Brief country information

Foundation date

Official language

Form of government

Presidential republic

Territory

17 125 187 km² (1st in the world)

Population

143 666 931 people (9th in the world)

Russian ruble (RUB)

Time Zones

UTC + 2 ... + 11, without UTC +5

Largest cities

Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Omsk

$ 3.373 trillion (6th in the world)

Internet domain

Telephone code

Russian Federation - the largest state in the world, occupying 1/8 of the land area and located in the northeast of Eurasia. Russia is a country with a long history, rich cultural heritage and generous nature. In Russia, you can find almost everything that a traveler meets individually in one country or another - sunny beaches of the subtropics and snowy mountain peaks, endless steppes and deep forests, turbulent rivers and warm seas.

Video: Russia through the eyes of a foreigner

Geography

Russia covers an area of \u200b\u200b17 million square kilometers, which is larger than the size of Australia or Antarctica. Russia is almost twice the size of Canada, the United States and China.

The country's neighbors are China and North Korea in the southeast, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan in the south, Belarus, Latvia, Norway, Estonia and Finland in the west. The Russian enclave, Kaliningrad Oblast, borders Lithuania and Poland.

In the east, the country is washed by the Okhotsk, Japanese, Berengov Seas and the Berengov Strait; in the north - by the Laptev Sea, the Barents, Chukchi, Kara and East Siberian seas; in the south - the Azov and Black seas; in the west - the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.

The largest Russian rivers are the Ob, Volga, Yenisei, Lena and Amur. The largest lakes in the country are Baikal, Ladoga, Onega and the Caspian Sea.

The European and Asian parts of the country are separated by the Ural Mountains, the highest of which is Mount Narodnaya (1895 meters). From the Ural ridge to the Primorsky Territory, Siberia is located, divided by the Yenisei and Lena rivers into three natural regions. In the south of the Asian part, the Altai Mountains rise, the highest point of which is Mount Belukha (4056 meters). To the east of the Altai Mountains are the Sayan, Baikal and Transbaikal regions. Further, in the direction of the Pacific Ocean, the mountain system of the Far East begins, the highest point of which, and in the whole Asian part, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano (4750 meters), is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula. In the south of Russia, the mountains of the North Caucasus rise, crowned with Elbrus (5642 meters), the highest point not only in Russia, but also in Europe.

The country's territory is divided into 4 natural zones and 11 natural zones. The far north is the zone of arctic deserts. To the south, in the Subarctic, there are tundra and forest-tundra. The temperate zone is more than half occupied by taiga. The rest of it contains zones of mixed forests, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and desert. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, there is a subtropical zone that makes up only 0.05% of the country's area.

More than 100 reserves, 40 natural and 35 national parks have been created in Russia.

Climate

Russia is located mainly in the temperate continental climatic zone. The islands of the Arctic Ocean and the northern continental territories are influenced by the arctic and subarctic climate. A hot subtropical climate is typical for the Black Sea region and the south of the Far East. The continental climate is increasing from west to east. The European part of the country is dominated by a temperate climate with hot summers and winter temperatures down to -15 degrees. Starting from Western Siberia, the climate becomes sharply continental, with frequent and abrupt weather changes. In winter, the air temperature here can drop to -40 °, and in the north and east of Siberia - to -50 ° and even to -60 ° (Oymyakon, Verkhoyansk).

Most of all precipitation falls in the mountains of the Caucasus and Altai, and the most arid place in Russia is the Caspian lowland.

Summer is the most favorable season for traveling in Russia. At this time, positive temperatures prevail here - on average, from 0 ° on the Arctic coast to + 25 ° in the southern regions.

Winter continues in central Russia for about five months - snow cover is established in November, and frosts continue until the end of March.

Early spring is not the best season for traveling around the country. In April, there is a lot of slush on the city streets from the occasional snowfall, and in the countryside there are stormy rivers. It often rains in May, accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms.

The beginning of autumn is the most beautiful season and a great time to get to know Russia. September temperatures, as a rule, do not drop below + 15 °. In addition, at the beginning of the month, Russians and guests of the country are pleased with the "Indian summer" - warming up to + 25 °, lasting from several days to two weeks. In October, prolonged drizzling rains become more frequent, the temperature drops, and there are frosts at night.

Cities of Russia

All cities of Russia

sights

Even after a few trips, it is impossible to see all the sights of Russia, the abundance of which will make the most experienced traveler dizzy. The List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 27 of which are located in Russia, can help tourists navigate:

• The Kremlin and Red Square are the most famous and recognizable symbols of Russia. The Kremlin, the embodiment of Russian statehood, is not only the largest fortress in Europe, which is a historical monument, but also the workplace of the President of the Russian Federation, as well as a place for important events and celebrations;
• the historic center of St. Petersburg and related monuments;
• the historical and cultural center "Solovetsky Islands" - a man's monastery with a tragic fate (Arkhangelsk region);
• Ferapontov Monastery, famous for its frescoes created in 1502 (Ferapontovo village, Vologda region);


• the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost - unique wooden churches and a bell tower (Republic of Karelia, not far from the town of Medvezhyegorsk);
• monuments of Novgorod and its environs, including Novgorodsky Detinets with the rarest square churches;
• white-stone monuments of Suzdal and Vladimir;
• The Church of the Ascension of the 16th century, located in the village of Kolomenskoye, Moscow Region, is the first stone hipped-roof church in Russia, built in honor of the birth of Ivan IV (the Terrible);
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra - the largest Orthodox male monastery in Russia (Sergiev Posad, Moscow region);
• the forests of the Komi Republic - the largest virgin forests in Europe;


• the deepest lake on the planet - Baikal, which is also the largest reservoir of fresh water;
• volcanoes of Kamchatka (30 active and about 300 extinct);
• Sikhote-Alin Nature Biosphere Reserve - a habitat for sable, Amur tigers, mink and other rare animals (Primorsky Territory);
• Golden Mountains of Altai (Altai and Katunsky reserves, Ukok plateau);
• The Ubsunur Basin is a habitat for 80 species of mammals, including the snow leopard (irbis) and argali (argali) listed in the Red Data Book, as well as 350 bird species (Tyva Republic);
• Caucasian nature reserve;
• Kazan Kremlin - the northernmost point of the Muslim civilization, a unique combination of Tatar and Russian architectural styles;


• The Curonian Spit is a sand spit with a unique natural landscape that has no analogues in the world (Kaliningrad region);
• Karyn-Kala fortress of the VIII century, the old city of Derbent and its unique double defensive wall (Republic of Dagestan);
• wrangel Island, which has the largest number of polar bear dens in the world and the largest bird colonies and walrus rookeries in the Arctic (Chukotka Federal District);
• Novodevichy Convent (Moscow);
• the historical center of Yaroslavl;
• Struve's geodetic arc - 34 stone cubes dug into the ground and used to determine the parameters of our planet (Gogland Island, Leningrad Region);
• Putorana Plateau with numerous waterfalls and lakes (Krasnoyarsk Territory);
• Lena Pillars - sheer bare rocks over 100 meters high, over 400 thousand years old (Sakha Republic);
• architectural and historical ensemble Bulgar (Republic of Tatarstan).

