RUSSIA : GENERAL INFORMATION   Russia is the world's largest state, covering 17,075,200 square kilometers.   Its official name is Russian Federation. Its capital is Moscow.   There are 1,030 cities and 2,153 settlements. It is located in the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Russia borders on Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,Estonia, Finland and Norway. The largest cities are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nighny Novgorod, Samara, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Kazan, Ufa, Perm, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk.   The state structure is federal, with a republican form of government. The head of state is the president, elected for a 4-year term. Religions are Orthodox Christian, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism among others.   The state language is Russian; other languages are spoken in various regions.   Climate Moscow and St. Petersburg share similar summer temperatures, both averaging around 24°C. Moscow is frozen by the end of November, with snow remaining until early April, and has an average January temperature of around -12°C. St. Petersburg swings between lacking real darkness in summer to having only about five hours of murky light a day in winter. Its average January temperature is a sweltering -8°C. Spring in both cities brings the great thaw, the reappearance of vehicles on the road and a general sense of mayhem. Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast, experiences slightly milder weather than elsewhere in the Russian Far East. Its -13°C winter temperatures seem positively balmy compared to the northeastern town of Oymyakon, which just happens to be the coldest inhabited place on earth. Its winter temperatures drop to -65°C.   Transport There are daily flights to Moscow from all major European capitals and New York, as well as from Hong Kong and other Asian travel centres. There are also daily services to St. Petersburg from many European capitals. The main western rail gateways to European Russia are Helsinki, Warsaw, Prague and Budapest. There is a daily service from Paris and Amsterdam to Moscow via Berlin and Warsaw. There's also a service from Berlin to Omsk. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok, and you can get a train from there to Beijing. There are limited cruise and ferry services between Russia and Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Turkey and Georgia.   All visitors require a visa.   Currency : Rouble = 100 kopeyeks. Notes are in denominations of Rub 1000, 500, 100, 50 10 and 5. Major European and international credit cards, including American Express, Visa and Diners Club, are accepted in the larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants. US dollars cash are easiest to change. Very few places in Russia expect you to tip. Top-end hotels and restaurants add 5% to 15% to your bill, while porters expect around US $1 a bag. Shops have fixed prices, but in markets you'll be expected to bargain.   Currency restrictions : The import and export of local currency is prohibited. All remaining local currency must be reconverted at the point of departure. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.   Time difference between New York City (Eastern Time) and the largest cities in Russia : Moscow and St. Petersburg : +8 Samara : +9 Perm, Ufa and Yekaterinburg : +10 Irkutsk : +13 Vladivostok : + 15 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky : +17   Electricity : 220V, 50Hz Weights & measures : Metric   Public Holidays January 1 : New Year January 7 : Russian Christmas February 23 : Soldier's Day March 8 : International Women’s Day May 1-2 : Labour Day May 9 : Victory Day June 12 : Independence Day November 7 : Day of Accord and Conciliation December 12 : Constitution Day December 31 : New Year