The first part establishes the framework by discussing individual components of the physical environment, while the second concentrates on regional analysis. In the concluding part the effects of anthropogenic activities on the physical environment are discussed. The approach adopted is an integrative one, tying together various aspects of the physical environments with the environmental implications of human activites.
1. Tectonics and Geology; 2. Climatic Change and the Development of Landscapes; 3. Climate at Present and in the Historical Past; 4. Soils; 5. Rivers, Lakes, Inland Seas, and Wetlands; 6. Permafrost; 7. Biodiversity and Productivity of Ecosystems; 8. The Arctic Environments; 9. Boreal Forests; 10. Mixed and Deciduous Forests; 11. Steppe and Forest-steppe; 12. Arid Environments; 13. The Mountains of Northern Russia; 14. The Mountains of Southern Siberia; 15. The Caucasus; 16. The Mountains of Central Asia and Kazakhstan; 17. Lake Baikal; 18. The Far East; 19. Radioactive Contamination; 20. Environmental Impact of Oil and Gas Development; 21. Air Pollution; 22. The Aral Sea; 23. Deforestation and Degradation of Forests; 24. Nature Protection and Conservation; List of Plant Names in Latin and English