Russia

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== Russia ==

Flag of Russia

Coat of Arms of Russia

Russia (Russian: Россия , Rossiya), officially the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация , Rossiyskaya Federatsiya), is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by land area, covering over 17 million square kilometers, and encompassing more than one-eighth of Earth's inhabited land area. Russia extends across eleven time zones and borders sixteen sovereign nations, the most of any country in the world.

History

The history of Russia begins with the East Slavs, who emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. The medieval state of Kievan Rus' arose in the 9th century and adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated into a number of smaller states; most of the Rus' lands were overrun by the Mongol Empire and became tributaries of the nomadic Golden Horde in the 13th century.

Geography

Russia's geography is diverse, with vast plains, forests, tundra, and mountain ranges. The Ural Mountains form a natural divide between European and Asian Russia. Major rivers include the Volga River, the longest river in Europe, and the Siberian rivers such as the Ob River, Yenisei River, and Lena River. Russia has a wide range of climates, from humid continental in much of European Russia to subarctic and tundra in Siberia and the Far East.

Government and Politics

Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic. The President of Russia is the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Russia is the head of government. The Federal Assembly of Russia is the national legislature, consisting of the State Duma (the lower house) and the Federation Council (the upper house). The Constitution of Russia was adopted by national referendum on December 12, 1993.

Economy

Russia has a mixed economy with state ownership in strategic areas of the economy. It has an abundance of natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas. Russia is one of the world's leading producers of oil and natural gas. The country is also a major exporter of metals such as steel and aluminum.

Demographics

Russia is the ninth most populous country in the world, with a population of over 144 million people as of 2021. The majority of the population is ethnic Russian, but there are over 190 ethnic groups and indigenous peoples in Russia. The official language is Russian, and the country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including literature, music, and ballet.

Culture

Russian culture has a long and rich history, steeped in literature, ballet, painting, and classical music. Notable Russian authors include Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Anton Chekhov. Russia is also famous for its contributions to classical music, with composers such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Igor Stravinsky.

Related Pages

• Moscow
• Saint Petersburg
• Siberia
• Russian Revolution
• Soviet Union
• Vladimir Putin
• Russian language
• Trans-Siberian Railway