It's no secret Russia is the largest country in the world or that it has 11 different time zones. It has a diverse landscape that ranges from tundra and forests to subtropical beaches. So we made it our mission to show you what it's like to live in this vast nation!
Women Outnumber Men
As of 2017, there are 77.3 million females compared to the 67.2 million males of the Russian Federation population. This information is from Knoema, an organization that collects world data to help in global decision making.
The reason for this 10.1 million gap is that Russian men are most likely to have lower life expectancy than women. Factors include the differing lifestyles of men and women, war and accidents.
Vodka Means 'Little Water' In Russia
Russia is known to house a population that loves vodka. During the holidays, the average spending of a Russian individual reaches $400 on alcohol alone.
These people love their traditionally downed neat more than any other liquor, but that doesn't mean they don't appreciate alcohol of different kinds.
But sometimes, too much love is dangerous for you. Every year, 23,000 people lose their lives due to alcohol poisoning and we're not including other alcohol-induced crimes & suicides.
The Bodybuilding Scene In Russia
Russia is home to a large number of Olympic champions, especially in the wrestling and weightlifting division. The said sports activity are known to be a favorite amongst the people of the former Soviet Union.
Believe it or not, Russian women are known to excel in Powerlifting all while being as feminine as they can be.
Names like Nadezhda Alexandrovna Yevstyukhina, Maryana Naumova, and Julia Vins are just some of the many female Russians who have shown iconic performances in the world of powerlifting.
Totally Banned
But wait, Russia was just banned from the Olympics! Why in the world would the organization take such drastic steps?
Cheaters Never Prosper
The World Anti-Doping Agency has decided to punish the country for some pretty egregious data manipulation. Officials discovered that Russia had planted fake evidence and tampered with lab results to make it look like their athletes were all natural, just like everyone else. Unfortunately, doping was the real story. Mass doping, to be specific!
Will Russia be a global athletic power in the future? Observers are waiting for the widespread steroid use to stop, but only time will tell. They certainly have a lot of raw talent when they decide to play by the rules!
Leaders Sharing A Pepsi
Pepsi made an iconic debut in Russia during a televised debate between two high-profile leaders. In 1959, the late US Vice President, Richard Nixon visited Russia to meet with Soviet First Secretary, Nikita Khrushchev.
It was a series of impromptu exchanges dubbed as the "Kitchen Debate."
As the two tackled essential topics on how their respective countries might and might not cooperate, they shared a bottle of Pepsi.
No drink exists in the former Soviet Union at that time, and the brand wasn't nearly as successful as its rival, Coca-Cola during that period. Today, Russian people love the drink so much that it's the nation's second-largest market.
Beauty Pageant Giants
Russia isn't only famed as one of the world's most powerful countries, it's also home to the most beautiful faces.
It comes to no surprise that in the international franchises of beauty pageants, Russian women are a formidable foe.
'Miss Russia' is a force to be reckoned with in beauty competitions that pit women hailing from all the countries of the world against each other.
In a race of the most beautiful, intelligent and who has the most potent cause in making the world a better place, Russian women stand strong amongst the competition's front liners.
Russia's Beard Tax
We all know that beards symbolize masculinity across the globe. Medieval Russia recognized that notion quite heavily that men had to pay tax if they wanted to grow a beard.
Now, this is real history, and it's weird, but given the knowledge and information back then when reputation and glory were as precious as gold, it makes sense.
Emperor Peter I implemented it in the year 1698 as an attempt to minimize the shaggy and long facial hair that most men have.
Adding to that, he wanted the men of Russia to be as good looking as the Western European models.
Russia And Its Secret Cities
If you've ever heard someone say something about the world having secret cities hidden from the eyes of the public, they are probably right.
Rumors surrounding these mysterious cities popped up many years ago, and it comes to no surprise that Russia belongs to that list.
