Russia

=RUSSIA=



Population
The Population as of now is 142,012,620

Resorts
This is one of the many ski resorts in Russia Krasnaya Polyana, Russia (540m to 2228m) Located 80 km (48 mi) East of the popular Black Sea resort of Sochi and visited by Russian president Victor Putin when taking the traditional Russian early May vacation, the slopes have a reputation for their long season thanks to some of the most consistent and extensive snowfalls in Russia. Indeed some reports claim that the resort is located at 'the wettest point in Europe' and that snow depths there can reach 7 metres (over 23 feet) - very deep by European standards. There is no snow making however so coverage on the lower slopes can suffer at the end's of Krasnaya Polyana's long season. Krasnaya Polyana's best slopes are located on the northern slopes of the Aibga Ridge with the longest 4km (2.5 miles) in length over a 1200m vertical. However heli-skiing can extend the trail length to nearly 7km (over 4 miles) by continuing up to 3200 metres above sea level. Heli-skiing, the option favoured by Mr Putin, can open up a vertical of more than 2000m (nearly 7000 feet). The resort was part of a regional bid to stage the 2002 Winter Olympics, losing out to Utah. Paragliding and snowmobiling are also on offer. Krasnaya Polyana means the Red Glade.

=Culture-=

**Religions**
Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other ==Cuisine==

Caviar
Caviar, often regarded as food for the wealthy, comes in dozens of varieties and price ranges, from the princely Beluga caviar to the humble whitefish roe.

Borscht
There may not be a more Russian dish than this beet soup. Enriched with vegetables, beef and dollops of sour cream, borscht rates as arguably Russia's most popular and famous dish.

Bliny
These pancakes--traditionally made from buckwheat flour--come topped with goodies ranging from butter and sour cream to pickled fish and caviar.

Sour Cream
Sour cream is to Russians what ketchup is to Americans. Russians lavish this favorite condiment on everything from cucumber salads to hearty meat dishes.

Rye Bread
Thick, hearty and dark, a substantial loaf of Russian rye bread almost can serve as a meal on its own. Spread thick with fresh butter or topped with fish, eggs, cheese or meats, rye bread truly functions as the staff and stuff of Russian life.

Herring
Baked, dried, fried, pickled or salted, herring rates as a favorite fish on Russian tables, frequently offered as part of a "zakuska," a version of "small bites," similar to Spanish tapas.

Pickles
Russians have made pickling a high art, preserving beets, cucumbers, mushrooms and other fruits of the land for a taste of summer in the cold grip of winter.

Beef Stroganoff
Originally devised by a French chef for a Russian count, this dish of beef, mushrooms and sour cream stands as a Russian classic, popular well beyond the country's borders.

Salad Olivier (Russian Salad)
Like beef Stroganoff, a French chef created salad Olivier, which has become something of a national dish. Potatoes, vegetables, onions, hard-boiled eggs and mayonnaise serve as the salad's foundation, with chicken, carrots, peas and apples often added

Piroshki
These dough dumplings or buns--Russia's answer to Italian calzones--come stuffed with ingredients that include cheeses, fish, meats, mushrooms and potatoes.

The Russian Language
Of Russia's estimated 150m population, it is thought that over 81% speak the official language of Russian as their first and only language. Most speakers of a minority language are also bilingual speakers of Russian There are over 100 minority languages spoken in Russia today, the most popular of which is Tartar, spoken by more than 3% of the country's population. Other minority languages includeUkraianian, Chuvash, Bashir, Mordvin and Chechen. Although few of these populations make up even 1% of the Russian population, these languages are prominent in key regional areas.

Music
Russian music includes a variety of styles: from ritual folk song, to the sacred music of the Russian orthodox church, and also included the legacy of several prominent 19th century classical and romantic composers. Major contributions by 20th century Soviet composers as well as various forms of popular music are also part of the make-up of Russian music.

Sports
Sport in Russia is one of the most popular types of activity. There are such terms as professional sports and amateur sports closely connected with an idea of general physical training. Both ways of sports are being developed and popularized but not very actively. A lot of Russian children are going in for sports by visiting specialized sports groups. There are also such mass sports contests as “The Cross-Country of Nations” and “The Ski Track of Russia”. Several Russian sports schools are still among the world leaders (free standing exercises, track and field athletics, boxing, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, tennis and others). Among the most popular Russian sports are:
 * * Soccer
 * Ice Hockey
 * Biathlon || * Figure skating
 * Basketball
 * Tennis || * Volleyball
 * Boxing
 * Chess ||



**Location**
Northern Asia, bordering Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576 km
 * Capital:** Moscow
 * Climate:** ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast

History
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union there has been an enormous resurgence of interest in Russia's pre-Soviet past, as well as a great deal of debate and reconsideration of the Soviet era itself. This shift has not resulted in a simple vilification of everything Soviet or a naive embrace of all that preceded it, but it has spurred an unprecedented effort to regain the ancient Russian national heritage. Churches are being restored all across the country, great Russian writers and artists whose works were banned are once again being honored, and the individual character of ancient cities and communities is once again becoming established. Next year, the city of Moscow is celebrating its 850th Anniversary, a celebration that will mark the recovery, as well as the commemoration, of its glorious past. For most western visitors, the bulk of Russia's history is nothing more than a compendium of hazy legends and sensationalist rumors--from scurrilous stories about Catherine the Great to tabloid television reports of the miraculous survival of the children of Nicholas II. However, the factual history of the country is no less compelling than its fabulous history, and even a brief introduction to the great and not-so-great figures of its past make a visit far more rewarding.

Economy
The **economy of Russia** is the ninth largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity. Russia has an abundance of natural gas, oil, coal, and precious metals. Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a centrally planned economy to a more market-based and globally integrated economy. Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable exceptions in the energy and defense-related sectors. Nonetheless, the rapid privatization process, including a much criticized "loans-for-shares" scheme that turned over major state-owned firms to politically connected "oligarchs", has left equity ownership highly concentrated. As of 2011, Russia's capital, Moscow, now has the highest billionaire population of any city in the world In late 2008 and early 2009, Russia experienced the first recession after 10 years of rising economy, until the stable growth resumed in late 2009 and 2010. Despite the deep but brief recession, the economy has not been as seriously affected by the global financial crisis compared to much of Europe, largely because of the integration of short-term macroeconomic policies that helped the economy survive. Last year (2011) Russia’s gross domestic product grew by 4.2 percent, the world’s third highest growth rate among leading economies. The government expects it to grow 3.7 percent this year. "Following 4.2 percent growth in 2011, we think the slowdown will lead to GDP growth of about 3.5 percent for the full year," S&P Chief Economist for Europe Jean-Michel Six said in a statement = = =WORK CITED= [] [] [] [] [] []