20 Fascinating Facts About Russia

Moscow. Photo by Pavel Kazachkov. Wikimedia Commons

20 Fascinating Facts about Russia

Russia is a first-world country in Europe sharing the supremacy of being a global superpower with the United States of America. However, Russia did not attain the status of being one of the world’s superpowers without a fight. The country has been at the forefront of previous global wars, including the First World War and the Second World War. Russia has been at the epicenter of some of these global wars. Apart from having a formidable military system, weapons, and personnel, Russia also boasts of having a lot of natural resources including gas, and oil. The country has also had philosophers, artists, and scientists in history, who changed the world in their various sectors. If you have been an ally of Russia, there is a high chance that you have enjoyed the cordial relationship, protection, and supply. However, being on the opposite side of this giant nation has put many nations in trouble.

Below are 20 interesting facts about Russia that you would want to read:

1. Russia is arguably the Largest Country in the World

Photo by Kremlin.ru. Wikimedia Commons

May people might think that the United States of America is the biggest country on earth forgetting how big Russia is. Russia is twice as big as America, making it the largest country on earth. The country is said to have a bigger surface than the surface area of Pluto. Russia sits on more than 17 million square kilometers of surface, which is as big as the United States of America combined with china. There are at least 80 provinces in Russia, with a population of more than 140 million people who have different cultural beliefs. The country is also home to some of the largest cities, towns, and metros in the world.

Check out: Top 10 Most Famous Russian Women

2. Russia is the World’s Frozen Kingdom with Permanent Frost 

Russian surface is covered by more than 60 percent permanent frost making the region extremely cold. The Russians have adapted to the cold weather because winters in the country are normally very long and severely cold. Siberia, a region in Russia is the central point for the cold weather. Winters in Siberia are prolonged and extremely cold making the place inhabitable, and less developed. A few people who live in Siberia have to deal with diseases that come with cold temperatures, huge mosquitoes, and less than 2 months of summer and warm weather. Therefore before visiting Russia, make sure you are aware of the region you are visiting and be ready for the weather.

3. Russian and the United States of America are as Close as 4 Kilometers Away

The U.S. and Russia have been enemies for years, which would make people think that the two countries hate each other from a distance. The truth is that Russia and America are closer than we can imagine. The distance between Russia and one of the American states, Alaska, is only four kilometers. Researchers believe that Alaska was in Russian territory before it was grabbed by America. The distance between these two countries is one reason they are always ahead of the rest of the world in development and technology.

4. Russians are Taught in School to Wear Serious Faces and not to Smile at all Time

Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

According to researchers, Russia is the world’s least friendly country because of the way the country runs in isolation. Although many Russians are friendly and they would be willing to help you as soon as you land at the airport, these people are taught in school not to smile. A smile is one way to show people that you are happy to see them, and therefore you are welcoming them. However, Russians rarely smile because of the way they have been brought up, but they are not bad people.

5. The City of Moscow has one of the World’s Busiest Metro with more than 6 Million People

Tokyo in Japan and Seoul in South Korea is the world’s busiest metro considering the high population in Asia. These two are closely followed by Moscow, in Russia, making the top three busiest metros in the world. Moscow carries more than 6 million residents, with more than ten lines, and a well-connected transport system for people to ride daily. The city is well organized with the train systems and Russians don’t have to wait for long before they board or alight from a train.

Also see: 15 Greatest Russian Authors you should Know about

6. Moscow in Russia has the Richest People in the World 

If you visit Moscow, Russia, you are likely to see more luxury cars in the city than in any other place in the world. According to Forbes, there are more than seventy billionaires in the city of Moscow, which is the highest figure of any other city. While in Moscow, one can witness several high-end cars such as Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Maserati among other luxury cars. These cars are owned by millionaires and billionaires in the city.

7. Russia Women Pride in Wearing 6-inch High Heel Shoes

Photo by Ekaterina Ilina on Unsplash

Russian women have adopted the culture of walking around in 6-inch high heel shoes more than any other place in the world. Russia is a manufacturing hub and there are a lot of shoes made in Russia and exported across the world. Therefore, there are chances that high heels are made in Russia and the women don’t disappoint as they are the country’s first clients. The women in crossed streets in heels fastened on their feet, walking with confidence. Probably 6-inch high heels are part of Russian women’s attire.

8. A cat in Russia is not just a pet but also an employee in the Hermitage museum 

Saint Petersburg has the largest museum in Russia and in the world, the hermitage museum. The museum is considered a national treasure and is therefore protected in every area. There are millions of ornaments and exhibitions in the museum, which cannot be watched by men. Therefore cats have been part of the employees in the museum to protect the exhibits from rats and rodents. Cats have been employed in the museum since the 18^th century and today, more than fifty cats are employed at the museum.

9. There are More Exhibits in the Hermitage than in any other Place in the World 

The Russian Hermitage is so big that you would take forever if you wanted to look at every exhibit. There are more than 3 million exhibits in the six-building Russian tourist attraction center. The hermitage hosts some of the largest and oldest museums in the world, some having been in existence since the 17^th century. The hermitage was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764 and has been in place to date.

10. The Trans-Siberian Railway is the Longest in the World 

Photo by Javad Esmaeili on Unsplash

The trans-Siberian railway is recorded by the Guinness book of world Records as the longest railway in the world. The railway spirals for more than five thousand miles, crossing over 80 cities and towns in Russia, and travels across 8 different time zones in the region. The railway also goes through remote places, crossing the Volga and 16 other rivers. The transport system in Russia is therefore made easy by the long traversing railway line.

Top 10 Facts about Trans Siberian Railway, Russia

11. Newly Married Women in Russia go on a City Tour as part of their National Tradition

If you visit Russia, you are likely to interact with more brides in the city in a single day than you had experienced in a year wherever you come from. After getting married, the brides take a tour of the cities of Russia, taking photos in front of famous buildings and churches the whole day. These women take photos from every corner of the city, including parking lots, boats, and every other special place to mark their special day. It is a Russian tradition that after the wedding ceremony, the brides must take a tour of the city before they set out for a honeymoon.

12. There are a lot of Superstitions in Russia relating to Money-Making Opportunities 

A trip to Russia will need you to learn a few things lest you find yourself in trouble if you disrespect their culture. Russians have so many superstitions such as rubbing a dog’s paw with the left hand to earn money. When Russians build a house, they send in an animal before a person enters because they believe that the first person to enter the new house would die mysteriously. Therefore sending in a cat is ideal because they also believe that a can has nine lives and if it dies, it will have eight more lives. However, if the cat does not enter the new house, the building is destroyed and a new one is constructed.

13. Lake Baikal is the Largest Freshwater Lake in the World

Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash

Lake Baikal is found in Siberia, Russia, in an isolated region. Researchers suggest that Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world despite being in the cold region. Arguably, the lake contains more than twenty percent of the world’s freshwater making it the largest volume of freshwater in the world.

Discover Top 10 Facts about Lake Baikal, Russia

14. Most of Russia is made up of Forest and make 20 Percent of the Trees in the World 

The biggest region in Russia is Siberia, which is covered by forest making the country have more than half the land covered in forest. This forest region is mostly not habitable and underdeveloped because of the harsh climatic conditions including the prolonged winter. Another fascinating fact about this giant country is that more than 20 percent of the world’s trees are in Russia. The country boasts more than 600 billion trees which are just above 20 percent of the total trees in the world. Most of the trees grow in inhabitable regions in Siberia which is also home to wild cats such as tigers.

15. Russia Hosts more than 10 active Volcanic Mountains and Volcanos

Photo by Alain Bonnardeaux on Unsplash

Kamchatka is one of the most active volcanos in the world, and it is found in Russia. There are 11 other active volcanos in Russia across the country making Russia the country with the most volcanos globally. However, unlike other volcanos in the world, the volcanos in Russia have beautiful landscapes that have turned into tourist attraction centers. The landscapes at the base of volcanos are home to more than a thousand different types of trees making the place naturally beautiful.

16. Russians are among the Leading Natural Explorers in the World

Russians have explored the best part of the world making discoveries ahead of everyone else. Through exploration, the Russians discovered Antarctica during one of the expeditions. They also crossed Siberia, going all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the early centuries. However, they did not stop at the Pacific Ocean but explored further north where they conquered Alaska making it a Russian territory. Today, Russians have continued with their exploration and the man who has been on Mount Everest is of Russian nationality. The same Russian man has also explored some of the deepest caves in the world.

17. Yuri Gagarin, a Russian National was the First Person to Visit Space

Yuri Gagarin. Photo by Arto Jousi. Wikimedia Commons

Yuri Gagarin is a national figure in Russia because he made history when he became the first man in the world to visit space. Despite the trip being done in a hurry, he volunteered to explore the space by taking the risk. The mission was done in secret to get ahead of the United States of America. The USSR made the arrangements in a few days to explore space and the mission was a success. Several cities today have been named after Gagarin to remember him and his determination to be the first man in space.

18. Religion was a very Important Part of Ancient Russia 

If you visit Russia, be prepared to encounter more churches than you have ever done before. The ancient people in Russia believed in religion and most of them were Christians. Therefore they have continued with the same religious activities to date. Russia is referred to as a country of churches because there is a church every few kilometers. Some cities such as Suzdal have at least a church for every two hundred people or less. Ancient churches supported local trading and provided hiding places in the event of chaos. Therefore churches have remained to be sacred places to date.

19. Russia was the Battlefield for one of the Bloodiest Sieges in History 

As the Second World War progressed, Hitler planned to attack Russia and devastate the country as he planned to conquer the Russian territories. German forces attacked st Petersburg, surrounded the city, and did not let anybody in or out. Although the Germans succeeded in conquering st Petersburg, the mission was not completely a success. The local Russians were determined to protect their country against all odds. For almost three years, the locals in Russia survived in the cold without water or electricity which led to many civilians dying. At the end of the siege, millions of Russians had lost their lives but the remaining people were still determined to protect their national territory.

20. Russia is the Home to Some of the Global Richest Literature in History and Today

Turgenev by Repin. Wikimedia Commons

As a literature person, one must recognize that Russia is the home of some of the most famous philosophers, writers, and artists in the world. A few modern days and ancient Russian writers include Ivan Turgenev, Alexander Pushkin, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn among others. Most literature in the world to do with war and peace has been written by the best Russian writers and edited by different writers across the world.

Also see 10 Greatest Russian Poets of All Times

Russia is therefore the biggest country in the world with a bigger surface than some planets. The country measures twice as big as the United States of America, with most of the surface covered by forests. Russia is also home to extremely cold cities and places in the world, experiencing prolonged winters and only a few months of summer. There are also different cultural practices in Russia than in any other place in the world despite being a modern country.