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Russia Today The Big Idea Russia is a federal republic with a growing market economy but faces tough challenges. Main Ideas • The Russian Federation is working to develop democracy and a market economy. • Russia’s physical geography, cities, and economy define its many culture regions. • Russia faces a number of serious challenges. Main Idea 1: The Russian Federation is working to develop democracy and a market economy. Government Economy • Russian leaders have struggled to change from communism to democracy. • Russia is moving toward a market economy, based on free trade and competition. • The Russian Federation is a federal republic, a system in which power is divided between national and local governments. • The Russian government has greatly reduced its control of the economy. • Increased democracy has led to more freedom for Russians. • Problems such as government corruption, or dishonesty, have slowed the development of a free society in Russia. • Russia produces and exports oil, natural gas, timber, metals, chemicals, and crops. • Service industries now make up the largest part of economy. City and Rural Life City Life • About 75 percent of all Russians live in cities. • Most live in small apartments in high-rise buildings. • More restaurants and shopping centers are available with a wider range of consumer goods. • Cities often have large parks and wooded areas in and around them. Rural Life • About 25 percent of all Russians live in rural areas. • Many live in houses. • Many richer Russians own dachas, or Russian country houses. Main Idea 2: Russia’s physical geography, cities, and economy define its many culture regions. • Russia has six main culture regions – Differ in features such as population, natural resources, and economic activity • Four western culture regions make up Russia’s heartland. – Home to the vast majority of Russia’s people, the country’s capital, and largest cities – Most productive farming area Western Culture Regions Moscow Region • Moscow is Russia’s capital and largest city. • Center of government is housed at the Kremlin, in the heart of the city. • Most important economic area • Transportation center Volga Region • Volga River is a major shipping route. • Dams along its route form lakes and provide hydroelectric power. • Factories produce oil and gas. • Caspian Sea provides sturgeon and black caviar, a costly delicacy. St. Petersburg Region • St. Petersburg was once the capital city and home to czars. • Theaters and museums enrich the city’s cultural life. • Its location on the Gulf of Finland has made it a major port and trade center. Urals Region • Important mining region • Produce nearly every major mineral • Smelters, factories that process metal ores, process copper and iron. • Also known for gems and semiprecious stones Siberia and the Russian Far East Siberia Russian Far East • Siberia means ―Sleeping Land‖ in Tatar language. • Long coastline region along the Pacific Ocean • Winters long and severe • Land is heavily forested • Remote region with many valuable, but difficult to access, resources. • In the few cities, factories process forest and mineral resources. • Main industries are lumber, mining, and oil production. • Farming in the Amur River valley • Jobs there pay high wages, but few people chose to live there. • City of Vladivostok is a naval base and the area’s main seaport. • Cities tend to follow the TransSiberian Railroad, the world’s longest single rail line that runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. • Islands off the coast provide oil, minerals, and commercial fishing. Main Idea 3: Russia faces a number of serious challenges. • Russia has made great progress since 1991, but challenges remain. • Shift to a market economy has brought problems. – Prices and unemployment have risen. – Gap between rich and poor has widened. • Population is falling—more Russians are dying than are being born. • Soviet government did little to prevent pollution. – Environment has been severely harmed. – Government must repair damage. • Ethnic conflicts have resulted in fighting and terrorism. – One of the worst conflicts is in Chechnya in the Caucasus Mountains.