8 
RUSSIA IN EUROPE 
]^lack sea, and thence )jy steamer to different parts of Europe. 
It has superseded American oil in Russia and competed with 
it in Vienna and Berlin until consolidation of the American and 
Russian interests was made. In 1893 Baku alone produced 
33,104,000 gallons, a production largeh^ exceeding that of either 
of the two great oil-fields of America. 
Another range of mountains, or rather a continuation of tlie 
Caucasus, runs across the Crimea. This range protects the 
coast on the southeastern side from the cold winds of the north, 
and here are Livadia and Yalta, where the late Czar died — the 
only places in all Russia Avhere there is an equable climate like 
that of Nice and Mentone. The road from Livadia crosses this 
chain of mountains through a pass about 3,000 feet in height, 
with views of the Black sea resembling those of the Mediterra- 
nean near Amalfi, and then descends to Balaklava and Sebas- 
to])ol, where the winter winds from the Arctic blow unljroken 
by any mountains. 
EIVER SYSTEM. 
In the plateau of the Valdai the principal rivers of Russia 
rise. The Volga and its branches flow east and south to the 
Caspian sea ; the Dnieper and Don to the Black sea ; others 
northwest to the Baltic. Russia is so level that its rivers are 
slow and sluggish, with little water except during the melting 
of snows. They are connected Avith each other and Avith the 
gulf of Finland and the Arctic ocean by canals, so that inter- 
communication betAveen different parts of the country is easy 
in the summer. The rivers that emj)ty into the Arctic ocean 
and into the Black and Caspian seas have several mouths, so 
that navigation from the river into the sea is A’ery difficult. 
There are 33,000 miles of naA’igable rivers, 81,000 vessels of 
various kinds, and 138,000 rafts. 
CLIM.A.TE. 
In its climate, as in extent, conformation, and population, 
Russia differs from the other countries of Europe. These are 
bathed by the Avarm Avinds from the Atlantic and ^Mediterranean. 
The moisture of these Avinds is rapidly condensed as they pass 
over the Alps and Carpathians and the mountains of Noiavay 
and SAveden, the source of numerous rivers, and affording an 
abundant supply of rain to Avestern Europe. These Avinds then 
