AREA and LOCATION
Russia (Russian: Россия, Rossiya), officially the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, Rossiyskaya Federatsiya), is the largest country in the world, situated in northern Eurasia. Its territory extends over 17,075,400 square kilometres. Russia has the world’s largest reserves of mineral and energy resources, and the world’s largest energy superpower, as well the world’s largest forest reserves.
BORDERING COUNTRIES
Norway (167 km), Finland (1,313 km), Estonia (294 km), Latvia (217 km), Lithuania (227 km), Poland (both via Kaliningrad Oblast) – 216 km, Belarus (959 km), Ukraine (1,576 km), Georgia (723 km), Azerbaijan (284 km), Kazakhstan (6,846 km), China (40 km), Mongolia (3,441 km), North Korea (19 km).
THE CAPITAL CITY and MAJOR CITIES
Moscow is the country’s capital as well as the largest city with approximately 10,508,971 inhabitants. Other large cities include Saint Petersburg (4,600,310 inhabitants), Novosibirsk (1,397,191 inhabitants), Yekaterinburg (1,332,264 inhabitants).
CLIMATE
Humid continental and subarctic climate are dominant (European and Asian Russia – except for the tundra and the extreme southeast). The plain in the west and north subject it to Arctic and Atlantic influences. Throughout much of the territory, there are two distinct seasons – winter and summer (spring and autumn are brief – separating between the extremely cold and extremely hot temperatures). The temperatures differ greatly throughout the country. Summers tend to be hot with a small part of the Black Sea coast around Sochi having a subtropical climate.
AREA CODE
+7
CURRENCY
Ruble (RUB)
DISTANCES
Moscow is situated 488 km from Novgorod, Russia; 630 km from Saint Petersburg; 683 from Minsk, Belarus; 791 km from Vilnius, Lithuania; 845 km from Riga, Latvia
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
General emergency line 112
Police 02 (until 2012)
Ambulance 03 (until 2012)
Fire Service 01 (until 2012)
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Moscow
Domodedovo International Airport
Ostafievo International Airport
Sheremetyevo International Airport
Vnukovo International Airport
Yekaterinburg
Koltsovo International Airport
Yekaterinburg Aramil Airport
Vladivostok
Vladivostok International Airport
LANGUAGE
Russia has 160 ethnic groups that speak approximately 100 languages. According to 2002 census, 142.6 million people speak Russian (a Slavic language), 5.3 speak Tatar and 1.8 million speak Ukrainian. Russian is the only official state language (the Constitution gives the individual republics the right to make their native language co-official next to Russian).
MOBILE OPERATORS
MTS, BeeLine, and Megafon
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2010)
1 Jan – 6 Jan New Year, 7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas Day, 22 Feb Day of the Defenders of the Motherland, 8 Mar International Women’s Day, 1 May – 2 May Spring and Labour Day, 9 May Victory in Europe Day, 12 Jun Russia Day, 4 Nov National Unity Day, 12 Dec Constitution Day.
VACCINATION
Recommended vaccinations : routine, Hepatitis and B, Rabies, Japanese encephalitis (in case travelling to the Far East),
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Federal semi-presidential republic
POPULATION
141,927,297 (2010 estimate)
POWER NETWORK
220 V/50 Hz, Europlug, Schuko
PRESIDENT
Vladimir Putin since 2012
RAIL TRANSPORT
Russian Railways
http://eng.rzd.ru/
ROAD TRANSPORT
BUS:
Lux Express
http://test.luxexpress.eu/lang/ru
RENT A CAR:
EuropCar
http://www.europcar.com
Business Car
http://www.toyotabc.ru
SMOKING
Russia does not have a smoking ban in force yet even though there is some proposed legislation in the Duma prohibiting smoking in workplaces, on aircrafts, trains and municipal transport, in schools, hospitals, cultural institutions and governmental buildings. The no smoking bill must go through two more readings in the Duma before sent to the Federation Council for approval and to president for his signature.
TAXIS
Taxis can be divided into two types: “official” taxis and private transporters. Official taxis are yellow and have the emblem of black checkers along with a light table with the word “taxi” on the car roof. Private transporters are not designated. Official taxis have a fixed price (and are more expensive). Taxis can be ordered by phone (with a waiting time of 10 – 15 minutes).
TIME
Standard time zone: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) + 2 hours to +11 (exc. +4) ; Summer (UTC) +3 to +12 (exc. +5)
ARTICLES ABOUT RUSSIA:
www.mice-cee.com/destination-world