Russia

A Country of Huge Magnificence, History and Cultural diversity

Russia is the biggest country in the world, where the variety of landscape, culture and history is just unbelievable. Be it the snowy wastes of Siberia to bustling cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia has an interesting mix of ancient traditions, modern cities, and magnificent natural beauty. A country of sharp contrasts, Russia has large forests and grand mountains, exquisite culture, and enriched history that make it one of the most interesting options of travelling.

To obtain all information about Russia, look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Russia

In case you want to find more information regarding Russia,such as its flag, language, area, currency, and population, you can produce and download free  this information by visit in our Random Country Generator tool. 

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Geographical Location

Russia is the biggest landmass country covering a total of 17 million square kilometers of landmass, a territory that cuts across Europe and Asia. It is surrounded by the countries of Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Georgia at the west; China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan at the south; Norway, Alaska and Arctic Ocean at the north and east.

Huge Russia territory is covered with different climates and landscapes, including tundra, forests, mountains, and desert. Volga, Don, and Lena are also the major rivers, which cross the country, and there are also numerous lakes, Lake Baikal being the deepest and one of the oldest freshwater lakes in the world.

Natural Features and Landforms

The natural characteristics of Russia are extremely varied in the aspect of having mountain ranges like the Caucasus mountains, the Ural mountains, and the Altai mountains. Mount Elbrus is the tallest mountain in Russia and in Europe that rises to 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) in the Caucasus Mountains.

Russia also boasts of immense areas of forests especially the Taiga which is the largest uninterrupted forest in the world. The Siberian wilderness is an unbelievable place to be explored, with glaciers, rivers and wildlife such as Siberian tiger and brown bears.

The north is usually cold and inaccessible and its coastline is of extreme importance to the climate and economical state of Russia because there are deposits of oil and natural gas.

Climate

Russia is a large country, thus its weather differs a lot. The nation has very severe conditions whereby some parts of Siberia go up to -50C (-58F) during winter. The European region of the country has a continental type of climate, characterized by winters and warm summers. The northern climates are subarctic and the south including the Caucasus and the Black Sea coast have more Mediterranean climates.

Winters (December to February) tend to be quite brutal in most of the nation, whereas during summer (June to August) the weather is not as terrible, especially in the central and southern regions of Russia.

Ancient, and Medieval History

The history of Russia dates back to thousands of years and the first civilization sprung up along the Volga River and the Don River. The tribes were later to go on to found the Kievan Rus which was an early East slavic state that was established in the 9th century. Viking settlers had a heavy influence on the Kievan Rus which served as the basis of current Russian and Ukrainian cultures.

Closure of the Kievan Rus led to the region fighting under different powers, such as the Golden Horde and the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The Grand Duchy of Moscow was later to turn into what became known as the Russian Empire governed by the Tsars.

Tsarist Russia Imperial Era

Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917) was ruling Russia more than 300 years where during this period of time Russia enlarged its boundaries and became one of the biggest empires in history. The Russian Empire established itself as a powerful state, both political and military, at the European continent with Peter the Great and Catherine the Great being some of the important rulers to make sweeping changes and increase territorial acquisitions.

The biggest conflicts that involved Russia in the 19 th century involved the Napoleonic War and Crimean War. The late 19 th century was the start of industrialization in the country, however, this did not eradicate some form of social unrest and inequality that ultimately led to the collapse of the empire.

The Soviet Union and Russian Revolution

In 1917, the Soviet Union, a communist state, went into existence after the Russian Revolution resulted in the deposition of the Romanov family. Soviet Union became a global superpower under Vladimir Lenin and afterward, Joseph Stalin where it participated in the Great Depression and World War II. The whole second half of the XX century has seen Cold war between the Soviet Union and the United States over ruling and directing global politics.

The regime of Stalin was characterized by mass repression, forced collectivization and the Great Purge that led to deaths within millions of people. In spite of the dictatorial reign, the Soviet Union achieved tremendous progress in space research, industrialization and the military strength.

Post-Soviet Russia

The Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, with Russia turning into a free country in the provision of Boris Yeltsin. The move towards market economy was made to be tough with economic crashes, corruption and political instability being the order.

In the 21st century, the emergence of Vladimir Putin was seen who first became the president and then prime minister. With the rise of Putin as his leader, Russia has stepped on the world map, emphasizing on its growth in the field of economy and modernize its military as well as gain more influence in the world politics.