Traditional places of pilgrimage for tourists are Moscow and St. Petersburg with their world famous museums, churches, monasteries, palaces and parks. Going to St. Petersburg, do not forget about its beautiful suburbs: Tsarskoe Selo, Peterhof, Pavlovsk and Lomonosov. Also, from the Northern capital it is convenient to go on a trip around Karelia and to the island of Valaam.

Having visited Moscow, try to visit its environs: the cities of Chekhov, Klin and Serpukhov, the villages of Abramtsevo, Arkhangelsk and Ostafyevo.

One of the popular tourist routes is the "Golden Ring" of Russia, connecting the ancient Russian cities: Vladimir, Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Suzdal, Yuryev, Kostroma, Rostov and Yaroslavl.

Russian North - Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions, where samples of national wooden architecture are carefully protected and ancient traditions are maintained. There is a real nature reserve of ecotourism - Karelia.

The Volga region is Nizhny Novgorod with its Kremlin and monuments; this is the Volga River, cruises along which provide an excellent opportunity to see and fall in love with the beauty of central Russia.

The Urals attracts tourists with picturesque landscapes and historical sites. Famous monuments of the Ural region are associated with the last days of the life of the royal family of the Romanovs - the Monastery in Ganina Yama and the Ipatiev House, where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were shot. The Ural is an excellent place for ecotourism, the natural attractions of which are the Chusovaya River, the Kungura ice caves, Lake Uveldy, the Turgoyak and Ilmensky reserves, and mineral springs in Obukhovo.

South of Russia - these are the resorts of the Caucasus, the sights of Rostov-on-Don and the capital of the Russian merchants, Astrakhan. Kuban and its capital Krasnodar are becoming more and more popular among tourists. Novorossiysk is one of the largest port cities in the country. Here travelers tend to visit Lake Abrau and take pictures with the monument to Leonid Brezhnev.

The cities of Central Russia: Tula, Kaluga, Ryazan, Smolensk, Pskov, Kirov, Tver, are ancient Russian settlements with an interesting architecture and a long history.

Siberia will give travelers an acquaintance with Altai, one of the most beautiful and ecologically clean places in Russia; with the steppes and forests of Khakassia; with the distinctive cities of Tobolsk and Tomsk. Those who wish can make a unique journey to the place where the Tunguska meteorite fell.

The Far East is famous for diamond Yakutia, Kamchatka Valley of Geysers, bear fishing, untouched nature.

The Transsib is a 9000 km long railway that crosses Russia from west to east and connects Moscow and Vladivostok. Traveling along the Transsib, a tourist will switch the hands on his watch 8 times, get acquainted with the natural diversity of Russia, visit the large cities of the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia.

All sights of Russia

Flora and fauna

There are about 25,000 plant species in Russia. The richest flora (over 6,000 species) is found in the Caucasus and the Far East (up to 2,000 species); the least amount of vegetation is found on the Arctic islands.

The tundra and forest-tundra are located in the permafrost zone, which does not allow large representatives of the flora to develop; only lichens and mosses, dwarf shrubs and trees can survive here.

Forests occupy almost half of the country's territory, with most of them located in the Asian half of Russia. Taiga stretches from Karelia to the Urals, then stretches across the whole of Siberia, including Kamchatka and Sakhalin. In Siberian forests, mostly conifers grow (pine, cedar, spruce, larch), diluted with oak, aspen and birch. In the Far East there are mixed forests, similar to those that occupy the middle zone of Russia. Oak, ash, hornbeam and maple grow closer to the south. The warm regions of Russia are dominated by areas occupied by forest-steppe (Middle Volga, South Ural and West Siberian Plain) and steppe with dense vegetation and few trees (South Volga and south of West Siberia).

The fauna of Russia is rich and diverse: in the Far North and in the tundra regions live polar fox and hare, polar bear, seal, walrus and reindeer, from birds - partridge, gulls, loons and polar owls. The Siberian taiga is home to the maral, elk, brown bear, fox, wolf, hare, lynx and sable. Typical representatives of the feathered local forests are black grouse, wood grouse, owl, nutcracker, and crossbill.

The Far East is famous for the Ussuri tiger and leopards, Kamchatka - for a large number of brown bears and deer.

Mixed and deciduous forests are home to mink, wild boar, numerous snakes and birds.

Many rodents live in the steppes: hamsters, gophers, marmots. Antelope is found here, and predators are represented by the Tatar fox and the steppe ferret. The most notable birds are cranes, golden eagles and eagles.

In the regions of the Caucasus, there are several species of ibex, as well as deer, roe deer, leopards, wild boars, bears and porcupines. Here you can find various types of reptiles and insects.

State structure and general information

The Russian Federation (RF) includes 85 equal subjects - 22 republics, 9 territories, 46 regions, 3 federal cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol), 1 autonomous region (Jewish) and 4 autonomous regions.

Russia is a democratic, federal state, the head of which is the president. Legislative power is exercised by the Federal Assembly, which consists of two chambers - the Federation Council and the State Duma. Executive power belongs to the government headed by the prime minister.

Russia is home to 146 million people, which puts the country in ninth place in the world in terms of population.

The Russian Federation is a secular state, the Constitution of which enshrines the right of a citizen to any religion. Of all the religious confessions, the most numerous is Orthodox, the inhabitants of Russia also profess Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Judaism and other religions.

Representatives of more than 160 nationalities live in the country, of which Russians 82%, Tatars - 4%, Ukrainians - 3%.

The largest cities in Russia with a population of more than a million people: Moscow (the capital of the Russian Federation), St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Samara, Volgograd, Omsk, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don.

The state language of the country is Russian.

There are 11 time zones in Russia. In the first time zone (Kaliningrad), the difference with Moscow time is minus 1 hour. In the 11th time zone (Kamchatka), time is 9 hours ahead of Moscow time.

History

Primitive people appeared on the territory of Russia more than a million years ago. And the formation of Russian statehood proper took place in the 7th-19th centuries, when the Slavic peoples began to move from Central Europe to the east. The settlers founded two independent centers - Novgorod and Kiev.

