The Russian Plain and Its Natural Riches

The Russian plain, otherwise the Eastern European is the second longest plain in the world, slightly inferior to the territory of the Amazon. From west to east, it extends more than 2500 kilometers, and from north to south - about 1000. Its western borders border with such states as Ukraine and Belarus, and then its territory stretches all the way to the Urals. The basis of the plain is the ancient platform, mostly covered with a cover of sedimentary rocks. Only in two places, in Karelia and on the Kola Peninsula, this prehistoric platform comes to the surface, forming the so-called Baltic Shield.

The climate of the Russian plain is mostly moderate, and only closer to the extreme north passes into the subarctic. The continental climate line extends to the east and southeast. Precipitation year-round, usually associated with the western winds that blow from the Atlantic. Here they fall more than in other lowland areas of the Russian Federation. The most moistened can be considered the sources of the largest rivers - the Northern Dvina and the Volga. And in the northwest of the plains such are the regions of Ladoga, Onega, Peipsi, Ilmen lakes with smaller smaller bodies of water adjacent to them, most of which are glacial in origin.

If we consider the climate of the Russian plain of the southern outskirts, then there the amount of precipitation is much less, the summer is arid and dry winds are inflicting considerable damage to the national economy.

Water resources of the Russian plain are replenished due to snow and rainfall, melting snow and ice cover, spring floods. Naturally, groundwater also plays an important role in this process. But this does not apply to the southern rivers, which are not so abundant, and the food at the expense of groundwater is limited.

Climatic and relief originality led to a clear division of the whole territory of the plain into natural zones. Moreover, it is here that about 40 percent of all hayfields of the country and 12 percent of pasture lands are located. As for the population, it is on the territory of the East European Plain that almost fifty percent of the inhabitants of the Russian Federation live.

The Russian plain is generously endowed with natural resources. A big plus in their development and use is the dense population of this territory by people.

Types of resources:

• Water

As already noted, a large number of large and small rivers flow along the territory of the Russian plain.

The largest waterway is the Volga. Its economic importance can not be overestimated, since the river connects various economic regions of the country, irrigates more than two and a half million hectares of land, is an important shipping center. In terms of fishing, the Volga also plays a significant role.

Following the Volga is Don, also the largest water resource in Russia. The extraction of fish, navigation, other economic and economic needs, which are satisfied thanks to the Don, speak of the great importance of this river.

The Russian plain is washed by the White and Black, Baltic and Caspian seas. Extraction of seafood, oil and gas, sea resorts with recreation centers, boarding houses and sanatoriums, ports of international and regional importance - all this makes each sea resource unique and extremely important for the country.

• Mineral resources and natural resources of the Russian Plain

These include, for example, iron ore: in the Kursk region, in unique deposits, contains up to 50% of all their reserves in the country. The Belgorod region is famous for bauxite with alumina. Phosphorites, potassium and rock salts supply the country to the Moscow and Bryansk regions. These chemicals are actively mined and find the widest range of applications. In the same areas, as well as in Tula and Belgorod, deposits of building materials - chalk, quartz sand, kaolin clay, etc. have been found for many years.

The Russian plain provides itself and neighboring regions with energy resources - gas, oil, peat, coal. Their deposits are located in the Middle Volga, Ivanovo, Kostroma regions.

• Animal and plant resources

The territory of the West European Plain has the most favorable conditions for the development of such branches of agriculture as crop production and livestock. Forest wealth in the form of wood and hunting resources is an important income item in the Russian economy.