Russia Geography
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Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean (see Map).
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
Area:
- total: 17,075,200 sq km
- land: 16,995,800 sq km
- water: 79,400 sq km
Area - comparative: approximately 1.8 times the size of the US.
Land boundaries:
- total: 20,017 km
- border countries:
- Azerbaijan 284 km,
- Belarus 959 km,
- China (southeast) 3,605 km,
- China (south) 40 km,
- Estonia 294 km,
- Finland 1,340 km,
- Georgia 723 km,
- Kazakhstan 6,846 km,
- North Korea 19 km,
- Latvia 217 km,
- Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km,
- Mongolia 3,485 km,
- Norway 196 km,
- Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km,
- Ukraine 1,576 km
Coastline: 37,653 km
Climate: Ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast.
Terrain: Broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions.
Elevation extremes:
- lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
- highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources: Wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber.
Land use:
- arable land: 7.33%
- permanent crops: 0.11%
- other: 92.56% (2001)
Irrigated land: 46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: Permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia.
Environment - current issues:
- air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities;
- industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;
- deforestation; soil erosion;
- soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals;
- scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination;
- groundwater contamination from toxic waste;
- urban solid waste management;
- abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides
Geography - note: Largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak.
Credits: CIA - The World Factbook
