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Russia

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description Russia Overview

Russia is the largest country in the world by land area, spanning roughly 17 million square kilometers and eleven time zones from Eastern Europe across northern Asia. Its federal structure includes dozens of republics and other federal subjects, with Moscow as the capital and St Petersburg as the second-largest city. The state's heritage includes the Tsarist Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991. Geography ranges from the Volga River and Ural Mountains to Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake.

help Russia FAQ

How large is Russia?

Russia covers roughly 17.1 million square kilometres, making it the world's largest country by area. Its territory stretches across Eastern Europe and northern Asia and spans 11 time zones. [Geography of Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Russia)

What is Russia's capital?

Moscow is Russia's capital and largest city. Saint Petersburg is the country's second major city and a major cultural centre on the Baltic Sea. [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia)

How is Russia organized politically?

The Russian Federation is divided into federal subjects, including republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, an autonomous oblast, and federal cities. Republics are federal subjects with their own constitutions and, in some cases, a titular ethnic identity. [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia)

What landscapes are found across Russia?

Russia contains tundra, taiga, steppe, forest, arid zones, and major mountain regions. Lake Baikal in Siberia is one of its best-known natural landmarks and is the world's deepest freshwater lake. [Geography of Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Russia)