1. Become an expert on Russia

2.  Largest Country in the World  Spread across continents of Europe and Asia  Population 148 Million  Many Russians moving from rural areas to cities and towns  Largest Country in the World  Spread across continents of Europe and Asia  Population 148 Million  Many Russians moving from rural areas to cities and towns

3. Czars ruled for hundreds of years  Two Czars that expanded Russia’s territory and tried to make Russia more like Europe were Peter I and Catherine II

4. Soviet Union  Communist country formed in 1922 including Russia and most territories of the old Russian Empire  Ended in 1991  Communist country formed in 1922 including Russia and most territories of the old Russian Empire  Ended in 1991

5. Joseph Stalin  Dictator of the Soviet Union in the late 1920s

6. Artic Ocean  Body of water bordering Russia to the North

7. Caspian Sea  World’s largest inland body of water

8. Kamchatka Peninsula  Finger of land jutting into the Pacific Ocean

9. Caucasus Mountains  Mountain range in southwest Russia

10. Volga River  River that handles one half of Russia’s River traffic

11. Siberia  Asian part of Russia  Large areas of Tundra and Tiaga  Asian part of Russia  Large areas of Tundra and Tiaga

12. West Siberian Plain  World’s largest area of flat land

13. Moscovy  Small territory which grew and became Russia

14. Eastern Orthodox Christianity  Religion of most of the Russian people

15. The Hermitage  One of Russia’s most famous Museums  Found in St. Petersburg  One of Russia’s most famous Museums  Found in St. Petersburg

16. Commonwealth of Independent States  Term used for Russia and other new independent republics