Regional geography of eastern Europe (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Russia)

Timetable

The lectures will take place in the Institue of Geology, Faculty of Geographic and Geologic Sciences, 12 Krygowskiego Street on Fridays from 10.45 am to 12.15 pm in room 64. The first lecture will take place on October 11.

The University Campus can be reached from the city center by Poznan Fast Tram (PST). You need to take tram line 12, 14, 15 or 16 and get off at "Os. Sobieskiego" final tram station. Then you need to take bus route 198 and get off at bus stop "UAM Wydział Geografii ". Please note the Institute of Geology is situated in a separate building, next to the main building of the Faculty of Geographic and Geologic Sciences. When you get off the bus you need go to the left. When you enter the bulding, please go stariaght on, then turn left and go along the corridor until you see stairs on your left. Go down the stairs and then go straight on along the corridor. The lecture room will be on your right hand slose to the end of the corridor.

Module aim (aims)

The main goal of the module is to present and discuss the main factors that influenced the evolution of landscape of eastern Europe. The main outline of the course assumes the presentation of the influence of the last glaciation, climate change, activity of rivers and human impact of the formation of landforms, and changes in vegetation and climate. These topics will be presented using the examples of selected countries of eastern Europe. The natural and historical values of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Russia will be presented and discussed. Students of geography, environmental sciences, tourism, history, and biological sciences, who would like to gain the knowledge about the natural and anthropogenic landscapes, and history of eastern Europe, are welcome to attend the course.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge about geography of eastern Europe (secondary school level)

Syllabus

Week 1: characteristics of major regions of East European lowland: factors influencing landscape formation, geomorphological regions, basic features of the climate of eastern Europe.

 

 Week 2: characteristics of major regions of East European lowland (continued): types of vegetation, hydrology and geomorphology of river systems, specific regions of East European lowland (Crimea peninsula, Ural mountains, Caspian lowland),l

 

 Week 3: natural values of Lithuania: climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, outline of the history of Lithuania, major cities (Vilnius, Kaunas) and their historical and cultural values, natural values of national parks.

 

 Week 4: natural values of Latvia: climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, outline of the history of Latvia, major cities (Riga) and their historical and cultural values, natural values of national parks.

 

 Week 5: natural values of Estonia: climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, outline of the history of Estonia, major cities (Tallin, Tartu) and their historical and cultural values, natural values of national parks.

 

 Week 6: natural values of Ukraine: climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, outline of the history of Lithuania, major cities (Lviv, Kiev) and their historical and cultural values, natural values of national parks.

 

 Week 7: natural values of Russia: climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, outline of the history of Lithuania, major cities (Moscow, Sankt Petersburg) and their historical and cultural values, natural values of national parks (including Siberia and far east of Russia).

Reading list

Supporting literature (not obligatory):

Davies N., 1998, Europe: A history. Harper Perennial, London, 539 pp.

Davies N., 2012, Vanished Kingdoms: the Rise and Fall of States and Nations. Penguin Books; Reprint edition, 880 pp.

Raukas A., 1996, Estonian Environment: Past, Present and Future. Tallinn: Ministry of the Environment of Estonia, Environment Information Centre, 192 pp.

www.wild-russia.org