Russia, spread over all climate zones except tropical, is the world's largest country, with land that stretches almost halfway around the planet. In fact, by airplane fro, Moscow, it takes over 8 hours to reach Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean coast.
Administratively, the country is divided into 21 republics, 6 krays (federal territories), 2 federal cities, 49 regions, 1 autonomous region and 10 autonomous areas.
It has 1.067 major cities, with 13 having a population over one million, or more. Thelargest cities are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhni Novgorod, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg.
Moscow, the capital, has over 10.000.000 residents ans i the country's major economic and political center - the seat of the president, the government and the State Duma.
The russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains is commonly referred to as European Russia by most atlases, travel guides and geography experts.
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Official Name: Russian Federation
Capital City: Moscow
Languages: Russian, others
Religions: Russian Orthodox, others
Official Currency: Ruble
Population: 145.904.000
Land area: 17.075.400 sq km
