Russia: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world, stretching across Eastern Europe and northern Asia from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It has huge forests, frozen tundra, long rivers and high mountains. It is known for ballet, nesting dolls, snowy winters and space exploration.

About Moscow

Moscow lies on the Moskva River in the western part of Russia and is the country's largest city. Its Kremlin fortress and Red Square, with colourful St Basil's Cathedral, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fun facts about Russia

1. Russia is the largest country in the world and stretches across 11 time zones.
2. Lake Baikal in Siberia is the deepest lake in the world and holds over a fifth of Earth's fresh surface water.
3. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs about 9,300 kilometres from Moscow to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast.
4. Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 metres, is often called the highest mountain in Europe.
5. Matryoshka nesting dolls, which fit one inside another, were first made in Russia in the 1890s.
6. In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel into space and orbit Earth.