The date of the formation of the Old Russian state is considered to be September 8, 862, when the Novgorodians, wishing to end internecine wars, called for the kingdom of Rurik. The Varangian prince managed to unite the largest East Slavic tribes, and his successor, Prophetic Oleg, conquered Kiev and annexed the southern lands to the Russian state.

Russia reached its highest prosperity and power in the 11th century under Yaroslav the Wise, who saved it from the raids of the Pechenegs and carried out important judicial and church reforms.

However, the sons of Yaroslav began internecine wars, because of which the Old Russian state fell apart into several independent principalities. In the 13th century, the scattered Slavic lands became easy prey for the Mongol-Tatar hordes. Taking advantage of the weakening of Russia, the Swedish and German crusaders attacked it. Prince of Novgorod Alexander Nevsky, having united the Russian troops, drove out the enemy, which prevented the forced assimilation of the Slavs.

The independence of Russia from the Golden Horde was restored by Prince Ivan the Great in the 15th century.

The first tsar in 1547 was Ivan IV the Terrible, who significantly expanded the territory of the state and carried out important reforms that contributed to the centralization of Russia.

In 1613, the reign of the Romanov dynasty began, Siberia and the Far East were annexed. In 1654 Ukraine became part of Rus.

Peter I. "Here the city will be founded", author Nikolay Dobrovolsky

Thanks to the reforms of Peter I, who ruled from 1689 to 1725, Russia turned into a powerful empire. The tsar transformed the army and navy, developed education, industry and shipbuilding. Peter I conquered the shores of the Baltic Sea from the Swedes, where he founded the new capital of the state - St. Petersburg (instead of Moscow, the former capital since 1389).

After the death of Peter I, the time of palace coups began in the country. Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (1741 - 1761), power stabilized, the Moscow University was founded, the death penalty was abolished, Russia waged a successful war with Prussia.

After Elizabeth, Catherine II came to the throne, nicknamed the Great for transformations in the state structure and the strengthening of the country.

At the beginning of the 19th century, relations between Russia and France deteriorated, which led to the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1814, Russian troops defeated Napoleon's half-million army and entered Paris.

The 19th century was marked by an industrial revolution, the abolition of serfdom, monetary and liberal reforms.

In 1894, the last Russian emperor Nicholas II ascended the throne, whose reign was accompanied by both the rapid economic development of the country and the growth of social and political contradictions. In 1914, the country entered the First World War, which led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the collapse of the Russian Empire.

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in the country under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin. The communists succeeded in winning over a huge part of the population to their side thanks to the promise to end the war and socialize private property. In its quest to improve the lives of the common people, the Soviet government often resorted to repression.

In 1922 Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucasian republics formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

In the 20s and 30s, the industrialization of the country was accelerated, its industrial and technical potential increased significantly.

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the USSR, the purpose of which was to occupy the country, exterminate and enslave the population. At the cost of incredible sacrifices, the Soviet people in 1945 defeated the fascist army and liberated Europe from Nazism.

In the late 1940s, the Cold War with the West began. In the process of confrontation with the largest world powers, powerful military-industrial and scientific-technical complexes were created in the USSR. In 1957, the country was the first in the world to launch an artificial Earth satellite into space, and on April 12, 1961, for the first time in the history of mankind, a spacecraft with a man on board, Yuri Gagarin, was launched into near-earth orbit.

The growth of stagnation in the economic and political life of the country in the 70s and 80s of the XX century led the USSR to the need for modernization. However, the reforms launched by Mikhail Gorbachev failed to cope with the crisis and led to the country's disintegration in 1991. Russia became the legal successor of the Soviet Union.

The 90s was a period of radical reforms in the economy, which led to the capitalization of the country and significant stratification of society, the flourishing of criminal structures.

In 2000, Vladimir Putin became the president of Russia, under whose leadership important socio-economic reforms were carried out that helped to stabilize the situation in the country.

2014 was marked by a new round of the Cold War with the United States and Europe due to the political crisis in Ukraine. In March, Crimea, which did not recognize the results of the coup d'état, held a referendum to return to Russia. The US and EU reacted to the annexation of Crimea by introducing economic sanctions against Russia.

Culture

Foreign travelers visiting Russia strive to unravel the phenomenon of the “mysterious Russian soul” and the character of the people who have created one of the richest and most beautiful world cultures. The national mentality was formed on the basis of historical conditions, geography, climate, religion and the vast territory of the country. One of the most outstanding trends in Russian culture is painting. The artists Vrubel, Levitan, Aivazovsky, Bryullov, Serov made an invaluable contribution to the cultural development of Russia. The richest collection of the country's pictorial heritage is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow) and in the Hermitage (St. Petersburg).

Artistic products are known far beyond the borders of Russia:

"Heroes" - painting by Viktor Vasnetsov

• Gzhel - blue and white ceramics;
• Zhostovo and Tagil painted metal trays;
• Dymkovo toy - original colorful clay amusing crafts;
• Khokhloma - wooden dishes with black-red-gold painting;
• Kasli casting;
• Palekh miniature;
• Matryoshka is a detachable wooden painted toy, consisting of several dolls of different sizes.

Russian literature not only reflected the spiritual and aesthetic worldview of the people, but also became the philosophy of the state. The most famous writers of Russia: Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Nabokov, Turgenev. Alexander Pushkin is called the "Sun of Russian poetry", and Russians also honor such poets as Lermontov, Nekrasov, Fet, Yesenin, Blok.

The Russian musical heritage consists of the works of world famous composers: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Glinka, Shostakovich, Prokofiev.

Russian ballet, which has become the country's hallmark, is recognized as the basis of ballet art.

Such giants of theatrical art as the Mariinsky Theater, the Bolshoi and Maly Theaters, the Theater of the Russian Army, the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater and others are on tour around the world.

Holidays in Russia

Anyone can choose the most suitable option for a vacation in Russia.

