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Country Details European Russia Description European Russia is the mass of Russian land west of the Ural Mountains. It's indicated above in a medium shade of green, fronting Europe. It is not a separate country, but rather commonly called European Russia because of its cultural, political and social blendings with European countries and peoples. St. Petersburg and Moscow, (the capital) are located in European Russia. Regardless, the entire country is (geographically) still considered a part of Asia A Brief Description of Russia Russia, the world's largest country, obviously defies a "brief description," as it covers 11 time zones, all climate zones except tropical, with land that stretches almost halfway around the planet. In fact, by jet from Moscow, it takes about 8 hours to reach Vladivostok on its Pacific Ocean coast. If you were to take that trip on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, count on your journey taking four days minimum. Russia has over 1,000 major cities, with 16 having a metro population of more than one million. The most populated cities are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. Moscow, the capital, with over 12 million (metro) residents, is the country's major economic and political center - the seat of the President, the government and the State Duma. The Russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains (shown above in a slightly darker shade of green) is referred to as European Russia by most educational atlases and geography experts. It is not a separate country, but rather called that because of its political, cultural and geographical blendings with Europe. Historically, the land called Russia was occupied by Mongols, and the likes, for centuries. In the early 17th century, the 300 year control of the Romanov family began, and it was Czar Peter I that really began the transformation of the Russian Empire. After the reign of Queen Catherine II, it emerged as an influential and powerful European force. This flexible and durable giant somehow survived decades of political uprisings; a bloody civil war, one led by Vladimir Lenin; its participation in World Wars I and II; the tragic oppression of Joseph Stalin, Communism and a long succession of ideological, often brutal, leaders. In 1991, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) dissolved, and when that union ended, Russia itself and its former republics all became separate countries. Today, this super-sized country is led by President Dmitry Medvedev, as he attempts to manage this massive slice of real estate, as well as maintain positive relationships with both Asian, European and Western powers - and what a job he has! To learn more about the dynamics of this unparalleled land, click here. Peter & Paul Fortress photo and treatment by: worldatlas.com Facts and Figures Name Russia (long form) Russian Federation Population 143,420,300 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Moscow (10.9 million) Currency Russian Ruble (RUR) Currency Converter here Languages Russian, numerous minority dialects Flag here National Day June 12 Religions Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 55º 45' N, 37º 42' E Relative Location Positioned in northern Asia, Russia is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. The country is dissected by the Arctic Circle, and also separated into two recognized landmasses by the Ural Mountains; its land west of those mountains is referred to as European Russia, and includes the capital city of Moscow. The country is bordered by the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, a dozen seas, and 14 countries, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, (Kaliningrad Oblast) and the Ukraine. Port of St. Petersburg photo by: worldatlas.com Land Statistics Coastline 23,396 miles (37,653 km) Land Areas (land) 6,562,112 sq miles (16,995,800sq km) (water) 30,657 sq miles (79,400 sq km) (TOTAL) 17,075,200 sq miles (6,592,769 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms The broad European Plain, or Volga River Plain extends from the Ural Mountains to its western borders with Europe. In the far southwest the Caucasus Mountains slice across the land. The country's highest point, Mt. Elbrus, is located there. The central and southern areas include large fertile areas, marsh, steppes (plains without trees) and massive coniferous forests. Siberia is a combination of frozen tundra, with rolling hills rising to plateaus, and numerous rugged mountain ranges. The northeast, south-central and southeast areas are covered by a wide variety of mountain ranges. A few on the Kamchatka Peninsula contain active volcanoes. Russia has more than 100,000 rivers with a length of 7 miles, or greater. Significant rivers include the Volga, Dnieper and Dvina (west), the Lena, Ob, and Yenisey (central) and the Amur in the far east. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, at 5,310 ft. (1,620m). Russia is approximately 5,592 miles, (9000km) west to east. Highest Point Mt. Elbrus - 18,481 ft. (5,633 m) Lowest Point Caspian Sea - (-92 ft.) (-28 m) Land Divisions 48 oblasts, 21 republics, 9 autonomous okrugs, 2 federal 9 autonomous okrugs, 2 federal cities and 1 autonomous oblast. List of names here! Contact Us | Privacy Statement Copyrighted by Graphic Maps All rights reserved! All maps, graphics, flags and original descriptions created by Graphic Maps, a d/b/a of the Woolwine-Moen Group, unless otherwise noted and/or directly linked to the source, and use of same for any application whatsoever (with the exception of outline maps) requires written permission. We make no copyright claim on any statistical data on this page, nor on any non-original graphics, and/or pictures not produced by us. Certain statistical data is gathered from the CIA World Factbook, as well as numerous public domain reference materials. Every effort is made to be as accurate as possible when disseminating information on any worldwide destination. We are not responsible for unintentional data entry errors or omissions. If you would like to submit an addition, change or correction, or suggest a new link, please forward it to our map department and we will give it our immediate attention.

Maps Russia (large color) map here Russia Outline Map here Russia Time Zone Map here Russia CIA version here Russia Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here CIS Map here! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Spilled Blood Cathedral, St. Petersburg photo by: worldatlas.com Recommended Links Russia (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Russian Embassy (Washington D.C.) here! Russian Journal (News) here! Russia Photos at TrekEarth.com here Russia.com (Tourism) here! Moscow Guide here! St. Petersburg Guide here! St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum here! Rugged landscape. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia! Travel the World through Poster Art! Time and Weather Climate The vast Russian Federation has a wide variety of weather conditions. In general terms, winters are somewhat mild along the Black Sea coastal areas, much colder inland and northwest, and frigid in Siberia. Summers vary from mild to warm in the west and central, with cooler conditions north, and along the Arctic coast. For specific current conditions and forecasts for most major Russian cities, go here. Typical Russian nested dolls photo by: worldatlas.com Traveler Info Attractions Where to begin? How about a brief summary of worldatlas.com's favorites on collective trips to Russia. Certainly Moscow is at the top of the list, including Red Square, Kremlin tours, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, Bolshoi Ballet Theater, Pushkin Museum, Moscow Circus performances, Moscow subway, Opera performances inside the Kremlin, dozens of smaller museums, and an endless list of city and regional tours. Across the country, Saint Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum, as well as the St-Peter and Paul Fortress; the Summer Palaces on the Gulf of Finland; picturesque Novgorod; Black Sea resorts; River Volga tours; the Siberian wilderness; Lake Baikal, Vladivostok and the rugged Kamchatka Peninsula. Country Dialing Code 7 Electricity Russia uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here PLEASE NOTE: Before making travel plans for any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding visas, local health care, customs, etc. We always find it helpful to contact the nearest consulate of any country before beginning a journey into a foreign land.

Tourists shopping on a Russian street photo by: worldatlas.com Peter The Great statue, St. Petersburg photo by: worldatlas.com

European Countries Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Belarus Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom including: England Scotland Northern Ireland Wales Vatican City Russian church spire photo by: worldatlas.com European Countries Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Belarus Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom including: England Scotland Northern Ireland Wales Vatican City