The largest country in the world, the most beautiful, a real gem! It is about her that countless songs have been composed, a huge number of poems have been written, and so many kind and warm words have been said. This is the most rich country in the world, because it has everything: generosity, hospitality, endless optimism, enthusiasm, faith in yourself and others. No one can travel around and fully understand it. Around every bend of the road, around every turn, something new and unknown awaits you. Excursion tours around Russia will not leave anyone indifferent. Moscow and St. Petersburg are two capitals with a worldwide reputation, the richest cultural heritage. Ancient Russian towns, sweet and sincere, so hospitable and welcoming, full of surprises and worthy objects of display.

Russia in winter means ice skating, snowmobile safaris, ski and alpine ski tours, reindeer and dog sled races, winter hunting and fishing, corporate recreation, festive round dances, winter games and amusements, New Year's treats and festive banquets. You can go for a weekend to cottages in the Leningrad region, Murmansk or Petrozavodsk, where you can go downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or sleighing; you can go to ski resorts or choose a beach holiday on the Black Sea coast. Whatever you choose, your holiday in Russia will always be varied and exciting.

Geography

Russia is located in the northeastern part of the largest continent on the globe - Eurasia and occupies about a third of its territory (31.5%). The extreme northern and eastern points of the continent are both extreme points Russia. Located in two parts of the world - Europe and Asia - Russia occupies the eastern part of Europe and the northern expanses of Asia. Our country ranks first in the world in terms of territory size. The area of ​​Russia is 17.1 million km2. This is larger than the area of ​​all European countries combined. By territory
Russia is rather comparable not to individual states, but to entire continents. The area of ​​Russia is larger than the area of ​​Australia and Antarctica and is only slightly smaller than South America (18.2 million km2). Russia is 1.6-1.8 times larger in area than the largest states in the world - Canada, the USA and China, and 29 times larger than the largest state in Europe - Ukraine.

The total length of Russia's borders is 60,932 km. Of these, sea borders account for 38,807 km (about 2/3), land borders - 22,125 km (including 7,616 km along rivers and lakes). The northern and eastern borders are maritime*, while the western and southern borders are predominantly land. The large length of Russia's state borders is determined by the size of its territory and the tortuosity of its outlines coastlines the seas of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans washing its shores.

A state located on two continents - Europe and Asia. In the south and southeast it borders with China, in the southeast with North Korea, in the south - with Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, in the southwest - with Ukraine, in the west - with Finland, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Norway. In addition, the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea coast, borders Poland and Lithuania. Russia also owns the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, Vaygach, the Franz Josef Land archipelago, the New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island in Severny Arctic Ocean; The Kuril Islands (part of the Kuril Islands - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan - are disputed by Japan) and Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean. In the east, Russia is washed by the Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas and the Bering Strait, in the north by the Barents, Kara, Chukchi and East Siberian Seas, the Laptev Sea, in the west by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, in the south by the Black and Azov Seas.
There are about 120 thousand rivers in Russia (over 10 km long). The largest rivers: Amur, Anadyr, Volga, Don, Yenisei, Indigirka, Irtysh, Kolyma, Kuban, Lena, Moscow, Neva, Ob, Oka, Penzhina, Pechora, Sev. Dvina There are about 2 million fresh and salt lakes in the Russian Federation. The largest are the Caspian, Baikal, Ladoga, Onega. The highest point in Russia is Mount Elbrus (5642 m).

Climate

The peculiarities of the climate of Russia are determined by a number of geographical factors, including the geographical location, the size and extent of the territory from west to east and from north to south, and a wide variety of terrain. The climate throughout Russia is characterized by a distinct division of the year into cold and warm seasons. Most of the country's territory lies in the temperate climate zone, the islands of the Arctic Ocean and the northern continental regions are in the Arctic and subarctic zones; The Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is located in the subtropical zone. Within each zone, significant climate changes are observed in the direction from west to east (climatic regions) and from north to south (zonal climate types). For example, there are four climate subtypes in the temperate climate zone: moderate continental, continental, sharply continental and monsoon (in the Far East).

Language

The languages ​​of Russia belong to 14 language families- Indo-European, Altai, Ural, Yukaghir-Chuvan, Kartvelian, Abkhaz-Adyghe, Nakh-Dagestan, Sino-Tibetan, Semitic, Eskimo-Aleutian, Chukchi-Kamchatka, Yenisei, Austroasiatic, Ainu; Nivkh language is isolated. The official (state) language throughout the Russian Federation is Russian. The peoples of the Russian Federation are guaranteed the right to preserve their native language.

Religion

Among the religious denominations, the most numerous is the Orthodox; residents of multinational Russia also profess Islam, Catholicism, Judaism, and Buddhism.

Population

146.3 million people (1999): men - 68.2 million people; women - 78.1 million people.
Average life expectancy: men - 61 years; women - 73 years old.

Electricity

Emergency numbers

fire service - 01, police - 02, gas service - 04, information and inquiries - 09, rescue service - 937-99-11.

Currency exchange

The monetary unit is the ruble (1 ruble = 100 kopecks). Most banks are open from 9.00 to 17.00 from Monday to Friday, many are open on Saturday. Large banks are open from 9.00 to 20.00, on Saturday - from 10.00 to 18.00. Visa, MasterCard cards are widely accepted, less often - Visa Electron and Cirrus / Maestro, and very rarely - Diners Club. You can use traveler's checks, but they can only be cashed in banks.

Visa

There is a visa regime in Russia. For citizens of states that are members of the CIS and have signed an agreement on a visa-free regime, entry is free.

Tourist visa support (invitation to foreigners) consists of two parts: tourist confirmation and voucher. Tourist visa support (invitation to foreigners) is considered the simplest and fastest way to obtain a tourist visa if a foreign citizen intends to come to Russia for a short period (up to a month) with one or two entries and will stay at a hotel. At the Russian consulate, it is enough to present a copy of the invitation (fax or scanned) with the following documents:
a) Foreign passport
b) 3 photos (3×4)
c) Questionnaire (you can get it at the consulate for free).
A business visa is the most flexible and convenient, as it gives complete freedom of movement throughout Russia, has different validity periods and can be single-entry (valid for 1 or 3 months), double-entry (valid for 1 or 3 months) or multiple-entry (valid for validity 3, 6 or 12 months). In addition, a business visa gives the right to work in Russia.

Customs regulations

Duty-free import of things is allowed if the imported goods are not intended for industrial or commercial activities, or the quantity of imported goods does not exceed the established standards. Individuals aged at least 17 years can import up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, up to 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos, 200 cigarettes or 0.25 kg of tobacco without paying customs duties. The cost of imported goods should not exceed $2 thousand. It is allowed to import and export without paying customs duties goods necessary for personal use - clothing, toiletries, jewelry, photography and film equipment. In case of import by individuals of goods, the total value and total weight of which exceeds the dimensions established by law, but the cost of no more than 650 thousand rubles and weighing no more than 200 kg, a single rate of customs duties and taxes is applied in the amount of 30% of the customs value of these goods, but not less than 4 euros per 1 kg. If goods are imported or exported in quantities slightly exceeding normal requirements, evidence must be provided that they are not intended for commercial purposes. When crossing the border with your car, you can take out up to 20 liters duty free. fuel, not counting the fuel in the tank. Medicines can be exported no more than one package of each name, fish and crustaceans - up to 5 kg gross per person, sturgeon (black) caviar no more than 280 g per person, non-ferrous metal products (household) weighing no more than 20 kg, jewelry - no more than five items with a total weight of up to 130 g (for items made of gold and platinum) or 120 g (for items made of silver), items made of precious or semi-precious stones - no more than five items per person, commemorative coins made of base metals in circulation RF, in an amount of no more than ten pieces per person and per trip without any obligation to bring them back. Export from the Russian Federation of commemorative coins made of precious metals to individuals is permitted only on the basis of a special permit from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. You can import commemorative coins made of precious and base metals without restrictions.

