If you are interested in learning more about Russia, you can read The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Russian Culture. It has eight hundred pages of information about the country’s art, music, film, and media, as well as crime, business, politics, and economics. The book also discusses the Russian economy, which is very different from the US economy. However, the language barrier and cultural differences may discourage you from visiting Russia. While it is possible to get into trouble in some areas, you should be careful in others.

The territory of Russia, once known as the Soviet Union, included not only ethnic Russians, but also various surrounding ethnic groups. This concept of ethnicity, or cultural identity, refers to a group of people who share common ancestry and language. In the Soviet Union, many minority ethnic groups harbored resentment over the imposed Soviet dominion. However, Russia’s population stabilized over the years and its population could reach 146 million in the year 2050.

The status of Russia as an “empire” dates to the 1700s, when Peter the Great invaded the northwestern regions and founded the city of Saint Petersburg on the Baltic Sea. A forward capital is a country’s capital that has been purposefully relocated, usually on the edge of disputed territory. The resulting stability and economic development allowed Russia to emerge from post-Soviet turmoil. However, Russia’s economy suffered in 2014 due to the collapse of the oil price. In the aftermath of the oil price slump, Russia has become increasingly dependent on its state-run gas monopoly Gazprom, which supplies much of the country’s energy needs.

The land mass of Russia is vast, covering almost half of the continent of Eurasian continent. The country’s landmass could be compared to that of South America. Its major rivers, including the Volga, provide a vast transportation system for goods and people. Russia also has the longest river in Europe, the Volga. In contrast, the eastern part of Russia, called Siberia, has few inhabitants and is largely undeveloped.

Southeastern Siberia has high mountain ranges and extensive lowland plains. The Badzhalsky Mountains, which rise to 8,661 feet (2640 metres), lie west of the lower Amur River. The Sikhote-Alin Mountains, which reach nearly 4,000 feet (1200 metres) in the middle of the Amur-Ussuri lowlands, lie in between. And there are numerous lakes, ranging from the vastness of the Pacific Ocean to the small craggy islands of the Russian Arctic.

The latest round of sanctions imposed by the United States are likely to further damage the Russian economy. The new economic restrictions imposed on Russia have already caused the stock market to plummet to its lowest level in four and a half years. As a result, the ruble has reached its weakest daily settlement price on record. Russia has been further isolated from the global financial system with new sanctions imposed on its largest banks and financial institutions. These new measures will further reduce its ability to attract investment and export goods and services to foreign markets.

While the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia’s ethnic divisions have often resulted in tensions within the country. While Chechnya was administratively part of the USSR, it has never gained independence. Since 1991, Russia has been determined to prevent the secession of administratively governed territories. If the secession process continues, Russia will be at risk of unraveling as a nation. However, there have been instances of unrest in the Caucasus region, with Chechnya, which fought for independence, and Armenia, which has not yet declared independence.