With an alleged 42 secret cities, Russia tops the list of being the most secretive. They are said to be highly classified by its government, and no one has any information about them.
Now that's being shady and creepy!
Russia's Lost Cosmonauts
The 1950s' infamous race to the moon between Russia and the United States during the Cold War was said to involve mysterious deaths that they erased from the course of history.
People called it the Lost Cosmonauts.
With Russia being prosperous with the first human-crewed flight in 1961 with the legendary Yuri Gagarin and the Sputnik of 1959, sacrifices that took many lives purportedly occurred to emerge victorious in humankind's race to the moon.
Winter Sports
The people of Russia are known to be massive fans of soccer, putting it on top of the country's most popular sports list. But their love of Ice Hockey, tennis and athletics doesn't go far behind.
Russia also has a rich history in being competitive in winter sports that local athletes have become internationally recognized.
Names like Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Darya Klishina and Sergei Fedorov have been household names known to conquer the fields of tennis, ice hockey, and athletics.
There Is No Russian Word For "The" And "A"
Imagine how hard it would be to complete a whole essay without using the words "The" or "A," well, the Russian language has none.
It ranks 8th in the world's most spoken language in the world with over 260 million people who speak it quite fluently.
That only means that there are 260+ million people who know how to avoid those words in both spoken and written forms.
The Red Square
The construction of The Red Square dates back in the 16th century.
While it was purposefully built to be Moscow's primary center for trade, the square became something more than that.
It became a place to hold public declarations and important ceremonies like the coronation of a new Russian czar amongst many others.
Due to the events that took place going forward to today's world, many associated the color red with communism, but the reason why the Russians used the color so much is that for them, it means beautiful.
Russia's Deadly Winter
Russia is infamously known for its unforgiving winters.
While it might have caused a lot of casualties that sometimes lead to deaths amongst its citizens, it has served as the nation's defense against its enemies — blocking and giving armies a hard time traversing its lands.
Two notable efforts that have been impeded dramatically by the country's freezing weather was that of Napoleon's and Hitler's.
In 2010, 150 Russians were injured as they move across St. Petersburg because of its falling icicles that have been reported to be extremely large and heavy.
The Pensive Hare Of St. Petersburg
One peculiar statue of a small hare stands proud near a bridge that connected the fortresses of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.
It was built to commemorate the many hares that once lived on the island long before the people made these two fortresses.
According to the story, many of these hared were left dead by the floods caused by relentless rain between the 18th and 19th century.
Legend has it that one hare managed to survive by hiding inside one boot worn by Peter the Great.
The Mystery Of The Amber Room
Russia is known for its rich architecture, and The Amber Room isn't a stranger to that. They built the chamber with amber panels decorated with golden mirrors and leaves.
It was in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo, not too far from the outskirts of Saint Petersburg.
Unfortunately, WWII happened, and the invading Nazis said to have stolen the room and took it to Konigsberg, Germany to be rebuilt.
Today, The Amber Room's whereabouts remain a mystery.
Where It's Always 2:10 AM
The Hermitage Palace has a clock with significant historical meaning placed on White Dining Room's mantelpiece.
That clock stays at 2:10 AM for almost 100 years. The reason behind this is more to symbolize the current regime of the nation.
One very dark morning of October 25, 1917, the Bolshevik army have arrested Russia's provisional government. It all happened at 2:10 AM and that was the time that Russia became a communist country.
Tourists Pay More Than Locals
Every year, 10,000 British tourists fly from their country to Russia and 90% of those explore either Moscow or St. Petersburg. With their rule of charging tourists more than the locals, the country's tourism sector is earning quite a great deal of money annually.
Tourist spots like the Hermitage Museum usually charge locals 350 rubles while 400 rubles for foreign visitors. Same goes with the Peterhof Palace, which costs 400 Rubles for a local while 550 for a tourist.
The Lavish Lives Of Russian Billionaires
Billionaires are scattered in across the globe; New York city has 62 of them while Hong Kong and London have 43 respectively.
