Living in Russia

Russia stretches from Eastern Europe to the Pacific and from the Arctic to the Caucasus; around 144.5 million people live there. Vast plains, taiga, steppes, mountains, and long coastlines shape the landscape. The climate ranges from Arctic cold in the north through continental, often very cold winters to milder areas along the Black Sea. In Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other major cities, many people live in apartment buildings and use the metro, buses, or trains. In sparsely populated regions, distances are great, and cars or regional trains play an important role. Work, housing, and leisure differ significantly between metropolises, industrial cities, villages, and remote areas.