Travel Guide Russia with travel tips for Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world, with an area spanning over 6.5 million square miles and covering over an eighth of the Earth's land mass. There are 142 million people in Russia, making the country the ninth largest in terms of population. Eastern Slavs make up the major ethnic group of Russia, with Russian Orthodox as the dominant religion. Russia is a democratic and federative state with a republican form of government.
History
The history of Russia begins with the legendary warrior Rurik, who took control of the city of Novgorod in 862 AD. In 882, Kiev came under Russian rule, and an empire known as Kievan Rus' arose. The empire lasted for around 350 years before succumbing to Mongol invaders, and not until 1480 did the Muscovites break free of Mongol rule. In 1613, the Romanov dynasty began, ruling Russia for the next 304 years, until the Russian Revolution brought an end to the Tsarist state in 1917. Communist Bolsheviks seized power then to form the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union itself collapsed in 1991, giving rise to the current Russian Federation.
Culture and Sightseeing
When sightseeing in Russia, be sure to visit two of the country's major cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. Founded in 1147, Moscow is home to the impressive Red Square, in which stands the Kremlin (the official residence of the president of Russia). Around the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square there are many cathedrals and museums, including St. Basil’s Cathedral. St. Petersburg (a former capital city founded by Peter the Great) is spread over 42 islands on the river Neva and filled with canals, bridges, and beautiful boulevards. The city houses the Palace Square, the Winter Palace, and the Hermitage (a storehouse of treasures of the former Czars). St. Petersburg is often called the "Venice of the North".
Eat & Drink
Russian cuisine derives its roots from the peasant food of rural populations living in cold climates, and typically includes hearty stews, soups, and roasts made from fish, game, mushrooms, potatoes, beets, and even fruits. Grain crops like rye, wheat, barley, and millet are used for breads, cereals, kvass, beer, and vodka.
Widespread Russian dishes include Veal Orloff, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, and Sharlotka. Interestingly, Russia also boasts a well-developed vegetarian cuisine, due in part to Orthodox traditions of fasting and separating meat from vegetables, as well as to influential vegetarians like Leo Tolstoy and Natalia Nordman.