While these people live incredibly rich lives at the edge of the world, they don't come close to the 84 billionaires with a combined wealth of 366 billion dollars of Russia.
These Russians are known to be the world's wealthiest people. Some of the notable billionaires hailing from this country are Brooklyn Nets and Brooklyn's Barclays Center owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, as well as the wealthiest man in the world, Leonid Mickelson.
His net worth is more than 14.4 billion dollars which comes from his natural gas firm, Novatek and his petrochemical company, Sibur.
Russia's Pipelines Can Wrap The World Six Times
Russia is written in history to not only host the largest reserves of natural gasses but also as the biggest exporter of these resources as well. Since it is conducive for petroleum companies, it is home to the world's biggest oil industries.
With such a seemingly endless powerful natural resource, an abundance of pipelines come as no surprise. Collectively, the nation's pipelines are 259,913km in length. Given that the planet earth itself is just a 40,075 km in circumference, Russia's pipeline can wrap the planet earth six times.
Dash Cams For Fraud Protection
Russia is known to house the richest of the richest, but that doesn't mean that the nation is free from poverty.
Having a dash cam is a necessity if you want to free yourself from fraud. Here, many people stage accidents like feigned injury amongst many others so that they can extort money from innocent people.
These dash cams are used to record and present the truth to the officials when the need arises. There are a lot of pretty video sites online that shows recordings from both Russian police cars and civilians alike with unbelievable attempts of extortion.
Beer Wasn't An Alcohol Before 2011
For a normal Russian Individual, any beverage that contains less than 10% alcohol is just a foodstuff. It wasn't even something that can make them drunk.
That is a true testament of the Russian culture and their love of alcohol.
It took the Russians until 2011 to legally consider beer as a type of alcohol. Today, even with the country's new regulations to stop deaths, accidents, and other crimes induced by alcohol, beer sales continue to skyrocket.
Geez, Russians do love liquor, no matter what it takes!
Stray Dogs Navigate Freely Through Russia's Subways
Pets are a common sight in Russia, but what makes them different from the rest of the world is that they are home to almost 500 homeless canines that they call "metro dogs."
Acclaimed Russian Biologist, Andrey Poyarkov coined the term as he observed how these four-legged animals could traverse the subway stations with ease.
The dogs use the subway to visit the city in search of food and then use them again to go back to their homes in the suburbs at night.
"How Are You?" Is A Serious Question
For individuals across the globe, one of the most common forms of greeting someone is "How are you?" This question doesn't necessarily require a serious answer and often replied with a brief "I'm fine."
However, it's way different from Russians; a question like that expects a long and detailed answer. Short and straightforward answers mean that you're rude and locals can be deeply offended by that.
Russia's Walruses
Russia is popularly known for its freezing winters, but it is also home to many famous beaches. It is one that might even be as popular as the Paul and Peter fortress in St. Petersburg.
Usually, beaches become busy during the summertime, but most Russian beaches become unforgivingly busy even during the winter.
In the cold months, countless Walrusses flock the beach to savor on the freezing wind and powdery ice.
These animals live on the Arctic and can slow down their heartbeat to enjoy extremely low levels of weather and water temperatures.
Russia Is Big In Everything
Since we all know that Russia is the world's biggest country, with its landmass taking up about 1/10th of the earth, it is home to the most significant rivers and lakes.
Russia is home to plenty of Europe's largest bodies of freshwater. The Volga River is known to stretch 2,300 miles while the world's deepest lake, Lake Baikal is said to contain 20 percent of earth's freshwater supply.
The Diversity Of The Russian Animalia
With Russia having an incredible landmass, it is home to several unique species from the Kingdom Animalia. It includes the Russian bear, Siberian roe deer, and the famed Siberian tiger.
