ABSTRACT
The arid and semi-arid lands of the USSR are located mainly in Kazakhstan and Central Asia (Figure 11.1). They form an inverted triangle with a north–south axis of 2,000 km and an east–west base of 3,000 km. The area consists of widespread lowlands, with a highland fringe along the southern flanks. Given the favourable temperature conditions during the spring and summer periods, the agricultural potential is high. Water resources are, however, sparse and for the most part limited to streams draining the uplands to the south and east. These streams are fed largely by snowmelt and have peak discharges in late spring and early summer. Only one major river enters the region from the north — the Volga, which drains a large proportion of European Russia and discharges into the Caspian Sea. Arid and semi-arid lands of the USSR https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315832210/e438b80f-55d6-43b7-8c14-867ec39489e7/content/fig11_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
