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russia at a glance
china at a glance mongolia at a glance

Geographical area
17,075,200 sq km (1.8 times the size of the USA). European Russia – Russia west of the Ural Mountains – comprises only a quarter of Russia’s total land mass and is home to 80% of Russia’s population. Siberia occupies 75% of Russia’s land mass and wraps itself around a third of the northern hemisphere. The topography is varied: broad plains with low hills west of the Urals, vast coniferous forest, tundra and permafrost in Siberia, uplands and mountains along southern border regions.

Capital
Moscow (approximately 10.4 million inhabitants).

Population
Approximately 143 million people.

People
81% Russian, 4% Tatar, 3% Ukrainian and numerous ethnic minorities.

Language
Russian.

System of Government
Federation. Governed by an executive president and a two-house legislature or parliament.

Currency
Russian Rouble (py). 1 Rouble = 100 Kopeks. The Rouble is nonexportable and available only in Russia.

Notes come in the following denominations: 10, 50,100, 500. Coins are also in circulation and come in the following values: 1, 2 and 5 Roubles and 1, 10 and 50 Kopeks.

Religion
80% Russian Orthodox. The remaining 20% comprise followers of Islam, Judaism and other minority beliefs. In parts of the Russian Far East, Shamanism and Buddhism is practised.

Exchange rate (July 08)
1 GBP = py46 Roubles. 1 USD = py23 Roubles. 1 EUR = py37 Roubles (subject to fluctuation)

Time Zones
Russia (European Russia west of the Urals) is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, summertime is in force in the UK and time reverts to 4 hours ahead of GMT.

Trading hours
9.30am to 7pm or later. Shops are generally closed on Sunday. Banks are generally open weekdays from 9am to 5pm in Moscow and St Petersburg, with a break for lunch. Restaurants, cafes and bars trade ‘til late. In Moscow and St Petersburg, many grocers trade 24/7.

Voltage
Standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Sockets require a Continental or
European plug with two round pins. Pack a travel adaptor.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural overland adventures by Trans-Siberian train from Moscow to Beijing and vice versa. Fun and informative, from the express route of some 7 days to an 18 day journey studded with awesome stops at Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude in Eastern Buryatia and Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia plus the original route all the way to Vladivostok, on the go offer 2 types of Trans-Siberian train packages with a range of inclusions to suit all pockets. A 2-night stay is included at the departure city of Moscow or Beijing, and accommodation offered at stops ranges from home stays or hotel stays to Mongolian gers at Terelj National Park. Catch a ride on the greatest train of all – the Trans-Siberian.