Holidays and non-working days

Holidays in January

January 1-5 - New Year (New Year holidays)
January 7 - Orthodox Christmas
January 13-14 - Old New Year
January 25 - Tatyana's Day - student holiday

Holidays in February
February 14 is Valentine's Day. St. Valentine's Day
February 23 – Defender of the Fatherland Day
2nd Sunday of February - Aeroflot Day

Holidays in March
March 1 - World Civil Defense Day
March 8 - International Women's Day
2nd Sunday of March - Day of Geodesy and Cartography Workers
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day (Irish holiday)
3rd Sunday of March - Day of Housing and Communal Services Workers
March 27 – International Theater Day

Holidays in April
April 1st - April Fool's Day
1st Sunday of April - Geologist's Day
April 12 — Cosmonautics Day
2nd Sunday of April - Air Defense Forces Day
3rd Sunday of April - Science Day

Holidays in May
May 1 - Spring and Labor Day (International Workers' Day)
May 7 — Radio Day
May 9 - Victory Day
May 12 - International Nurses Day
May 17 - International Telecommunications Day
May 18 – International Museum Day
May 28 - Border Guard Day
Last Sunday of May - Chemist's Day

Holidays in June
June 1 - International Children's Day
June 8 — Social Worker Day
June 12 - Russia Day (Day of adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation)
1st Sunday of June - Land Reclamation Day
2nd Sunday of June - Light Industry Workers' Day
3rd Sunday of June - Medical Worker's Day
Last Sunday of June - Youth Day
The last Saturday of June is Inventor and Innovator Day

Holidays in July
1st Sunday of July - Marine and River Fleet Workers' Day
2nd Sunday of July - Fisherman's Day, Russian Post Day
3rd Sunday of July - Metallurgist Day
4th Sunday of July - Trade Worker's Day
Last Sunday of July - Day Navy(Neptune's Day)

Holidays in August
August 2 - Day of the Airborne Forces (Day of the Paratroopers)
1st Sunday of August - Railwayman's Day
2nd Saturday of August - Sportsman's Day
2nd Sunday of August - Builder's Day
August 15 - Archaeologist's Day
3rd Sunday of August - Air Fleet Day (Aviation Day)
Last Sunday of August - Miner's Day

Holidays in September
1 September is the day of knowledge
1st Sunday of September - Oil and Gas Industry Workers' Day
2nd Sunday of September - Tankman Day
3rd Sunday of September - Forest Workers Day
September 27 - Tourist Day
The last Sunday of September is Mechanical Engineering Day

Holidays in October
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons
October 2 – International Music Day
1st Sunday of October - Teacher's Day
2nd Sunday of October - Agricultural Workers' Day
3rd Sunday of October - Food Industry Workers Day, Road Workers Day
October 14 is International Standardization Day. Cover
October 24 - International UN Day
The last Sunday in October is Road Transport Workers Day
October 31 - Halloween (All Hallows' Eve)

Holidays in November
November 4 — Day of National Unity of Russia
November 9 – World Quality Day
November 10 — Police Day
November 16 - Marine Corps Day
November 17 – International Students Day
November 19 - Day Missile Forces and artillery
November 21 — Tax Authorities Day, Accountant Day
November 26 – World Information Day
Last Sunday of November - Mother's Day

Holidays in December
December 1 is World AIDS Day
December 12 — Constitution Day
December 20 — Day of State Security Worker
December 22 — Energy Day
December 25 - Catholic Christmas
December 31st - and again New Year

Transport

The transport system of Russia is characterized by a developed transport network, including 87 thousand km of railways, more than 745 thousand km highways with hard surfaces, over 600 thousand km of overhead lines, 70 thousand km of main oil and product pipelines, over 140 thousand km of main gas pipelines, 115 thousand km of river shipping routes and many sea routes. Main ports: on the Black Sea - Novorossiysk, Taganrog, Tuapse; in Baltic - Kaliningrad, Baltiysk, St. Petersburg, Vyborg; on the Barents - Murmansk; on Bely - Arkhangelsk; in Japanese - Vanino, Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Port Vostochny. It employs over 3.2 million people, which is 4.6% of the working population. Vast spaces and harsh climate have determined the paramount importance for Russia of all-weather types of land transport - railway and pipeline. The bulk of cargo work falls on them. Water transport plays a much smaller role in Russia due to the short navigation period. The role of road transport in the overall cargo turnover due to the extremely small average transportation distances (within cities and suburbs, in open-pit mines, on logging roads in logging areas, etc.) is also small, despite the fact that they transport more than half of the cargo. An important feature of the Russian transport system is its close relationship with production.

Buses are the leaders in intracity passenger transportation in Russia. The largest cities also have tram and trolleybus services. The operating length of tram and trolleybus lines is 7.6 thousand km. St. Petersburg has the longest tram network in the world (more than half is in disrepair). In six largest cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. A chorus of entertainers from the conductor reserve - there is a subway. The total operational length of metro tracks is almost 390 km.

Air transport is the most expensive, which limits its use for cargo (perishable goods); it is of greater importance for passenger transportation. In the regions of the Far North, helicopters play an important role: they transport cargo and passengers to production facilities, provide urgent medical care etc. The main centers of air traffic are Moscow, St. Petersburg, resorts North Caucasus, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok.

Tips

Tipping in Russia is optional, with the exception of restaurants, where it amounts to 10 to 15% of the order amount. Sometimes tips are already included in the bill.

The shops

Grocery stores are open from 8.00 to 20.00, on Sundays - from 8.00 to 18.00. Quite a lot of convenience stores. Department stores and supermarkets are open from 9.00-10.00 to 21.00-22.00.

National cuisine

The Russian table is widely known abroad mainly for its delicacies: smoked sturgeon back (balyk), stellate sturgeon with horseradish, lightly salted salmon (salmon), red, black and pink (whitefish) caviar, pickled and salted mushrooms (saffron milk caps and white mushrooms), which make up only a beautiful still life along with crystal-clear Moscow vodka, but also subtly harmonizing with it in terms of taste. The basis of ancient Russian cuisine was bread, flour products and grain dishes. Already in the 9th century. that sour, rye black bread with leavened dough appears, which becomes the national Russian bread and the love for which by the overwhelming majority of the people has a decisive influence on the position of the Russian church hierarchy in disputes about the Eucharist at the Ecumenical Councils in the middle of the 11th century. (where Russian bishops rejected unleavened bread!) and on the subsequent economic and political orientation of Rus' towards Byzantium, and not towards the Latin West.

Particularly developed were pies, that is, products in a dough shell, with a wide variety of fillings from fish, meat, poultry and game, mushrooms, cottage cheese, vegetables, berries, fruits, from various grains in combination with fish, meat and mushrooms. The grain itself served as the basis for creating dishes from it - porridge. Porridges - spelled, buckwheat, rye, the so-called “green” (from young unripe rye), barley (barley) - were made in three types depending on the ratio of grain and water: steep, slurry and gruel (semi-liquid). They were prepared with the addition of the same various products that were used in pies fillings. In the X-XIV centuries. porridge acquired the significance of a mass ritual dish, which began and ended any major event marked by the participation of significant masses of people.

