Introduction:
Extended over a large area of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, The Russian Federation is the world’s largest country. It covers the whole of Northern Asia and more than the third of Europe, borders eleven countries, spans across eleven time zones and incorporates a wide range of environments, landscapes, ethnicities and languages. Nature and landscape: Within its area of 17.098.200 sq. km, Russia encompasses some of the most unique and diverse landforms in the world. It has thousands of rivers, including the Yenisei and the Lena, two of the largest rivers in the world, and many lakes, including Lake Baikal, the world biggest fresh-water lake. Moreover, Russia also has a very extensive coastline. The Russian climate is quite diverse, but the country is most known for its extreme weather. The lowest records in temperatures, outside the poles, are recorded in Russia. This subarctic weather, characterized by its sever winters, is mostly found in the northern regions of the country. The weather in the other regions of the country is relatively milder (CIA, 2017). The Russian land is also very rich and has a wide array of natural resources including oil, natural gas, coal, and other precious metals (CIA, 2017). The Russian landscape varies from tundra, to arctic desert, forests, taiga, and steppes. |
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On the basis of its geology and relief, Russia can be divided into two main sections. First is the western region, which is characterized by low-land plains, broken by small hills. The second, the Eastern part, is generally mountainous. This geography plays a very important role in the distribution of the population.
Population:
Living in the vast, diverse Russian land is a diverse, multicultural, multilingual population. Though made mainly of Russians (four fifths), the Russian population encompasses 160 other ethnic groups, including Tatars, Ukrainians, Chinese, Czechs, and Hemshines. More than 73 per cent of the Russian population, which counts 142.355.415 persons (CIA, 2017), lives in urban areas and is mainly concentrated in the western, European part of the country, mainly regions surrounding Moscow. This is mainly attributable to the geography of the region, its climate (the climate in the western regions being milder) and the socioeconomic factors (the big cities being in the west). High population is also found in the south-eastern part of the country (CIA, 2017).
53,74 per cent of the population are females, compared to 46,16 per cent males (in 2012 according to CIA (2017)). People aged 25 to 54 represent 45,16 per cent of the entire population (CIA 2017). Since the mid 1990's, Russia's Population growth rate has been declining (-0,06 in 2016) (CIA, 2017), with periods of small growth.
Population:
Living in the vast, diverse Russian land is a diverse, multicultural, multilingual population. Though made mainly of Russians (four fifths), the Russian population encompasses 160 other ethnic groups, including Tatars, Ukrainians, Chinese, Czechs, and Hemshines. More than 73 per cent of the Russian population, which counts 142.355.415 persons (CIA, 2017), lives in urban areas and is mainly concentrated in the western, European part of the country, mainly regions surrounding Moscow. This is mainly attributable to the geography of the region, its climate (the climate in the western regions being milder) and the socioeconomic factors (the big cities being in the west). High population is also found in the south-eastern part of the country (CIA, 2017).
53,74 per cent of the population are females, compared to 46,16 per cent males (in 2012 according to CIA (2017)). People aged 25 to 54 represent 45,16 per cent of the entire population (CIA 2017). Since the mid 1990's, Russia's Population growth rate has been declining (-0,06 in 2016) (CIA, 2017), with periods of small growth.
People and cultures |
Russian demographics |
History:
Starting from the year 1613 Russia was ruled by the Romaov Dynasty. The reign of the Romanov Tsar Nicolas II, Which started from 1894, was marked by the 1905 revolution and the successful 1917 revolution, in which he was executed and which marked the end of both the reign of the Romanov Family and the epoch of the Russian Empire.
Perestroika:
Starting from 1985, Perestroika (which translates into "reconstruction"), an economic and political reform, was proclaimed. Through Perestroika, Mikhail Gorbatchev wanted to modernise the country, at least economically, and save it from an inescapable collapse. The Soviet era, nevertheless, ended by a coup in 1991.
- Before 1917:
Starting from the year 1613 Russia was ruled by the Romaov Dynasty. The reign of the Romanov Tsar Nicolas II, Which started from 1894, was marked by the 1905 revolution and the successful 1917 revolution, in which he was executed and which marked the end of both the reign of the Romanov Family and the epoch of the Russian Empire.
- 1917-1991:
Perestroika:
Starting from 1985, Perestroika (which translates into "reconstruction"), an economic and political reform, was proclaimed. Through Perestroika, Mikhail Gorbatchev wanted to modernise the country, at least economically, and save it from an inescapable collapse. The Soviet era, nevertheless, ended by a coup in 1991.
- 1991- Now:
Hamza JATTE, Spring 2017