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

Russia has a great number of ethnics and religions. Although most of the citizens are ethnically Russians (about 80per cent), there are also large groups of Tatar, Ukrainian, Bashkir and Chechen citizens. Russia is a very religious country with the Russian Orthodox Christianity being the most predominant with Islam being its second largest religion especially in the Practices and Customs

Russian culture has developed through the centuries with the European, as well as the Asian traditions. Ballet and classical music are notable cultural exports with such artists as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Anna Pavlova becoming well-known at international level.Language

The official language is Russian, which is demonstrated by majority of the population. It is the language of the East Slavs, belonging to the larger Indo-European language group and has major influences of the French, German and Arabic.

Religious Festivals

In Russia Orthodox Christmas (January 7) and Easter are important religions holidays. Orthodox people commemorate such holidays in churches, familial get-togethers, and traditional food. Another famous festival, the Russian version of Carnival is known as Maslenitsa, which is celebrated prior to Lent and is characterized by the traditional products, such as blini (pancakes), as well as by folk dances.

Special dates and holidays

One of the major national holidays in Russian is the Victory Day (May 9), the celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. Its observation is done through the parade of the military in Red Square Moscow and in the rest of the country.

Russia day (June 12) is a national holiday commemorating the announcement of Russia as sovereign of the Soviet Union in 1990.

Cultural Festivals

Key Russia cultural festivals are the Moscow International Film Festival and the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg, to which foreign visitors flock to watched performances, view films, and go to music concerts.

Economic Development

The economy of Russia is mainly founded on its numerous natural endowments especially oil, natural gas and minerals. The nation is a major producer of energy and an exporter. Russia also relies on its manufacturing and defense sectors and such sectors as aerospace, military technology, and electronic sector are the most important to the economy.

Tourism

The tourism sector of Russia is developing, and people come to such cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sochi to feel history, culture, and natural beauty of Russia. The nation is historically rich in terms of the historic monuments that include Kremlin, Red Square and Hermitage Museum.

Trade and Industry

The automobiles, chemicals and textiles are part of Russia industrial base. Space exploration and nuclear technology are also pioneers in the country.

Top Things to See in Russia

1. Moscow

Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil Cathedral and many museums and cultural venues are found in the capital city.

2. St. Petersburg

Ruled to be the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg is home to Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Palace, and Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

3. Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is the deepest in the world freshwater lake and has quite impressive water clarity and sceneries together with numerous species of wild life.

4. Kazan

Kazan, the Tatar culture city, has the status of the UNESCO World Heritage site and clubs in Kazan can boast of beautiful architecture, including the Kazan Kremlin.

5. Sochi

Sochi is a tourist destination known to host the 2014 winter Olympic games, a resort town where people can do skiing, beaches and mountains.

6. The Trans-Siberian Railway

It is a rare experience to go along the longest line of the railway on the earth to see the vast landscape of Russia, the city of Moscow to Vladivostok.

Healthcare System

The healthcare system in Russia is funded by the government and offers universal coverage to its people. Nevertheless, rural communities usually experience difficulty in accessing healthcare services, and the urban-rural difference in the quality of healthcare exists.

Education System

There are free primary and secondary education in Russia and the educational system there is strong. Institutions of higher education such as Moscow state university have a high reputation internationally with regards to academic excellence.

Transport Network

Russia boasts of its huge transport system comprising railroads, roads, and airports. One of the main ways of passing around the country is the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Urban Development

Russian metropolises, especially Moscow and St. Petersburg, are the centers of the modern infrastructure, and own their wide metros, highways, and designing examples of the latest buildings.

Ideal Seasons

It is recommended to visit Russia in spring (May-June) or autumn (September-October), when the weather becomes mild, the landscape is in its best appearance.

Special Events and Festival

Other important events that one should see are victory day, Moscow International film festival, and White Night festival.

Conclusion: 

Russia is a country of unrivalled beauty, cultural richness and history. Russia will provide every tourist with an outstanding and unique experience within the modern cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg or the wilderness in Siberia.

Frequently asked questions

When to visit Russia?

It is best visited during spring (May to June) or autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild and there are fewer people.

Which are the best places in Russia?

The most popular destinations there are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Lake Baikal, Kazan, and Trans-Siberian Railway.

Which are the languages spoken in Russia?

It is predominantly Russian with other minor languages being used among various regions.

Is Russia secure to visit?

Russia is rather tourist-friendly since there is hardly any threat to their safety but the visitor needs to know of local laws and traditions especially in the countryside.

Which cultural festivals are to be attended in Russia?

Russia has important cultural festivals that include the Victory Day celebrations, Moscow International Film Festival and the White Nights Festival.

The literature of Russia is one of the most abundant in the world and such writers as Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov, and Alexander Pushkin influenced global conventions of literature.

Russian language is the predominantly used language in the country, and it forms an important part in Russian identity and culture.