You probably know that Russia remains both a formidable world power and a place of severe inequality. But here are 32 more Russia facts that you probably don't know.
These Russia facts can definitely round out your knowledge of the country that's recently dominated the news. Russia is a multi-faceted place and as such is impossible to sum up in a single idea. However, the sheer mention of the name likely brings preconceived notions to mind. Maybe it's the headlines outlining its part in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It could be the compilations of wild dash cam footage on YouTube. Or for baby-boomers, it could be memories of school drills in preparation for atomic warfare during the Cold War.
Russia is the largest country on Earth in terms of land area. It's both a wild landscape full of untamed terrain as well as home to some of the largest metro areas on the planet. The massive territory spans all the way to Norway in the Northwest and China in the South. It is separated from Alaska by the Bering Strait.
Throughout the centuries, Russia has been occupied by everyone from the Mongols to the Huns. However, it wasn't until the 1721 founding of the Russian Empire by Peter the Great that it emerged as a superpower. And here's one of the more interesting Russia facts: The Russian Empire would last just four years short of its bicentennial; until its fall at the end of World War I.
This, of course, would not be the first great fall of Russia. The existence of Joseph Stalin's socialist state, the Soviet Union, would slowly unravel after years of economic turmoil. Political unrest and devastating revolts finally led to then While much has changed for the better in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, much has yet to improve. It has some of the highest levels of economic disparity of any developed country. The majority of the nation's wealth belongs to a select few.
As far as Russia facts go, these may surprise you. Even with all of the hardships the people of Russia have faced and continue to face, it remains a fascinating destination with a patterned history. It attracts millions of visitors each year. From the world-class museums and dining of St. Petersburg and Moscow — to the remote stretches of land covered by the Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia is unlike anywhere else.