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Russia is a country that baffles most people. It's insanely large, horrifically cold, and weirdly rich (in some ways). There's a reason why the "In Soviet Russia" jokes are so funny... perhaps because they're somewhat accurate...
Predominantly Women
For the last century, there have been more women living in the country than men. In a 2018 countrywide census, 10.5 million more women live in Russia than men. The female population of women is 54% and the male population is 46%. This is actually pretty explainable: women end up living much longer than men due to societal standards. More men are in dangerous careers (military, industrial, construction) while women are normally the ones who stay at home. Therefore, they are not exposed to the same dangers that the men are.
Beard Tax
In 1689, Emperor Pete I implemented a beard tax on Russian men who wore long beards. The tax varied on social status. Men who paid the tax carried around a "beard token" to prove to authorities that they had paid the tax. If you couldn't afford the tax, you'd have to shave.
Winter Swimming
Swimming in ice-cold waters isn't that weird in Russia! Every year, soon after the new year starts, Russians do an "ice plunge" into the nearest frozen-over lake. This tradition started over a hundred years ago. Even Russian elders take the plunge, claiming that it's good for their cardiovascular system!
Dash Cameras
It's not uncommon for American's to have a dashcam, but having a dashcam is not as popular as it is in Russia. Almost every car on the road has its own camera. These cameras help protect citizens from insurance fraud, which was so common in Russia that these cameras became a necessity. Now, videos that capture crazy (and mostly stupid) accidents from Russian cars are all over Youtube.
Secret Cities?
It only makes sense that a country so big would be filled with secret, unattainable cities. Russia is allegedly home to about 42 cities of which the government has classified as top secret. These cities don't appear on maps and are impossible to visit. It's not recommended that anyone tries to seek them out.
Russian Sports
The most popular sport in Russia is soccer. After that is ice hockey, handball, boxing, tennis, and car racing. Russians are famous for being incredible Olympic athletes. Their gymnastics team is historic in every way. They've also bred some of the most famous people in the sports world: Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Alexander Ovechkin, and Sergei Federov.
Fishing All Day
Russia is huge, so there's a lot of untouched lands. Untouched land means outdoor, nature activities! Since there are tons of lakes and rivers, many Russians grow up spending a day out on the water and learning how to fish. Even in the winter, ice fishing is still a celebrated sport. Most people learn how to fish in Russia, it's a given.
Tourist Traps
There are a lot of things for tourists to do in Russia. Exploring the forests and islands definitely for the more adventurous folks. Many tourists stick with the likes of Moscow and St. Petersburg, but end up getting classicly "tourist trapped." Tourists tend to pay much higher fees, and it's always easy to tell whether or not someone is a tourist. For example, many websites for attractions have a Russian page and an English page. If you're on the English page, the prices are going to be higher.
A Dozen Roses? No way!
Russians are pretty superstitious. According to them, you should never gift someone a bouquet with an even number of roses. Even-numbered flower bushels are only reserved for funerals. Even if the intention was good, never show up with an even number of flowers!
Matryoshka Dolls
Matryoshka dolls, better known as Russian Nesting Dolls in America, are a popular commodity in the large country. The doll was created by Sergey Malyutin, whose main goal was to design a doll that would last for generations. He released his first set of dolls in 1890. They are still a common staple in Russian households and can be found all over the world. He definitely got what he wanted!
Miss Russia Beauty Pageants
The Miss Russia beauty pageant is the perfect place to find the next supermodel. The pageant has been a Russian past time since 1992. The winner of this show will head to the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants. Past winners include a power engineer, ballroom dancers, a global economics student, a cybernetic systems student, and even a police officer.
Moscow is Russia's Vegas
What happens in Moscow, stays in Moscow. It can get pretty wild in one of the most popular cities in Russia. Most visitors are advised to stick to the town center at night unless they want to get wild.
Major Pollution
This is the real color of Lake Karachi. It's the most polluted lake in the world all thanks to Russia's biggest nuclear facility. Nuclear waste flows straight into the stream of the Techa River which empties out into the lake. The Russian government filled the lake with concrete to keep the waters from touching the shoreline and infecting the grounds nearby.
Helicopter Golf
You've heard of fly fishing, now get ready for helicopter golf. Russia is so big that they have the space for helicopter-based games! The operator guides a huge mallet around the course while trying to hit a 3-foot-tall ball. This isn't exactly a game that everyone can play, helicopters are still pretty expensive.