During the medieval period, the majority of Russian national drinks also emerged: honey (about 880-890), prepared using a method close to the production of grape wines, and giving a product close to cognac (aging from 5 to 35 years); Drunk birch tree (921 g) - a product of fermentation of birch sap; hop honey (920-930) - with hops added to honey, in addition to berry juices; boiled honey—a product similar in technology to beer (996); kvass, cider (XI century), beer (about 1284). In the 40-70s of the 15th century. (no earlier than 1448 and no later than 1474) Russian vodka appeared in Russia. The early national technological differences in its production affected the higher quality of Russian vodka compared to the later vodka - Polish and Cherkassy (Ukrainian) vodka. Russian (Moscow) vodka was produced from rye grain by “sitting” rather than distillation, that is, through pipeless slow evaporation and condensation within the same container.

Finally, during the medieval period of the development of Russian cuisine, a tendency to consume liquid hot dishes, which received the common name “khlebova,” was also revealed. The most widespread types of bread are cabbage soup, based on vegetable raw materials, as well as different kinds flour soups. As for milk and meat, these products were used until the 17th century. were used relatively rarely, and their processing was not difficult. Meat (usually beef and much less often pork and lamb) was cooked in cabbage soup or gruel until the 16th century. Almost didn't fry. A strict ban was imposed on the consumption of many types of meat - especially hare and veal. Remains historical fact that in 1606 the boyars managed to incite a crowd against False Dmitry I, prompting them to break into the Kremlin only with the message that the tsar was not real, because he eats veal. This was the most convincing argument. They drank milk raw, stewed or sour; Cottage cheese and sour cream were obtained from sour milk, and the production of cream and butter remained almost unknown until the 16th century. Honey and berries in ancient Russian cuisine were not only sweets in themselves, but also the basis on which syrups and preserves were created. And being mixed with flour and butter, with flour and eggs, honey and berries became the basis of the Russian national sweet product - gingerbread. Therefore, gingerbread was around until the 19th century. only honey or honey-berry, most often honey-raspberry or honey-strawberry. In the XIV-XV centuries. Another Russian national sweet product also appears - levishniki, prepared from carefully pureed lingonberries, blueberries, cherries or strawberries, dried in a thin layer in the sun. To the national Russian delicacy until the 20th century. also included nuts, initially hazelnuts and walnuts (Volosh), and later, in the 17th century, pine nuts and seeds (sunflower).

In the 70-80s, our consumption of egg dishes, the use of poultry (especially broilers, chickens, turkeys, ducks) and sausages as semi-finished main courses also sharply increased. At the same time, in home life throughout the 60-80s, the composition and technology of dishes were simplified, mainly due to the reluctance of the modern city dweller to spend a long time fiddling with cooking. So, the bird is boiled or fried whole (less often in parts), but almost never stuffed with apples, potatoes, onions, rice, raisins, as was the case before, when it appeared on the table less often and became a small event in the family.

Attractions

Russia is a country with a turbulent, centuries-old history and rich culture. Some architectural and historical and cultural monuments on the territory of the Russian Federation are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lake Baikal with unique animals and fish of the region; numerous historical and architectural monuments; ancient Russian cities included in Gold ring of Russia; Sergiev Posad(Zagorsk) with a magnificent monastery complex; Kizhi with an open-air museum of wooden architecture; Solovetsky Monastery in the far north of European Russia; Old town of Novgorod with numerous architectural monuments; Pskov with a complex of a well-preserved 14th-century detinets; Pechery, in which the famous Pskov-Pechersky Monastery of the XIV-XVI centuries is located; Pushkin Mountains, around which the Pushkin estate-museums are located, Kern, V Svyatogorsk Monastery there is the grave of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. In Kazan - Kazan Kremlin XIV-XV centuries from famous tower Syuyumbegi. There are several ancient Russian cities on the Volga with magnificent architectural monuments of the 13th-19th centuries.

One of the main cultural centers of Russia is Saint Petersburg, which has St. Isaac's Cathedral; monument to Peter I; the Hermitage palace complex, where one of the richest museums in the world is located with collections of paintings, furniture, and sculpture; a large number of various museums; the famous Summer Garden. Complexes are located near St. Petersburg Petrodvorets with several museums in Baroque and Rococo palaces, beautiful fountains Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof.

IN Moscow: Red Square with Execution Place; St. Basil's Cathedral, erected in the 16th century in honor of the conquest of Kazan; the Moscow Kremlin with numerous museums and churches, including the Armory, where there is a wonderful collection of jewelry; the famous Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon; several world-famous museums and galleries - the Historical Museum; Russian Museum with a rich collection of ancient art; the Andrei Rublev Museum with one of the richest collections of Russian icon painting from the 11th century; Tretyakov Gallery with the country's best collection of Russian art from the 10th - 11th centuries to the 20th century; numerous contemporary art galleries; Museum of Science and Industry.

IN Volgograd- the memorial complex "Mamaev Kurgan" with the unique huge monument "Motherland", a panorama of the Battle of Stalingrad and a picturesque embankment.

IN Veliky Novgorod- monument "Millennium of Russia", St. Sophia Cathedral (1045-50), St. Nicholas Cathedral (about 1113) and St. George's St. George's Monastery (about 1117), Church of the Savior on Nereditsa (1198), Fedora Stratilata-on-Ruchye (1360-61), Spasa-on-Ilyin (1374). Archaeological excavations have revealed the remains of numerous ancient buildings, wooden pavements, objects of material culture and unique birch bark letters.

In Vladimir- medieval Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals, Bogolyubovo, Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Golden Gate (1164) with the Gate Church (restored in 1469), Assumption Cathedral (1158-60), frescoes by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny, carved baroque iconostasis (1773-74 .), Dmitrievsky Cathedral (1194-97), the Church of St. Nicholas (XVII century) and the Savior (XVIII century) at the foot of Kozlov Val, St. George Baroque Church (1783-84), Church of St. Nicholas the Wet in Galey (1732 -35), Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1649), Nikitskaya Church (1765), Ascension Church (1724). Monastic complexes of the Nativity Monastery (Nativity Cathedral, 1192-95, rebuilt in 1859-64), fortress walls (XVIII century), Princess Monastery (founded in the XII-XIII centuries), Assumption Cathedral (1200-01 ., frescoes 1647-48) with the tomb of Princess Maria, her sister Anna, as well as the wife and daughter of Alexander Nevsky.

City-reserve Suzdal It is part of the "Golden Ring" of Russia, as well as the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Artistic and Architectural Museum-Reserve. First mentioned in 1024 in the Laurentian Chronicle, the city is famous for its historical and architectural ensembles - the Kremlin, churches, Trading Rows, Pokrovsky and other monasteries, a reserve of wooden architecture. The Kremlin ramparts (11th-12th centuries), the Nativity Cathedral (1222-25, frescoes of the 13th-17th centuries, the iconostasis of the 17th century, the tented bell tower of 1635), the Robbery Cathedral (1207) and Vasilyevsky deserve a mandatory visit. monastery (XVII century), bishop's chambers (XV-XVIII centuries), Assumption Church (built in 1650, rebuilt in 1720), Afanasyevskaya (1720), Alexander Monastery (founded in the XIII century), Joachim and Anna, etc.

