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Makovsky, "Respite During Harvesting"
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The Tundra in far northern Russia has a polar climate and is not suitable for agriculture. For eight months out of the year the temperature averages below freezing. Siberia, located in the Tundra, is the coldest inhabited place on earth.
The Tiaga is south of the tundra and stretches almost across all of Russia. It has a sub arctic climate and grows a quarter of the world’s supply of timber. Although the soil is not rich rye, oats, and potatoes are grown here.
The humid-continental zone is south of the tiaga and has long cold winters and short warm summers. Wheat and corn are grown here. The forests are a mixture of leafy and pine trees.
The steppe is south of the humid-continental and tiaga zones. It is known as grassland and has rich fertile soil. At times, getting enough rain for crops is a problem, but usually wheat, barley, oats, rye, flax, tobacco, corn, and beets grow well. In the Asian area of Russia’s steppe beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and horses are raised.
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Fishing is an important industry in Russia.
What kind of fish do you suppose this is?
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Russia also has a desert zone east of the Caspian Sea and a Mediterranean zone between the Black and Caspian Seas. The Mediterranean zone is much like California in climate. It has beautiful beaches and farmland that grows grapes and citrus fruits. Fishing is also an important industry.
Russia has a vast array of natural resources such as iron ore, potash, tungsten, oil, coal, natural gas, strategic minerals, timber, gold, and diamonds. It produces aluminum, rubber, and tin. Recently (May 2001), Putin, Russia’s president, has had to consider selling off some of the country’s gold to help rebuild a natural disaster site in Siberia, in northern Russia.
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Ivan Shishkin, "Ship Timber"
How did Peter the Great use all this timber?
How might it be used today?
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Matrushka doll - President Vladimir Putin
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