POLITICAL SYSTEM
Russia is a democratic federate republic (the Russian Federation) with presidential government and a two chamber parliament.
CAPITAL
Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation. It is a business, scientific, cultural, and tourist centre of the country. Moscow`s unique complex of attractions, the opportunity to get acquainted with traditions of Russian people is appealing to guests coming here from all over the world.
LOCATION
The geographical area that makes up Russia spans 17 075 200 square kilometers. Of this, 16 995 800 square kilometers is land and 79 400 square kilometers is water. It also has 37 653 km of coastline. Russia occupies 11. 5% of the total world `s dry land, including a part of Eastern Europe and about one third of north Asia. Russia is the biggest country in the world.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
Most typical landscapes are tundra, taiga, steppe plains and highlands. Plains occupy 75% of the Russian territory.
Climate is moderate. In Russia you may see all types of climates of the world except tropical.
The average temperature of January varies from 0 minus 5 °C (within the Caucasus and European part of the coun try)to minus 40 50 °C (Yakutiya)\\\;the temperature in July varies from plus 1 °C (in the north of Ciberia)to plus 24 °25 °C (in the Pricaspian lowland).
TIME
11 time zones.
POPULATION
145 millions, more than 100 nations. Russians are 81, 5%, Tartars 3, 8 %, Ukrainians 3%, Chuvashs 1, 2%, Bashkirs 0. 9%, Belorussians 0, 8%, the Mordovians 0, 7%, the Germans, the Chechen, 0, 6 %%, the Avars, the Armenians, the Jews 0, 4 %, the others.
LANGUAGE
The state language is Russian, national languages and dialects, in the regions.
SECURITY
According to the WTO data, Russia is a safe country for tourism. According to the statistics of this organization, in Russia there have been recorded the least number of crimes committed against tourist in Moscow and St. Petersburg. About 80% of foreigners coming to Russia visit only these two capitals.
BIGGEST CITIES
- Moscow,
- St Petersburg,
- Nizhny Novgorod,
- Novosibirsk,
- Ekaterinburg,
- Volgograd,
- Samara,
- Rostov on Don,
- Omsk,
- Ufa,
- Chelyabinsk,
- Kazan,
- Perm.
CURRENCY
Money. The official monetary unit in Russia is the rouble.
There are no limits about the amount of currency taken into the country. In shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. you may pay only in roubles, despite that sometimes prices are shown in dollars.
To receive payment in dollars is officially forbidden. You can easily exchange currency. It`s easy to find an exchange point in large shops and hotels the same as on the streets.
The most widespread currency for exchange in Russia are USA dollars and EUROs. In more and more shops, hotels, restaurants, air-companies, etc. you can pay using credit cards.
Tips are not required. But if you want to express your high evaluation of service made for you in a taxi or restaurant, 5 to 10 % of reward will be perceived with understanding and gratitude.
Banks.
Banks are open from 10. 00 till 19. 00. The majority of exchange offices are open 24 hours.
Post.
Most of post offices have so called floating schedule: for example, they are open from 12. 00 till 18. 00 on even days and from 10. 00 till 16. 00 on odd days.
Communication
The quality of the telecommunication service in Russia has recently become considerably better. Payphones are common in most of towns, magnetic telephone cards used. The order of dialing is as follows: the international code 8 10, the code of a country, code of a town, phone number.
SHOPS
Shops are open from 9. 00 (10. 00) till 20. 00 (21. 00), supermarkets till 23. 00 or 24 hours. There are a great many small shops and booths open 24 hours.
HEALTH SERVICE
There is no medical limitation for entrants now. Emergency service is free. Many large western medical compa nies have their representatives in Russia.
TRANSPORT
Railway
There is a dense network of railways in Russia, which connects distant points of the country. A railway journey is recommended if the distance between places is more than 200 km. City transport usually works from 6. 00 till 24. 00 (1. 00). Tickets are available on the bus. Metro is the main transport in cities with population more than 1 million. Metro magnetic cards are available in metro stations.
If you set off from Moscow in any direction, a kaleidoscope of unforgettable impressions is guaranteed to you. The example is the highway "Moscow - St. Petersburg" that passes through the old Russian towns Tver, Torzhok, Vishniy Volochek, Novgorod, Klin. There you can see many architectural monuments of the Russian Classicism epoch of the 17-19 centuries, picturesque peaceful landscapes.
You can make an absorbing railway trip by a comfortable "Eastern Express" from Moscow to Vladivostok. Vladivostok is rapidly becoming a big international tourist centre. The leading world cruise companies of Asia - the Pacific region have already included this city into their routes.
Airports
International airports receive foreign guests in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Piatigorsk, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Petropavlovsk - Kamchatskiy, Yuzno-Sakhalinsk, Yakutsk, and other cities. The local time of departure and arrival is printed on air and railway tickets.
HOLIDAYS
- The New Year`s Day - January 1-2,
- Orthodox Christmas - January 7,
- Women`s Day - March 8,
- Holiday of May and Labour - May 1-2,
- Victory Day - May 9,
- Independence Day - June 12,
- National Reconciliation Day - November 7,
- Constitution Day - December 12.
NATIONAL CUISINE
Russian cuisine is renowned for its meat dishes, uha (fish soup), schee (vegetable soup), okroshka (cold vegetable soup), pancakes with sour cream or caviar, pies and other tasty things. In Siberia you will taste pelmieni (boiled meet in pastry). The traditional drinks that refresh you and quench your thirst are kvass and cranberry juice.
Main showplaces:
The memorial estate Archangelskoye, Sergiev Posad and Troitse Sergieva Lavra, unique architectural ensem bles of the Golden Ring ` towns, , the monu ment of wooden architecture Kizhi, muse um reserve "Pushkinskie Gory " in the Pskov region, the eastern slope of the Valday high land and Seliger lake, historical and cultural museum complex "Solovetskie Islands …
Art and folk festivals:
- " Russian Winter" - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Velikiy Novgorod, Irkutsk, Vladimir, Suzdal (December 25 to January 5 )\\\;
- Maslennitza (winter send - off) - everywhere (except southern regions) - March\\\;
- "Moscow Stars" - Moscow (May)\\\; "White Nights" - St. Peterburg (June)\\\; Sabantui - Kazan (June).
Tourist accommodation facilities
Tourist accommodation facilities - a large network of hotels, motels and campings: 4,2 thousand objects with 373 thousand beds. A lot of well-equipped health-resort objects may serve not only for domestic, but also foreign clients.
Russian province
In Russian province tourists have an opportunity to see hundreds of architectural masterpieces of various epochs, thousands of natural miracles. It is only here that the guests will have a chance to come into contact with the Russian nation, real life, culture and original traditions. Here they can visit a house of a typical Russian family, ride the Russian troika or drive a snow-bike along a snow field, feel a wholesome effect of Russian baths, taste traditional Seliger fish broth, and lots of other amazing things.
Those who like wild nature and adventures will be pleased to get acquainted with the lands of Kamchatka, Altai, the Baikal, the Urals, the Russian North. Forests and lakes of Karelia, the "Siberian Pearl" Lake-sea Baikal are waiting for them, the same as mysterious underground kingdom of Cave Kungur in the Urals, unique and even fantastic nature and exciting history of the Kuril Islands.
River cruises
River cruises down the Volga, Lena, Yenisei, Kama are traditionally attractive for tourists from various countries.
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