Resorts

Ski resorts: Dombay- one of the most popular ski centers in the Caucasus, located in the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region of the Stavropol Territory at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, at the foot of the main Caucasus ridge on the Dombay glade. By the way, Dombayskaya Polyana is part of the Teberda state reserve. Dombay is good for both professionals and beginners - everyone will find here trails of a suitable degree of difficulty. The ski season in Dombay lasts from December to May; all hotels are located on the same clearing in close proximity to the ski lifts.

Elbrus region is one of the three largest ski areas in Russia. The region offers many unique opportunities for skiers. In the depths of the Baksan Valley there is the Elbrus National Park - the heart of the Caucasus. Here you can find a lot of interesting things: skiing with a snowcat, snowboarding, extreme skiing, heli-skiing. The climate of the Elbrus region is formed under the influence of the high-mountain, sharply dissected and contrasting topography. On the plains it is continental, but high in the mountains the polar cold reigns and even in the middle of summer there are negative temperatures.

Krasnaya Polyana- the most remote settlement from the sea in Sochi, nestled next to the Caucasus Range. This resort is often called "Russian Switzerland". The skiing season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from the second half of December to the second half of April. During the winter months, when there is a lot of snow, the air temperature rarely drops below -10°C. The disadvantages of the resort include quite frequent thaws, as well as wet, heavy snow, which often happens here at the end of the season.

Balneological resorts- resorts Caucasian Mineral Waters Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk, Essentuki, Kislovodsk. The diversity of the relief creates noticeable differences in the climate of the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. IN Pyatigorsk summers are warm, winters are moderately mild (a third of winter days have rain, thaws, and fogs) and there are 98 clear days a year. Pyatigorsk is a multi-profile balneological and mud resort. Most resort facilities are located in the eastern part of the city. Kislovodsk It is famous as a winter climatic resort, the winter there is clear and dry, and the number of sunny days per year is 150. Kislovodsk also stands out for its constant atmospheric pressure, which has a beneficial effect on the healing process. Kislovodsk is a balneological and climatic resort, the southernmost, largest and most comfortable in the Caucasian Mineral Waters. Climate Zheleznovodsk corresponds to the mountain-forest and moderately dry climate of the middle mountains of the Alps. There are 117 clear days a year here. Its main healing factors are hot and warm natural springs. The most famous are the mineral waters "Slavyanovskaya" and "Smirnovskaya". Climate Essentukov differs in contrast - summer is hot and dry, winter is frosty and rainy, the number of clear days in a year is 112. Healing factor: Essentuki mineral waters.

Beach resorts: Anapa, located on a cape, the Black Sea washes on three sides. The main resort street of Anapa is Pionersky Prospekt, which stretches along the sea for 5 km. All the main health resorts are located on both sides of it. Vityazevo- a large resort village, located 8 km from Anapa, has everything necessary for a comfortable holiday: a comfortable sandy beach about 200 meters wide, a large number of bars and restaurants. The beach is sandy, which is a continuation of Anapa. Dzhemete- the third most popular resort settlement in Anapa. Another village of Alekseevka is located on the Anapskaya highway. Among the settlements in the suburbs of Anapa, one can note the Cossack village of Blagoveshchenskaya, as well as the village of Voskresensky, Gaikodzor, the village of Kostagaevskaya, the villages of Kapustin, Kumatyr, Kurbatsky, Kutok, Sukko, Su-Psekh, Tarusino, Usatova Balka, Yurovka, etc. Anapa beaches are the best on throughout the northern Black Sea region. 40 kilometers of beaches are with fine-grained sand, 10 kilometers are pebble. The width of the beach in some places reaches 500 meters.

Gelendzhik The resort area stretches for 102 km and includes seaside climatic resorts and villages: Kabardinka, Gelendzhik, Divnomorskoe, Dzhanhot, Praskoveevka, Betta, Arkhipo-Osipovka. From the northeast, the coastal strip is limited by the spurs of the low Markhot ridge. The dry subtropical climate allows the season to be extended from May to mid-October. Sea water temperature at this time: +18..+24°С. The resort area has more than 170 sanatoriums, boarding houses, holiday homes, hotels and tourist complexes; the private sector can also accommodate tens of thousands of vacationers, where mini-hotels with cozy courtyards and low cost of living have recently appeared. Gelendzhik health resorts have excellent diagnostic and treatment facilities. In Gelendzhik Bay itself there are pebble beaches with a sandy bottom and a moderate slope in depth. In the central part of the bay there is a wide artificial sandy city beach, stretching along the embankment for 1.5 km. Kabardinka and Blue Bay have sandy and small-pebble beaches, the seabed is flat and sandy - here are the best conditions for relaxing with children. Between Gelendzhik and Kabardinka, narrow pebble beaches predominate. From Gelendzhik to Dzhankhot the coast is rocky and steep: the strip suitable for swimming is narrow or absent altogether. However, in the Divnomorskoe - Dzhanhot sections you can always find a convenient descent to the sea among the rocks and end up on a rocky or pebble patch. Between Dzhankhot and Praskoveevka, in some places horizontal layers of rocks descend to the sea, creating sea baths with a perfectly smooth, polished bottom. Natural small beaches in Divnomorskoye and Dzhankhot are gravel and pebbles, but near the resorts there are decks and artificial sandy beaches. In Betta there are pebble beaches, in Arkhipo-Osipovka there are sand and pebble beaches.

Modern Sochi stretches along the eastern coast of the Black Sea from Magri to the Psou River. Greater Sochi consists of four resort areas: Lazarevsky, Central, Khostinsky and Adlersky. There are three types of beaches in Sochi: “wild” beaches, beaches of sanatoriums and health resorts (the most expensive boarding houses have closed beaches) and public beaches. The beach of the Lazarevsky district is an extensive pebble beach, up to 40 meters wide. The sea is quite deep. The size of the stones in the water varies greatly depending on the location: closer to Sochi they are large (15-30 cm), near Tuapse they are smaller, about 5 cm. The descent to the sea is gentle and well-maintained. All beaches in the Central region are pebbly. On the central city beach you can jump into the sea on a bungee, which has been turned into a rescue tower, there are gliders, inflatable bananas, jet skis and other entertainment on the water. There is a water park on the Mayak beach near the seaport. The beaches of Khosta are small-pebble, in some places there are sea ​​sand silver-gray color. Most beaches are well-maintained: either city beaches or attached to sanatoriums and boarding houses. In the area of ​​Cape Vidny there is a “wild” beach.

Tuapse The resort area stretches along the Black Sea coast for 60 km, from the mouth of the Dzhubad River to the administrative border of the Lazarevsky district south of Shepsi. The Tuapse district includes villages Agoy, Gizel-Dere, Dzhubga, Lermontovo, Novomikhalkovsky, Nebug, Olginka and Shepsi. As a rule, the beaches here are remote from resort villages. They are mostly small pebbles, the sea is quite deep, the bottom is flat. In Tuapse itself there are pebble beaches with small pebbles and a gradual slope into the depths. In Dzhubga the beach (800 m) consists mainly of sand, although there are pebble and stone areas. The seabed near the shore is flat, without rocky ledges, the depth increases gradually. The beach in Lermontovo is called “Golden Coast”, its length is about 2 km and its width is 50 meters. It is composed of fine- and coarse-grained sand. Orlenka beach (Novomikhailovsky village) is perhaps the best in the Tuapse region. Its width is 40 meters, and it is made of pure yellow quartz sand. The seabed is shallow and flat over a large area, and the water warms up quickly. The beach in Olginskaya Bay is well-rolled pebbles, the width is about 10-12 meters. The bay is deep, the depth starts right from the shore. To the southeast of Tuapse there are large pebble beaches, which near the village of Shepsi give way to small pebble and sandy ones.