Russians Love a Good Coat Coatroom
Russian's can appreciate a good coatroom. After all, you're going to need a coat everywhere you go, so it's kind of necessary. It doesn't matter where you go: a bar, a theater, a museum, a restaurant... There will be a decently sized and organized room to hang your coat!
Russia Is Bigger Than Pluto
Well, bigger in area, of course. Russia is nearly 17 million kilometers squared while Pluto's surface area covers an estimated 16.6 kilometers squared. Russia is the biggest country on Earth, but to compare its size to a whole planet is pretty mind boggling.
The Amber Room Mystery
The Amber Room is one of the most eloquent and magnificent rooms in all of existence. The room resided in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg. The walls were made of amber panels and adorned with gold leaf. When Nazis invaded Russia in World War II, they dismantled the room and stole all of the valuable amber and gold pieces. All of the priceless artifacts are all over the world, most likely never to be seen again.
Cleaning Up The Community on Subbotnik
Every year, Russians get together to help clean up their community. This happens in every city and town across the nation. They pick up garbage, fix broken furniture and objects, and take care of recycling. This day is called "Subbotnik" and it happens once a year.
Everyone is Family
Russian families are very tight-knit. For instance, if you're meeting your partner's family for the first time, be prepared to be treated just like them. Neighborhoods and small towns are also really close-knit and everybody knows everybody. It's just the way it goes!
Record-Breaking Pipelines
A country as large as Russia would need an extensive network of resources to function. It's one of the biggest petroleum industries in the world with one of the largest reserves, so of course they have the largest pipline network. All together, the network is 259,913 kilometers long. It would wrap around the Earth six times.
Yes, There Is Swimming in Russia
Most people assume that Russia is a cold and barren wasteland, which is true for a good percentage of it. Yes, the oceans in Russia are cold to most outsiders, but to native Russians, it's simply a nice, refreshing dip. Old Russian wives' tales say that swimming in cold water is good for your health.
They Love Vodka
The love of Vodka isn't just a Russian stereotype. Sure, they love all alcohol, but vodka is a true Russian past time. Each year, especially around the holidays, the average Russian will spend $400 on vodka alone. With this statistic also comes an alcoholism problem that plagues Russians. Nearly 23,000 people die per year due to alcohol poisoning.
Chess Every Day
If you paid attention to The Queen's Gambit at all, you'd know that chess is a huge Russian pastime. It's been noted that Russians relate strongly to the game as they feel it represents their ideals. The game requires skill and critical thinking. The first state-sponsored national chess tournament was in Moscow, 1921.
Shamanistic Island
The remote island of Olkhon practices Shamanism, which is a religion that is looked down upon in most parts of the world. The reason why it's still so popular on this Russian island is because of how remote it really is. There's no room for other religions on Olkhon, especially because it's so commonly practiced.
The Cats of the Hermitage Museum
If you don't like cats, then the Hermitage Museum might not be the place for you. The museum itself is a gorgeous piece of Russian history, but there's also another main attraction: the 70 cats that have called this place their home. These cats do way more good than harm. They deal with the nasty pests that would end up ruining the priceless artwork in the building, so the owners decided to keep them around. Cats have been guarding this museum since the 1700s.
"The Lungs of the World"
Russia has the world's largest forest reserves. The amount of forest they have totally outnumbers the Amazon Rainforest. We have Russia to thank for supplying us with fresh oxygen and absorbing the carbon dioxide! These forests have been preserved from industrialization.
Fallen Monument Park
Russia was part of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. Stalin and Lenin were celebrated during that time, but younger generations realized that they were not men to be celebrated. So, the statues were torn down and put into "fallen monument park." The statues were destroyed and dismember and lay scattered about to remind folks of Russia's past mistakes.
Rabbit Memorials
Many rabbits used to live in St. Petersberg in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sadly, the city was plagued by floods which kills many rabbits and humans alike. The flooding eventually depleted the rabbit population, so the city remembers them through memorial statues all around town.
Huge Landmarks
Russia occupies over 10% of the land on Earth. With that, they have some of the biggest natural landmarks in the world. The Vola Riber flowers from central Russia to the Caspian Sea and is the biggest river on the continent. Lake Baikal in Serbia is the world's deepest lake, which holds 20% of the Earth's water supply. Lake Elton is Europe's largest saltwater lake and the Sarykum Dune in Dagestan is Eurasia's biggest sand dune.
The Famous Non-Moving Clock
There is a clock in the White Dining Room in the Hermitage Palace that's primary function is to remind viewers of a historical point in time. The clock reads 2:10 AM, which represents the time that the Bolsheviks arrested Russia's provisional government. On Oct. 25, 1917, at 2:10 AM, Russia became a communist country.
