COPYRIGHT
109
PENNSVALLEY
Lesson 57:
Natural Resources and Economy
of North Asia Russia
ACTIVITY 1:
In the information below, there are boldface words that describe Asia Russia’s major resources and
industries.After you read thispassage, attacheconomicpicturesymbols toablankmapof AsiaRussia
(BLM)
. Paste one symbol of eachmajor product or resource on your map.
Russia’s harsh climate affects much of its economic development. Asia Russia, or Siberia, has a
cold, continental climate.For this reason, only 40millionpeople live inSiberia, a region larger than the
UnitedStatesandwesternEurope.While the regionhasshort,warmsummers, thewintersarebrutally
cold.Because of Russia’s northern location and a short growing season, only about 10 percent of the
land is used for growing crops. Most of that land is located in Europe Russia. Russia does not grow
enough food to feed its people.
Muchof thenorthernRussia is frozen tundra land.Vast expanses of land to the southof the tundra
consist of the taiga.This word inRussianmeans cold forests.Many of the people of northern Siberia
hunt and trap animals for food and
fur
.They alsomake their living by herding
reindeer
.
Much of Siberia’s natural resources and economy are dominated by primary industries. However,
amajor problem exists.Many of the natural resources of Siberia are found in places far from human
settlement. It is very expensive and difficult to obtain these natural resources.
This region has the largest reserves of
timber
in the world.What does reserve mean? It means
that the natural resource is proven and known to exist.Where you have timber, you have
forestry
. A
variety of goods aremade from timber, such as
woodproducts
and
paper products
.
AsiaRussia is very rich inmineral resources. Siberia contains theworld’s greatest reserves of
oil
and
natural gas
.The region also has huge
coal
fields in eastern Siberia. In addition, there are huge
reserves of iron ore, copper and zinc, making
metal mining
an important activity. The discovery of
gold
and
diamonds
has opened upSiberia to greater economic development.
Russia has one of the largest
fishing
fleets in theArctic andPacificwaters, harvesting a variety of
fish, such as salmon. AsiaRussia uses its lengthy rivers to create
hydroelectric
power.
While Russia has a heavy manufacturing base, much of it is centered in Europe Russia. Any
manufacturing located inAsiaRussia isscattered in remotepockets throughout Siberia.Manufacturing
of
machinery, chemicals
, and
steel
occurs in a few urban centers inSiberia, such asVladivostok.
The main means of transporting goods is their railroad system. More than 75 percent of Asia
Russia’s freight is carried by the railroad.However, it is not efficiently run.
ACTIVITY 2:
1.What type of climate does AsiaRussia have?
2.What is themainmeans of moving goods inAsiaRussia?
3.What product is created onSiberia’s rivers?
4. Bywhat means domany of the people of northern
Siberiamake their living?
5.What is themajor resource of the taiga?
North Asia
