Russia

Russia is located in northeastern Europe and northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world—slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the United States, with a total area of 17,075,200 sq km (6,592,771 sq mi). Russia shares boundaries with the Arctic Ocean on the N , northern Pacific Ocean on the W , China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia on the S , and the Black Sea, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Finland on the W with a total land boundary of 19,990 km (12,421 mi) and a coastline of 37,653 km (23,396 mi). Russia's capital city, Moscow, is located in the eastern part of the country.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow. With its 10 million population it is the largest city in the country, its principal economic and political center - the seat of the President, the government and the State Duma (Parliament).

Throughout the country, the warm summer months of June, July and August are the best time to visit. Northern and Central European Russia: The most varied climate; mildest areas are along the Baltic coast. Summer sunshine may be nine hours a day, but winters can be very cold. Siberia: Very cold winters, but summers can be pleasant, although they tend to be short and wet. There is considerable seasonal temperature variation. Southern European Russia: Winter is shorter than in the north. Steppes (in the southeast) have hot, dry summers and very cold winters. The north and northeastern Black Sea has mild winters, but heavy rainfall all the year round.

The Embassy’s Economic Section produces regular analysis of the Russian economy.  We do this for three reasons.  First, because the increasing involvement of Russia in the international economic and financial system means that Russia and the UK are ever-more interdependent in the economic sphere.  Second, the large increases in trade and investment links between the UK and Russia require, and are partly facilitated by, a deep understanding of the Russian economy.  And third, Russia’s economics and politics are highly interdependent – so understanding Russia’s political future means understanding its economic present. The largest oil-and-gas deposits are to be found in Western and Eastern Siberia and on Sakhalin Island. The list of Russian mineral deposits includes gold, silver, platinum, cobalt, antimony, zinc, mercury, and many others. Russian mineral resources are distributed rather evenly along the nation's territory. For instance, copper-and-nickel ores are mined in the Northern Caucasus, the Urals, Siberia and the Kola Peninsula. Natural resources are wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber.Exports and imports partners are Netherlands 12.2%, Italy 7.8%, Germany 7.5%, Turkey 5.2%, Belarus 5%, Ukraine 4.7%, China 4.5%, Japan 6.4%, US 4.8%, South Korea 4.4%.

Amur State University is a university in Blagoveshchensk, Amur Oblast, Russia. Arkhangelsk was the chief seaport of medieval Russia. It is served by Talagi Airport and the smaller Vaskovo Airport. Astrakhan is situated in the Volga Delta, rich in sturgeon and exotic plants. The fertile area formerly contained the capitals of Khazaria and the Golden Horde. Astrakhan' itself was first mentioned by travellers in the early 13th century as Xacitarxan. Belgorod is a city in western Russia. Belgorod is served by Belgorod International Airport. Today Bryansk is an important center for steel and machinery manufacturing, and is home to many large factories. Chelyabinsk is a city in Russia, located just to the east of the Ura Mountains, on Miass River. It is the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast. Irkutsk is situated in a landscape of rolling hills within the thick taiga, typical of eastern Siberia, and in contrast to the flat, open steppe of western Siberia. Ivanovo was created by merging the old flax-processing village Ivanovo (first documented in 1561) with the industrial Voznesensky Posad in 1871. Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Kaluga is connected to Moscow by a railway line and the ancient roadway (E105 International highway) which is known as the Kaluga road. Kemerovo is an industrial city in Russia. Kostroma is an historic city in central Russia, the administrative centre of Kostroma Oblast. Kurgans were used in the Russian Steppes but spread into eastern, central, and northern Europe in the third millennium BC. Kursk played a role in the Cold War as host to Khalino air base. Saint Petersburg is often described as the most Western city of Russia. Lipetsk was first mentioned in the 13th century chronicles. Magadan is a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk and gateway to the Kolyma region. Murmansk is a city and seaport in the extreme northwest part of Russia. Veliky Novgorod is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia. Novosibirsk is Russia's third-largest city. Omsk is the administrative centre of Siberian Cossacks, the see of the bishop of Omsk and Tara, and the imam of Siberia. Orenburg played a major role in the rebellion of Pugachev. Oryol was rebuilt in 1636. Penza is a city in Russia. Pskov is served by Pskov Airport which was also used for military aviation.

Khimki-2 is a very popular beach, where you can rent jet skis, wind-surfing boards, and other sporting equipment. Kosino has clean water due to a spring inflow. There are numerous cafes, a volleyball court, a football field, and boat rental. There's a fishing center where you can also rent a boat. Lytkarino beach is famous for its white sand, clear water and pine forest. Serebryanniy Bor is the cleanest in the city and is located in an area where many diplomatic missions have their dachas. There are many cafes and shops around the beach and two volleyball courts. Strogino is Very clean and beautiful sand beach with many trees and bushes nearby. Cars are not permitted near the beach, so the air is cleaner than at any other Moscow beach. The place is quiet and divided into three separate beaches: regular, nudist, and gay. Vodnoye Dinamo beach located not to far from the center. This beach boasts many aquatic sport opportunities.

New Year’s Day is the most popular holiday in Russia. Nearly everyone decorates fir trees and has parties to celebrate. On New Year’s Eve, “Grandfather Frost” shows up in his white beard, red robe, and black boots to leave gifts for children to find the next day.

The Russian Federation is home to as many as 160 different ethnic groups and indigenous peoples. As of the 2002 Russian census, 79.8% of the population is ethnically Russian, 3.8% Tatar, 2% Ukrainian, 1.2% Bashkir, 1.1% Chuvash, 0.9% Chechen, 0.8% Armenian, and 10.3% other or unspecified. Nearly all groups besides Russians live compactly in their respective regions. As of the 2002 Census, the two largest cities in Russia are Moscow (10,342,151 inhabitants) and Saint Petersburg (4,661,219). Languages is Russian, many minority languages.

Russian classical music has been globally influential because of composers and musicians like Glinka, Tchaikovsky (The Nutcracker), Rachmaninoff, and others. In modern day, Russian music includes Perestroika (rock, pop, and heavy metal) Adygea, or modern folk music, has made a rise in popularity, also. The most popular sport are soccer and ice hockey.

Though Russian cuisine may not be as well known in the U.S. as other countries it does have a large, rich variety. Traditional soups like borscht are well known, as are a number of main dishes that rely on potatoes, bread, eggs, and milk. Russian caviar has an established reputation. But what seems to have the most recognition is their Vodka -distilled from fermented potatoes, or grain (80% proof). There is even a Vodka Museum in Moscow. Russians will not hesitate to tell you when you aren't dressed warm enough. Most of their fashion seems geared to keeping you warm, though modern styles can be rich and interesting.