Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the biggest country in the world by area, with 6,612,100 square miles, covering ⅛ of the earth’s inhabited area. It is so large that it spans 11 time zones. Moscow, its capital, is one of the largest cities in the world, and the second largest in Europe. Other major cities include St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and Nizhny Novgorod.
Russia has a wide range of environments and landforms. Its extensive mineral and energy resources are the largest reserves in the world, making it one of the leading producers of oil and natural gas globally. It has a dynamic and conflict-ridden history, ranging from its beginnings in the 9th century, to the Russian Revolution, to the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic, to its dissolution in 1991-giving birth to 12 independent republics, including the modern-day Russia. Its government today is headed by its President Vladimir Putin.
It is a beautiful place to visit, but one should take note of certain things to avoid while in Russia…
