Basic information about Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world with the total area 17 075 400 square kilometers (over 6.5 million square miles). It's situated in the Eastern part of Europe and Northern part of Asia. The territory of Russia spans through 11 times zones.
The climate of Russia varies from the steppes in the south and coastal on the north-west through humid continental in much of European Russia; sub arctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north and monsoon on the Far East. The inhabited areas are mostly in the continental climate zones with long freezing winters (5-6 months long) and short warm summers.
Russia has an extremely wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, strategic minerals, timber, diamonds and gold.
Total population is about 144.7 mln people, with about 72.9% urban population. Most of the population are Russians (81,5%), with more than 100 other nationalities (Tatar, Ukrainian, Chuvash, Bashkir, etc.).
The official language is Russian. Every autonomous republic uses its own language as the second official language. Major religions are Russian Orthodox, Muslim, Judaic and Buddhism.
The official name of the state is the Russian Federation. It is a democratic federative republic. Russia is divided into 85 parts: 22 autonomous republics (including the Crimea), 4 autonomous okrugs, 9 krays, 3 federal cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol), 1 autonomous oblast and 46 oblasts. The national capital is Moscow.
The chief of the state is the President. He is elected by people vote for a six-year term (since 2012). Current president is Vladimir Putin (since May 2012).
The country is potentially one of the wealthiest countries with its natural resources, a well-educated population and a diverse industrial base. Russia occupies one of leading places in the world politics. It is a country with rich history and deep traditions. I love my Motherland and very proud of it.