Russia

Geographical location: Located in Europe and Asia

Size: Largest country in the world

Bordering countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine in the west; Georgia and Azerbaijan in the southwest; Kazakhstan and Mongolia in the south; and China and North Korea in the east

Landscape: Forests, plains, mountains, and frozen tundra

Climate: Ranges from cold and snowy in the northern regions to warm and temperate in the south

Population: Almost 145 million people

Capital city: Moscow

Other important cities: Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg

Language: Russian

Religion: Orthodox Christianity is the largest religion

Currency: Russian ruble

Cuisine: Famous dishes include borscht, dumplings, and small savory pancakes

Famous tourist attractions: Onion-domed churches including St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square; Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg; the Kremlin; the Golden Ring towns; Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow

Interesting historical facts: The 1917 revolution resulted in the establishment of the world’s first communist state. Russia was the central power in the Soviet Union for over seven decades. Renowned Russian authors include Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky.