Category Social Sciences

What made the U.S.S.R special?

The birth of a new order in Russia was not just something that happened within the borders of that country: it affected the whole world and redrew the world map.

In 1922, Russia signed a treaty along with its neighbouring countries Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia and formed the Soviet Socialist Republics, chaired by Lenin. The organisation then grew to include 15 Soviet Republics, forming a mammoth nation with a long name, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R). It was nothing like the world had ever seen. The world’s first and biggest communist state, it stood up against the capitalist West as the face of Communism.

The U.S.S.R was totally controlled by the Communist Party. The largest country while it existed, it was spread across more than 22.4 million square kilometres and covered a distance of 10,900 kilometres from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. More than a hundred distinct nationalities were included in the USSR, the majority of the population made up of East Slavs. Its capital was Moscow and the official language, Russian. It also had other languages like Ukrainian, Georgian, Kasakh, Armenian and Azerbaijani. The USSR was an atheistic nation and owed no allegiance to any religion.

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What is the parliament of Russia known as?

The Russian parliament is known as the Federal Assembly of Russia. It comprises two houses: The State Duma, which is the lower house, and the Federation Council, which is the upper house.

The Federation Council consists of two representatives from each region. Out of the two representatives, one is of the legislative branch which is the regional parliament, and another one is from the executive branch, which is the regional government. Each member of the Federation Council is called a senator. Along with them, 30 other senators are appointed by the president. The Federation Council is a permanent body and it cannot be dissolved by the president, like the State Duma. Its meetings are held as necessary, but it happens at least twice a month.

The first State Duma was elected on December 12th, 1993, and it was the same day on which the Constitution of the Russian Federation was approved at a nationwide constitutional referendum.

As per the Russian constitution, the State Duma has 450 deputies. Elections to the State Duma happen every five years. Deputies in the State Duma belong to different political parties and are not like the Federation Council.

Any Russian citizen over the age of 21 and eligible to participate in elections can become an elected deputy to the State Duma.

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Which city is the capital of Russia?

Moscow, which is Russia’s largest city in terms of its population, is its capital city. Moscow is the centre of the Russian government, and also houses the Kremlin, which is the working place of the Russian president.

Moscow was the centre of the Orthodox Church after the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. This played an important role in Russia’s history as the very first trading settlement came into being here. This trading centre dates back to the 10th century Slavic communities. The name Moscow was first recorded in the year 1147, when Prince Yury Dolgoruky, who ruled the region, sent an invitation to his allies.

In the 13th century, Moscow was attacked by the Mongols. It became a centre of power when Ivan III successfully staved off the Mongol invasions. He also managed to conquer the neighbouring countryside. The famous brick walls of the Kremlin were added as part of the renovation works initiated by Ivan to commemorate these events.

Tsar Peter the Great moved the capital of the country to St. Petersburg in 1712, but after the revolution of 1917, Moscow became the official capital again.

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What is Russia’s geography like?

Russia is spread across the continents of Europe and Asia. The country is surrounded by three oceans as well-the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Arctic oceans. Russia has many different landscapes across its geographical area, which includes deserts, mountains, frozen coastline, and marshy lands. Most of its land is covered in treeless plains called steppes. Siberia, which occupies three quarters of the country’s land area, contains pine forests in large areas. These forests are called taigas.

Russia also boasts about her natural resources, which include about 100,000 rivers. It also has a number of lakes such as Lake Baikal, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega, which are some of the largest lakes in Europe. What is interesting is that Lake Baikal in Siberia contains more water in it than any other lake on Earth! This lake is 1642 metres deep and is the deepest and clearest of all lakes in the world. It is home to over 1700 species of plants and animals, two thirds of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The country is also home to major rivers like the Volga, the Dnieper and Dvina, the Lena, the Ob, and Yenisey, and the Amur.

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Why is Russia unique?

We have all been hearing a lot about Russia and its conflict with Ukraine, recently. But how much do you know about Russia as a country and its rich history?

It is the largest country in the world and covers a huge land area of over 17,125,191 square kilometres. That is, Russia takes up one-eighth of our planet’s livable land! The Russian Federation, which is the other name of the country, is spread across eleven time zones and is home to 145.5 million people. This makes Russia the most populous European country and the ninth-most populous country in the world.

Russia is considered to be one of the most powerful countries of the world. It is also a potential superpower. While we talk about the economy of a country, we talk in terms of nominal GDP and GDP, two markers which help us to understand how well the nation is performing economically. Russia’s economy is the world’s eleventh largest in terms of nominal GDP and sixth largest in terms of GDP. The country also has the world’s second-most powerful military – Russia’s military expenditure is the world’s fourth highest. It also has the world’s largest stock of nuclear weapons.

Apart from this, Russia is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and contains vast mineral and energy resources, and produces oil and gas in large quantities for consumption.

Russia holds a permanent position in the United Nations Security Council. It is also a member of the G20 (Group of Twenty), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), the Council of Europe, the BRICS (an acronym coined to associate Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), the IIB (International Investment Bank), and the WTO (World Trade Organization). It is also the member of the CIS (Centre for Internet Security), the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), and the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union).

As we know, Russia’s recent conflict with Ukraine has turned the Western countries against Russia. So, the present situation and Russia’s position in various world organizations may very well undergo a change.

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WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE DOOLIN CAVE OF IRELAND?

Poll-an-lonain, a limestone cave in Doolin, Ireland, has the longest known free-hanging stalactite in Europe. It is 7.3 m in length and is known as the Great Stalactite. The cave was discovered in 1952 and it is assumed that the Great Stalactite was formed over thousands and thousands of years. The Doolin Cave opened to the public in 2006.

Doolin Caves (or Poll-an-Ionain) is a limestone cave near Doolin in County Clare, Ireland, on the western edge of The Burren. The cave is accessible as a show cave and is marketed as Doolin Cave.

The cave was discovered in 1952 by J. M. Dickenson and Brian Varley of Craven Pothole Club, an English caving club based in the Yorkshire Dales. Doolin Cave is member of the Burren Eco-tourism network and holds a gold award from Eco-tourism Ireland for standards of excellence in sustainable tourism.

Doolin Cave is home to the Great Stalactite. At 7.3 metres (23feet) it is the longest free-hanging stalactite in the Northern Hemisphere. The Great Stalactite, suspended from the ceiling like a chandelier, is truly astounding. Visitors can hardly believe that it was formed from a single drop of water over thousands of years.

Credit: Irish Tourism

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