Russia is a land of superlatives. By far the world’s largest country, it covers nearly twice the territory of Canada, the second largest. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and the eastern third of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms, from deserts to semiarid steppes to deep forests and Arctic tundra.

Understanding the Context

Russia contains Europe ... The flag of Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, spanning eleven time zones and sharing land borders with fourteen countries. With a population of over 140 million, Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous in the world.

Key Insights

It is a highly urbanised country, with sixteen of ... The Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod (unveiled on 8 September 1862) The history of Russia begins with the histories of the East Slavs. [1][2] The traditional start date of specifically Russian history is the establishment of the Rus' state in the north in the year 862, ruled by Varangians. [3][4] In 882, Prince Oleg of Novgorod seized Kiev, uniting the northern and southern ... Stay on top of Russia latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera’s fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated maps.

Final Thoughts

Russia, country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. Once the preeminent republic of the U.S.S.R., Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The capital of Russia is Moscow. Russia in brief Destination Russia, a Nations Online Project Profile of the world's largest country. The nation, officially the Russian Federation, which is commonly referred to as Russia, is located partly in Eastern Europe and partly in North Asia; it borders the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk in the east.