17 facts you may not know about Russia

17 facts you may not know about Russia:
1. Russia is the largest country in the world,  with an area of 17.1 million square kilometers  spread across 11 time  zones.
2. The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, covering  more than 9,000 kilometers from Moscow to  Vladivostok.
3. Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, is the deepest freshwater lake  in the world and  contains about 20% of the  world's unfrozen  fresh water.
4. The Moscow Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe and serves as the official residence of the President of  Russia.
5. The Bolshoi  Theatre of Russia, founded in 1776, is one of the most  famous ballet and opera companies  in the world. 6. The Russian language uses the Cyrillic  alphabet, which differs from the Latin alphabet used in many other  languages.
7. St.  Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is known for its colorful onion-shaped domes and unique architectural  style.
8. Russia  experiences a unique phenomenon known as the "White Nights,"  which occur in St. Petersburg  in the summer, when the sun barely  sets.
9. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, with over 3 million  objects.
10. Russia is home to the coldest inhabited place on Earth, Oymyakon, where temperatures can drop below -60°C  (-76°F). 11. Vodka, one of  Russia's most famous exports,  takes its name from the Russian word "voda,"  which means water.
12. The Matryoshka doll, or Russian nesting doll, is a popular symbol of Russian folk  art.
13. Russia launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, marking the beginning of space  exploration.
14. The Ural Mountains serve as a natural border between Europe and Asia, and Russia  straddles both  continents.
15. Red Square in Moscow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and  is home to iconic  monuments such as Lenin's Mausoleum and St. Basil's  Cathedral. 16. Russia is one of the world's largest producers of natural gas, oil, and  diamonds.
17. The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg served as the official residence of  the Russian.