... JUST TO UNDERSTAND RUSSIA AND RUSSIANS

Russia has for many years been a land of mystery and intrigue to the people of the West. For hundreds of years it has been an enigma, friend, or enemy, as the political winds here and there blew in changing directions. As in any situation where new relationships are being formed we have found that we didn't know at least as much as we did know. That being said we have found that people everywhere have much in common. Russians as a people are interested in many of the same things as any other people. They wish a better life for themselves, self determination, and pride in self and country.

New freedoms in most areas of life are bringing new opportunities for Russians, as well as visitors, for business and pleasure. Russian society and culture have opened up bringing the opportunity to visit and do business. For the first time there is freedom of employment, religion, and opportunity for all citizens. These changes allow opportunity for unprecedented success and failure. The changes have been wrenching, the control of government over all aspects of life did not start in 1917, but had been the case for centuries. Not all of the changes have been of benefit to all of the people.

The Russian Federation covers 1/8th of the earth's surface (6,592,812 sq. miles/ 17,075,400 sq. km.) from Europe to Asia. Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Empire, Russia is easily the worlds largest country. Vast plains cover most of Russia's territory. Mountain ranges are found mostly in the eastern and southern regions, with the Ural Mountains constituting a natural backbone from north to south separating European and Asian Russia.

The country has a tremendous wealth of natural resources, producing 17% of the world's crude oil, 25-30% of its natural gas, and 10-20% of all non-ferrous, rare and noble metals mined across the globe.

Most of Russia's territory is located in the temperate belt, though the range of climates and habitats spans from Arctic tundra and forest tundra to forests, forest-steppes and semi-deserts. Average January temperatures range from 0 to minus 5 degrees Centigrade in Western European Russia to minus 40-50 degrees Centigrade in Eastern Yakutia. Average July temperatures range from 1 degree Centigrade on the northern Siberian coast to 30 degrees Centigrade in Russia's Cis-Caspian lowlands.

Russia has the world's fifth largest population (148.8 million people) after China, India, the United States and Indonesia. It contains some 130 nations and ethnic groups including Russians, Tartars, Ukrainians, Chuvashs, Jews, Bashkirs, Byelorussians and Mordovians.