The Sea of ​​Azov is famous for its shallow depth - only 4-6 meters. This allows the sea to warm up quite quickly, and the beach season begins in Azov in May. There are not many cities and resorts on the Azov Sea, and therefore there is still enough space left for those who prefer to travel by car and with tents. And in those few cities and towns that can be called resorts, there is no usual bustle, but there is comfort and tranquility on the seashore. The most popular resorts of the Azov Sea are Yeisk, Golubitskaya village, Dolzhanskaya Spit, Taman and Taganrog. Yeysk - a cozy southern port city, lined with narrow streets and planted with fruit trees. The city has many alleys, parks and shady squares. The tourism industry is just coming to this region. Work is in full swing on the necessary infrastructure, new hotels are being built, private hotels are appearing, holiday homes and children's camps are being restored. There are numerous cafes, clubs and restaurants on the shores of the Azov Sea and on the central streets of the city. Tourists who come to Yeysk for the sea and sun choose between the sandy beaches of the Yeisk Estuary and the Taganrog Bay.

The western coast of the Kaliningrad region is washed by the Baltic Sea. During the summer months, the picturesque sandy shores transform into stunning beach resorts. Stretching from north to south Curonian Spit and resort towns Zelenogradsk, Pionersk, Svetlogorsk, Otradnoe, Yantarny and several villages. Tourists will find sanatoriums, boarding houses, holiday homes and hotels. The Curonian Spit is a national park, so relaxation here is especially good. The rest of the Baltic Sea coast also has excellent ecology.

Russia - a state located on two continents, in eastern Europe and northern Asia. The largest country in the world - 17,125,422 sq/km or 1/9 of the entire land area of ​​the Earth, which is twice as much as Canada, which ranks second.

Russia borders on 19 countries(the largest figure in the world), of which by land with the following countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania - in the northwest, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine - in the west, Abkhazia, Georgia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan - in the south, China, Mongolia, North Korea - in the southeast; and by sea with Turkey - in the southwest, with Japan and the USA - in the east. In addition, the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea coast, borders Poland and Lithuania on the eastern side.
belong to Russia also the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, Vaygach, the Franz Josef Land archipelago, the New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Kuril Islands (part of which is still disputed by Japan) and Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean in the east.
In the east Russia is washed the Seas of Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas and the Bering Strait; in the north - by the Laptev Sea and the White, Barents, Kara, Chukchi and East Siberian seas; in the west - the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland; in the south - the Black, Azov and Caspian seas.

After the collapse of the USSR at the end of 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized by the international community as a federal republic and accepted into the UN Security Council and a number of other international organizations. The independence of the Russian Federation was declared on August 24, 1991. The head of state is the President (elected once every 6 years), executive power belongs to the government headed by the Prime Minister (appointed by Parliament upon nomination by the President).
The State Duma and the Federation Council form a bicameral Parliament.
Lower House State Duma - 450 deputies, elections are held once every 5 years.
Upper House Federation Council - 170 senators appointed by regional parliaments.
Part The Russian Federation includes 22 republics, one autonomous region (Jewish), 4 autonomous okrugs, 9 edges and 46 regions.
Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol have direct federal subordination and are cities of federal significance. In total, as of 2015, there are 85 constituent entities in the Russian Federation.

From a demographic point of view in the Russian Federation, the most significant event in March 2014 was the actual reunification of the Crimean peninsula with the territory of the Russian state.

Capital of Russia- Moscow. The largest city in Russia with a population of 12,197,596 people.
Heart of Russia- Moscow Kremlin.
In total, there are 15 million-plus cities in Russia, the largest cities with a population of over 1 million people. These are Moscow, St. Petersburg (more than 5 million people); Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg (more than 1.5 million people); Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Volgograd, Voronezh.

Total Russia covers11 time zones with a difference from +2 to +12 hours relative to Greenwich.

Population- 146,293,111 people (as of 2014 od). Most of the inhabitants of Russia (about 80%) live in the European part (Central, Southern, North Caucasian, Northwestern, Volga, Ural federal districts). The remaining 20% ​​is in the Asian part of Russia (Siberian, Far Eastern districts). The majority of the population lives in cities - 75%.
Live in Russia representatives of more than 200 nationalities. The largest ethnic group - Russians - makes up 80% of the country's population. Tatars - 4%, Ukrainians - 3%, Chuvash, Bashkirs, Belarusians, Mordovians, Chechens, Armenians, Avars and other nationalities - 1% or less.
Peoples of Russia speak more than 100 languages ​​and dialects. Russian is the native language of approximately 130 million citizens (92% of the Russian population). It is also the state language of the Russian Federation. Also, Ukrainian, Tatar, Armenian and other languages ​​are common.
Christians live in Russia(mainly Orthodox), Muslims, Buddhists (mainly in Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva - Siberia), Jews, pagans and representatives of other religious faiths. The share of Russian citizens who are Orthodox Christians is 70% of all residents of the country. The number of Muslims is 15% of the population. Convinced atheists make up 6% of the population.
State currency- Russian ruble (~60 RUB = 1 USD).

Russia has the world's largest reserves of mineral and energy resources, large reserves of various minerals, the most important of which are oil, gas, coal, gold and other strategic minerals. Russia ranks first in the world in terms of forest area, which occupy 45% of the country's territory, and has approximately 1/5 of the world's timber reserves. Also, in Russia there is greatest number lakes containing about a quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
Despite the vastness of the territory, a relatively small part of the land is used in agriculture - arable land occupies only 8% of the country's territory. A significant part of the territory falls on the permafrost zone.

About 3/4 of the territory The countries are made up of plains. In the west lies the East European Plain - one of the largest plains in the world, on which almost the entire European part of Russia is located. In the south of the country there are northern slopes Caucasus Mountains, where the highest point of the country and Europe is located - Mount Elbrus (5.642 meters). In the east, the plain is limited by the low old Ural Mountains up to 2,000 meters high. And to the east of the Urals lies the West Siberian Plain with vast wetlands, bordered in the southeast by the Altai Mountains up to 4,500 meters high. Closer to the Pacific coast in the east is the region of mountain ranges and plateaus of Northeast Asia. Thus, the eastern part of the country, with the exception of the valleys of large rivers, is a mountainous area. There are 120 volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, 23 of which are active. The highest of them is Klyuchevskaya Sopka with a height of 4,750 meters. The country's largest rivers are the Volga, Northern Dvina, Don, Irtysh, Ob, Angara, Yenisei, Lena, Amur. The largest lakes: Baikal (in the southeast) - the deepest and largest in volume in the world, Lakes Ladoga, Onega (in the northeast).

