Russia. Moscow. Society, Culture, Geography

Polina Lemenkova

► To cite this version:

Polina Lemenkova. Russia. Moscow. Society, Culture, Geography. Invited Speech at the Seminar, Taiwan National University (NTU), Department of Geography, Taiwan National Univ. (NTU), Department of Geography, May 2013, Taipei, Taiwan. pp.30, 10.6084/m9 figshare.7435424.v1. cel-01991146

HAL Id: cel-01991146

https://hal.science/cel-01991146

Submitted on 28 Jan 2019

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>
Russia. Moscow.
Society, culture, geography...

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>Polina Lemenkova,
visiting researcher at National Taiwan University</figcaption></figure>
General information about Russia

Russia (the Russian Federation) is located both in Europe and Asia.

With an area of 17 098 246 км², it is the largest country in the world.

It's capital is Moscow.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>
# Politics of Russia

* Russia borders with 18 countries, which is the largest neighboring number in the world.

* Russia is industrial country with difficult political structure and constantly developing economy

* Russia is notable for extremely high cultural and ethnical diversity and multi-nationality.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>
# Geographic features of Russia

One of the notable features of Russia is water resources: it borders **Pacific** ocean, **Arctic**, and seas from the **Atlantic** ocean (Baltic, Black and Azov)

The Ural Mountains geographically cross the country (and Eurasia continent) into Europe and Asia

75% of the territory is occupied by plains and lowlands. Mountains are mostly located in the south and east.

Major of the territory lies above the 50°N. Northern territories lie beyond the Polar circle. Therefore, the country has 3 major climate types: 1) moderate, 2) sub-Arctic and 3) Arctic climate.
Language and social facts

Population of Russia is 143 M (the 9th in the world).

Official language is Russian (русский)

Religion: 75% of the Russian population are Christians (Russian Orthodox Church). Among other religions we have buddhists, muslims, traditional tribe religions, etc.

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>A traditional popular Russian doll "Matryoshka":</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>
# Moscow Metro (MRT)

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

Very famous is Moscow metro, created since 1935.

The Moscow metro is intensely used. Its "traffic" and passengers capacity is number 4 in the world (after Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing).

It has complex structure with main circle and radial lines crossing each other.
Comparing with other metros...

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>Taipei</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>London</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>Budapest</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>Tokyo</figcaption></figure>
# Moscow Metro

Moscow metro is known for its outstanding beauty in classic palace-style: marble & granite columns, paintings, splendid lighters, stone fretwork, stained glass... 44 of the existing 188 stations are considered to be the objects of Russian Cultural Heritage

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

metro.RU © Art Lefebvre Studio, Photo by Balázs
A bit more pictures of metro...

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /></figure>
# Visiting Moscow metro...

Many tourist groups visiting Moscow will go downstairs to look at the stations' interior and take pictures.

One single metro ticket costs 30 RUB (~ NTD 28). There are smart-card available for use (similar to EasyCard in Taipei MRT).

However, in rush hours (7-9 AM and 6-7 PM) it is very crowded...

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /></figure>
# Science. Space.

The Russian contribution to the development of space industry is well-known.

Some facts about Russian cosmos exploration:

1) Y. Gagarin is a first man on the Earth who traveled in outer space (April 12, 1961).

2) Soviet space program contributed to the cosmos exploration. The "Roscosmos" Russian Federal Space Agency is one of the leading space organization (as ESA, NASA, etc).

<figure><img src="image_25.png" /></figure>
# Science. Space. The important facts.

USSR (the Soviet Union) did fantastically successful results in space exploration. Some important facts that are done in space science by Russia for the humanity:

1) intercontinental ballistic missile (1957),

2) first satellite (Sputnik-1),

3) first animal in space (the dog Laika on Sputnik 2),

4) first spacewalk (cosmonaut A. Leonov on Voskhod 2),

5) first Moon impact (Luna 2),

6) first image of the far side of the moon (Luna 3)

7) unmanned lunar soft landing (Luna 9),

8) first space rover,

9) first space station, and

10) first interplanetary probe.

11) first human in space and Earth orbit (cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on Vostok 1),

12) first woman in space and Earth orbit (cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok 6)

<figure><img src="image_26.png" /></figure>
# Science. Exploration of Polar regions

Russia has large territories and aquatories in Arctic. Russian scientists (together with U.S. and Canada) made colossal contribution into the studies of cold regions.

The Arctic contains enormous natural resources. For example, the oil that is stored in Arctic shelf area is about 90 billions of barrels. At the same time, the exploration of natural resources in Polar regions is both highly difficult and dangerous.

<figure><img src="image_27.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_28.png" /></figure>
# Science. Exploration of Arctic.

The difficulty of Arctic exploration is caused by specific climate, vulnerability of the ecosystems and high risk of technical accidents, faults and emergency situations in cold climate and Polar night.

