Russia and Eastern European Geography

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The Caucasus Mountains are located between the Black Sea (to the west) and the Caspian Sea (to the east). They form part of the traditional border between Europe and Asia. The range stretches across several countries: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

Highest Peak: Mount Elbrus (Russia) — 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) — the highest mountain in Europe.

• The mountains are divided into two parts:

  • Greater Caucasus (higher, northern part — includes Mount Elbrus)

  • Lesser Caucasus (lower, southern part — spans parts of Armenia and Georgia)

​Volga River

Location: Entirely within Russia. Length: About 2,194 miles, making it the longest river in Europe.

Source: Begins in the Valdai Hills (northwest of Moscow, near Tver).

Mouth: Empties into the Caspian Sea.

Drainage Basin: Covers about 520,000 square miles.

• Flow Direction: Generally southward.

​Don River

Location: The Don River flows in southwestern Russia.

Length: The river is about 1,162 miles long, making it one of Russia’s major rivers.
Source: It originates from the Central Russian Upland.

Mouth: The Don River drains into the Sea of Azov, which is connected to the Black Sea.

Drainage Basin: Its basin covers an area of about 163,000 square miles.

Major Cities Along the Don: Important cities along the river include Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don. Rostov-on-Don is a major port city and an important economic center.

​Ural Mountains
Location: Stretches Across: Russia & Kazakhstan.
Length: About 1,550 miles, running north to south.
Boundary: Considered the natural dividing line between Europe and Asia.

Highest Peak: Mount Narodnaya (6,214 ft).

The Urals are divided into five sections:

1. Polar Urals – Cold, tundra-covered, and mostly uninhabited.

2. Northern Urals – Higher peaks and dense forests.

3. Middle Urals – The lowest part, with industrial cities.

4. Southern Urals – Rolling hills and steppes.

5. Arctic Urals – The northernmost region, with permafrost and extreme cold.
   

​Location: Russia.
Length: About 1,162 miles.

Source: Begins near the city of Novomoskovsk, southeast of Moscow.

Historical Significance: It was very important for trade and military movements, especially for the Cossacks.

Volga River

- The longest European river

- Fully located in Russia

- Flowing to the Caspian Sea

- Most of the Russian population is located along the banks of Volga

Multiple Choice

What mountain range divides Russia between Europe and Asia?

• Rocky

• Sierra Madrias

• Ural

• Alps

Multiple Choice

What was nearly 6,000 miles long and connected Moscow to Vladivostok, opening Russia’s Asian eastern region to settlement

• Lenin Highway System

• Trans-Siberian Railroad

• Ural Mountain Range

• MIssissippi River

Multiple Choice

a mountain system in southeastern Europe between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea

• Mt. Elbroos

• Ural Moutains

• Caucasus Mountains

• Trans-Siberian

Multiple Choice

The largest freshwater lake in Russia is called Lake ____________.

• Volga

• Baikal

• Caspian

• Mediterranean

Multiple Choice

If one needs to travel from the Baltic Sea to Caspian Sea, which river would best provide for the same?

• Danube

• Rhine

• Volga

• Elbe

Multiple Choice

What is the longest river in the European part of Russia?

• The Lena
• The Volga
• The Ob

Multiple Choice

Capital of Russia

• Moscow

• St. Petersburg

• Kremlin

• Kiev

Multiple Choice

The hydroelectric facilities are located along the river because they rely on running water to generate power.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A total of twenty-four ________ ruled Russia from 1547 to 1917.

• Kings

• Presidents

• Monarchs

• Czars

Multiple Choice

In which year did Lenin created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

• 1861

• 1877

• 1922

• 1989

​Carpathian Mountains

Location: Stretch across Central and Eastern Europe — mainly through Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, and Serbia.

Length: About 930 miles, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe (after the Scandinavian Mountains).

Shape: They form a kind of giant arc or crescent around Transylvania and the plains of Hungary.

Forests: They hold the largest remaining areas of old-growth forest in Europe.

Rivers: The mountains feed major rivers like the Danube, Tisza, and Prut.

Tatra Mountains

• Location: They form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland.

• Part of: The Carpathian Mountain range — the Tatras are actually the highest part of the Carpathian Mountains.

• Length: About 50 miles long

​Baltic Sea
Location: Northern Europe, bordered by countries like Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Denmark.
Size: About 146,000 square miles.
Salinity: It’s much less salty than most seas because of huge freshwater inflows from rivers.
Unique Feature: It's almost enclosed by land — like a giant lake with only narrow connections to the Atlantic Ocean.
Environmental issues: It's known for having "dead zones" — areas where low oxygen levels make it hard for life to survive, mainly because of pollution and nutrient runoff.

​Adriatic Sea

Location: It separates the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. Countries along the coast: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania.

Size: About 53,500 square miles.

Length: Roughly 500 miles long from northwest to southeast.

Salinity: It’s saltier than many nearby seas, but the northern part is a bit fresher because of river inflows like the Po River.

​Black Sea

Location: Between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

Bordering countries: Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Size: About 168,000 square miles — bigger than Germany!

Depth: Maximum depth is around 7,257 feet.

Connection to other seas: Linked to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosporus Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait.

Danube River

- The Second longest river in Europe

- Source in Germany near Black forest , flowing to several countries across Central Europe (10 countries such as Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria...) and flowing to the Black Sea.

Very important commercial water way of Europe.

Dnieper River

The Dnieper River is a major river in Eastern Europe. It is the longest river in Ukraine and the fourth longest river in Europe. The river has played a significant role in the history and culture of the region, serving as a trade route and a source of freshwater. It is also home to diverse wildlife and offers picturesque scenic views along its banks.

​Location: Eastern Europe — mostly flows through Ukraine and Moldova.
Length: About 846 miles.
Source: Rises in the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine.
Mouth: Flows into the Black Sea.
Importance: It forms a natural border between Ukraine and Moldova for a large stretch.
History: In ancient times, it was known as Tyras.
Biodiversity: The river is home to many fish species and supports lots of wetland ecosystems.

Multiple Choice

The Danube River is important to Eastern Europe because...

• It is the phyisical border between Europe and Asia

• It is where the Soviet Union lost control of the west

• It is good for trade, transportation, and agriculture

• It provides a lot of resources that Russia can't get to

Multiple Choice

What is an example of a peninsula found in Europe?

• Italy
• Iberian
• Scandinavian
• All are correct

Multiple Choice

What organization encourages trade between European countries?

• European Union (EU)

• NAFTA

• Allied Union

• Trade Union

Multiple Choice

Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Seas. (Also separates Europe and Africa)

• English Channel

• Chunnel

• Alps

• Straight of Gibraltar

Multiple Choice

Because the size, shape, and number of countries has changed Eastern Europe is known as....

• Broken Belt

• Shattered Cube

• Shatter Belt

• Shatter Suit