Located in eastern Europe and northern Asia, Russia (or the Russian Federation) is the ninth-most populous country in the world. It covers 11 time zones; and stretches from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the South.

In December 1991, Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR (of which, it was one of the most well-known republics).

Being the largest country in the world (in terms of area), it is no wonder that Russia shares its land borders with as many as 14 neighbors, namely, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, and Ukraine.

Russian, the principal language of the country, is one of the three East Slavic languages (the other two being Ukrainian and Belarusian). It is also spoken in various Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and across Baltic states. There are an estimated 258 million people across the globe, who speak Russian (out of which around 155 million are native speakers), making it not only the eighth-most spoken language in the world, but also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Russia's capital, Moscow, is also the country’s largest, as well as, the most populous city. Famous for its museums, art galleries, monuments, theaters, and concert halls, the city has grown to become the cultural hub of this vast country. Besides Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Vladivostok, and Novosibirsk are some of the other important cities in the Russian Federation.

The grand monuments and churches in the country reflect a unique architecture, of which extensive woodwork, narrow windows, multiple arches, and triangular (terem) rooftops are some of the distinctive features.

The vibrant culture of the country is a mix of native Slavic cultural material, as well as a number of foreign influences, especially, Byzantine culture. Some of the preeminent literary figures of Russia include Leo Tolstoy, Aleksandr Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Nikolay Gogol. Their words continue to be of relevance, and their ideologies remain influential to this day.

In the sphere of performing arts, Russian ballet is one of the most significant. Ballet is a type of theatrical dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance as a form of court entertainment. The Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow and the Mariinsky Ballet of St Petersburg are two of the most prominent ballet companies in the country; and are internationally renowned for their performances.

Every year, the country observes June 12 as Russia Day. It marks the occasion when Russia was declared a sovereign; and adopted the name Russian Federation. Among festivals, Christmas is widely popular in the country. While some celebrate the festival on December 25, most Russians observe Christmas on January 7, because the Russian Orthodox Church follows the old 'Julian' calendar.

Being the largest, and one of the most-populated, countries in the world, Russia has a lot to offer to its visitors - from scenic travel destinations, to a wide cultural palette, educational opportunities, and an interesting language to learn!