Page 66 - Mongolia & the Gobi Desert

• Capital: Moscow

• Language: Russian.

• Location: Russia spans two continents, with the part west of the Urals considered to
be in Europe while the rest of the country is in Asia. On its west, Russia is bordered by
Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Black Sea. On the south, the
Russian border touches Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and
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Russia’s north.

• Population: 142,423,773 (estimate)

• Religion: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%

• Time zone: From April through most of September, Moscow and St. Petersburg are 8
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National Holidays: Russia

In addition to the holidays listed below, 02/23 Defender of the Fatherland Day
Russia celebrates a number of national
03/08 International Women’s Day
holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such
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you will be traveling during these holidays,
please visit www.timeanddate.com/ 05/01 Labor Day
holidays.
05/09 Victory Day

01/01 New Year’s Day
06/12 Russia Day
01/07 Orthodox Christmas Day
11/04 Unity Day

Historical Overview of Russia
Early History

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Slavs who peopled the region currently known as Russia in the 10th to 11th centuries. Like
many other parts of Eurasia, these territories were overrun by the Mongol invaders, who
formed the state of Golden Horde which would pillage the Russian principalities for over three
centuries. Later known as the Tatars, they ruled the southern and central expanses of present-
day Russia, while the territories of present-day Ukraine and Belarus were incorporated into the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland, thus dividing the Russian people in the north from the
Belarusians and Ukrainians in the west. This long-lasting nomadic rule retarded the country’s
economic and social development.

Muscovy

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