Mineral resources. Population

 

The Far East is rich in mineral resources, the cost of which is estimated at astronomic figures. Gold still remains to be the most promising of the natural resources tapped. Besides gold, much attention has been paid to prospecting and extraction of coal, oil and natural gas. Among the important and well-developed industries of the Far East are extraction and mining. Oil and natural gas are extracted in Sakhalin. Coal mining is developed in the southern part of Yakutiya, the Khabarovsky Krai (Verkhnebureinsky District), the south of Primorye. Copper is extracted in the Komsomolsky District, lead and zink – in the Primorsky Krai. 90% of tin in the Russian Federation is mined in the Far East: the Komsomolsky District, Kavalerovo (Primorye) and the northern part of Yakutiya. 60% of gold in the RF is mined in the Far East. The most important and largest gold extractions in Russia are in the Magadanskaya Oblast (Russian-American joint venture). Other deposits of gold are located in Yakutiya, Amurskaya Oblast, the Khabarovsky Krai. Platinium is extracted in the Khabarovsky Krai and Koryaksky Autonomous Territory. Almost 100% of diamond extractions in Russia are in Yakutiya.

The Russian Far East is a multiethnic community. The smallest peoples’ group of this country – the Negidals (about 500 people), live in the valleys of the Amgun and Amur rivers. Among other indigenous people there are the Yakuts, the Evenks, Evens, Chukchi, Yukaghirs, Aleuts, Ulchi, Udeges, Koryaks, Eskimos, Nanai, Orochi, Nivkhs. Their life improved dramatically in just one generation. There are problems and needs in the social, economic and cultural life of the indigenous people. That is true, written languages had been created, illiteracy was wiped out but at the same time they began to lose their national consciousness, their native language, their folklore, their traditions and tribal system.

The national problems differ in different parts of this country and eventually we’ll find a way to create a favourable social climate for all the ethnic groups of this area.

 

Ex. 4. Translate the following words and word combinations:

 

generally known, to be not exactly sure, coastal foothills, the Bering strait, climatic conditions, beyond the arctic Circle, the Northern lights, the forest tundra, sharply continental, softer monsoon, to be rich in, inimitable in its beauty, the real wonder, south-north wild life interfacing, side by side, “Green Gold”, ranging from … to, breeding-grounds, multiethnic community, written languages, find a way to create a favourable climate.

 

Ex. 5. Find English equivalents in the text:

 

азиатская часть России, тихоокеанское побережье, 40 процентов, граница с Китаем, Алеутские острова, чудо, единственное место в мире, здесь можно найти, склоны гор, запасы леса, гималайский (белогрудый) медведь, снежный барс (дальневосточный леопард), смешанные леса, широколиственные леса, лесотундра, хвойные леса, материк, достигать, беспозвоночные, креветки, водоросли, около 550 различных видов, зеркальный карп, долины, немногим больше, родной язык, тетерев, утка-мандаринка, северный олень, тюлень, Красная книга, песец, коршун, рыбный филин, беркут, большой баклан, щука, пихта, сосна.

 

Ex. 6. Insert prepositions where necessary:

 

1. Geographers divide Asian Russia …Eastern Siberia, Western Siberia and the Russian Far East.

2. The Russian Far East stretches … the Arctic Ocean … the sea … Japan.

3. It stretches … the border … China and Mongolia … the Aleutian Islands and the border … the USA.

4. Flora and fauna are known … the peculiar combination of the northern and southern nature.

5. The largest Federal Okrug is the Far-Eastern Federal Okrug … the capital city … Khabarovsk.

6. Inimitable … its beauty the Far Eastern taiga is the real wonder of this area.

7. One can find plants belonging … tundra and light coniferous forests growing side … side.

8. Magnolia vine, aralia and gin-seng grow next … huge cedars, a birch grows… a bamboo.

9. The northern part lies … the Arctic Circle.

10. The Northern lights can be observed … the shore of the Arctic Ocean, … the

polar night.

11. The sharply continental climate is changed … a softer monsoon climate.

12. In winter, winds are blowing … the mainland and in summer … the Pacific.

13. The Far Eastern fauna also displays … a great variety.

14. The humid southern forests are paradise … different species of frogs and

snakes.

15. … meadows and fields one can see hawk and golden eagle.

16. Much attention has been paid … prospecting and extraction of coal, oil and

natural gas.

17. The rivers are teeming … over 140 species of fish, including … sturgeon, black and mirror carps, salmon.

18. The seas are rich … invertebrates.

 

19. The largest eagle in the world inhabits … Kamchatka.

20. …birds of prey erne and black kite feeding … fish are staying near water.

Ex. 7. Complete the sentences:

 

1. The huge expanse of land known as Siberia lies ….

2. Geographers divide Asian Russia into ….

3. The Far- Eastern economic region includes ….

4. The Far- Eastern region covers ….

5. The Far- Eastern region stretches from ….

6. The tundra gradually becomes ….

7. The sharply continental climate is changed by ….

8. Flora and fauna of the Far East are known for ….

9. The Far East is the only place where ….

10. The stock of wood is ….

11. The Far Eastern flora also displays ….

12. Only here one can find plants belonging ….

13. Gold still remains to be ….

14. Much attention has been paid to ….

15. The seas are rich in ….

 

Ex. 8. Expand the statements:

 

1. Most people are not exactly sure what territory the Far East includes.

2. The Russian Far East occupies a large territory.

3. The Far East has a great variety of climatic conditions.

4. Plants belonging to tundra and light coniferous forests grow side by side.

5. The Far Eastern fauna displays a great variety.

6. The bird colonies are impressive too.

7. The Far East is rich in mineral resources.

8. The rivers are teeming with over 140 species of fish.

9. The seas are rich in invertebrates.

10. The Russian Far East is a multiethnic community.

 

Ex. 9. Answer the questions:

 

1. Can you define the geographical position of the Russian Far East?

2. How many territories does the Far- Eastern economic region include?

3. What types of forest are there in the Russian Far East?

4. How is the climate changed?

5. What does the term “Green Gold” mean?

6. What representatives of the northern and southern fauna can be seen in the Russian Far East?

7. What does the term “endangered animals” mean? Can you give any examples of them?

8. What species of animals can be met on the seashores?

9. What rare birds can be met in the Russian Far East?

10. What are the most promising natural resources?

11. How many species of fish are there in the Far Eastern rivers?

12. Are the seas rich in invertebrates?

13. What ethnic groups live in the Russian Far East?

14. How did the Russians influence the life of the indigenous people?

Ex. 10. a) combine the following sentences into one or change the construction, using “participle I”:

 

1. One can find plants which belong to tundra and light coniferous forests. They grow side by side.

2. The Far Eastern fauna displays a great variety. It ranges from peculiar butterflies to the Himalayan black bear and the Amur tiger.

3. It is impossible to imagine all species of animals and birds which live in the Far Eastern taiga.

4. The rivers are teeming with over 140 species of fish. They include sturgeons, black and mirror carps, breams, taimens, lenoks, salmons, kaluga.