| Climate Russia :
| ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
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| Terrain Russia :
| broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
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| Elevation extremes lowest Russia :
| Caspian Sea -28 m
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| Elevation extremes highest Russia :
| Gora El'brus 5,633 m
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| Natural resources Russia :
| wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
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| Land use arableland Russia :
| 7,33%
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| Irrigated land Russia :
| 46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
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| Natural hazards Russia :
| permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia
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| Environment current issues Russia :
| air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides
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| Geography note Russia :
| largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak
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