Features of the geographical position of. Geographical position of Russia, territory, area, extreme points

Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. What territory does it occupy? What are the main features of Russia's geopolitical and economic-geographical situation?

Basic information about Russia

The modern state of Russia arose on the world map only in 1991. Although the rudiments of its statehood arose much earlier - about eleven centuries ago.

Modern Russia is a republic of the federaltype. It consists of 85 subjects, varying in area and population. Russia is a multinational state in which representatives of more than two hundred ethnic groups live.

The country is the world's largest exporteroil, gas, diamonds, platinum and titanium. It is also one of the world leaders in the production of ammonia, mineral fertilizers and weapons. RF - one of the leading space and nuclear powers of the planet.

What are the main features of the geographical location of Russia? This will be discussed later.

Geographical position of Russia: territory, area, extreme points and population

The country occupies a huge area of ​​17.1 million square meters. km (the first place in the world for the size of the territory). It stretches for ten thousand kilometers, from the shores of the Black and Baltic seas in the west to the Bering Strait in the east. The length of the country from north to east is 4000 km.

The extreme points of the territory of Russia are the following (they are all displayed with red symbols on the map below):

• northern - Cape of the Fligel (within Franz Josef Land);
• southern - near the mountain Kichensuv (in Dagestan);
• western - on the Baltic Spit (in the Kaliningrad region);
• east - Ratmanov Island (in the Bering Strait).

Russia is directly bordered by 14 independentstates, as well as with two partially recognized countries (Abkhazia and South Ossetia). Curious fact: about 75% of the country is located in Asia, but in its European part, almost 80% of Russians live. The total population of Russia: about 147 million people (as of January 1, 2017).

Physico-geographical position of Russia

The entire territory of Russia is located withinNorthern hemisphere of the Earth and almost all (except for a small part of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) - within the Eastern Hemisphere. The state is located in the northern and central part of Eurasia and occupies almost 30% of Asia.

From the north of Russia the seas of the NorthThe Arctic Ocean, and in the east - Pacific. In the western part, it has access to the Black Sea, which belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The country has the longest coastline among all countries in the world - over 37 thousand kilometers. These are the main features of the physico-geographical position of Russia.

The country has a huge wealth ofdiversity of natural resources. On its expanses are the richest deposits of oil and gas, iron ore, titanium, tin, nickel, copper, uranium, gold and diamonds. Russia also has huge water and forest resources. In particular, about 45% of its area is covered with forest.

It is worth highlighting other important featuresphysico-geographical position of Russia. Thus, most of the country is located north of the 60th degree of northern latitude, in the permafrost zone. And in these difficult natural and climatic conditions millions of people are forced to live. All this, of course, left its imprint on the way of life, culture and traditions of the Russian people.

Russia is in the so-calledrisky agriculture. This means that the successful development of agriculture on most of it is difficult or impossible. So, if there is not enough heat in the northern regions of the country, then in the south, on the contrary, there is a deficit of moisture. These features of the geographical location of Russia significantly affect the agro-industrial sector of its economy, which badly needs state subsidies.

Components and levels of the country's economic and geographical situation

Under the economic and geographical position (EGP)country or region understand the totality of relations and relations of individual enterprises, settlements and regions with objects that are located outside the country and exert a strong influence on it.

Scientists distinguish the following components of EGP:

• transport;
• industrial;
• agrogeographic;
• demographic;
• recreational;
• market (position relative to sales markets).

The evaluation of the EGP of a country or region is carried out at three different levels: at the micro, meso and macro levels. Next, we will assess the macroposition of Russia in relation to the world as a whole.

Features, changes in the economic and geographical position of Russia

The size of the territory is the most important feature andthe benefit of the economic and geographical position of the Russian Federation, with which many prospects are associated. It allows the country to provide a competent division of labor, rationally deploy its production forces, etc. Russia borders on fourteen countries of Eurasia, among which are powerful raw materials bases of China, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Numerous transport corridors ensure close cooperation with the states of Western and Central Europe.

Here, perhaps, are the main features of the geographical position of Russia of an economic nature. How did it change in recent decades? And did it change?

After the collapse of the USSR, the economic-geographicalthe situation of the country has deteriorated noticeably. And first of all transport. After all, Russia's access to the strategically important water areas of the Black and Baltic Seas in the early 1990s was substantially limited, and the country itself, for several hundred kilometers, distanced itself from the highly developed states of Europe. In addition, Russia has lost a lot of traditional markets for itself.

The geopolitical position of Russia

The geopolitical situation is the country's location on theworld political arena, its relations with other states. In general, Russia has ample opportunities for economic, political, military, and scientific-cultural cooperation with many countries of Eurasia and the planet.

However, not with all states this relationshipfolded in the best way. Thus, in recent years Russia's relations with a number of NATO countries - the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, which were once close allies of the Soviet Union - have deteriorated significantly. This fact, by the way, is called the largest geopolitical defeat of the Russian Federation in the new century.

Difficult and rather tense remainRussia's relations with a number of post-Soviet states: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, the countries of the Baltic region. The geopolitical situation of the country in 2014 with the accession of the Crimean peninsula (in particular, in the Black Sea region) has changed significantly.

Changes in Russia's geopolitical situation in the twentieth century

If we consider the twentieth century, then the most tangibleThe reshuffling of forces in the European and world political arena occurred in 1991. The collapse of the powerful power of the USSR entailed a number of fundamental changes in the geopolitical position of Russia:

• On the perimeter of Russia there arose more than a dozen young and independent states with whom it was necessary to establish a new type of relations;
• The Soviet military presence was finally eliminated in a number of countries in Eastern and Central Europe;
• Russia received a rather problematic and vulnerable enclave - the Kaliningrad Region;
• The military bloc of NATO has gradually approached directly to the borders of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, Russia has established strong and mutually beneficial ties with Germany, China, Japan, and India over the past decades.

As a conclusion: Russia in the modern world

Russia occupies the largest territory, possessinga colossal human and natural resource potential. To date, it is the largest state in the world and an important player in the global arena. One can single out the most important features of the geographical position of Russia, here they are:

1. The vastness of the space occupied and the vast extent of the borders.
2. A tremendous variety of natural conditions and resources.
3. Mosaic (uneven) settlement and economic development of the territory.
4. Broad opportunities for trade, military and political cooperation with various neighboring states, including with the leading economies of the modern world.
5. Variability and instability of the geopolitical situation of the country over the past decades.

Features of the geographical location of Russiaare extremely advantageous. But these benefits (natural, economic, strategic and geopolitical) are important to learn to use correctly and rationally, directing them to increase the power of the country and the well-being of its citizens.