Did you know that Russia is the largest country in the world? It occupies one tenth of the globe (NG). The large landscape allows it to grow the most potatoes on the planet. It all started in 300 BC when the Eastern Slavs migrated to where Russia stands today. Russia’s government is different from others; it is a federation. Russia’s many cultures make it what it is today.
Russia’s large landscape provides a unique environment. Russia spans ten time zones across Europe and Asia. It is twice as big as Canada and the U.S. The Landscape is made up of deserts, frozen cost lines, marshes, and big plains. Most of Russia is treeless plains called “steppes”. It has many lakes; one of Russia’s lakes is called, Lake Baikoi. It contains more water than any other lake in the world! (NG). Half of the year Russia is covered in snow. The temperatures in Russia are 27*F to 82*F and very humid. In the summer it is warm weather for them.
Russia brings many different cultures together. The population in Russia contains many different groups including Slavs, Eskimos, Gypsies, Turks, Greeks, and many more.The children in Russia ages six-seventeen go to school six times a week, but they only go to school Sept-May. Many of the Russian elders live to be up to 100 years old! A huge part of Russia’s culture is ballet, and caviar (fish eggs). Caviar in Russia is worth around $200.
In 300 BC Eastern Slavs moved to where Russia’s capital Moscow is right now. The Scandinavians, mixed with the Slavs, making a fortress that became the Ukrainian city of Kiev. Kiev transformed into an empire that ruled lots of Russia for many years (NG). Kiev later broke up into Ukraine , Blears, and Moscow. In the 1550’s Ivan IV became the very first tsar and unified the region. He was followed by 10 year old Peter I, who became the ruler of Russia for forty
two years. He worked very hard to make Russia more European and modern. Russia overthrew this tsar in 1917. Then they became an elected government,led by vlaaimir lenin the U.S.S.R who took over the government in 1917, outlawed religon (NG). On June 22, 1941 Germany attacked Russia during World War II with the largest land attack in history. Around 20 million Soviets were killed! Russia gained independence August 24, 1991 and wrote their constitution December 12, 1993 (History Learning Site).
Russia’s form of government is currently a federation. Their government is located right next to the Kremlin. The federation of Russia includes twenty one autonomous republics, forty nine provinces, six territories, and ten national districts (Fader 118). The government in Russia has a president, prime minister, and a parliament. The president is voted for every four years. Inorder to vote you have to be 18 or older. The current president of Russia is Vladimir Putin.
Over many centuries Russia has changed and improved greatly. One thing that hasn’t changed is its geography; it has always been and still is an exotic place. On the other hand Russia’s culture and economy has changed. They’ve been through a lot in their history, too. Russia has gone through many hard times but overall it has become a very interesting place, that’s what makes it Russia.