• Excursion tourism offers many routes and will satisfy the desire for knowledge of Russia, its history, life, culture and nature.
• Beach holidays await tourists on the shores of the Black Sea (from Anapa to Tuapse and in Sochi), in the Primorsky Territory, in the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory.
• Health tourism is developed in almost all regions of the country. The resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (Essentuki, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk) have unique healing springs that restore health. The Altai resort Belokurikha is famous for its curative microclimate, clean ecology and excellent sanatorium facilities. The balneological resorts of Anapa, Arshan (Buryatia), Darasun (Chita region), Kuldur (Khabarovsk Territory), Nachik (Kamchatka), Shmakovka (Primorsky Territory) will help to improve your health. Excellent mud and climatic resorts await vacationers in Yeisk (Krasnodar Territory), in the Vladivostok resort area, in Gelendzhik, in Kaliningrad, in Paratunka (Kamchatka), in Sochi.
• Active and extreme recreation in Russia is popular due to its unique natural diversity. Winter sports enthusiasts will enjoy the winter resorts of Sochi, Elbrus, Ural, Altai, Sheregesh (Kemerovo region). Water tourism is developed in Altai, Urals, Valdai Upland, Kola Peninsula, in Karelia. Mountaineering fans are welcome in any region of the country where there are mountain systems - in the Caucasus, Altai, Urals, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the Amur region.
• Pilgrimage tourism gives believers the opportunity to touch the Orthodox shrines of Russia, visit places associated with significant historical events: Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Optina Pustyn, Valaam, Diveyevo and other, no less important, monasteries. Many believers are convinced that prayer offered to God in a specific place will be most effective.
• Automobile tourism will give the traveler an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the Russian province, with its natural diversity, and visit any places they like.

Kitchen

Russian cuisine is not characterized by sophistication and intricacy, national dishes are simple in execution, hearty and tasty. The most famous representatives of Russian gastronomy are borsch, fish soup, pancakes, pies with all kinds of fillings, dumplings.

Soup is an obligatory dish in a Russian lunch. In Russia, soups are prepared on the basis of meat, fish or mushroom broths, followed by the addition of vegetables, spices and herbs. In the heat, Russians happily eat okroshka - a mixture of finely chopped vegetables, boiled eggs, meat and herbs, seasoned with kvass.

In Russia, a lot of meat is traditionally eaten due to the cool climate. The Russians also pay tribute to fish, catching which is one of the popular hobbies among men.

In regions rich in forests, in summer and autumn, many residents go to pick mushrooms. Porcini mushrooms, birch, honey agarics, chanterelles, boletus, milk mushrooms are very tasty. Russians fry mushrooms, stew in sour cream, pickle, salt and dry for the winter.

Russian cuisine is rich in vegetable dishes. Cabbage, beets, potatoes, turnips, carrots, pumpkin and zucchini are boiled, stewed, added to soups and main courses.

Cultured milk products are traditionally loved in Russia - sour cream, kefir, fermented baked milk, varenets, cottage cheese.

Various cereals are popular in the country, serving both as an independent dish and as a side dish for meat or vegetables.

Some dishes of Russian cuisine - Easter cake, pancakes, funeral kutia - have religious and ritual significance and are prepared during certain holidays or rituals.

Shopping

Shopping in Russia is quite expensive due to the high cost of delivery of goods and rental of premises, as well as high duties. But in the shopping centers of any large Russian city you can easily find shops of popular international brands. The price for the same product can vary significantly depending on the region. The country does not have a fixed sales time, as in most Western countries. The biggest discounts are offered to customers in January and from mid to late summer. But Russian sales are not distinguished by a significant decrease in the price of goods, usually sellers drop only 20-30% of the original cost.

Shops are usually open every day, from morning until late at night. Many grocery stores are open around the clock. A restriction has been introduced on the sale of alcoholic beverages in Russia - they cannot be purchased at night.

There are several outlets in the Moscow region: Vnukovo Outlet Village near Vnukovo airport, Outlet Village Belaya Dacha at the 14th kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road, Fashion House near the village of Chornaya Gryaz.

But Russia is famous not for traditional shopping, but for original souvenirs and goods from different regions of the country. Tourists bring birch bark products from Novgorod; Karelia is famous for its cloudberry jam; no one leaves Kaliningrad without amber handicrafts and jewelry. In St. Petersburg, they buy magnets and decorative plates with views of the Northern capital, fake Faberge eggs, vodka. The central region is famous for handicrafts, here tourists are offered Zhostovo trays, Palekh boxes, Gzhel products, matryoshka dolls, samovars. In Myshkin, Yaroslavl region, you will be offered cute mice, which are the symbol of the town. In the Kuban, tourists buy Cossack attributes, in Crimea - Massandra wines. Nizhny Novgorod, the birthplace of Khokhloma painting, offers a variety of colorful wooden products - from simple magnets to tableware. Tatarstan is generous with all kinds of sweets: chak-chak, baklava, baursak. The famous Orenburg shawls are knitted from the highest quality down. From Bashkiria and Altai, they bring magnificent honey collected by bees in the cleanest places on the planet. The Ural offers those who wish a whole scattering of precious and semi-precious stones and products made from them. Siberia is generous with natural resources - cedar nuts, fish, antlers (antlers with healing properties).

Accommodation

Hotels in Russia are represented by both inexpensive hostels and modern hotels of various categories. Almost any hotel can be booked through our website. Popular in Russia is renting housing from owners who are distinguished by Russian hospitality and receive guests on a large scale.

All types of transport are well developed in Russia - air, rail, bus, and in some regions, water. Public transport - buses, trolleybuses, trams, trains, taxis. There are metro stations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan.

Travelers traveling in Russia should remember that local time is indicated on plane tickets, while Moscow time is indicated on train tickets.

Car rental in Russia is not as popular as in many other countries. Nevertheless, in any major city there are companies that provide car rental services. The cost of renting a car depends on the city - a car will cost the most in Moscow and St. Petersburg, in the provinces the prices are much lower.

Wi-fi is available in many cafes, cinemas, hotels, airports, train stations. Internet cafes are available in all major cities.

The telephone code of Russia is +7.

In some remote and mountainous areas, there is no mobile connection. As a rule, at the entrance to such places, posts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are installed, where each person entering, his place of stay and the date of the expected departure are registered in a special log. Such measures are necessary in case of emergencies.

Useful information

Before entering Russia, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the customs rules governing the import and export of certain goods in advance.

When traveling by car, when leaving the Russian Federation, it is allowed to take out no more than 20 liters of fuel, not counting the fuel in the tank.

In Russia, there is a ban on the transport of any liquids in the aircraft cabin. Medicines required by the passenger during the flight are allowed on board the aircraft upon presentation of the relevant medical certificate.

Citizens of foreign countries other than CIS countries or those who have signed an agreement on a visa-free regime need a visa to visit the Russian Federation. You can get acquainted with the procedure for issuing visas and the list of required documents at the Russian consulates abroad.

The national currency of the Russian Federation is the ruble. The ruble currency code is RUB. On the territory of Russia, you can only pay in rubles. In the country's banks, the ruble can be exchanged for almost any currency in the world.

In theory, bank cards are accepted in most major shopping centers, hotels and restaurants. But before making a purchase, it is advisable to make sure that this service really works. Guests of Russia should always have a certain amount of cash with them.

Gratuities in Russia are not included in the bill. Service rewards are optional, but encouraged.

Electric network voltage - 220 V.