Classic Pepsi
Vice President Richard Nixon visited Russia in 1959 and participated in a televised debate with Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev. At one point, the two world leaders shared a Pepsi together, which was something that was totally unheard of in Russia. This weirdly became a memorable moment for the two countries. Now, Russia accounts for 8% of all Pepsi sales.
Beer Is Barely Considered Alcoholic
Beer officially became an alcoholic beverage in 2011. Up until that point, any drinks with less than 10% alcohol content were not deemed alcoholic. Although this law didn't really change much, beer has become more expensive which leads more Russians to drink hard alcohol.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is a beloved Russian holiday. All businesses are closed and no one goes to work. Russians also tend to take time off the week between Christmas and New Years Day. January 1st through the 5th are also national holidays. These days are spent drinking, partying, and celebrating with friends and family.
Poverty is Rampant
Roughly, there are 21 million Russians who are considered homeless. 14% of the general population earns less than $220 a month. Moscow has a huge homeless and poverty epidemic which isn't evident by the extravagant buildings that decorate the streets.
Peterhof Palace
Peter the Great decided to build a palace in Russia that mimicked the palace of Versailles. The beautiful palace is available to tour and is as historically accurate as possible. There are 150 fountains, including the most famous fountain of them all: the Bolshoy cascade. This fountain features 64 individual water spouts and 226 bronze statues.
The Metro System
The metro that operates in Moscow is one of the most critically acclaimed transportation systems in the world. Tourists make sure to stop by the tunnels to admire the beauty and hard work that was put into the planning of the system. The walls are decorated with works of art and the floors are as clean as can be. All city-systems should be like Moscow's!
Russia Being Red
Russia is commonly referred to as "red." The Red Square was built in Moscow in the 16th century. The original intent was for the square to be a market, but over the years its intention changed. Many coronations and public ceremonies have taken place in the square. The Red Square was not named for communism (obviously) but for the word "Krasnyi" which sounds like the word red but also means "beautiful."
Cold Winters
Russia is best known for being an arctic wasteland. In fact, Russia's cold climate has been helpful during war times. Napoleon and Hitler's armies perished in the frigid climate. It's so cold in Russia that icicles are a deadly offender. In the winter of 2010, icicles gravely injured over 150 pedestrians!
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Saint Basil's Cathedral is located in Red Square. It's one of the most famous buildings in the world due to its beautiful architecture and unique color pallette. It was built in 1560 by Pstnik Yakovlev. According to historical accounts, after Yakovlev finished the cathedral, Ivan the Terrible had him blinded to keep him from building anything else.
Brown Bear Addiction
The brown bears that live in Kronotsky Nature Reserve are addicted to kerosene and gas. They sniff the leftover barrels that are used to power the generators on the reserve. Sometimes, they steal the barrels and roll them back to their habitats. They will sniff it for a few minutes and then sleep for the rest of the day.
Billionaires Galore
Not all billionaires live in the states. There are 62 billionaires who live in New York City, 43 live in London, and 43 live in Hong Kong. Moscow, on the other hand, has a whopping 84 billionaires. They have a combined wealth of $366 billion in between them. Leonid Mickelson, the world's richest man, lives in Moscow. He owns Brooklyn's Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets.
St. Petersburg and Venice
St. Petersburg is known as the "Venice of the north." It has three times the amount of bridges as Venice and is much less crowded. It seems like many tourists are picking the wrong canal city to spend their time at!
Superstitions
Superstitions are popular in nearly every culture, but Russians are known to take them very seriously. Walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, shaking hands in doorways are just some of the things that Russians are afraid to do. Other superstitions include this drastic one: when a new home is built, a cat must always be the first one to enter. If the cat refuses to go into the house, it must be destroyed.
The Birthplace of Tetris
Tetris is a game by Nintendo, a Japanese company. Naturally, people think that the game itself is Japan-born, but it's not! Tetris was invented by Alexey Pajitnov, a Russian scientist and game developer. It was the very first game software that came to America from (at the time) the Soviet Union.
National Holiday: The Day of Conception
In 2003, the Russian government decided to create a holiday with the idea of bringing birth rates up. It's called the Day of Conception and is celebrated on September 12th. Ever since birth rates have gone up and many babies are born in the month of June. That's not all: the government rewards babies who are born in June, and gifts families with new household appliances or even a car.
