ABSTRACT
The previous chapter showed that the former USSR is characterised by a variety of physico-geographic and landscape conditions from arctic tundra in the north and north-east to deserts in the south and subtropics in the south-west. Specific features of the territory which influence the chemical composition of natural waters include remoteness of most regions from the sea, continental climate, sharp seasonal changes in temperature, relatively low runoff in most river basins and widespread permafrost.