Most of the country is located within the temperate climate zone. The extreme regions of the north and the northern islands belong to the Arctic zone, and some southern regions are close to the subtropics. The climate throughout almost the entire country is continental, which is especially evident in the large range of seasonal temperatures and scarcity of precipitation. In most parts of the territory, winter is long. Particularly severe frosts are observed in Eastern Yakutia (-45..-50 degrees). In the European part of Russia, winter temperatures range from 0 to -10 degrees. In summer, average temperatures are +15..+25 degrees. In the warm half of the year - from May to October - the bulk of precipitation falls.
Differences in climate zones characterizes the diversity of natural areas. Mosses, polar poppies, and buttercups grow in the Arctic deserts of the Far North; in the tundra, dwarf birch, willow, and alder are added to these species. Spruce, fir, cedar, and larch are typical for the taiga. To the south and west begins a zone of broad-leaved forests of oak, maple, linden, and hornbeam. Also, in the country you can find many rare species: Mongolian oak, Manchurian maple, elm, walnut. In the forest-steppe and steppe parts of the country there are oak forests, herbs, and cereals. The Black Sea subtropics are dominated by forests of fluffy oak, junipers, boxwood, and black alder. On the coast - eucalyptus, palm.
Rich and diverse fauna countries. In the Arctic and tundra zones: arctic fox, reindeer, polar hare, seals, walruses, polar bear. The taiga is inhabited by bear, lynx, wapiti, wolverine, elk, sable, ermine, chipmunk, and squirrel; Capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse, woodpecker, and nutcracker nest. In addition, the taiga is characterized by the presence of a huge number of mosquitoes. The deciduous forests are home to wild boar, deer, mink, numerous birds, and lizards. In the forests of the Far East there are rare Ussuri tigers, bears, and deer. Among the animals of the steppe zone, small rodents predominate, with many saigas, badgers, foxes, and large steppe birds (bustard, crane, little bustard). In the desert there are gazelles, jackals, sand cats, and numerous rodents. Lots of reptiles and turtles. The Caucasus region is home to the mountain goat, Caucasian deer, porcupine, leopard, hyena, bear, as well as a large number of reptiles.

For poets and writers, Russia is a huge country with birch trees and endless steppes. The famous poet Alexander Pushkin argued that Russia “cannot be understood with the mind.” Perhaps in order to “understand” Russia, you need to visit it. Tourists will see beautiful nature in Russia, numerous churches and monasteries, fortresses, unique attractions, and, of course, hospitable residents. Also, one should not forget that in Russia there are many balneological, ski and beach resorts.

Geography of Russia

Russia is in Eastern Europe, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Russia borders from northwest to southeast with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The Sea of ​​Okhotsk separates Russia from Japan, and the Bering Strait from the American state of Alaska. The total area of ​​the country is 17,098,246 square meters. km, including islands, and total length state border – 20,241 km.

Most of Russia is occupied by plains - steppes in the south and dense forests in the north. In the south of Russia there are mountain ranges - the Caucasus and Altai. Russia is divided into two parts by the Ural Mountains. The highest peak in the country is Mount Elbrus, whose height reaches 5,642 m.

Russia includes many islands and archipelagos. The largest of them are Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, Wrangel Island, Kuril Islands, etc.

There are a lot of rivers and lakes in Russia. The largest Russian rivers are the Volga, Ob, Yenisei, Ural, Lena, Kolyma and Amur. It is in Russia that the largest freshwater lake in the world is located - Baikal.

Capital

The capital of Russia is the city of Moscow, whose population now numbers more than 11.7 million people. An urban settlement on the territory of modern Moscow existed already in the first half of the 12th century.

Official language

The official language in Russia is Russian, which belongs to the Slavic group of the Indo-European language family.

Religion

The majority of the Russian population (more than 90%) professes Orthodox Christianity. However, there are many Muslims and Buddhists in the country.

State structure of Russia

Russia is a federal presidential republic, which is governed by a President elected by direct universal suffrage for a 6-year term.

The bicameral parliament in Russia is called the Federal Assembly. Parliament consists of the Federation Council and the State Duma.

The main political parties are United Russia, A Just Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (communists) and the Liberal Democratic Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Russia is very diverse, which is due to its vast territory and geographical location. Russia has a temperate climate zone, as well as arctic and even subtropical climate zones. The average annual air temperature is +4C. The highest average air temperature is observed in July (+24C), and the lowest in January (-14C). The average annual precipitation is 575 mm.

Seas and oceans

The shores of Russia are washed by the waters of twelve seas, which belong to three oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Also, we should not forget about the inland Caspian Sea.

Rivers and lakes in Russia

It is quite possible that more rivers flow through Russia than in any other country in the world. Most of them are short in length, but some reach enormous sizes. The largest Russian rivers are the Volga, Ob, Yenisei, Ural, Lena, Kolyma and Amur.

There are no fewer lakes in Russia than rivers. It is in Russia that the largest freshwater lake in the world is located - Baikal. We recommend that tourists pay attention to Lakes Ladoga, Onega and Elton, as well as Lake Goose in the Far East, where lotuses grow.

Story

People appeared on the territory of modern Russia a very long time ago. In prehistoric times, numerous tribes of pastoralists roamed the steppes of southern Russia. The most famous of these tribes are the Scythians, Huns, Avars, Khazars, Pechenegs, and Cumans.

Around the middle of the 9th century, part of the territory of modern Russia became part of the Old Russian state, which historians call Kievan Rus. It consisted of many principalities - Polotsk, Turovo-Pinsk, Pereyaslavl, Murom-Ryazan, Vladimir-Suzdal, Smolensk, Novgorod Republic, etc.

Decay Kievan Rus to appanage principalities began in the 1130s, and finally ended “thanks to” the Tatar-Mongol invasion of the first half of the 13th century. For more than 100 years, the Russian lands paid tribute to the Golden Horde (the so-called “Tatar-Mongol yoke”).

The legal successor of Kievan Rus is considered Muscovy, around which the unification of all Russian lands gradually took place. Only during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III (at the end of the 15th century) did Moscow stop paying tribute to the Golden Horde.

The first Moscow prince to take the title “tsar” was Ivan IV the Terrible (this happened in 1547). Since 1630, the Moscow state has been ruled by the Romanov dynasty, this lasted until 1917.

Gradually Moscow State annexes new lands, and becomes Russian Empire. True, this was preceded by numerous wars, Tatar raids and battles with the Crusaders and Turks. The reign of Tsar Peter I had a huge influence on the history of Russia. Also great importance on Russian history had the reign of Tsar Alexander I, who at the beginning of the 19th century was able to successfully resist the invasion of a large army led by Napoleon, Emperor of France.

By the end of the 19th century, Russia had abolished the serfdom system, which provided for the personal ownership of peasants by Russian nobles, and the country began to play a greater political role in the world.

Is it true, absolute monarchy By the beginning of the 20th century, the Romanovs had outlived its usefulness, and its modernization was required. However, the Romanovs were unable to modernize the political system and entered the First world war, and all this together led to February Revolution 1917. Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the throne and the Russian Republic is formed.

In October 1917, the October Revolution took place, the driving force of which was the Bolshevik Communist Party led by Vladimir Lenin. As a result, the Russian Soviet Republic was formed, and after the end of the bloody Civil War - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In 1941, the USSR had to enter the Second World War - the Great War began Patriotic War. No matter how they treated Joseph Stalin, thanks to him the USSR managed to defeat Germany and win the war. Although, this required great sacrifices and self-sacrifice from the Soviet people.

After the end of World War II, the USSR strengthened its political influence in the world - a number of states friendly to the Soviet Union were formed. Countries in which a socialist or communist system of life was established had to enter into the so-called. " cold war", which was unleashed by the developed capitalist countries - the USA and Great Britain.

The USA, Great Britain and other countries actively interfered in the internal affairs of the USSR and other socialist countries. Thus, the peoples of the USSR were called upon to “gain independence.” Unlike capitalist countries, the USSR did not interfere in their internal affairs and did not, for example, send its agents to Ulster with a call to fight against England.

