Russia is the largest country in the world with the total area 17 075 400 square kilometers (over 6.5 million square miles), that is about 1,8 times the size of the USA. It's situated in the Eastern part of Europe and Northern part of Asia. The main part of the European territory of Russia is situated within the Eastern European Plain (Vostochno-Evropeyskaya Ravnina). The southern border is on the North Caucasus. The main part of the Asian area of Russia is on Zapadno-Sibirskaya Ravnina and Sredne-Sibirskoye Ploskogor'ye. The territory of Russia spans through 11 times zones.
Russia borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and North Korea by land, and with Sweden, Turkey, Japan and the USA by sea.
Climate and Weather
Most of the country has a continental climate, with long, cold winters and brief summers. There is a wide range of summer and winter temperatures and relatively low precipitation. January temperatures are in the range of 6°C (45 °F) on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea. A record low temperature of -71°C (-96 °F) was recorded in 1974 at the northeast Siberian village of Oymyakon, the lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world for an inhabited region. In many areas of Siberia the soil never thaws for more than a foot.
Annual precipitation decreases from about 64–76 cm (25–30 in) in the European region to less than 5 cm (2 in) a year in parts of Central Asia. The tundra has long winters, with summers lasting one or two months, and receives from 8 to 12 months of snow or rain. The far northern forest, like most of the country, has long severe winters, short summers, and extremely short springs and autumns. Precipitation is low but falls throughout the year, varying from 53 cm (21 in) at Moscow to between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 in) in eastern Siberia. The steppes have very cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Population
The population of Russia was estimated at 142 million people, it is the ninth largest by population. Roughly 80 percent of Russia's population is ethnic Russian. The remaining 20 percent is made up of a wide variety of ethnic groups including Tatar, Ukrainian, Belarussian, Moldavian, Kazakh, and many others. About three-fourths of the population of Russia is urban. Moscow, Russia's capital and largest city, is home to some 9 million people. Russia has a well-educated population with near universal literacy.
Transportation
In Moscow, metro can deservedly be called one of the sightseeings, as some stations` architecture is unique and incredibly beautiful. Moscow metro is daily used by more than 9 million people, which is the highest index in the world. Most buses, trams and trolleybuses in Moscow are equipped with automatic check control systems, which means that one`d better care for tickets beforehand. Ticket offices are often located at bus and tram stops. It can be a problem to find special taxi stations in big cities of Russia, including Moscow. They are generally located near railway stations and airports. The best way to catch a car is to hitchhike. Just lift your right hand and wait for a driver to stop.
Top Attractions
1. The Kremlin.
2. Red Square.
3. St Basil's Cathedral.
4. Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater.
5. Tretyakov Gallery.
6. The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum.
7. Palace Square.
8. Nevsky Prospekt.
9. St Isaac's Cathedral.
10. Peter and Paul Fortress.
Best Travel Time
The warm months of July and August are the main holiday seasons. February to March is not the best time to visit Russia; the roads become slushy and dangerous in spring. May-June or September-October is good if one wishes to avoid the crowds.
Food and Drink
National specialties:
• Kasha (porridge) is a staple breakfast dish, made with milk and oats, buckwheat or semolina.
• Blini (small pancakes filled with caviar, fish, melted butter or sour cream).
• Ponchiki (hot sugared doughnuts).
• Pirozhky (fried rolls with different fillings, usually meat).
• Borshch, a beetroot soup served hot with sour cream.
• Pelmeni (meat dumplings).
National drinks:
• Chai (sweet tea served without milk).
• Vodka (often flavored and colored with herbs and spices such as zubrovka (a kind of grass), ryabinovka (steeped with rowan-tree berries), starka (dark, smooth, aged vodka) and pertsovka (with hot pepper). Posolskaya, Stolichnaya and Rossiskaya are popular brands.
• Krushon (cold ‘punch’; champagne, brandy and summer fruit are poured into a hollowed watermelon and chilled for several hours).
• Nalivka (sweet liqueur made with fruit or berries).
• Nastoika is a fortified wine made of herbs, leaves, flowers, fruit and roots of plants with medicinal properties.
Local Products/Shopping
A wide range of goods such as watches, cameras, wines and spirits, furs, ceramics and glass, jewelry and toys may be bought in Moscow and St Petersburg. Shops take payment in roubles and, occasionally, by credit card. It is necessary to allow extra time for souvenir hunting: shopping can be a time-consuming activity, owing to the relatively chaotic state of the retail trade in the Russian Federation. It is also advisable to shop around, as prices vary significantly. A good strategy is to choose your souvenirs in a department store such as GUM (on Red Square), and then buy them in a smaller, less centrally located shop. Kholui and Palekh lacquered boxes make attractive souvenirs. Traditional and satirical Matryoshka dolls (wooden dolls within dolls) are widely available. Khokhloma wooden cups, saucers and spoons are painted gold, red and black. Dymkovskaya Igrushka are pottery figurines based on popular folklore characters. Engraved amber, Gzhel porcelain, Vologda lace and Fabergé eggs and jewelry are highly sought after. A samovar makes a good souvenir. Antiquities, valuables, works of art and manuscripts other than those offered for sale in souvenir shops may not be taken out of the Russian Federation without an export license.
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1. The Kremlin.
The warm months of July and August are the main holiday seasons. February to March is not the best time to visit Russia; the roads become slushy and dangerous in spring. May-June or September-October is good if one wishes to avoid the crowds.