Russian and Eurasian Republics
by Sam Ingram
Where did the Aral Sea go?
The Aral Sea is a saltwater lake on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Aral Sea has been shrinking in size since 1973. Fertilizers and pesticides have ran into it. They destroyed the habitat of animals and plants. The main reason it is shrinking is because of farmers building canals for their crops. It is also arid and semi arid so it gets little rain there.
Radioactive Chernobyl.
Chernobyl is in Ukraine, deserted, but why? A radioactive burst of about 3,280 feet above Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia causes this area to be deserted. This outbreak harmed humans, animals, and plants. The radioactive material is still around because of half-life. It contaminated everything, metal absorbed it the worst.
Downfall of the Soviet Union.
Mikhail Gorbachev was head of the Soviet Communist party. He introduced reforms, and brought along perestroika. Gorbachev later introduced glasnost meaning the people could speak openly about the government. This took a downturn, people started demanding more freedom. After the Berlin Wall collapsed the Communist had no control. The people declared autonomy, meaning they can govern themselves.