In 1990-91, with the active participation of Mikhail Gorbachev, who in fact was supposed to lead the USSR, this state broke up into separate independent countries. As a result, a new state appeared on the world map - the Russian Federation.

Culture

The culture of Russia has very ancient traditions, it is rich and diverse. Russian culture has a huge influence on the cultures of neighboring countries, and even on the cultural traditions of states on other continents.

Thanks to Russia, the world received a lot of brilliant writers, artists, philosophers and scientists:

Literature (Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Lermontov, Nikolai Gogol, Alexander Blok, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Konstantin Batyushkov, Afanasy Fet);
- Classical music (Mikhail Glinka, Modest Mussorgsky, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov);
- Art (Ivan Aivazovsky, Ilya Repin, Ivan Shishkin, Isaac Levitan, Mikhail Vrubel, Ilya Glazunov);
- Philosophy (Petr Chaadaev, Nicholas Roerich, Vladimir Odoevsky, Nikolai Lossky, Alexey Losev, Nikolai Berdyaev);
- Science (Mikhail Lomonosov, Dmitry Mendeleev, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Dmitry Pavlov, Nikolai Vavilov, Sergei Korolev).

Most holidays in Russia are of a religious nature or have their origins in the Christian tradition. The most popular of them are Christmas, Maslenitsa, Easter, and New Year (it is not religious in nature).

Russian cuisine

Many tourists arriving in Russia are pleasantly surprised by the variety and taste of Russian traditional dishes. Many peoples live on the territory of modern Russia, so the cuisine in this country is very diverse.

First of all, Russian cuisine is famous for borscht - a kind of beetroot soup with vegetables and meat. For residents of Western European countries, it may seem strange to make beet soup, but for Russians it turns out very tasty. Borscht with sour cream is especially good.

If we are talking about first courses in Russian cuisine, then we definitely advise tourists to try “okroshka” (made with kvass with sausage, meat or fish), “rassolnik”, “solyanka”, cabbage soup, and, of course, fish soup. There are dozens of options for preparing all these first courses, depending on the region of Russia.

Thus, fish soup “ukha” is sometimes prepared from several types of fish. Ukha can be “black”, “white”, “red” - depending on the fish from which it is cooked. A particularly tasty fish soup is the one cooked near the river on a fire made from different types fish. Sometimes a little vodka is added to this soup.

Far beyond the borders of Russia, pancakes are known - they are served with various fillings (cottage cheese, meat, jam, etc.), dumplings, pies with fillings (fruit, jam, cottage cheese, meat, fish), shish kebab.

We also recommend that tourists try stuffed pike, mushroom pate, baked stuffed zucchini, cabbage rolls with sour cream, mixed meat okroshka, Stroganoff pork, village solyanka, Easter cakes, and rum baba in Russia.

Non-alcoholic drinks in Russia - tea, coffee, mineral water, compote (decoction of fruits and berries) and kvass.

Sights of Russia

The rich history of Russia has determined the presence of a huge number of attractions in this country. At the moment, there are several tens of thousands of architectural, historical and cultural monuments in Russia. Many of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The top ten best attractions in Russia, in our opinion, include:

1. Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow
2. Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg
3. Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg
4. Museum-Reserve "Kolomenskoye"
5. Kizhi Museum-Reserve
6. Pskov Kremlin
7. Mansi stone pillars in Komi
8. Novodevichy Convent
9. Izborsk fortress near Pskov
10. Valdai Monastery

Cities and resorts

The oldest city in Russia is Derbent in Dagestan, people lived on its territory already at the end of the 4th millennium BC, and the oldest ancient Russian city is Veliky Novgorod, formed in the middle of the 9th century AD.

The largest Russian cities are St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Voronezh, and, of course, Moscow. The population of each of these cities exceeds 1 million people.

Due to its geographical location and large territory, Russia has balneological, ski and beach resorts.

Russian beach resorts are located on the coast of the Black, Azov and Baltic seas. So, on the Black Sea tourists are welcomed by Sochi, Tuapse, Anapa and Gelendzhik, on the Sea of ​​Azov - Yeysk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Taganrog, Taman, and on the Baltic Sea - the Curonian Spit, Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk.

The main Russian ski resorts are located in the Caucasus and the Urals, although there are ski slopes in the Moscow region, near St. Petersburg, in the Volga region, in the Murmansk region, and also in the Baikal region.

In the Caucasus, the most popular ski resorts are Cheget, Dombay, Lago-Naki, Krasnaya Polyana, Elbrus, and in the Urals - Solnechnaya Dolina, Gubakha, Abzakovo, Adzhigardak, Iset, Minyar, Nechkino, etc.

The ski season in the ski resorts of the Caucasus lasts from November to May, and in the Urals - from November to April.

As for the balneological, balneotherapeutic and balneo-mud resorts of Russia, they are located in various regions - in the Caucasus (Caucasian Mineral Waters), in Magadan, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Tver and Novosibirsk regions, in Karelia, Buryatia, Bashkiria, Udmurtia. Tatarstan, near St. Petersburg, in the Moscow region, in the Urals, near Kostroma and even not far from Arkhangelsk.

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Russia usually bring handicrafts, dolls in folk Russian costumes, nesting dolls, Cheburashka dolls, boxes, Gzhel porcelain products, earflaps, paraphernalia of the USSR era, wooden saucers, cups, spoons with Khokhloma painting, Dymkovo toys, products made of amber, Vologda lace, Easter eggs, samovars, jewelry, fur coats, black caviar, chocolates and chocolate, and, of course, vodka.

Office hours

Russian Federation

Russia located on two continents - Europe and Asia. In the south and southeast it borders with China, in the southeast - with North Korea, in the south - with Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, in the southwest - with Ukraine, in the west - with Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Norway. The Kaliningrad region, which is a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea coast, has borders with Poland and Lithuania. Russia owns the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, Vaygach, the Franz Josef Land archipelago, the New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean, the Kuril Islands (part of them are disputed by Japan) and Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean. In the east, Russia is washed by the Seas of Japan, Okhotsk and Bering, in the north by the Barents, Kara, Chukchi and East Siberian Seas, the Laptev Sea, in the west by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, in the south by the Black and Azov Seas.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym Rus.

Capital

Square

Population

145470 thousand people

Administrative division

The Russian Federation includes 21 republics, 6 territories, 49 regions, federal cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, an autonomous region and 10 autonomous districts.

Form of government

A republic with a federal government structure.

Head of State

President, elected for 4 years.

Supreme legislative body

Bicameral Federal Assembly (Federation Council and State Duma).\

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Omsk, Kazan, Perm, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd.

Official language

Religion

Among the religious denominations, the most numerous is the Orthodox; residents of Russia also profess Islam, Catholicism, Judaism, and Buddhism.

Ethnic composition

81% are Russians, 3.8% are Tatars, 3% are Ukrainians, 1.2% are Chuvash, 0.9% are Bashkirs. In total, more than 100 nationalities live in Russia.

Currency

Ruble = 100 kopecks.

Climate

Most of the country is located within the temperate climate zone. The extreme regions of the north and the northern islands belong to the Arctic zone, some southern regions are close to the subtropics. Almost throughout the entire territory of the country, the climate is continental, which is especially evident in Western Siberia (this region is characterized by significant amplitudes of seasonal temperatures and low precipitation). The western regions and the Black Sea coast are characterized by milder, coastal conditions. The southern regions of the Far East, which are influenced by the Pacific Ocean, also have a unique monsoon climate.

