Russia-Facts

General Facts

Population: 141 million

Language: Russian

GDP: $1.5 trillion

Currency: Rubles

Capital: Moscow

Time: the country is in 10 time zones.

Religion: predominant religion is Russian Orthodoxy, 16% are non-believers

History

Russia has an immense history to go along with its harsh climate and beautiful landscapes. Whether traveling or studying abroad, in Russia you will find bold reminders of its rich, predominant history and culture. Old tales say the Viking Rurik came to Russia in C.E. 862 and founded the first Russian dynasty in Novgorod. During the course of the 9th century, Viking Tribes that originated from Scandinavia moved into European Russia along the waterway connecting the Baltic and the Black Seas. Spread of Christianity united various Slavic Tribes. The Kievan Rus was converted to Christianity by Vladimir The Saint in 988. Kiev became a centralized power until it was destroyed by the Mongols in 1240. The Mongol Empire stretched across the Asia and Russia became under supervision of the Khanate of the Golden Horde. For the next couple of centuries the rise of Moscow took place. Moscow became a provincial capital and the center of the Christian Orthodox Church. As Russia gains its international power and Russia’s economy is growing, Moscow now is becoming a great destination for studying and interning abroad. Your volunteer abroad program in Russia will usually take place outside of Moscow, Yaroslavl for example is one of the popular destinations. During you volunteering abroad visit to Russian Federation you will have a chance to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Russian Orthodox Church in all of its natural glory as Orthodoxy and its traditions are much more present outside of big cities. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established as a federation on Dec. 30, 1922 and the New Economic Policy started which installed the community (called soviets) as owners of land and property. The death of Lenin on Jan. 21, 1924, precipitated an intraparty struggle between Joseph Stalin, general secretary of the party, and Trotsky, who favored swifter socialization at home and fomentation of revolution abroad. Trotsky was dismissed as commissar of war in 1925 and banished from the Soviet Union in 1929. He was murdered in Mexico City on Aug. 21, 1940, by a political agent. Stalin further consolidated his power by a series of purges in the late 1930s, liquidating prominent party leaders and military officers. Stalin assumed the premiership May 6, 1941. Although soviet regime is long over its roots are still very much felt in the modern Russian Federation. Today’s Russia combines in itself a modern country full of opportunities and excitement as well as a nation rich with culture and diversity which makes it a perfect study abroad or internship destination for you.

Demographics

During your study abroad or traveling experience to Russia you will meet a very diverse and culturally fascinating range of people from every corner of the post-soviet region. The Russian Federation is a diverse, multi-ethnic society, home to as many as 160 different ethnic groups and indigenous peoples. Though Russia's population is comparatively large, its population density is low because of the country's enormous size. Population is densest in European Russia, near the Ural Mountains, and in southwest Siberia. According to preliminary estimates, the resident population of the Russian Federation on 1 January 2009 was 141,903,979 people. Among these people there are roughly 79.8% Russian, 3.8% Tatars, 2% Ukrainians, 1.2% Bashkir, 1.1% Chuvash, and less than 1% of Chechens.

Climate

Depending on the time of the year in which you decide to intern or study abroad in Russia you will experience different climates which range from cool to freezing in the winter and mildly warm to very hot in the summer. Throughout much of the territory there are only two distinct seasons — winter and summer; spring and autumn are usually brief periods of change between extremely low temperatures and extremely high. The coldest month is January (on the shores of the sea—February), the warmest usually is July. Great ranges of temperature are typical. In winter, temperatures get colder both from south to north and from west to east. Summers can be quite hot and humid, even in Siberia. A small part of Black Sea coast around Sochi has a subtropical climate. The continental interiors are the driest areas. Regardless of the season in which you decide to visit or intern in Russia remember to bring warm clothes; although beautiful and awesome Russian weather is often unpredictable and you can rest assured to encounter coldness in one way or another.