Internet country code International dialling code Time zone Licence plate code .ru +7 +1 -11 RUS

The huge country of Russia stretches out from Eastern Europe to Asia and spanns over 10 time zones. Its enormous land mass covers over 17 000 000 km², which makes Russia the largest country in the world. This area is the home of about 142 000 000 people, most of them are living in the capital city Moscow. Russia boarders to Norway and Finland to the northwest, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine to the west, Georgia and Azerbaijan to the southwest, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia to the south and North Korea to the southeast. The easternmost point of Russia lies across the Bering Strait, opposite the American state of Alaska. The exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast is also administered by Russia. It is situated on the Baltic Coast between Poland and Lithuania.

The climate of Russia ranges from the Arctic north to the generally temperate south. Its terrain is mostly broad plain with low hills in the west of Urals and vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia. Uplands and mountains dominate the southern boarder regions. With a height of 5633 meters, Mount Elbrus is the tallest point of Russia and also the biggest peak of whole Europe. The Urals Mountains and the the Caspian Sea is generally considered as the dividing line from the European to the Asian part of Russia. The European part is drained into the Arctic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Notable rivers are the Volga, Don, Oka, Kama and the Northern Dvina. Russia has vast natural resources, not least in oil and gas.

Russia was once the dominant state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia is now an independent country.Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the former Communist period.

Russia has a rich cultural heritage. Because of its history, it is very different in many facts to the western countries of Europe. The most beautiful sights can be seen in the cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In the countryside there are many little towns with old cloisters and castles, which offer heir own traditions.

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