17 facts you may not know about Russia:
1. Russia is the largest country in the world, with an area of 17.1 million square kilometers spread across 11 time zones.
2. The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, covering more than 9,000 kilometers from Moscow to Vladivostok.
3. Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, is the deepest freshwater lake in the world and contains about 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
4. The Moscow Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe and serves as the official residence of the President of Russia.
5. The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, founded in 1776, is one of the most famous ballet and opera companies in the world. 6. The Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which differs from the Latin alphabet used in many other languages.
7. St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is known for its colorful onion-shaped domes and unique architectural style.
8. Russia experiences a unique phenomenon known as the "White Nights," which occur in St. Petersburg in the summer, when the sun barely sets.
9. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, with over 3 million objects.
10. Russia is home to the coldest inhabited place on Earth, Oymyakon, where temperatures can drop below -60°C (-76°F). 11. Vodka, one of Russia's most famous exports, takes its name from the Russian word "voda," which means water.
12. The Matryoshka doll, or Russian nesting doll, is a popular symbol of Russian folk art.
13. Russia launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, marking the beginning of space exploration.
14. The Ural Mountains serve as a natural border between Europe and Asia, and Russia straddles both continents.
15. Red Square in Moscow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to iconic monuments such as Lenin's Mausoleum and St. Basil's Cathedral. 16. Russia is one of the world's largest producers of natural gas, oil, and diamonds.
17. The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg served as the official residence of the Russian.
[attachment deleted by admin]