Russia is the largest country in the world. With an area of 17,098,242 km2, it is a country that covers 11% of the Earth’s surface. It is located in Eastern Europe, part of Northern Asia and partly in the Arctic. It shares borders with Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Mongolia, Poland, Ukraine, North Korea, and Azerbaijan. In addition to its physical features, Russia is a nation that seeks to influence global policy through political intervention, arms sales, and social media.

Russia is divided into five natural regions. The northernmost part of the Russian Federation is called the Arctic, where the country shares a maritime boundary with Japan. This region extends 7,000 km (4,300 mi) west to east. The easternmost part of the Russian Arctic is called the Sea of Okhotsk. It is an area that is dominated by volcanic peaks, many of which reach more than 3,000 meters. The Kamchatka Peninsula juts southward into the Sea of Okhotsk. It contains several volcanic craters, such as Beyenchime-Salaatin crater.

The largest natural resource in Russia is its mineral fuels, including gold and coal. These resources are found in remote areas, and the country may have up to half of the world’s known reserves. In the past, Russia has used military force to exert its will in the world. In addition, Russia has sought to interfere in other states’ politics, particularly in Syria, where they have been involved in shielding chemical agents.

Another major economic region of Russia is the Black Sea. This area is a major trade artery for the nation. It is also a major transit point for Central Asia, where the port of Novorossiysk gives Russia leverage over Central Asian countries.

Most of Russia is covered by tundra. This region has harsh climates that make agriculture difficult. A portion of the land is used for permanent pastures, while others are used for woodland. The Yenisei River valley divides the eastern and western parts of the country. Other major urban centers include Kazan, Chelyabinsk, and Nizhny Novgorod.

In the west, the Russian coast is bordered by the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In the northeast, the coast is bordered by the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. A third of the Russian shoreline is bounded by seawater, and the remainder by permafrost. Most of the northern part of the country is above the Arctic Circle.

The Ural Mountains form a natural boundary between European and Eurasian Russia. The mountain ranges extend over 2,100 kilometers. The highest peak in the Urals is Mount Narodnaya, which is 6,214 feet high. Some of the largest deposits of metals and minerals in Russia are found in these mountain ranges. The Kuznetsk Basin is an important source of zinc and lead ores. The Kama River in the western Urals is a rich source of potassium and magnesium salts. Sulfur is found in the middle and lower Volga Valleys.

The westernmost part of the country is the Kaliningrad Oblast. It is surrounded by the Baltic Sea, Poland, and Lithuania.