benefitbenefit

Gazprom – worlds Gazprom – worlds largest gas companylargest gas company

Disparity in wealthDisparity in wealth Since the 1990’s, many Russians Since the 1990’s, many Russians

have become extremely wealthyhave become extremely wealthy HOW?HOW? Through corruption, CRONYISM, Through corruption, CRONYISM,

work ethic, and innovation.work ethic, and innovation. Moscow has more BILLIONAIRES Moscow has more BILLIONAIRES

than any city on earth – 33! than any city on earth – 33! Moscow is the most expensive Moscow is the most expensive

city in the worldcity in the world

Typical Soviet era Typical Soviet era housinghousing

No electricity or indoor No electricity or indoor plumbingplumbing

What of most Russians?What of most Russians?

A Population CrisisA Population Crisis 143 million people today143 million people today Russian fertility rate: 1.17Russian fertility rate: 1.17 - Percentage of Russian - Percentage of Russian

couples who are infertile: 15couples who are infertile: 15 - 75% of Russian women have - 75% of Russian women have

serious medical problems serious medical problems during pregnancyduring pregnancy

A Population CrisisA Population Crisis 67% of all couple have only 67% of all couple have only

one childone child 15 deaths for every 10 15 deaths for every 10

Russian births!Russian births! Life expectancy of just 59 for Life expectancy of just 59 for

males and 62 overallmales and 62 overall

Abortion in RussiaAbortion in Russia

In 2003, the BBC reported In 2003, the BBC reported that Russia had, "13 that Russia had, "13 terminations for every 10 live terminations for every 10 live births.“births.“

The online news source The online news source mosnews.com reported that mosnews.com reported that in 2004 1.6 million women in 2004 1.6 million women had abortions in Russia while had abortions in Russia while 1.5 million gave birth.1.5 million gave birth.

Violent DeathsViolent Deaths

*150,000 people a year *150,000 people a year

**46,000 were suicides46,000 were suicides

*40,000 were killed in traffic accidents *40,000 were killed in traffic accidents

*36,000 suffered alcohol poisoning*36,000 suffered alcohol poisoning

*35,000 were murdered*35,000 were murdered

60% of Russians live in an 60% of Russians live in an environment that is environment that is

harmful to their healthharmful to their health Environmental Environmental

conditions conditions contribute to the contribute to the deaths of 300,000 deaths of 300,000 Russians a year. Russians a year.

65 million Russians 65 million Russians live in areas where live in areas where air pollution air pollution exceeds safe levelsexceeds safe levels

1986 – The Legacy of 1986 – The Legacy of ChernobylChernobyl

The worst nuclear accident in The worst nuclear accident in history killed 31 directly and history killed 31 directly and possibly thousands over the possibly thousands over the years.years.

It cost over $18 billion to clean up It cost over $18 billion to clean up and involved over 500,000 and involved over 500,000 workers.workers.

Ground water and land is still Ground water and land is still heavily concentrated with heavily concentrated with radiation.radiation.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/30/tech/chernobyl-drone-footage/

Aral SeaAral SeaWater was diverted from nearby rivers for cotton production leading to a simple trickle of water and Water was diverted from nearby rivers for cotton production leading to a simple trickle of water and eventual salinization and evaporation. Fishing industry has disappeared as well as most farming eventual salinization and evaporation. Fishing industry has disappeared as well as most farming

today.today.

AlcoholismAlcoholism

Russians are among the heaviest drinkers in the world, consuming an average of 15 liters of alcohol per head per year.

On averagemore than 40,000 Russians die from alcohol Poisoning a year.

Some experts estimate that one in seven Russians is an alcoholic.Beer is not considered an alcoholic beverage

HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS Dramatically on the increaseDramatically on the increase

15-24 year olds account for 2/3 of 15-24 year olds account for 2/3 of all registered casesall registered cases

By 2015, it is estimated that 5-10 By 2015, it is estimated that 5-10 million Russians will die from million Russians will die from AIDS.AIDS.

HIV has spread mainly through HIV has spread mainly through intravenous drug use.intravenous drug use.

“HIV/AIDS. Who does it affect? It affects everyone.”

A “graying” populationA “graying” population

By 2015, out By 2015, out of all the of all the

people over people over 60, nearly 60, nearly one out of one out of

every three every three will be over will be over

75.75.

The aging “babushkas”The aging “babushkas”

Virtually no immigrationVirtually no immigration

200,000 legal immigrants 200,000 legal immigrants enter the country every yearenter the country every year

•½ are ethnic Russians½ are ethnic Russians There are 1.5 million illegal There are 1.5 million illegal

immigrants in the countryimmigrants in the country

The future may be bleakThe future may be bleakA loss of approximately A loss of approximately 700,000 people per year700,000 people per yearProjected to be at 111 Projected to be at 111 million in the year 2050million in the year 2050