The Russian Federation

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. It covers the eastern part of europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 mln square kilometers. The country is washed by 12 seas and 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belorussia, the Ukraine. It also has a seaborder with the USA.

There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can de found. We have steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east.

There are two great plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia.

There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe’s biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers – the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena – flow from the Caspian Sea. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world’s deepest lake (1,600 metres) is Lake Baikal. It is much smaller than the Baltic Sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom.

Russia has one-sixth of the world’s forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.

On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.

Russia is very rich in oil, cal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources.

Russia is a parliamentary republic. The Head of State is the President. The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma.

The capital of Russia is Moscow. It is the largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial center. It is one of the oldest Russian cities.

At present, the political and economic situation in the country is rather complicated. There are a lot of problems in the national economy of the Russian Federation. The industrial production is decreasing. The prices are constantly rising, rge rate of inflation is very high. People are losing their jobs because many factories and plants are going bankrupt.

Russia

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. The vast territory of Russia lies in the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia.

Russia is washed by twelve seas and three oceans. The oceans are: the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Pacific. The seas are: the White Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and others.

Russia borders on many countres such as Moldovia and China in the south-east, Finland and Norwoy in the north- west and so on.

The land of Russia varies very much from forests to deserts from high mountains to deep valleys. The main mountain chains are the Urals, the Caucasus and the Altai. There are a lot of great rivers and deep lakes on its territiry. The longest rivers are the Volga in Europe and the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena in Asia. The largest lakes are Ladoga and Baikal. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and its water is the purest on earth.

The Russia Federation is rich in natural and mineral resources. It has deposits of oil, gas, coal, iron, gold and many others.

The current population of Russia is more than 150 million people.

The capital of Russia is Moscow,and it is also one of the main industrial and cultural centers. Russia is a presidential republic. Head of State is the President. The government consists of three branches legislative,which is exercised by the Federal Assembly, executive, which belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers and judicial, which belongs to the system of courts.

Russia is an industrial and agriculturial country, which has a very long and rich history. Our country has always played one of the leading parts in the world politics.

II. Learn new words and phrases:

pure - чистый

mountain chain - горная цепь

to be rich in - быть богатым чем-либо

legislative - законодательный

. executive - исполнительный

judicial - судебный

to be exercised by - осуществляться кем-либо

to belong to - принадлежать кому-либо

court - суд

III. Taks and Questions.

1. Where is Russia situated?

2. What oceans and seas is it washed by?

3. Speak about the surface of the territory of Russia?

4. What natural resources in Russia rich in?

5. What countries does Russia border on?

5. Describe the political system of Russia.

IY. Translate into English.

1. Россия расположена в восточной части Европы и северной части

Азии.

2. Обширная территория России омывается Северным Ледовитым,Тихим

и Атлантическим океаном.

3. Россия располагает большим колличеством полезных ископаемых,

которые включают нефть,газ, уголь, железо,золото и т.д.

4. Текущее население России более 150 миллионов человек.

5. Россия всегда играла следующую роль в мировой политике.

Y. Text for additional reading

"Moscow"

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its administrative, economic, political and educational centre. It is one of Russia's major cities with the population of about 9 million people. Its total area is about 900 thousand square kilometres.

The city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147. At that time it was a small frontier settlement. By the 15th century Moscow had grown into a wealthy city.

In the 16th century, under Ivan the Terrible, Moscow became the capital of the state of Muscovy. In the 18th century Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg,but Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack in 1812. During the war of 1812 three quartes of the city were destroyed by fire,but by the middle of the 19th century Moscow was completely rebuilt.

The present-day Moscow is the seat of the government of the Russian Federation. President of Russia lives and works here; government offices are located here, too.

Moscow is a major industrial city. Its leading industries are engineering, chemical and light industries.

Moscow is known for its many historical buildings,museums and art galleries, as well as for the famous Bolshoi, Maly and Art theatres. There are more than 80 museums in Moscow,among them the unique Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Andrey Rublyov Museum of Early Russian Art and many others.

Moscow is a city of science and learning. There are over 80 higher educational institutions in the city including a number of universities.

Unit 5

Дата добавления: 2015-12-07