Russia Airfares

By Roz Andrews: Russia, the largest country in the world, spans two continents – Europe and Asia – and eleven time zones. The vast Russian Federation of 89 regions, republics, territories, districts and cities was formed after the collapse of the Communist government in the former USSR in December 1991.

A good way of seeing a fair portion of the country is to take a train ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Yaroslavsky Vokzal station in Moscow to the Pacific port of Vladivostok in the east of the country. The whole journey takes more than a week, passing through the north of Gobi Desert and the high Amur Mountains.

Russia’s major cities are Moscow, the capital, and St Petersburg in the west of the country. Between St Petersburg and Moscow is Novgorod, a walled city founded in the ninth century. Its white stone Cathedral of St Sophia, built in 1050, is one of the country’s oldest buildings.

Outside the major towns and cities, the Russian road network is still under-developed, although it is improving and several roads are under construction.

Caviar is a well-known Russian delicacy. Try black caviar of sturgeon roe from the Caspian Sea, or orange caviar of Siberian salmon eggs. Other Russian food includes pancakes (blini), beetroot or cabbage soup (borshch) and a type of ravioli filled with elk, beef and pork (pelmeni).

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