The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow. It is a historic city over 850 years old. With a population of almost 10 million people, Moscow is the biggest political, industrial, scientific, cultural and education centre of Russia.
Moscow is located in the centre of the European part of the country on the banks of the Moskva River. The city lies in a moderate continental climate zone and has a mean January temperature of -11°C and a July temperature of 19°C. Although sometimes, in the winter months, the temperature may even drop to -20°C.
Most of us probably associate Russia with the Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral with its many colourful domes. The Red Square is the main square in Moscow and is dominated by the Kremlin.
Moscow is the main political centre of Russia and is where the legislature resides. The Russian legislature is divided into the State Duma and the Council of Federation. The council has 178 members, two from each of Russia’s 89 regions. One of the two members is appointed by the president or governor of the region while the other is elected by the local assembly. The State Duma has 250 members who are elected by the whole population of the Federation. Russia’s executive branch of the government is headed by the President. He appoints the Prime Minister with the approval of the State Duma.
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Like other big cities in the world, Moscow carries with it similar dangers and security issues. Visitors to this city are advised to be cautious, especially when traveling alone, and to use common sense. On a comparative level, however, it is still far safer overall than other equivalent capital cities in the world.
