Download Population Pattern of Russia and Eurasia

Population Pattern of Europe
 Europe is the second smallest continent on Earth
 Only Asia has a larger population and is more densely populated than
Europe
 Dense population in major cities, usually capitals like London (U.K.),
Lisbon (Portugal), Paris (France), Berlin (Germany), etc.
 Population distribution relates closely to the physical geography of
the region
Least dense:
1. Plains more dense than mountains
2. Dry areas like the Iberian Peninsula are sparse
3. Most sparse population is in the Scandinavian/Iceland region –
too cold (Subarctic and Tundra)
Most dense:
1. Most dense population -- U.K. into France across the North
European Plain into the Czech Republic and Poland
2. Second region of dense population is from SE France to Italy
(along the coastline)
Why high density?
1. Rich farmland
2. Coastline = shipping/trade/access to fishing
Remember
Lots of peninsulas = Lots of coastline = World
leader in trade and shipping
3. Rivers (Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Tiber, Thames)
4. Moderate climate (Mediterranean and Marine West Coast)
5. Resources including coal and natural gas -- First to industrialize;
as a result, many urban areas
Population Pattern of Russia and Eurasia
 Russia, in area, largest country in the world
 Major cities include Moscow (capital of Russia), Kiev (capital of
Ukraine), St. Petersburg, and Minsk
 Moscow and Kiev are located in the most densely populated region
(north of the Black Sea; west of the Ural Mts.)
Why?
1. North European Plain (rich, fertile soil – “Black Earth Belt”;
chernozem)
2. Rivers (Volga, Don, and Dnieper)
3. Lots of resources (petroleum, coal, copper, iron ore, natural gas)
Vocabulary builder:
Heavy industry – the manufacture of machinery and
equipment needed for factories and mines
Light industry – manufacturing aimed at making consumer
goods rather than heavy machinery, such as textiles or food
processing
Service industry – business that provides a service (banking,
teachers, etc.) instead of making goods
4. Climate is mostly humid-continental; other regions too harsh
(tundra, subarctic – Siberia)
5. Major trade routes
*As a result, ¾ of the economic activity in Russia/Eurasia can be
found in the North European Plain
 Culture
1. Majority of the population is
nonreligious (atheists); this is a result of
the old Soviet system that forbid religion
2. Approximately 20% of the population
practice the Eastern Orthodox religion
3. Many people are Slavs
*As a result, religion (Eastern Orthodox) and ethnic group (Slavic)
influence Russian heritage (customs)