The Siberian tiger known to be the biggest cat in the world lives amidst the Siberian alps of Russia. Adding to that is the existence of the Russian bear which has long been a symbol of the nation's might and power that dates back to as early as the 16th century.
The reinvention Of The Helicopter
While a French inventor, Etienne Oemichen initially created the Helicopter in the year 1924, it only traveled for an unimpressive one kilometer.
A Russian aviation legend then reinvented it, Igor Sikorsky that it was able to move for an indefinite period, well, at least for as long as it had fuel inside.
Igor Sikorsky started his research and work on helicopters in the year 1910. Thirty years later, he was able to build the Sikorsky VS-300 which will be the model of all the helicopters of today.
He is also the creator of the military helicopter that the U.S army used for some time.
Russian Chess Masters
Chess has been a favorite game in Russia even in the early centuries. Ivan IV, a Russian czar, was reported to play chess even on his deathbed in 1583.
When the Bolsheviks assumed their reign in 1917, the humble chess became a national game amongst leaders and locals alike.
The game became such a sensation that by the year 1934, half a million Russians registered to compete in the state chess program. It symbolized the Russian state of the mind-A game that required strategy and careful thought.
Today, the top 20 chess players are mostly Russian or hailed from a nation that was once under the command of the Soviet Union.
The TKM-World Link
Russia is positioned very close to Alaska and creating a connecting tunnel under the sea is something that might arguably be impractical, but not impossible.
The nation has already started a program that would connect it to the state that might save them billions of shipping costs.
This project is called the TKM-World Link, and it costs a massive $65 billion and is seen by the industry as a phenomenal engineering feat in the history of the craft.
Is Russian Journalism Dead
Journalism is a significant threat especially for a country that's as secretive as Russia. This nation is somewhat obsessed with how they present themselves to the world.
It comes to no surprise if the government would eliminate any forces that would otherwise expose them one way or another.
Russia takes home the lead in the highest number of murdered reporters every year, and yes, it includes the highly reputed ones. A notable incident would be Anna Politkovskaya who was a critic of the conflict between President Putin and Chechen.
She was threatened, beaten, poisoned and eventually killed by gunshot in the elevator of her apartment building in the year 206.
A War Over Fish Farts? That's Russia
Scientific discoveries are what fueled the world to become what it is today, and these things can come about in the strangest of ways.
Russia and Sweden nearly got into a war because of some fish noises they heard. It ended up in peace and one surprising discovery.
It all started in the 1980s when a Swedish Navy discovered underwater sounds that seemed a little bit too unusual. They initially assumed that it was a sound made by hostile Russian submarines.
Sweden cited that Russia was trying to do a sabotage mission on them and the issue escalated quite quickly until they discovered that the sounds they heard were merely fish farts.
From then on, the world knew that fishes could fart. Quite a discovery, eh?
Biggest Drug Importers
Russians are known for their substance abuse. It is evident with their seemingly unquenchable thirst for alcohol, but that isn't the only substance they are known to consume.
Over the years, locals have purportedly been consuming illegal drugs.
Reports show that the nation is the world's leading heroin importer. Recently, rumors of a drug that is much stronger than anything known ever to exist comes from a Russian laboratory.
It's ten times stronger than morphine, and it leaves its users with reptilian looking skin, gaining the title 'Krokodil.'
Russian Serial Killers
Out of the many things that come from Russia, serial killers are the scariest on the list. If you think that the U.S is home to a lot of serial killers, wait until you see Russia's roster.
A Russian Serial killer made waves in 1981 as he allegedly killed seven women using his metal teeth.
These criminals are mostly known for their horrifying nicknames like "Raskolnikov in a Skirt," "The Butcher of Rostov," and "The Chessboard Killer" who got his name because he made it his mission to murder one person per square on the board of his favorite game, the chess.
From cannibals, rapists to deranged minds, Russia has it all!
The World's Largest McDonald's
Moscow got permission to build the world's favorite fast-food giant, Mcdonalds in 1988 in its premises and it was an instant hit.
The builders made sure that it will be able to host thousands of customers following the success of the fast-food chain in other countries. They were right.
By 1990, the chain opened to more than 5,000 when it opened its door; some waited in line for over six whole hours to get a taste.
The day ended with 30,000 customers served. The owners we're loving it!
Jet Fuel Sniffing Bears
Every country has its environmental issues, but the one in Russia is utterly weird and quite sad. Countless bears have developed an urge to sniff the gasoline and kerosene used to fuel jets.
What's ironic is that these came from the environment and nature workers.
Bears stalk and follow helicopters and power generator to get a hit of its fuel. As the sniff for many minutes at a time, they lie down and pass out due to the substance.
Russia Is Bigger Than Pluto
Back when Pluto was considered a major planet, researchers would say that it was so small Russia outcompetes it in size, and they weren't joking.
Russia stretches to 17,098,322 square kilometers making it 400,000 square kilometers bigger than the 10th largest mass in the solar system. Can you imagine that?
Pluto is only 16,647,940 square kilometers and is now called a plutoid or an ice dwarf which automatically translates to a minor planet.
Now, it might have a name with the word "dwarf" on it, but that doesn't mean it can't technically fit millions of people inside.
Being a country that's bigger than a heavenly body is a significant feat, and that's Russia for you, folks!
A National Holiday For People To Make Babies
To deal with the rapid dwindling of Russia's population, the governor of Ulyanovsk had to do something about the alarming population decline.
In 2005, he declared September 12 to be a "Day of Conception."
Couples are granted at least half a day off from their jobs to make babies, and it helped with the population increase quite exponentially.
There are prizes given for couples who give birth to June 12 which is exactly nine months from September 12.
Awards include appliances, cash, and cars! Now, that's a holiday!
A Cat Theatre? Only In Russia
Behold, the Moscow Cats Theatre, where cats and dogs are the main stars! In Russia, Cats and dogs aren't just mere pets; they can be famous performers too.
Reportedly, there are over 200 cats that work for the theatre, and all of them are amazing in what they do.
Routines put together with these cats consume so much time. Some have reportedly rehearsed for 2.5 years, and the longest was probably 7.
However, reviews and the number of audiences prove that these felines' hard work is all worth it!
The Very First Czar
Ivan IV or more commonly known in pop culture as Ivan the Terrible, became the first rule to assume the title of Russia's czar in 1547.
His reign subjected the nation to trade with England which positively expanded the country westward.
Ivan IV wanted access to the Baltic Sea for more resources, so he went to war with Sweden and Poland.
While he was successful at first, the late czar ended up losing the fight to these forces and had to return all the lands he conquered quite vigorously.
The Birthplace Of The Nutcracker
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer commissioned to compose music to an E.T.A Hoffman's famed story: "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" for Alexandre Dumas' adaptation.
The first release of the show wasn't as phenomenal as its ballet version, where it was recognized to be the most famous ballet recitals of all-time.
The late musical genius would, later on, compose music for traditional ballet classics like the Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.
Russia Has A Killer Lake
Russia has a lot of mosts, and that includes the most polluted place on the entire planet. They call it Lake Karachay, and it doesn't go anywhere near the pollution of any area in the country.
People are warned to stay at a distance as being exposed to it can kill anyone under an hour.
The nuclear facilities surrounding the area of the Lake Karachay poisoned it quite considerably. It has been tainted so bad that it has high levels of dangerous radiation.
WWII's Highest Casualty Counts
Russia has the highest casualty counts during WWII. It took a toll on all the countries who participated, but it significantly damaged Russia.
The number of deaths on all the victims of WWII was horrifyingly high, but it becomes nothing when compared to what the Russians have lost.
While Russia unleashed such a high level of strength and power when they single handedly defended themselves against the Germans, they mourned over the loss of 30 million people which included innocent civilians right after.
