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Europe

Russia
Last reviewed: 27 July 2009

Country information

GEOGRAPHY

Russia is the largest country in the world, spanning 11 time zones. The landscape varies widely, from vast open tracts in the European heartlands and the taiga and tundra of Siberia, to mountainous terrain. Agriculture is largely confined to the European regions and the southern belt of Siberia. Further north, the main industries are forestry and extraction of energy and minerals.

The main communications across the country are by air, and the Trans-Siberian railway. The road system is not well developed countrywide. Russia's great rivers also play an important part in transportation as well as in hydroelectric power generation.

Russia's population is small relative to its size, and unevenly distributed, with the vast bulk in the European areas and the Ural regions. In inhospitable regions e.g. the far north and much of Siberia, population density is often less than one person per square kilometre.

Country information

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See Also

Useful Links

• BBC News Country Timeline: Russia
• British Council Russia
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