Russia
aka РОССИЯ
Country Basics
The size of Russia is 17,075,200 sq km (total). By land area, it is the biggest in the world. The land area is 16,995,800 sq km while the water area is 79,400 sq km. Its geographical coordinates are 60 00 N, 100 00 E.
Location of moscow:
Latitude: 55°45′07″ N
Longitude: 37°36′56″ E
The flag is white,blue, and red. The flag was first used as an ensign for Russian merchant ships.
Source: http://dateandtime.info/citycoordinates.php?id=524901
Geography
Major Landforms
Source
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/russia/ruland.htm
Major Bodies of water.
Source
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/russia/ruland.htm
Government
The leader of Russia is Vladimir Putin.
The leaders or presidents are elected for president.
Fundamental human rights and freedoms are inalienable and shall be enjoyed by everyone since the day of birth.
Economy
Russia's currency is RR or Russian ruble.
Their main exports/imports are energy, ( rolled steel, ferrous and non ferrous metals and minerals)
The life expectancy of Russia is 67, birth rate is 12.5% literacy rate is 99.7%, and the drinking water source in most of Russia is not drinkable and has to be sanitized.
Culture
The major languages spoken in Russia is Russian, it is mostly spoken there.
The main religions of Russia are Orthodox Christianity, 75% of people describe themselves as religion believers.
The food that is popular is Shakily, it contains a lot of meat, which is put with the onion and then prepared on open fire.
The major holidays of Russia are:
January 1-5
–
New Year’s Vacation
January 7th
–
Christmas
February 23rd
–
Defender of the Motherland Day
March 8th
–
International Women’s Day
May 1st
–
Spring and Labor Celebration
May 9th
–
Victory Day
June 12th
–
Russia Day
November 4th
–
Civil Unity Day
Climate
Average yearly rainfall in Russia is 20 inches of rain.
History
Slavs in Russia: from 1500 BC
The steppes, which form a broad pathway into southern Russia from central Asia, have been occupied by nomads since distant prehistoric times. By contrast the northern forests, in a region covered by an ice cap until the end of the latest glacial period, only become open to human settlement some 10,000 years ago (see Ice Ages).
Vikings in Russia: from the 9th century
Unusually for the Vikings, trade rather than plunder is the main reason for their penetration deep into Russia during the 9th century AD. The rivers of eastern Europe, flowing north and south, make it surprisingly easy for goods to travel between the Baltic and the Black Sea.
One spot is particularly well-favoured as a trading centre. Near Lake Ilmen the headwaters of the Dvina, Dnieper and Volga rivers are close to each other. Respectively they flow into the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Caspian. Goods ferried by water between these important trading regions converge on this area. By the early 9th century Viking tribes known as the Rus have a base on the site of Novgorod.
Although they are not Slavs, there is justice in the Rus giving Russia her name. Their development of trade, particularly down the Dnieper (a route which becomes known as Austrvegr, or the 'Great Waterway'), lays the foundation of the Russian nation.
In 882 a Viking leader, Oleg, moves his headquarters down the Dnieper, seizing the town of Kiev. Here, in 911, he negotiates a commercial treaty with the Byzantine empire.
A Viking successor of Oleg's in Kiev, two generations later, describes how this first Russian city is the centre of a triangular trade between civilized Byzantium in the south, the steppe lands in the middle, and the wild forests of the north.
In this place 'all goods gather from all parts: gold, clothes, wine, fruits from the Greeks; silver and horses from the Czechs and Hungarians; furs, wax, honey and slaves from the Rus'.
Source: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac14