51 Facts About Moscow Russia That You Definitely Didn't Know Before!

As per the 2010 Census report, Moscow's population was 11,503,501!

Compared to many other cities in the world, Moscow metro trains run more regularly. The interval between two trains is one and a half minutes at peak hours.

Moscow is the capital city of Russia and also the largest city in the country. Located in Central Russia, Moscow stands on the Moskva River (Black River).

There are more than 20 million citizens in the metropolitan region, more than 17 million citizens in the urban region, and 12.4 million citizens within the city limits.

Moskow is Europe's largest metropolitan region, Europe's largest urban area, and Europe's most populous city, making it one of the world's largest cities. Moscow's urban region is around 2,275 sq mi (5,89 sp km), the metropolitan area is over 10,000 sq mi (26,000 sp km), while the city is 970 sp mi (2,511 sq km).

The name of the city is believed to be a derivation of the name of the Moskva River. However, the widely accepted derivation is of the Proto-Balto-Slavic origin 'muzg-' and Proto-Indo-European origin 'meu-' meaning wet.

There are many other theories about the origin of this city's name, with a few of them rejected by linguists. Moscow has 1,696 high schools, 91 colleges, and 222 higher education institutes.

The first evidence of human occupation in the Moscow region dates back to the Neolithic period. Other pieces of evidence of ancient human settlements around the city were collected from Sparrow Hills, Setun River, and Kremlin.

Moscow was a prosperous city during the rule of Daniel in 1303. The city also accepted many refugees from all around Russia. The climate of Moscow is a humid continental climate with long winters that start from mid-November and end in March.

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How old is Moscow?

Moscow city was first documented around 1147. Moscow city grew to become powerful and prosperous and was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

Even after this evolved into the Tsardom of Russia, Moscow remained the economic and political center. The Tsardom later became the Russian Empire, and the capital was moved to Saint Petersburg.

However, after the October Revolution, Moscow once again became the capital city. The city became the political center of both the Russian SFSR and the former Soviet Union. Moscow region remained the capital of the new Russian Federation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

For over 600 years, the spiritual center of the Russian people has been the Russian Orthodox Church. People with permanent residency are counted among the official population of Moscow.

Although the entirety of Moscow was destroyed by fire, the city continued to modernize and develop. Also, after the 1812 fire, Garden Rind and Boulevard Ring roads replaced the city ramparts. Moscow's population grew to over a million from around just 250,000 in the 19th century, and in the 20th century, the population grew up to 10 million.

Underground River In Moscow

The most popular underground river in Moscow is Neglinnaya. Other underground rivers include the Chura, Likhoborka, Presnya, Tarakanovka, and Chertoriy.

Neglinnaya is an underground river located in the Moscow city center and is 4.6 mi (7.5 km) long. The river flows under Alexander Garden, Neglinnaya street, Zaryadye, Samotechnaya Street, and Tsvetnoy Boulevard.

Moscow's longest underground river is called the Likhoborka, being 11.1 mi (18 km) long. There are two originating points of this name.

The river's name might have been derived from two villages that were located close by: Malye Likhobory and Bolshye Likhobory. The other origin might have been the forests, previously called 'Likhoy Bor' or 'Daring wood', surrounding the Dmitrovskoye Highway.

Chura is a small old river of Moscow, and in the 19th century, it was moved underground. This tunnel's oldest part, constructed in 1906, still stands strong today.

Chertoriy is a brook about 1.2 mi (2 km) long, and it meets the Moskva river in the southeast. Presnya is an old river, also called Sinichka.

The Presnya river is 2.7 mi (4.5 km) in length and starts in the northwest of Moscow, close to Dinamo stadium. The Tarakanovka river is 3.1 mi (5 km) in length.

Starting at Moscow's northwest part in Voykovsky, Tarakanovka joins the Moskva River in the southwest. The Tarakanovka river brought polluted water into the Moskva River, and it can also flood the surrounding area after heavy rains.

Moscow Metro

Moscow metro was the first underground metro of the Soviet Union and opened in 1935.

Moscow metro opened in the year 1935 and was the first underground railway system in the former Soviet Union. Moscow metro serves the entire city of Moscow and its neighboring cities of Reutov, Kotelniki, Lyubertsy, and Krasnogorsk.

Its previous 6.8 mi (11 km) line has been extended up to 256.1 mi (412.1 km) as of 2021.

This metro line is the longest outside of China and is the fifth-longest metro line in the world. The deepest section is at the Park Pobedy station at 243 ft (74 m), which is among the deepest underground stations.

Vasily Titov, an engineer, first presented the Moscow metro system in 1872. Many other plans were also presented; however, due to financial restrictions, none of these were approved. After the war, the construction of the metro started in 1931.

The first line was red and was called 'Kirovsko-Frunzensky'. Consequently, a green line and a blue line were also constructed. Every station of the Moscow metro is unique for its architecture and theme, making it a tourist spot.

During World War II, many citizens hid in these stations to hide from bombings. They were also able to open seven more stations during the war.

There are currently 81 types of trains. Moscow is still expanding to include many lines. Moscow only closed once in 1941.

The Russian government had made all preparations to destroy the metro if Moscow fell into the hands of the Nazis. The first stages of action for destroying the system started when the Germans approached the city on October 15, and the metro was closed the next day. However, this situation did not escalate.

Parks And Landmarks

Parks and landmarks in Moscow include Gorky Park, Museon art park, Moscow Kremlin, State Tretyakov Gallery, Victory Park, Armory chamber, Old Arbat Street, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and Red Square.

Gorky Park was named after Maxim Gorky and is the Central Park of culture. Moscow Kremlin or Kremlin is a protected complex at the center of Moscow with the Moskva River on the south, Alexander Garden on the west, and Red Square and Saint Basil's Cathedral on the east.

Moscow Kremlin encloses the Kremlin towers, the Kremlin wall, and the Grand Kremlin Palace. The remains of the first man who visited space, Yuri Gagarin are buried at the Kremlin Wall.

Lenin's tomb contains the well-preserved corpse of Vladimir Lenin, a popular Russian politician and revolutionary. Russia has been maintaining his body (without organs) since his death in 1924. This is located in the Mausoleum in Red Square of Moscow.

Cable cars are connected from Kosygin Street and Sparrow Hills to Luzhniki. In 1990, the first McDonald's was opened at the Pushkin square, and on its first day, 30,000 people were served.

Though temporarily closed due to coronavirus, the restaurant is running successfully. The Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences in Moscow is the largest in Europe. Before World War II came to an end, the garden was established in 1945.

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