Whale Bone Alley
Yttygran Island is a Russian island that should be on everyone's bucket list. The island is known for its Whale Bone Alley because of the whale bones that can be found there. Not only is this an interesting spot, but it's a memorial for all of the whales who lost their lives to the countries nasty whaling industry, which has since shut down. The bones were arranged by locals but found along the beach. No one is sure how.
Russian Bodybuilders
Russians are well-known for their successes in athletics. Bodybuilding is another athletic feat where Russia has the upper hand. Their most famous bodybuilders are Nadezhda Alexandrovna Yevstyukhina who won a gold medal when she was 17. Maryana Naumova is known as the youngest powerlifting champion and has 15 world records!
Famous Dog's
Two Russian dogs have been immortalized in Moscow. One dog is located in Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro station. The dog is forever standing with a statue of its owner, a well-loved patrolman. It's considered good luck to rub the dog's nose. Another dog statue is of Laika, who was sent into space and did not survive her journey. People still leave flowers for the pup in remembrance of her feat.
Political Women
Although Russia is known as a very "male-run" country, their female politicians are just as respected. Natalia Poklonskaya serves as the Deputy of the State Duma and is one of the most powerful women in the Russian government.
The Coldest Town on Earth
The small town of Oymyakon is known as the coldest town on Earth. It's located in the Yakutia region of Serbia and is surprisingly not a ghost town. The residents love the seclusion that the cold weather brings. The average winter brings the town to a frigid -58 degrees Fahrenheit. The record for the coldest day was set in 1938 at a horrifying -108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Metro Dogs Galore
Even though Moscow's metro station is known as one of the world's best, they still have one problem: the homeless dogs. These dogs live in the tunnels and train cars. Most wouldn't consider them a problem as they never bother anyone, but it is alarming to be the only one in a train car with a stray dog.
Enter: McDonald's
The first-ever McDonald's arrived on January 31, 1990. Naturally, the fast-food restaurant opened its doors right in the center of Moscow. Thousands of people got in line to enjoy one of America's favorite establishments.
Russian Stock Market
Even though Russia hosts the most billionaires in the world, its economy is not that great stock-wise. The entire Russian stock market is worth less than Apple. Apple is worth $652 billion while the entirety of the stock market in Russia is worth $513 billion. Maybe don't buy any stocks if you move there.
Constant Traffic Jams
Big Russian cities are plagued with traffic jams. There are a lot of people who flock to cities, so there are a lot of people on the roads. Not to mention that their roadway systems are extremely confusing (if you've ever watched a Russian Dash Cam compilation on Youtube, then you'd understand.) Sometimes, disgruntled people stuck in traffic call an ambulance that will have to break up the traffic, and then they follow said ambulance as it makes way for them. That's a bit much!
Trans-Siberian Railway
Since Russia is physically the largest country in the world, trains became a necessity. They have the longest railway system called the Trans-Siberian Railway. This railway travels from the country's European side all the way to the Asian Pacific coast. It takes 152 hours to complete a full trip.
Country Rivalry
Russia and the United States have always had a bitter rivalry. The two superpowers had high tensions during the Cold War, which divided the world. The two countries are pretty different ideologically. Funny enough, they own two pieces of land right next to each other. In the Bering Strait, the island of Big Diomede belongs to Russia and the island of Little Diomede belongs to the US. The distance between the two? Two miles.
Tunneling To Alaska
Russians have been planning an underground tunnel to Alaska for years. It would be a two-way, 64-mile tunnel under the Bergin Strait. The project is called TKM-World Link. It'll take another 10-15 years to complete and is funded by Russia, the US, China, and Canada.
Incredible Wildlife
Russia is home to some of the most beautiful wild animals. The Siberian Tiger, the Siberian Roe Deer, the Russian Bear, and others, call this cold desolate, land home. The Zov Tigra National Park has been established to help conserve these creatures.
The Russian Language
Russian is the official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Over 260 million people around the world identify Russian as their first language. This is a unique language that has no "definite" or "indefinite" articles, meaning that they don't use articles such as the English "the" or "an" which seems impossible to those who don't speak the language.
Cosmonauts
The Space Race was mainly between Russia and the United States. In the 1950s, people were very concerned about how would get to the moon first. In 1959, Russia took the lead with Sputnik and cosmonauts. Russia used their own citizens for test launches and lost many lives because of its less-than-ideal tests.
Journalists vs. Putin
It's no secret that Putin doesn't like journalists. They try to expose him for what he's and his government are doing time and time again. He's known for throwing journalists in jail. Many journalists who investigate Putin have also been murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya. She was threatened, beaten, poisoned, and shot in her own apartment by an unknown assailant.