Eastern Europe: Where is Eastern Europe? (Leeson 1.02)

Locate the countries and capitals of Eastern Europe:
- Absolute location: Specific geographic coordinates of countries and capitals.
- Relative location: Position of countries and capitals in relation to others.
Describe the location and significance of important cities in Eastern Europe.
Identify geographical features such as:
- Caucasus Mountains
- Ural Mountains
Describe the physical divisions of Russia into:
- Russian Plain
- West Siberian Plain
- Central Siberian Plateau
- Eastern Highlands
Identify the relative location of Russia.

In 1991, Michael Palin, an actor-turned-adventurer, traveled along the 30-degree line of longitude from the North Pole to the South Pole, primarily by air.
A map illustrates the extent of his travels.

Definition: Eastern Europe refers to the countries in the easternmost part of the European continent.
Historical Context: The term emerged after World War II, associated with the political division of Europe into Soviet-controlled regions and Western-aligned countries.
Geographical Notes:
- The term is more political and cultural than strictly geographical.
- Russia is noted as the largest country in Eastern Europe, though much of its landmass is in Asia.
- Slovenia is the smallest country in Eastern Europe, with a population of approximately 2 million people.
According to the CIA World Fact Book, countries of Central and Eastern Europe are categorized as follows:
- Central Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia.
- Eastern Europe: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine.
- Southeastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey.

Cities Not Being Capitals: Notable cities include:
- Dubrovnik:
- Location: Croatia, in Southern Dalmatia, declared a World Heritage Site by the UN.
- Significance: Known as the "pearl of the Adriatic"; famous for its lush landscapes and historical significance.
- Quote by playwright George Bernard Shaw: "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik."
- Krakow:
- Former capital of Poland, currently the most visited tourist destination in the country, with a population of 1 million.
- Known for its architectural beauty, cultural significance, and rich history.
- Continues to attract visitors due to historical sites and vibrant restaurant scene.
- St. Petersburg:
- Established by Peter the Great in 1703; historical capital of the Russian Empire.
- Known as the "northern capital" of Russia, housing many embassies and international corporations.
- Major cultural and political center, increasingly popular with tourists.

Ural and Caucasus Mountain Ranges:
- Form a natural boundary between Europe and Asia.
- Caucasus Mountains:
- Orientation: East-west through Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and parts of southwest Russia.
- Comprises the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Ranges.
- Features Mount Elbrus, the highest elevation in Russia and one of the seven highest peaks globally.
- Positioned between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
- Ural Mountains:
- Orientation: North-south for over 2000 kilometers through Russia.
- They are among the oldest mountain ranges but are relatively high.
- Divided into five regions: Southern, Middle, Northern, Pre-Polar (highest mountains), and Polar.
- Rich in mineral resources, exposed through erosion (e.g., topaz, beryl).

Regions of Russia:
- Russian Plain:
- Also known as the Eastern European Plain.
- Largest mountain-free area, spanning from eastern Poland to the Ural Mountains.
- Covers the Baltic countries, Belarus, most of Ukraine, and parts of western Russia.
- Elevation: Generally below 1500 feet.
- West Siberian Plain:
- Located in central Russia; one of the world's largest flatlands.
- Extends from Ural Mountains (1,200,000 square miles) to the Yenisei River Valley; Arctic Ocean to the north.
- Primary source of Russia’s oil and gas production in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Central Siberian Plateau:
- Spans from the Yenisei River to the Lena River; divides east and west Russia.
- Comprises varied elevations, numerous wilderness areas, and permanently frozen ground in the north.
- Eastern Highlands:
- Region with complex mountain systems and uplands from the Lena River to the Pacific Ocean.

The relative location of Russia can be described in several ways:
- West of China.
- Bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean.
- Encompasses both the northern and eastern hemispheres.
- Divided into Asian and European sections by the Ural Mountains.
Quiz Point:
- Q: Which mountain range divides Russia into an Asian and European section?
- A: Ural Mountains.

Russia is an enormous country featuring 11 time zones, wrapping around the Arctic Circle.
It is possible to reach Russia not only via Europe but also through Alaska; the Bering Strait separates the two, with only about 50 miles of distance between them.