When people think of Russia, they probably picture a country with vast territories, a thriving metropolis (Moscow is populated with many billionaires), and the world-famous Red Square. But what exactly is Russia like? A country with such a varied physical environment varies widely, and Russia is no exception. The vast majority of the country is covered by Type D climate, the kind that characterizes large landmasses that are unmodified by oceans. Consequently, this land tends to heat up rapidly in the summer and cool quickly during the winter, with warm summers and a chilly winter. While most of the country experiences relatively warm winters and cool summers, Russia’s northernmost portion borders the Arctic Ocean, which means that every winter the nation experiences frigid air masses.

The capital of Russia is Moscow, which is the country’s political, economic, and cultural center. In the south, St. Petersburg is an important port on the Baltic Sea, as well as the former imperial capital. The state seal of the Russian Federation is the double-headed eagle. The country was conquered by the Soviet Union during World War I, leading to the communist seizure of power and the formation of the USSR.

The Ural Mountains serve as a natural division between Europe and Asia, providing abundant minerals, fossil fuels, and other resources. Consequently, this area is ideal for industrial development. Minerals, oil, and gas are abundant in this region and can be used for both domestic and international production and export. Because of the abundance of natural resources in this area, oil and natural gas exploration has greatly increased Russia’s export profits. For decades, oil and gas exploration has been ongoing across the core of Russia, including the Urals and Central Asian region.

Russian opinion surveys have revealed that Americans are increasingly wary of the country. Just over half of Americans say that Russia is a major threat, and this partisan divide has narrowed. But the percentage of Americans who think of Russia as a threat is still higher among Democrats than among Republicans. So, if there is a clear divide between the two parties, the country should be viewed as a major threat for America. So, let’s look at some of the results.

After the end of the Cold War, Russia has attempted to inflict pain on European countries. Since the European countries rely heavily on Russian natural gas, Russia has suspended its gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. While the European Union has labeled this as “blackmail,” Russia has defended the move. There is a high probability of escalation of economic warfare between Russia and its neighbors, especially with the nuclear threat that Putin is posing.

The Soviet Union was formed in the aftermath of the 1917 civil war. It was a Marxist totalitarian state whose goal was rapid industrialization. Central planning and collectivization of agriculture were crucial to accomplishing this goal. Unfortunately, the Communist system was upheld at a high cost: millions of Soviet citizens were killed by purges. Even though the Soviet Union tried to reform in the 1980s through the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, it ultimately collapsed in 1991.