Topic 1 Introduction
Map A
The map is titled Map A. This map shows the landmasses of western portions of Europe, western Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia. The landmasses are all colored khaki, with the exception of Russia and Central Asia, which are colored dark blue. The ocean is colored light blue. The lines of latitude and longitude are visible on the map as white lines, but they are not labeled. There is no map key on this map. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- The map shown is a Robinson projection. The lines of latitude are straight and the lines of longitude are curved. Because the lines of latitude are straight, areas toward the bottom of the map are more accurately portrayed when compared to areas toward the top of the map. Areas toward the top of the map are distorted.
Map B
The map is titled Map B. This map shows the landmasses of western portions of Europe, western Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia. The landmasses are all colored khaki, with the exception of Russia and Central Asia, which are colored dark blue. The ocean is colored light blue. The lines of latitude and longitude are visible on the map as white lines, but they are not labeled. There is no map key on this map. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- The map shown is a conic projection. The lines of latitude and the lines of longitude are curved. Because the latitude and longitude lines are both curved, the map accurately portrays all areas of the map. No areas of Russia or Central Asia appear distorted.
Topic 1 Content
Climate Regions of Russia and Central Asia
The map is titled Climate Regions of Russia and Central Asia. This map displays the different climate regions that exist in Russia and Central Asia. The map shows the landmasses of Russia, Central Asia, and Northern Asia. A map key exists on the right side of the map, which explains the colors used for each of the climate regions. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- Areas shaded in burgundy represent marine west coast climate. Marine west coast climate is found in Iceland and on the eastern Scandinavian Peninsula.
- In Iceland, all sides of the section meet a boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.
- In eastern Scandinavia, the marine west coast climate meets a boundary with the North Sea on the western and southern sides and the Norwegian Sea on the northern side. The eastern side meets a boundary with subarctic and humid continental climates.
- Areas shaded in magenta represent tundra climate. Tundra climate is located across all of northern Russia and northern Scandinavia. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with subarctic climate. The northern side of this section meets a boundary with the Arctic Ocean.
- Areas shaded in dark purple represent subarctic climate. Subarctic climate exists in northern and western Scandinavia and across parts of northern, central, and eastern Russia. The northern side of this section meets boundaries with tundra climate and the Arctic Ocean. The southern side of this section meets boundaries with humid continental and semiarid climates. The western side of this section meets boundaries with marine west coast climate, humid continental, and semiarid climates. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with the Pacific Ocean.
- Areas shaded in orange represent humid continental climate. Humid continental climate is found in two locations on the map.
- Humid continental climate exists on the left side of the map in eastern portions of Europe and western portions of Russia. This includes areas of southern Finland and in northern, central, and western Russia. The northern side of this section meets boundaries with marine west coast climate, the Baltic Sea, and subarctic climate. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with subarctic climate. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Another section of humid continental climate exists in northeastern Asia, North Korea, and northern portions of Japan. This northern side of this section meets a boundary with subarctic climate. The eastern side of this section meets boundaries with humid subtropical and the Sea of Japan. The western side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Areas shaded in yellow represent humid subtropical climate. Humid subtropical climate is found in two locations on the map.
- Humid subtropical climate exists on the left side of the map just north of the Black Sea. The northern and eastern sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with highland climate.
- Another section of humid subtropical climate exists in South Korea and southern portions of Japan. This section meets boundaries with humid continental climate, the Sea of Japan, and the Pacific Ocean.
- Areas shaded in khaki represent arid climate. Arid climate is found in three separate locations on the map.
- Arid climate is found directly south of the Caspian Sea. All sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Another section of arid climate is found west of the Caspian Sea that correlates with the Caucasus Mountains. All sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Another section of arid climate is found north of the Himalayan Mountains in central Asia. The northern and eastern sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate. The western side of this section meets boundaries with semiarid and highland climates. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with highland climate.
- Areas shaded in blue represent Mediterranean climate. Mediterranean climate is found in the Caucasus Mountain Region in between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The northern side of this section meets a boundary with highland climate and the Black Sea. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with the Caspian Sea. The southern and western sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Areas shaded in brown represent highland climate. Highland climate exists in two separate locations on this map.
- Highland climate exists in the Caucasus Mountain Region in correlation with the Caucasus Mountains. This section is found between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The northern side of this section meets boundaries with humid subtropical and semiarid climate. The western side of this section meets a boundary with the Black Sea. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with the Caspian Sea. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with Mediterranean climate.
- Another section of highland climate exists in correlation with the Himalayan Mountains in the northern portions of central Asia. The northern, eastern, and western sides of this section meet boundaries with arid and semiarid climates.
- Areas shaded in light brown represent semiarid climate. Semiarid climate exists in correlation with the Eurasian Steppe. This section exists in portions of northern and central Asia. The northern side of this section meets boundaries with humid continental and subarctic climates. The southern side of this section meets boundaries with arid and highland climates. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with humid continental climate.
Topic 2 Content
Transiberian Railway
The map is titled Map Trans-Siberian Railway. The map shows the Trans-Siberian Railway that travels from Moscow to Vladivostok in Russia, using a dashed white line. The map shows the landmasses including the very eastern portion of Europe, all of Russia, and portion of northern Asia. The landmasses are all colored khaki, with the exception of Russia, which is colored dark blue. The ocean is colored light blue. There is no map key on this map. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- The location of Moscow is identified in northwestern Russia with a large white dot and labeled with white text.
- The location of Vladivostok is identified in southeastern Russia with a large white dot and labeled with white text.
- A dashed white line extends southward and eastward from Moscow to Vladivostok. This white line represents the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Fertile Triangle Region of Russia
The map has no title. The map shows the Fertile Triangle region of Russia using a white semi-translucent triangle. The map shows the landmasses including the very eastern portion of Europe, portions of western and central Russia, and portions of central Asia. The landmasses are all colored khaki, with the exception of Russia, which is colored dark blue. The ocean is colored light blue. On the map, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, Arctic Ocean, Russia, and Fertile Triangle are labeled in white text. There is no map key on this map. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- The location of the Fertile Triangle Region of Russia is identified with a white semi-translucent triangle and labeled with white text. The bottom half of Fertile Triangle extends from the western boarder of Russia, near the Black Sea, to the southern Ural Mountains. The top half of the Fertile Triangle starts on most northern and western border of Russia and extends to the southern Ural Mountains.