Rivers may serve as boundaries or as highways. Rivers can also be means of irrigation. The Nile, Yangtze and Jordan are examples. The Syr Darya is doing the same for the Russians in the Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan desserts. Climates can be stimulating in the temperate zones and enervating in the tropics.
Few people take long afternoon siestas in North America, Northern Europe or Russia.
Good or bad soil, adequate or inadequate rainfall affect both the spirit and technology of a people. The modern Russian state is geographically isolated. It is enclosed, except in the West by landlocked seas, deserts and mountains. The most impressive thing about the country is its tremendous size. It is the largest self-contained state in the world.