RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Capital: Moscow
Territory: 17,075,200 sq km
Population: 143,5 thousands people (2005 est.)
Form of government: Democratic republic
Ethnic situation: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3% (1989 est.)
Religion: Russian Orthodox, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism
Basic language: Russian
Climate: Ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast.
Time: 11 time zones
Terrain: Broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions.
Flag description: Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue (middle), and red (bottom).
Official currency: Russian ruble (RUR)