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Russia

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Russia is the largest country on our planet.

Europe-Russia
Europe-Russia

It is so vast that it spans across two continents, Eastern Europe and North Asia. Because it covers such a huge area, it contains eleven different time zones. The country shares land borders with fourteen other nations. Over 140 million people live within its borders. Many people live in busy urban areas. Moscow is the capital and the largest city in the country. Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city and a major center for culture.

Human history in this region began a very long time ago. Evidence of early humans exists from the Lower Paleolithic period. Some fossils show that different types of humans lived there long ago. In the 9th century, the East Slavs created a state called Kievan Rus'. This group adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988. Later, the Grand Principality of Moscow worked to join Russian lands together. This led to the formation of the Tsardom of Russia in 1547. By 1721, the country became the Russian Empire.

Caucasus-ethnic en
Caucasus-ethnic en

Major changes happened to the Russian government during the 20th century. The Russian Revolution of 1917 changed how the country was ruled. It led to the creation of the Soviet Union. This era included a time of very fast industrial growth in the 1930s. During World War II, the Soviet Union played a huge role for the Allies. The Cold War followed, where the Soviet Union became a superpower. It competed with the United States for global influence. This period also saw amazing steps in science and technology.

Chart Constitution of Russia EN
Chart Constitution of Russia EN

Russia has achieved many firsts in the world of science. The Soviet era saw the first human-made satellite launched into space. It also saw the first human expedition into outer space. In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved. This led to the birth of the modern Russian Federation. Today, the country uses a federal semi-presidential system. The political landscape has changed many times since then. Russia also has many important natural resources. These include vast amounts of oil and natural gas.

Russia is considered a great power in the modern world. It has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. It also has the third-highest military spending globally. The country is a member of the United Nations Security Council. It is also part of many other international groups. You can find 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across its land. These are places of great importance to all of humanity. The nation's economy is one of the largest in the world. It relies heavily on its many minerals and energy resources.

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2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.svg
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