It is the largest country in the world in terms of area, but most of the state's territory is sparsely populated, so it ranks only ninth in terms of population. But, precisely because of its large area, Russia is home to some of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world that are not too exposed in public.
The Ural Mountains served as a natural border that determines where Europe ends and Asia begins. About 110 million Russians live in the European part of Russia, while there are just over 30 million in Asia. This is largely due to the fact that the European part of Russia has a fairly temperate climate, and the Asian part is dominated by tundra and sub-Arctic climate. In the village of Oymyakon, which has a population of just under 500 inhabitants, temperatures of as high as -67.6 degrees Celsius have been recorded back in the 1930s.
The European part of Russia is just that - European. Walking the streets of Moscow, Sochi or St. Petersburg, Europeans will see many things familiar; from architecture to food and lifestyle.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, and it is a significant political, economic, cultural and financial center of Russia and the world. The city is celebrated for its rich past, artistic treasures and architectural skills. Throughout history, the city has served as the capital of a number of states. The famous Moscow Kremlin is located in Moscow, an ancient fortress today, the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.
St. Petersburg is a city located on the Neva River and today is the 4th largest city in Europe. Today it is a significant European cultural center and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. The city is home to the Hermitage Museum, which is the largest art gallery in the world. It is included under the protection of UNESCO due to the numerous preserved palaces in the Baroque and Neoclassical style.
One of the most hidden tourist destinations in Russia is certainly Vladivostok, which is the most remote city in the country for tourists traveling from Europe. The city has 600,000 inhabitants and is the central port of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy. Vladivostok (Ruler of the East) is connected to Moscow by the Trans-Siberian Railway, the world's longest railway, 9,289 km long.
This is just a small part of this fascinating country that hides so much and that never ceases to amaze with its unusual laws, rules, beliefs and way of life.