The safety of those traveling by car in Russia is often threatened by bad roads, so if you are planning a car trip, it will be useful to inquire in advance about the condition of the road surface in a particular area.

Visitors to Russia should take the usual precautions necessary when staying in a foreign country: watch your belongings, not display valuables and large sums of money, distrust strangers, and avoid appearing at night in uncrowded places.

In case of a sudden illness, you need to take care of purchasing health insurance in advance.

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from 1000 EUR

You can see right away that it is not harmless at all. Claws, teeth and immeasurable strength are all with him. It is all the more pleasant to defeat such a beast! After the shot, I immediately realized that the bear hunt had hooked me seriously ... Before that, I thought that every hunter should hunt a bear and calm down on that, and after the shot I immediately realized that the bear hunt had hooked me seriously.

Spring hunting on Baikal: Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia

from 4500 EUR

Brown bear Hunting region: Russia, Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia Hunting period: April 25 - May 20 Tour duration (from / to Moscow): May 06 - 16 Tour duration (from / to Moscow): 11 days (7 days Hunting system: from a storage shed on a bait. Group composition: 2-8 hunters. Accommodation: in a wooden house in a hunting camp. Tour cost for one hunter: 4500 euros.

Fishing on the Kamchatka River and its tributaries.

from 2700 EUR

In this region of Kamchatka, good fishing for coho salmon is a large salmon, the males of which reach a weight of 7-8 kg. Also common in catches is char - a predatory salmon fish and mykizha - Kamchatka trout, which is found only in the rivers of Kamchatka.

Russia - country information

General information

Official name:Russian Federation.
Geographical position:the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia.
Area:17 million sq. km.
Highest point:5642 m (Mount Elbrus).
Main rivers:Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Volga, Irtysh.
Population:146 693 000 people
Population density:8.6 people per sq. km.
Official language:russian.
Main religion:christianity / Orthodoxy).
Capital:Moscow (8.5 million people).
Big cities:St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Kazan.
Currency unit:russian ruble.

It is very easy to talk about Russia - almost every one of us has been there at least once and has an idea of \u200b\u200bthe country. And at the same time, talking about her is incredibly difficult! It contains so many unique and inimitable places that it is difficult to choose the best ones.
Russia, thanks to its vast territory, picturesque nature, variety of flora and fauna, attracts tourists from all over the world. Communication with pristine nature, adventures for every taste while traveling in Russia are provided for you.

Climate
The climate, except for the extreme northwestern and southeastern regions, is continental, since most of the territory of Russia is located far from warm oceans.
Precipitation decreases from north-west to south-east in the European part and from south-east to north-west in the Asian part of the country. On the plains the amount of precipitation is from 700 to 200 mm, in the mountains - up to 2000 mm.
A subpolar climate with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers is characteristic of the coasts of the Arctic Ocean. The northeastern half of Russia, from the Kola Peninsula to Sakhalin, is characterized by a subarctic climate with long cold winters and short but warm summers. The zone of humid temperate continental climate with rather short warm summers and moderately cold winters extends from the Gulf of Finland to the Urals southwest of the subarctic zone in the European part of the country.

Time
GMT +3 (Moscow time).
Russia is divided into 11 time zones. Daylight saving time (+1 hour) is entered on the last Sunday in March until the last Saturday in October.

sights

Russia is a country with a long history and rich culture. Some architectural and historical and cultural monuments on the territory of the Russian Federation are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, the historical center of St. Petersburg and palace and park complexes of its environs, white-stone monuments of the ancient Vladimir-Suzdal land and cities " Golden Ring "of Russia, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, etc.
Moscow- one of the largest cities in the world, the political, scientific, commercial and financial center of the country, for hundreds of years - the center of Russian national culture.
St. Petersburgcan rightfully be considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a museum city, a treasure city. In St. Petersburg, there are 120 museums and their branches, permanent exhibitions. The largest museums of the world are located here - the State Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Kunstkamera, etc. The architectural appearance of the city is its visiting card. June-July is the time of the amazing white nights, which give the city a special charm. UNESCO has added more than four thousand St. Petersburg sites to the World Heritage List.
Kaliningrad region- one of the most picturesque regions of Russia. The natural landscape of the region is unique in that on its small territory the sea, two bays, over 250 rivers and lakes are adjacent.
Karelia - the land of blue lakes, rapids, rivers, pines, firs, rough rocks and great monuments of Russian cultural and religious life. Stone, water and forest combine to create an amazing landscape. The world famous islands of Kizhi on Lake Onega and Valaam on Ladoga, the largest flat waterfall in Europe Kivach, national natural parks invariably attract the attention of tourists.
The White Sea is home to the largest herd of beluga whales available for viewing in European Russia .
Kazan- a thousand-year-old city of meeting and coexistence of two worlds - East and West. Its rich culture, history and attractions are of great interest. The Kazan Kremlin was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO's decision, as "it is an outstanding example of the synthesis of Tatar and Russian influences in architecture."
Lake Baikal- one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in the world. He has no equal in age, depth, properties of fresh water, the variety of organic life. In 1997, Baikal was included by UNESCO in the List of sites making up the World Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Kamchatka- the "edge" of the Russian land, where everything is in abundance: tundra and taiga, smoking volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, icy and warm rivers, snow-capped mountain peaks, alpine and subalpine meadows, relict forests, lakes with the purest water. This is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Visa, customs, transport

Visa
Entry to the territory of the Russian Federation requires an entry visa valid for the period of stay in the country. Visas are issued on the basis of an invitation - visa support from the Russian side by Russian consulates in the country of your stay .
In order to obtain tourist visa support, the following documents must be submitted to the consular department of the Russian embassy: a completed application form (for one person) for obtaining a tourist visa; valid passport (expiration date at least 3 months prior to the intended departure from Russia); three passport-sized photographs; an invitation from an authorized organization, namely a confirmation of the admission of a foreign tourist and a tourist voucher.
The visa must be registered within 72 hours from the moment of crossing the state border of the Russian Federation. In case of exceeding the established period for visa registration, a fine is levied by the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation at the place of registration.
When checking into the hotel, you must present your passport with a visa for registration.

customs control
Import and export of local currency is limited to 40,000 rubles. The import of foreign currency is not limited, but the amount must be entered in the declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount indicated in the declaration upon entry into the country. Foreign banknotes and coins must be removed from the country within two months of entry.
The following goods can be imported into the territory of the Russian Federation by a person who has reached the age of 16 and over, without paying customs duties: 1000 cigarettes, or 1 kg of tobacco products, 1.5 liters of alcohol or wine, a limited number of perfumery products for personal use, gifts worth up to USD 10,000.
Upon entering the country, tourists must fill out a customs declaration, which must be kept until departure, which gives permission to import personal items, including currency and valuables. Cameras, camcorders, jewelry, computers and musical instruments must be entered on the declaration. It is recommended to take a receipt (certificate) from the store when purchasing goods.
It is forbidden to import photographs and printed materials directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and uniforms, drugs, fruits, vegetables and live animals without special permission.
It is forbidden to export weapons, works of art and antiques of historical value (without a permit issued by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs.

