Spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, Russia is the largest country in the world by land area, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. It is a nation of immense scale and profound cultural depth, known globally for its monumental contributions to literature, classical music, ballet, and scientific exploration. From the bustling, historic streets of Moscow and Saint Petersburg to the vast, untamed wilderness of Siberia, the country encompasses a breathtaking variety of landscapes and climates.
Russia is known for its staggering natural resources, possessing some of the world's largest reserves of oil, natural gas, and timber. Culturally, it has produced some of history's most celebrated minds—from authors like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky to composers like Tchaikovsky and scientists like Dmitri Mendeleev. The country is deeply shaped by its geography and its turbulent, momentous history, standing as a pivotal player in modern global geopolitics.
Among its many fascinating extremes, Russia spans 11 time zones, shares land borders with 14 countries, and is home to Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. Its legendary Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest single railway line on the planet, offering a journey that takes an entire week to complete from end to end.
