101 Russia Geography Facts: Learn More About The Largest Country

Apart from the rich Russian history, Russia, previously a part of the Soviet Union, is rich in geographical diversification.

Russia, along with other 14 countries, constituted the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR. With its capital situated in Moscow, Russia is now home to over 12o different ethnic groups and a hub of natural resources.

The Russian Empire spread across Europe and Asia was so huge that if compared to Pluto, Russia is even bigger even today! This country is so enormous that there are 11 different time zones! The highest point of this country is Mount Elbrus, which stands tall at 18,510 ft (5,642 m).

This height makes this point almost seven times higher than the Burj Khalifa! Russia is home to exotic species of flora and fauna, and the landscape is full of varieties.

Have you heard of pikas? These small mammals look like rabbits and are found in this country. Read on if you would like to know more about the largest country in the world!

If you would like to know more about Russia, why not read articles on Russia geography facts and Christmas in Russia facts? 

Fun Facts About Russia's Geography

Russia, also known as the Russian Federation, is double the landmass of Australia and has a vast population.

Bordered by the Pacific and Arctic ocean in the north, Russia is a majestic country in eastern Europe, and as many as 14 countries also border it! These include Belarus, China, Poland, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Georgia, Mongolia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and North Korea.

But wait, these are only land borders. Russia also has maritime borders with other countries like Japan and the USA.

With respect to the size or area, it is considered to be the largest country, and did you know that it is almost 1.8 times bigger than the USA? Australia is only half the size of this gigantic country! Russia is perhaps the only country that can be placed on two continents, Asia and Europe.

Can you guess its population? As of the year 2020, Russia crossed the mark of 142 million! Over 99% of the population in Russia speak Russian, but some people also speak English, German, Turkish, and even French. With respect to religion, many Russians are non-believers, while some Russians are orthodox too.

Facts About Russia's Climate

The Russian territory mostly has a continental type of climate, owing to its humungous size.

Did you know that almost 65% of the Russian landmass is permanently covered in ice, also called permafrost? This permafrost can be a reason why most people think that Russia has a terrifying cold climate.

But quite contrary to the myth, this winter is neither permanent nor found everywhere. Much of the landmass of European Russia has a continental type of climate.

However, the size of the landmass has its predominance, and there are variations in the climate from north to south. The northern part of Russia that stretches from the Pacific ocean to the Scandinavian peninsula undergoes severe winters with its sub-Arctic type of climate.

The Caspian coastline, in contrast to this, has a semi-arid climate with minuscule precipitation. During winters, Moscow can turn considerably cold, and you might need your parka because the temperature can go to 14 ° F (-10 ° C)!

Facts About Russia's Landscape

There is a fantastic variation in the Russian landscape, which encompasses major mountain ranges, plains, deserts, frozen lands, extensive coastlines, marshes, and forests.

Most geographers have divided enormous Russia into five ecoregions. This includes the mountain area, arid zone, steppe zone, forest area, and the tundra zone.

The Tundra region in Russia is mainly restricted to the north, which is a marshy area. This zone is treeless. Here you can only observe the growth of lichens and mosses.

Russia is also rich in forest cover, and do you know that it has over one-fifth of the total world forest cover? The forest in this country is deciduous and mixed type, where you will only see the growth of trees like maple, birch, pine, or aspen.

If you are a fan of mountains, then Russia will welcome you with its chain of mountains. The Caucasus mountains are located to the southwestern side, while the Ural mountain is located near the continental dip in eastern Russia.

Along with mountains, this amazing country also has plateaus, peninsulas, and river valleys. The famous Kamchatka peninsula is known for being home to brown bears. Most of the low-lying rolling plains are found in western Russia.

Facts About Water Bodies In Russia

Russia is a land of major rivers, and inland water bodies spread along its large landscape.

The entire landmass of Russia has five major drainage basins, numerous notable rivers, inland, and freshwater lakes. In the European part of Russia, the main rivers are Don, Volga, Northern Dvina, Oka, and the Kama.

In the Asian part of this country, the major rivers are Angara, Ob, Lena, Yenisey, Irtysh, Kolyma, Indigirka, Yana, and Amur. The main river is Moskva through Moscow, a tributary of the mighty Oka River that belongs to the Volga basin.

Apart from these amazing rivers, the Russian landmass is also bordered by the giant Arctic Ocean and the adjoining seas. This includes the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Barents Sea, Chukchi Sea, and the East Siberian Sea.

In addition, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea are also a part of this country. These water bodies form transportation arteries for the whole country and link with the international regions.

Russia is a homeland of various freshwater and saltwater lakes, among which the most notable is lake Baikal. Located close to the Mongolian border in south-eastern Siberia, it is the largest lake in the world.

But did you know that Lake Baikal is also the deepest lake, with an average depth of 5,000 ft (1,637 m)? This makes Lake Baikal almost four times deeper than Lake Superior!

Did you know?

Now that you have learned about the rich geography of Russia, here are a few more fun facts about this country.

The Caspian Sea forms the lowest point of this nation. This point is estimated to be -82 ft (-28 m)!

Have you heard about the trans-Siberian railway? This single railway is the longest in the world and runs from Moscow, Russia's capital, to Vladivostok in Asia, situated on the Pacific coast.

Russia is the home to Amur leopard and Siberian tiger, which are tagged Endangered by the IUCN.

The Russian economy relies on the resources of nature. It has a vast supply of coal, oil, natural gas, and even gold.

Russia has a clock located in the Hermitage Palace that marks the time when this country emerged as Communist.

If you are a foodie, then you should not miss out on Russian cuisine. Much like the vast country, the cuisine also varies and is jampacked with lots of flavors. Soljanka and Borscht are the tastiest soups!

Were you aware that Russia is the source of the costliest caviar? Yes, black beluga caviar can only be sourced from the amazing beluga sturgeon, which is located in the Caspian Sea.

Have you heard of Lake Karachay? Well, never go near it on your next trip to Russia. This site has tons of radioactive waste, which has accumulated over the years. It can actually kill you!

The record for being the coldest village is held by Oymyakon, Russia, where the lowest temperature has been recorded -90.4 ° F (-68 ° C)!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 101 Russia geography facts: learn more about the largest country then why not take a look at facts about Moscow Russia, or facts about Russia.