Flora

The flora and fauna vary greatly depending on the latitude of the area and its climate. Most of the country's territory is occupied by forests - about 65%, and they contain all types of coniferous and broad-leaved trees: pine, spruce, fir, cedar, birch, aspen, hornbeam, beech, oak, ash and many others.

Fauna

About 150 thousand species of animals are found in the country. Of these, 300 species of mammals, 300 species of freshwater fish and 250 species of marine fish that are of commercial importance. The following representatives of the fauna are typical for the Arctic and tundra zones: polar bear, reindeer, arctic fox, lemming. Marine animals in this area include killer whale, beluga whale, walrus, and seal. Birds - gulls, guillemots, eiders, white geese. Among the inhabitants of the taiga zone are brown bear, elk, lynx, sable, and squirrel. In the Far East there are tiger and sika deer. In the zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests, bison, brown bear, wild boar, wolf, fox, mole, hedgehog are common, among birds: stork, crane, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, tit, woodpecker, nightingale, swallow, sparrow. The following animals are not uncommon in the steppe zone: brown hare, hamster, ground squirrel; birds - bustard, eagle. The semi-desert is home to the saiga and jerboa.

Rivers and lakes

There are about 120 thousand rivers in Russia (over 10 km long). The largest of them are: Lena, Irtysh, Yenisei, Ob, Volga, Amur. The largest lakes are the Caspian Sea, Baikal, Ladoga, Onega. There are almost 2 million fresh and salt lakes in the Russian Federation.

Attractions

Russia has a huge number of attractions. In St. Petersburg - Winter
palace (Hermitage), St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress with the tombs of Russian emperors, a complex of palaces and fountains in Petrodvorets, palaces in Gatchina and Pushkino. In total, there are more than 120 museums in the city. The Kremlin and Red Square, the Tretyakov Gallery, and a number of major museums (74 in total), including the oldest of them - the Armory Chamber, are famous in Moscow. In Novgorod - the Kremlin, the Church of the Savior on Ilyin with frescoes by Theophan the Greek; in Pskov - a museum-reserve of the 12th-17th centuries, fortresses and churches, in Kazan - a Kremlin of the 16th-17th centuries, in Suzdal - churches of the 13th-19th centuries. and many others. A significant number of architectural, historical and cultural monuments of Russia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Useful information for tourists

Moscow is a huge city. In order to get acquainted with all its riches, you need to spend a whole life. Therefore, tourists are offered bus sightseeing tours. During one such excursion, driving through the central streets and squares of the capital and making short stops to inspect the sights, you can see monumental buildings on Poklonnaya Hill, visit the Kuskovo estate and the Ostankino palace - the Sheremetyevs' possessions, and stand on observation deck Sparrow Hills, from which a magnificent panorama of Moscow opens. On the left you can see the golden domes of the Novodevichy Convent shimmering in the sun, on the right the Moscow River winds like a narrow ribbon, in front you can see the world-famous Luzhniki sports complex.
We recommend taking at least one warm item on the trip (you can leave it in the bus), comfortable shoes for many excursions and an umbrella, as the weather can be changeable.
For those who wish to visit water parks (swimming pools, saunas), it is necessary to have a bathing suit. On seaside holidays, it’s a good idea to bring sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
Smile more often and say “hello”, “thank you”, “please” - this will immediately endear you to your interlocutor.

Russia (Russia).

Flag of Russia Coat of Arms of Russia

Russia, the largest country in the world, located in the Northern Hemisphere, occupies most Eurasia. It shares a border with eighteen countries, including the USA and Japan by sea.

From west to east, Russia stretches for 10 thousand kilometers, from north to south - about 4 thousand. The country has 11 time zones.

There are about 2.8 million rivers in Russia, of which the largest are the Volga, Yenisei, Lena, Ob and Amur. The largest lakes: Ladoga, Onega and Taimyr.

In the northwestern part of Russia there are 2 of the largest European lakes - Ladoga and Onega. In addition, the country has the largest sea in the world - the Caspian, and the deepest on the planet - Baikal, its depth is 1620 meters.

Square- about 17 million km?.

Capital- city . There are 13 megacities in Russia with a population of more than a million people: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Samara, Perm, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Chelyabinsk and Rostov-on-Don.
There are 1,030 cities, 2,153 urban-type settlements and an innumerable number of villages and hamlets in the country.

Population- according to the 2005 census, 143.3 million people, the bulk of whom live in the European part, only 20% of the total population lives beyond the Urals.

Russia consists of 21 autonomous republics, 6 territories, 49 regions, two federal cities, one autonomous region and ten autonomous okrugs.

Russia– one of the most multinational countries in the world - about 160 nationalities and nationalities.

Religion: Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and some other religions.

Official language : Russian.

A rectangular canvas with stripes of the same size, from top to bottom: white, blue and red.

State coat of arms of Russia depicts a double-headed eagle against the background of a red shield.

Russian anthem: music by A. Alexandrov, poetry by S. Mikhalkov.

Currency unit - ruble.

23 historical and cultural sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Kremlin in Moscow along with Red Square, the St. Petersburg Historical Center, Novgorod monuments, wooden churches in Kizhi and many others.

Geography and Climate of Russia.

About 70% of the country is occupied by plains and lowlands. The largest are the East European Plain and the West Siberian Lowland, separated by the Ural Range

The south of the country is mainly mountainous - the Caucasus with the highest mountain in the country, Elbrus, 5642 meters high, the Altai and Sayan mountains. North and East of Siberia and Far East occupy the Sikhote-Alin, Verkhoyansk ridges, Chersky ridge and others.

There are many volcanoes in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, a quarter of which are still active.

Russia is very rich in forests, almost 40% of the territory is occupied by them, 35 national parks and 84 nature reserves have been formed. The fauna is also diverse, in addition to the usual, familiar hares, wolves, foxes and bears, tigers, leopards live in Russia, and in the north there are polar bears, walruses and others.
4 passes through Russia climatic zones: arctic, subarctic, temperate, in which the main part of the country is located, and subtropical.

Temperatures on average in mid-winter range from -50 °C in the coldest regions to +6 °C in the south, and in summer from +1 °C in the north to +25 °C in the south. Precipitation ranges from 150 mm per year in the driest places to 2000 mm, respectively, in the rainiest places.

Main holidays of Russia.

Night from December 31 to January 1 - New Year, the main Russian holiday. Main role Father Frost and Snow Maiden play, handing out gifts that night. The holiday is mainly family-friendly and very fun.

Jan. 7 - An Orthodox xmas . Not as popular as New Year, but still gaining popularity with the departure of the Soviet Union.

Night from 13 to 14 January – old New Year . Unofficial, incomprehensible to foreigners due to the combination of Old and New, and yet celebrated by many.

March 8 - International Women's Day , celebrated for some reason only in the CIS. On this day, some men suddenly decide to wash the dishes after themselves.

May 1st and 2nd - holiday may Day. During the Soviet Union, it was called Workers' Solidarity Day. Unlike March 8, this is truly an international holiday, celebrated in many countries.

May 9 - over Nazi Germany, a holiday with tears in our eyes, the Patriotic War claimed tens of millions of lives.

12 June - Russian Independence Day . An official holiday that is not entirely clear to many – from whom exactly is independence.

November 4 - National Unity Day , on this day in 1612, Minin and Pozharsky called on the people to fight the Poles who occupied Moscow.