Russia is the largest country in the world with total area of 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi). As with its topography, Russia's climates, vegetation, and soils span vast distances. The country contains 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 40 UNESCO Biosphere reserves,[24] 40 National Parks and 101 nature reserves. Russia has a wide natural resource base, including major deposits of timber, petroleum, natural gas, coal, ores and other mineral resources.
The Russian Revolution in 1917 was triggered by a combination of economic breakdown, war weariness, and discontent with the autocratic system of government, and it first brought a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists to power, but their failed policies led to seizure of power by the Communist Bolsheviks on October 25. Between 1922 and 1991, the history of Russia is essentially the history of the Soviet Union, effectively an ideologically based state which was roughly conterminous with the Russian Empire before the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The approach to the building of socialism, however, varied over different periods in Soviet history, from the mixed economy and diverse society and culture of the 1920s to the command economy and repressions of the Stalin era to the "era of stagnation" in the 1980s. From its first years, government in the Soviet Union was based on the one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves, beginning in March 1918. However, by the late 1980s, with the weaknesses of its economic and political structures becoming acute, the Communist leaders embarked on major reforms, which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Travel to Russia
Being the largest country in the world Russia has vast landscapes and has every environment you could possibly imagine from mountains ranges to tundra and volcanoes. Combined with its overwhelming and often incredibly beautiful cities, this is a country that must be seen to be believed.
Be sure to visit Moscow, Russia’s biggest city, to see infamous sights such as Red Square, The Kremlin and the Lenin Mausoleum. Or take a trip to St. Petersburg, the second largest yet undeniably most beautiful city in Russia. With its palace lined waterways there’s no better location from which to explore the Hermitage Museum and the imposing Winter Palace. Take a guided tour to really appreciate its intricacies.
Moving away from the big cities, take the opportunity to get out and see what natural wonders this spectacular country has to offer. For example Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and biggest lake by volume and affectionately known as "the pearl of Siberia".
Russia has something for every taste from big cities to big landscapes so it’s simply not to be missed.
Soon in Russia
Artificial island to be built near Sochi
The Krasnodar regional government approved the construction of a 155 billion ruble ($6.3 billion) artificial island off the coast of the Black Sea resort of Sochi, according to a statement released last week. A local government council concluded that the project, known as Federation Island, would have a "positive effect on the economy of Sochi and the region," developer M-Industria said Thursday.
Abu Dhabi-based Allied Business Consultants will fund the project, designed by Dutch architect Erick Van Egeraat. M-Industria heads a group of Russian and foreign companies with experience in building artificial islands in the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Singapore.
The history of Russia begins with that of the East Slavs. The first East Slavic state, Kievan Rus', adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated as a state, finally succumbing to Mongol invaders in the 1230s. During this time a number of regional magnates, in particular Novgorod and Pskov, fought to inherit the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus'
After the 13th century, Moscow gradually came to dominate the former cultural center. By the 18th century, the Grand Duchy of Moscow had become the huge Russian Empire, stretching from Poland eastward to the Pacific Ocean. Expansion in the western direction sharpened Russia's awareness of its separation from much of the rest of Europe and shattered the isolation in which the initial stages of expansion had occurred. Successive regimes of the 19th century responded to such pressures with a combination of halfhearted reform and repression. Russian serfdom was abolished in 1861, but its abolition was achieved on terms unfavorable to the peasants and served to increase revolutionary pressures. Between the abolition of serfdom and the beginning of World War I in 1914, the Stolypin reforms, the constitution of 1906 and State Duma introduced notable changes to the economy and politics of Russia, but the tsars were still not willing to relinquish autocratic rule, or share their power.
The history of the Russian Federation is brief, dating back only to the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991. Since gaining its independence, Russia was recognized as the legal successor to the Soviet Union on the international stage. However, Russia has lost its superpower status as it faced serious challenges in its efforts to forge a new post-Soviet political and economic system. Scrapping the socialist central planning and state ownership of property of the Soviet era, Russia attempted to build an economy with elements of market capitalism, with often painful results. Even today Russia shares many continuities of political culture and social structure with its tsarist and Soviet past.
Federation Island is a 330 hectares artificial archipelago, located off the coast of Sochi, in the Russian Black Sea. The archipelago offers residences, hotels, cultural, leisure and recreational facilities.
Federation Island will be built in the shape of Russia and reflects the country's major geographical features. The Russian river network is used as a reference for the island's waterways; the high mountains inspire the island relief.
Federation Island comprises seven main, more than a dozen private and three breakwater islands. Sandy beaches, dunes, grasslands, bushes, small forests and riverside offer much variety for accommodation ranging from beach residences, luxury villas and apartments to dune, river and cliff houses.
Federation Island is located 15 km from Sochi and the regional Adler airport. City, marina, airport and the skiing resort of Krasnaya Polyana can be easily reached from the archipelago.
The Russia-shaped island is part of preparations to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Russia has committed more than $12 billion for the Winter Games. The developer plans to sign an agreement with the Krasnodar government and will start construction in the second quarter of this year. The island is due for completion in 2013.
