Russia

1. Name of the country

Our country is Russia. Its official name is the Russian Federation.

2. This is our flag

The Russian flag has three horizontal stripes: white, blue, and red.

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3. Location

Russia is located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area. The Ural Mountains are traditionally considered the border between Europe and Asia.

Russia has the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has many different landscapes, including plains, forests, mountains, tundra, rivers, lakes, and volcanoes.

Russia has land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea.

4. Languages

The official language of Russia is Russian. It is spoken in all parts of the country.

Russia is a multinational country, so many other languages are also spoken. For example, people speak Tatar, Bashkir, Chechen, Sakha (Yakut), Chuvash, Udmurt, Buryat, and many more local languages.

5. Capital city

The capital city of Russia is Moscow.

Moscow is situated in the western, European part of Russia, on the Moskva River. It is the political, cultural, and economic centre of the country.

6. Currency and its meaning

The currency of Russia is the Russian ruble. Its symbol is ₽.

One ruble is divided into 100 kopeks. The word “ruble” is traditionally connected with the Russian verb rubit, which means “to cut.” Long ago, silver bars were cut into pieces and used as money.

7. Climate

Russia has four main seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. However, the weather is very different in different parts of the country because Russia is so large.

• Winter: Winters are long, cold, and snowy in many regions, especially in Siberia. In the far north, temperatures can be extremely low.

• Spring: Spring is often short. Snow melts, rivers become full of water, and trees and flowers begin to grow.

• Summer: Summers can be warm or hot in central and southern Russia. Northern areas usually stay cool.

• Autumn: Autumn is cool and rainy. Forests become yellow, orange, and red, creating the famous “golden autumn.”

The far north has an Arctic climate, while the Black Sea coast in the south is much warmer.

8. Fun things to do

There are many fun things to do in Russia:

• Visit museums, theatres, and art galleries.

• Watch a ballet or an opera in Moscow or Saint Petersburg.

• Go ice-skating, skiing, or sledding in winter.

• Travel on part of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

• Take a boat trip on the Volga River.

• Hike in the Caucasus Mountains, Altai Mountains, or near Lake Baikal.

• Visit traditional markets and try Russian food.

9. See our famous cultural places

1. The Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow

The Kremlin is a famous historic fortress in the centre of Moscow. Red Square is next to it and is one of the best-known places in Russia.

2. The Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg

The Hermitage Museum is in the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. It has paintings, sculptures, jewellery, and other works of art from many countries.

3. Kizhi Pogost, Karelia

Kizhi Pogost is an island museum on Lake Onega. It is famous for its beautiful wooden churches with many domes. The buildings show traditional Russian wooden architecture.

10. Food: Pelmeni

Pelmeni are small Russian dumplings filled with meat. They are usually served hot with sour cream, butter, herbs, or vinegar.

Picture of pelmeni

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Ingredients

For the dough:

• 350 g flour

• 1 egg

• 120 ml water

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

• 300 g minced meat

• 1 small onion

• Salt and black pepper

• Sour cream and dill for serving

Recipe

1. Mix the flour, salt, egg, and water. Make a soft dough and leave it for 20 minutes.

2. Mix the minced meat with a finely chopped onion, salt, and pepper.

3. Roll the dough thinly and cut it into small circles.

4. Put a little filling in the middle of each circle.

5. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges together.

6. Boil the pelmeni in salted water. When they float, cook them for another 5–7 minutes.

7. Serve them with sour cream, butter, or fresh dill.

11. Important holidays

Some important holidays in Russia are:

• New Year’s Day — January 1

• Orthodox Christmas — January 7

• International Women’s Day — March 8

• Victory Day — May 9

• Russia Day — June 12

• National Unity Day — November 4

Russia Day

Russia Day is celebrated on June 12. It marks the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty in 1990. On this day, people may attend concerts, festivals, and fireworks displays. Russian flags are often displayed in streets, parks, and public buildings.

12. Did you know?

• Russia is the largest country in the world.

• Russia stretches across 11 time zones.

• Lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world.

• The Volga is the longest river in Europe.

• The Trans-Siberian Railway connects Moscow with Vladivostok and crosses a large part of the country.

• Russia has many climate zones, from Arctic tundra in the north to warm areas near the Black Sea.

• The country is famous for ballet, classical music, literature, space exploration, chess, and winter sports.