Russia and Central Asia
Freight train on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Russia and Central Asia has diverse physical geography. This massive region contains areas of taiga, tundra, steppe, mountains, and desert. The climate can be extreme, from the frozen tundra of Siberia to the dry deserts of Central Asia. The extreme climates create unique challenges for the inhabitants of this region. However, the people of Russia and Central Asia are resilient. Consider the nomadic tribes that have adapted to life on the Eurasian Steppe, or consider the people living and working in the remote villages of Siberia.
The people of Russia and Central Asia have adapted to major political and economic change. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a tsar with absolute power ruled Russia. A communist government controlled the region for most of the twentieth century. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991. The end of communism was generally positive; several post-Soviet states have been able to thrive under a market economy. However, some nations have experienced slow growth, increased inequality, and uncertain futures.