Air transport
The national airline is Aeroflot. Other airlines serving the Russian Federation are Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Czech Airlines, El Al, Finnair, Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
There is no tax on departure from the country.

Useful information

Currency
The national currency of the Russian Federation is a ruble equal to 100 kopecks. Banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10 and 5 rubles. Coins in denominations of 5 rubles, 2 rubles and 1 ruble.
Foreign currency should only be changed at official exchange offices and licensed banks, and the transaction must be recorded on the currency declaration. It is recommended that you keep all currency exchange receipts. There are enough currency exchange offices. Big shops and hotels have their own exchange offices. Major European and international credit and debit cards, including American Express, VISA and Diners Club, are accepted for payment in major hotels, foreign exchange shops and restaurants.

Traveler's checks
Cash is preferred. In order to avoid additional costs due to differences in exchange rates, it is recommended that you bring travelers checks in US dollars.

Telephone communications
Direct long distance telephone communication. Country code - 7. When dialing a telephone number in the Russian Federation from abroad, "0" is not omitted in the country code. If you call from Russia, you need to dial the international code 810. Some Moscow hotels have long distance telephone booths. Calls charged by the caller, calls charged by credit card, and direct dial phone calls from hotels can be very expensive.

mobile connection
GSM 900/1800 network. Operators - KB Impuls and Mobile Telesystems. All major cities have at least one operator. Some companies can rent pipes. Roaming with Ukraine is carried out by Kyivstar GSM and UMC.

the Internet
The main providers are Beeonline and Russiaonline. Internet services can be used in hotels and Internet cafes.

Electricity
Mains voltage - 220 V, 50 Hz.

National cuisine
Russian cuisine is characterized by simplicity and rationality both in the design of dishes and in the recipe and technology for their preparation.
Russian cuisine is also distinguished by a variety of vegetable snacks (vinaigrette, radish dishes, fresh and sauerkraut, pickled and fresh cucumbers, etc.), mushrooms, delicious fish products, game, meat, especially fish smoked meats and jellies. Dressings for snacks are prepared with vegetable oil, kvass, vinegar, horseradish.
Soups occupy an important place in Russian cuisine. Soups are based primarily on meat, fish, mushroom and vegetable broths, milk, kvass, pickles. There is also a wide range of cold soups, such as botvinia, okroshka, beetroot soup, and boiled soups (sweet soups).
Ukha is very popular in all its varieties: from sterlet with pie or with pie, triple, with burbot liver, burlatskaya, etc.
Russian pickles are also widely known: St. Petersburg, home, with chicken, Moscow with kidneys, offal of poultry, white roots, with fish, mushrooms, etc.

Useful addresses and phone numbers:

Russia is a great country and only the lazy does not know the history of its origin, development and formation. It covers an area of \u200b\u200babout 17 million kilometers. The country is located in the Northern Hemisphere and most of the Eurasian continent belongs to it. Russia has common borders with eighteen countries, including by sea. At sea, we border on the USA and Japan.

In Russia, there are a large number of reservoirs, rivers, lakes. If we talk about the number, then this figure will be about 2.8 million rivers. The largest rivers flowing through the territory of Russia are the Volga, Yenisei, Don, Ob \u200b\u200band Lena. And only in our country there is the cleanest and deepest lake on earth - Baikal. Russia also has the largest sea in the world - the Caspian.

The capital of Russia is the city of Moscow, there is a developed infrastructure, a city that is rich in its history.

The country has a large number of megacities. Their population exceeds one million people.

Russia is a country in which a large number of nationalities live together peacefully. The approximate number is 160 nationalities. Each nationality professes its own religion. Therefore, in Russia you can find Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and many more different religions.
The country includes autonomous republics (22), regions (9).

Russian is the state language of the country.

The flag of Russia is of three colors: white, blue and red. A two-headed eagle majestically sits on the coat of arms of Russia, looking to the west and east.
There are places in Russia that are included in the UNESCO heritage. And there are many of them. One can single out the red square, the monuments of Novgorod, the wooden churches built in Kizhi, the St. Petersburg historical center.

Country geography

Almost 70% of the country's territory is lowland. In the south of the country there are mainly mountains and here is the highest mountain Elbrus (5642 meters). The North, East of Siberia and the Far East are represented by ridges - Verkhoyansk, Sikhote-Alin. There are a large number of volcanoes in Kamchatka, some of them are still active now.

Area - 17,075,400 km²
Population - as of April 1, 2005, 143.3 million people.
Administrative-territorial units: 21 republics, 6 territories, 49 regions, 2 cities of federal significance, 1 autonomous region and 10 autonomous districts.
People of 160 nationalities and ethnic groups live in Russia.
The monetary unit is the ruble.
The Russian flag is a rectangular canvas with three equal stripes: white (top), blue and red (tricolor).
The state emblem depicts a double-headed eagle and a red heraldic shield. The eagle's head is crowned with three historical crowns of Peter I (two small ones, above them a large one). The eagle holds a scepter and an orb in its paws, and on a red shield on the eagle's chest is depicted a rider fighting a dragon with a spear.
The state standard is a square canvas that repeats the colors of the Russian flag. The country's coat of arms is embroidered in gold in the center. On the edges of the canvas there is a gold fringe. On the flagpole there is a silver brace indicating the full name of the President of Russia, as well as his term of office. The flagpole is crowned with a sharp metal tip.
Anthem: music by A. Alexandrov, words by S. Mikhalkov.
National language - Russian.
Day of Russia: June 12.
The main law of the country is the Constitution of the Russian Federation, adopted in 1993.
The current president of the country is Vladimir Putin. Appointed Acting President on December 31, 1999, elected President on March 26, 2000, re-elected to the second line on March 14, 2004. The official inauguration ceremony took place on May 7, 2004.

Location

Russia is a huge country that occupies a significant part of Eurasia. In the east, Russia is washed by the Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas and the Bering Strait, in the north by the Barents, Kara, Chukchi and East Siberian Seas, the Laptev Sea, in the west by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, in the south by the Black and Azov Seas. On land, it borders on many countries.

Flag

The Russian flag has three equal horizontal stripes - white (top), blue and red.