It's true what they say: winning one war means losing more.
Russian Smiles Are Hard To Come By
Majority of the world stereotypes Russians to be an unfriendly bunch because they always seem to be too stoic and their smiles are nonexistent, but the truth is, they save it for when they are delighted.
Their cultural beliefs mostly are the reasons behind it. In one famous Russian proverb, "Laughter for no reason is a sign of foolishness."
It is a saying that Russians live by which makes them only smile if the occasion calls for it. So when you see a Russian smile, it's either you did something right, or they are just forced to act appropriately in front of you.
Russians And Their Drinking Problems
In an attempt to decrease the alarming Russian alcohol intake, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev created an anti-alcohol campaign in 1985.
It was a huge cause that sought to limit alcohol production as well as massively increase their prices.
While it's true that it was beneficial, it was shortlived as it ended along with the fall of the USSR. It caused a massive nation-wide party that brought back the Russians to their toxic ways.
Some Russians drink vodka, and some drink illegal "samogon." It's a homemade Russian liquor that makes vodka seem like baby food with doubled levels of alcohol that can quickly harm the human body.
The Ushanka
The Ushanka or the "ear flap hat" is a signature Russian fur cap designed to protect the jaw, chin, and ears of its wearer from the unforgiving icy winds.
It's a fuzzy and cozy hat worn on colder climates with most people associating it with Soviet Russia.
The hat has been the Russian Army's official winter uniform.
Unless the temperature drops below unforgiving levels, covering their ears with the flaps would only mean that they are weaklings.
The Meaning Of Odd Numbers
The Russians have developed their very own superstitions and beliefs, just like any other culture across the globe. One of which would be giving gifts and trinkets in odd numbers.
Gifts in even numbers are only used for funerals and breaking this traditional rule would make you come off as very rude. No one wants to be on any Russian's wrong side, that we can assure you.
Kitty Custodians
Saint Petersburg is home to The Hermitage Museum which is known to be one of the greatest in the world. It holds artworks from iconic artists like Michelangelo, El Greco, and Raphael.
The museum also contains a plethora of critical antique collections gathered from different parts of the world.
That is why it comes to no surprise that The Hermitage Museum consists of a group of highly-skilled custodial staff of humans and, wait for it, a significant number of cats!
Yes, you heard that right, C-A-T-S! Not to worry, these cats are cultured and trained only to keep the place mice-free.
The Famous Twin Stars
Here's a restaurant that caters to people who loved oddly themed places. If you are one of them, then you're going to like what this Moscow restaurant has to offer.
Apart from their delicious food, they only hire staff that offers feats that not everyone can possess. Their requirements? They have to be with an identical twin.
Alexei Khodorkovsky, the restaurant's owner, said that the strange concept started in 1964 when he watched a Soviet film entitled as the "Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors."
It was about a girl with a twin living on an alternate reality. Artsy or creepy? You be the judge.
Empty Glasses Means You Want More
With Russians being known to be alcohol drinkers, they know how to hold their liquor, so if you have are going out for drinks with a local, never empty your glass-That is if you don't want to get drunk.
It is a Russian tradition that when your cup is empty, it means you want more drinks.
If you are not one to drink too much alcohol at a night-out, a piece of useful advice would be to tell your Russian drinking buddies that your doctor said you're not supposed to drink at all. It works like a charm!
The Gruesome History of Saint Basil's Cathedral
The Saint Basil's Cathedral, as beautiful as it looks, has a morbid and somewhat selfish past. It was built to commemorate the capturing of the cities Kazan and Astrakhan.
After the then legendary architect Postnik Yakovlev completed it, Ivan the Terrible blinded him right away for him not being able to build anything as beautiful as the cathedral ever again.
Today, this colorful church stands majestic and proud right in the heart of Moscow's Red Square as a museum that holds timeless historical pieces that holds precious value to world history.