1. Russia
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Russia is the largest territorial country in the world, nearly twice as large as the next largest, Canada.

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2. Russia is mostly cold and/or dry. Extensive mountains separate it from warmer subtropical air and the country lies open to arctic air masses.

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3. Russia was one of the world’s major colonial powers. Under the czars, Russia put together the largest contiguous empire. As communist Soviet Union they expanded upon that.

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4. Russia’s population is relatively small considering its large size – 145 million. It has a decreasing population. Most of the population lives in the western 1/5 of the country.

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5. Development is mostly west of the Ural Mountains.

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6. Russia is a multicultural country with 21 internal republics, originally based on ethnicity.

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7. The switch from communism left Russia in economic disarray. Wealthy tycoons consolidated power early (basically Putin’s buddies).

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8. Russia has long been a source of raw materials but not a manufacturer of export products, except weaponry. This makes Russia very vulnerable to changes in the commodities market, especially energy resources.

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9. Russia has been increasing its military presence in the world and trying to influence the former Soviet republics that broke away from Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union.