The Russian flag was approved on August 21, 1991. The height of the flag is two-thirds of its width. Although the flag was approved in 1991, its design is over 300 years old. It was first used as the official flag of Russia by Peter I in 1883. In 1917, after the Bolshevik revolution, a new revolutionary flag was adopted, but the old one returned only after the collapse of the communist regime. It is believed that the colors of the flag have a symbolic meaning. They are interpreted in different ways. In particular, they can symbolize human qualities:
white - nobility, straightforwardness,
blue - honesty, devotion, purity,
red - courage, self-sacrifice, love.

History of Russia: an overview

The Russian state went through several main stages in its formation: Kievan Rus, Muscovy, Russian Empire, Soviet Union, Russian Federation.

Key events in Russian history: the adoption of Christianity, the conquest of Russia by the Tatar-Mongols, the flourishing of Moscow, serfdom, the reforms of Peter I, communism, the reforms of the 1990s.

The key direction of historical development is geographic expansion and the supremacy of the state.

Geography

The area of \u200b\u200bthe territory of Russia is 17,075,200 km², of which 16,995,800 km² is land, and 79,400 km² is water. The coastline is 37 653 km. Russia the biggest country in the world.

Climate

Varies from moderate to arctic-continental. In the south, on the Black Sea coast, winters are short and cool, while in Siberia they are long and very frosty. Summers can be hot in the steppe regions and cool on the Arctic coast. Most of Russia is covered with snow for six months of the year. The weather is usually harsh and unpredictable. The average annual temperature in the European part of Russia is 0 ° C, in Siberia it is lower. Precipitation ranges from low to moderate in most of the country, with most precipitation occurring in northwestern Russia, the North Caucasus and the Pacific coast.

Time

Moscow and St. Petersburg are 8 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time and 2 hours ahead of European Time. The territory of Russia covers 11 time zones. The difference between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the time in some of the cities of Russia is as follows: Moscow and St. Petersburg +3, cities along the Volga +4, Krasnoyarsk and cities along the Yenisei +7, Kamchatka +12.

Topography

The topography of Russia is diverse - from the coniferous forests of the taiga to the dank tundra of northern Siberia, from the wide plains and hills to the west of the Urals to the high mountain ranges on the southern border ... The lowest point is the Caspian Sea, 28 meters above sea level, and the highest is Elbrus, the highest the highest peak of Europe, 5633 meters above sea level.

Natural resources

Russia is very rich in natural resources. Oil, natural gas, coal, minerals and timber are exported. However, due to the vastness of the territory, a significant part of the natural resources has not yet been developed. Russia is also famous for its diamonds.

Population

Russia has a permanent population of 145 million people. They represent over 100 nationalities with their own languages. The largest group is made up of Russians (81.5%), followed by Tatars (3.8%), Ukrainians (3%), Chuvash (1.2%), Bashkirs (0.9%), Belarusians (0.8 %), Mordvins (0.7%), Germans and Chechens (0.6% each), Avars, Armenians, Jews (0.4% each) and other peoples.
Tongue

The state language is Russian, which is used everywhere. At the same time, national languages \u200b\u200band dialects are widely used in areas of compact settlement of peoples of non-Russian nationalities, periodicals are published in national languages \u200b\u200band school education is conducted.

National holidays

December 31 - January 1 - New Year, the main holiday in Russia. Everyone is having fun, wishing each other a better life next year and giving presents. The duties of Santa Claus in Russia are performed by Ded Moroz. He comes on New Year's Eve and gives out gifts. Usually people celebrate the New Year with family and friends, celebrate and launch firecrackers.
January 7 - Orthodox Christmas. In Russia, Christmas is celebrated not on December 25, as in Western countries, but on January 7, according to the Orthodox tradition. This holiday is less popular than New Year's.
February 23 - Defenders of the Fatherland Day.
March 8 - Women's Day. Flowers are sold at double and triple prices because men suddenly realize how important women are to them.
May 1st and 2nd - May 1st and Spring Day. In Soviet times, this holiday was called the Day of Workers' Solidarity, or Labor Day. Now it's just May Day - another day off to chat with friends.
May 9 - Day of Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War.
June 12 - Independence Day of Russia. For many people, it is still not clear why this particular day was chosen as the Independence Day. Probably because on that day the first president of the Russian Federation was elected.
November 4 - National Unity Day.

Culture

Libraries and museums

There are more than 50,000 state public libraries in Russia (39,000 of them in rural areas) with over a billion books at their disposal and constantly increasing their collections. All general education schools have their own libraries, as well as many large enterprises.

About 1,500 museums cover almost all areas of knowledge. Among them are historical, ethnographic, memorial, trade museums, museums of arts, theater, music, natural sciences, technologies and many others. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to reserve museums. Twenty ethnographic open-air museums tell about the architecture, art and everyday life of the Russian people. The collections of museums, numbering more than 50 million items of historical, scientific and artistic value, constitute an invaluable museum fund of Russia, its national treasure.

Theater

The reforms removed all the shackles from the theater stage. Despite all the problems of modern life in Russia, the number of theaters continues to grow. In 1993-94, about 50 new theater companies appeared. In general, there are 413 theater companies in Russia, more than half of which are drama. Since 1989, local budgets have been actively funding theater activities, stimulating the development of provincial theaters. In multinational Russia, plays are performed in 31 languages. Some ethnic troupes have achieved the highest stage skills and are worthy competitors to Moscow theaters.

Painting

In 1974, a group of Moscow artists opposed to the "officially approved" directions of painting, threw a public challenge to the authorities by staging an impromptu exhibition in a vacant lot in Belyaevo, a distant Moscow district. The police literally wiped out the exhibition from the face of the earth, suppressing the paintings with bulldozers. Subsequently, some of the surviving works ended up abroad.

Today the situation has changed beyond recognition. The new Statute of the Union of Artists, adopted in 1993, proclaims freedom of creativity, high professionalism and humane goals as the basic principles. The union organizes exhibitions for 13,000 of its members and helps them sell paintings through a network of art salons. There are more than a hundred of them in Moscow alone.

Folk art

Today folk art is presented in Russia in two main forms - in the products of craft workshops, as well as in works created by gifted people working at home. Works from marble, glass, ceramics, decorative textiles have become a part of our life, adding beauty and harmony to it.

Today, the most popular in Russia are: wood carving and painting (Bogorodskoe, Hotkovo, Abramtsevo-Kudrino), Khokhloma; artistic ceramics (Gzhel); clay toys (Dymkovo, Kargopol, Filimonovo, Abashevo); lacquered boxes and other wooden products (Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstera, Kholui); decorative painted trays (Zhostovo, Troitskoe); artistic casting (silver from Veliky Ustyug, enamel from Rostov, filigree from Kazakovo), bone carving (Kholmogory, Tobolsk, Chukotka, Hotkovo); stone products (carved sculptures from Tuva); lace (Vologda, Vyatka, Yelets), embroidery, gold embroidery, carpets. Whatever kind of folk art you choose, it will invariably reflect the wealth of the soul of the Russian people and the magnificence of the works created by their hands.

