GeographyRussia
Location: Northern Asia (that part west ofUralssometimes includedEurope), borderingArctic Ocean, between Europe andNorth Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total:
17,075,200 kmē
land:
16,995,800 kmē
water:
79,400 kmē
Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.8 timessize ofUS
Land boundaries:
total:
19,917 km
Kaliningrad Oblast issmall partwest Russiano land connection torestRussia.
border countries:
- Russia excl. Kaliningrad Oblast: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, Latvia 217 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, North Korea 19 km, Norway 167 km, Ukraine 1,576 km
- Kaliningrad Oblast: Lithuania 227 km, Poland 206 km
Coastline: 37,653 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or todepthexploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate: ranges from steppes insouth through humid continentalmuchEuropean Russia; subarcticSiberiatundra climate inpolar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coastfrigidSiberia; summers vary from warm insteppescool along Arctic coast
Terrain: broad plainlow hills westUrals; vast coniferous foresttundraSiberia; uplandsmountains along southern border regions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point:
Mount Elbrus 5,633 m
Natural resources:
wide natural resource base including major depositsoil, natural gas, coal,many strategic minerals, timber
note:
formidable obstaclesclimate, terrain,distance hinder exploitationnatural resources
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
4%
forestswoodland:
46%
other:
42% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: permafrost over muchSiberia ismajor impedimentdevelopment; volcanic activity inKuril Islands; volcanoesearthquakes onKamchatka peninsula
Environment - current issues: air pollution from heavy industry, emissionscoal-fired electric plants,transportationmajor cities; industrial, municipal,agricultural pollutioninland waterwayssea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper applicationagricultural chemicals; scattered areassometimes intense radioactive contamination; ground water contamination from toxic waste
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law ofSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: largest country inworldtermsarea but unfavorably locatedrelationmajor sea lanes ofworld; despite its size, much ofcountry lacks proper soilsclimates (either too cold or too dry)agriculture
- See also : Russia, Geography ofSoviet Union, ListlakesRussia