Kitchen

Russian cuisine ... What is Russian cuisine? It can be assumed that Russian cuisine is what Russian people usually eat. However, the lunch of a Muscovite can be very different from that of a resident of a Siberian village. Muscovites are always in a hurry, which is why fast food chains are popular here. Meanwhile, the taste of the hot dog is unlikely to please the villagers. Russians eat very differently - they like not only traditional cuisine. So, Russian cuisine is a collection of traditional dishes that Russians don't eat very often.

The main components of Russian cuisine

Russia is predominantly a northern country with long and cold winters. Food should provide enough energy and warmth to survive the winter. Thus, the main components of Russian cuisine contain more carbohydrates and fats than proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rarely used in it. So, the five main components of Russian cuisine are:
potatoes (boiled, fried, crispy, potato pancakes, potato soup, mashed potatoes);
bread (bread, toast, croutons);
eggs (boiled, fried);
meat (pork and beef, chops, steaks);
butter (usually added to dishes or spread on bread).

Also popular are: cabbage, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, mushrooms, bacon, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, berries, honey, sugar, salt, garlic, onions.

Russian cuisine and original recipes

Snacks: pickled cucumbers, cabbage, salads, traditionally served to the table.
Soups: beetroot (borsch), okroshka, etc.
Main dishes: dumplings, beef stroganoff, etc.
Side dishes and seasonings: potatoes, buckwheat, Russian porridge and sauces and spices for them.
Desserts: pancakes, cheese cakes, honey and many other sweets to please you.
Drinks: vodka, fruit drink, mead, Russian beer and kvass.

Transport

Rail, road and water transport is well developed in Russia. The most expensive of these is the railways. Most major cities have international or national airports. There are also helicopter airports. Pipelines and water transport are used to transport raw materials and oil.

Currency

The official currency of Russia is the Russian ruble (currency code RUR). The ruble exchange rate against other currencies is quite low.

The amount of foreign currency allowed for import into Russia is not limited. However, all imported cash, including traveler's checks, must be declared upon entry. You can exchange currency for rubles at any bank, as well as in currency exchange offices, which can be found in large hotels, airports, railway stations, ports, as well as on the streets of large cities. Exchange rates in all exchange offices are practically the same.

The head of state is the President of the Russian Federation, elected for four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

State power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly (the Federation Council and the State Duma), the Government of the Russian Federation, and the courts of the Russian Federation.

The legislative body is the Federal Assembly - the parliament of the Russian Federation, consisting of two chambers - the Federation Council and the State Duma.

Executive power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation, which consists of the Chairman of the Government, his deputies and federal ministers.

Justice in the Russian Federation is administered only by the court.

The extreme northern point of the country is 81 ° 51'N. sh. - is located on Cape Fligeli (Rudolf Island in the Franz-Josef Land archipelago), and on the mainland - 77 ° 43'N. - at Cape Chelyuskin (Taimyr Peninsula). The southernmost point is 41 ° 10'N. sh. - located 3 kilometers east of the Ragdan Mountain of the Main Caucasian Range. The extreme eastern point of the country is 169 ° 02'W. etc. - located on the island. Ratmanov in the Bering Strait, and on the mainland -169 ° 40 'W. - on Cape Dezhneva (Chukotka Peninsula). The westernmost point is –19 ° 38 ’E. - is located in the Kaliningrad region on the border with. The length of the territory of Russia from west to east is almost 10 thousand km, and from north to south - more than 4 thousand km.

There are 11 time zones within Russia.

Nature of Russia

The basis of the internal construction of the territory of Russia is formed by an extensive monolithic massif of the earth's crust and upper mantle - the Eurasian lithospheric plate, within which large platforms are distinguished: the East European (Russian), Siberian and West Siberian. In relief, they correspond to plains and plateaus. The platforms are soldered by Paleozoic folded belts, which are currently expressed by the mountain systems of the Urals and Southern Siberia. The internal structure of the Far Eastern region is determined by the Mesozoic and Alpine folded formations, which are superimposed by volcanic belts. These structures are characterized by intense tectonic movements, accompanied by strong and active ones.

Mineral - rawrussia's potential consists of forecast resources and total reserves. Extracted from the bowels of mineral raw materials and products of its processing provide 65-70% of the foreign exchange earnings of Russia and 30-35% of its gross domestic product (GDP).

In terms of reserves of mineral resources, Russia has no analogues among other countries of the world. Its subsoil contains 17-18% of global oil reserves, up to 70-75% of gas, diamonds, niobium, tantalum, up to 50% of palladium, over 40% of nickel, up to 30% of coal, iron ores, rare earth elements, beryllium, more than 10% uranium. To date, over 20 thousand deposits have been explored in Russia, of which almost 40% have been put into commercial development.

In Russia there are deposits that are unique in terms of reserves and quality of ores - the oil and gas giants of Western Siberia, the Khibiny ore and nonmetallic deposits, the Norilsk copper-nickel ores with precious metals, and the Yakutia diamond pipes.

Relief. More than half of the country's territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, which are widespread in the west, in the central region and along the Arctic coast. In general, the territory is characterized by slopes from south to north and from east to west.

The Urals mountains, which are the conditional border between Europe and Asia, stretch as a narrow (50-150 km) strip of mountains in the submeridian direction for almost 2000 km. The relief is a flat-slope rounded-topped low-mountain with the highest point of 1895 m (Narodnaya town). To the west of the Urals stretches the world's greatest (more than 5 million sq. Km) East European, or Russian, plain, where low hills (Valdai, Central Russian, Volga) coexist with lowlands (Oksko-Don, Caspian).

Behind the Urals, the West Siberian Plain stretches - a unique space with a total area of \u200b\u200babout 3 million square meters. km, occupied mainly by monotonous flat swampy lowlands with an average height of slightly more than 120 m.

Between the Yenisei and Lena rivers, there are vast, sparsely populated areas of Central Siberia, generally semi-mountainous. They are mainly represented by plateaus and plains, among which there are low mountain ranges and ridges.

To the east of the Lena River valley, the next mountain step rises, consisting of countless ridges, massifs and depressions separating them, stretching in a wide belt along the Far Eastern coast - from to the border with. It is dominated by mountains with a height of 1000-1200 m with a harsh, massive appearance, among which swampy lowlands with countless lakes stretch in places.