For that special devices and vessels have been created by the Russian scientists (e.g. **Atomic (nuclear) ice-breakers**, as on the picture below).

Russia is the first and the only country which has an **Arctic Drifting Research Station "Barneo"**- created directly in the pack ice in the deep Arctic Ocean (89° N).

<figure><img src="image_29.png" /></figure>
# Culture (I): Music in Russia

Musical education is important
tradition in Russian society.

Many families let their children attend Music School and learn to play piano or violin (or other instruments), or sing in a chorus.

<figure><img src="image_30.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_31.png" /></figure>

Both classic music and modern
one (jazz, techno, pop, etc) are
popular.

There are many jazz clubs and
didjeys playing fun music.

Also various musician groups visit
Moscow to give concerts.
Culture (II): Arts

One cannot talk about Russia and not mention ballet.

The first ballet performance took
place in 1672 in Moscow.

Since then it developed to its highest
state of the art.

Now it is a world-known "visit card" of
Russian dance arts and highest
achievement of Russian culture.

Modern Russian ballet has classic
tradition with European dance
techniques & styles.

<figure><img src="image_32.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_33.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_34.png" /></figure>
# Why does the Russian ballet is world-known ?

The world reputation of Russian ballet
is caused by the combination of
**romance in performance and**
**virtuosity of dance technique.**

The dance style is achieved by the
special difficult **training system** in
the ballet schools, formed during
XIX-XX centuries.

The most famous ballet school is
*Moscow State Academy of*
*Choreography.*

The ballet education starts at 6
years and lasts until 18 years.

<figure><img src="image_35.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_36.png" /></figure>
# Russian greatest theaters

## Bolshoi ("the Great") Theater, Moscow

Two most important and famous
Russian theater are:

1) **Bolshoi ("The Great") Theater**
   (Moscow)

2) **Mariinsky Theater (St.-Petersburg).**

These theaters have both operas and
ballets.

In Moscow there are 165 (!) various
"smaller" theaters in total.

<figure><img src="image_37.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_38.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_39.png" /></figure>
Theaters in Russia (continue)

The level of the performance is comparable with the best scenes of the world (e.g. *La Scala* in Milano, *Metropoliten Opera* in New York, *Sydney Opera Hall* in Australia, *Viennese State Opera* in Austria, etc.).

<figure><img src="image_40.png" /><figcaption>Mariinsky Theater, St.-Petersburg</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_41.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_42.png" /></figure>
Culture (III): Architecture

Moscow center has different architectural styles. This include:

- Soviet-style “Stalin-époque” buildings,

- buildings of XIX century and older,

- modern office center and mega-malls

- typical 5-10-storey "living" buildings where residents live

- churches

- cultural & governmental buildings

Some photos of Moscow streets and examples of
different architecture styles are shown on the next slides...
Soviet-style classic

<figure><img src="image_43.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_44.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_45.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_46.png" /></figure>
Christian Churches

<figure><img src="image_47.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_48.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_49.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_50.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_51.png" /></figure>
<figure><img src="image_52.png" /><figcaption>Moscow Kremlin</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_53.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_54.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_55.png" /></figure>
Old city. Arbat street.

<figure><img src="image_56.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_57.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_58.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_59.png" /></figure>
Moscow = old + new city...

<figure><img src="image_60.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_61.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_62.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_63.png" /></figure>
# Russian cuisine: meals

Russian cuisine is a combination of diverse styles: Ukrainian, Siberian, Central Russian, European, Asian. Normally, the lunch has a soup (meat or fish & vegetables), a main dish and a salad.

<figure><img src="image_64.png" /><figcaption>Vermicelli, vegetables & meat soup</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_65.png" /><figcaption>Fish salmon soup</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_66.png" /></figure>
# Russian cuisine: pancakes

Though we don't prepare them every day, but **pancakes** are one of the most popular and favorite meals.

They can be both sweet (e.g. with honey strawberry jam, etc.)

<figure><img src="image_67.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_68.png" /></figure>

... or nourishing (with meat), cheese, fish, etc. :

<figure><img src="image_69.png" /></figure>
# Russian cuisine: pies (“pirogi”)

Pies are very popular in Russian cuisine. We buy them “ready made” in many small cafeterias as well as prepare by themselves (in an oven).

<figure><img src="image_70.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_71.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_72.png" /></figure>
# Moscow: coffeehouses

There are also adopted style of
food that are popular in
modern Russia: Sushi bars,
Italian Pizzerias,
many different European cafés,
Irish bars, Indian and Chinese
restaurants, Starbucks, etc.

<figure><img src="image_73.png" /></figure>

The most known coffeehouses
in Moscow are “Shokoladnitsa” :

...and “Kofemania”:

<figure><img src="image_74.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_75.png" /></figure>
Thank you for your attention !
Questions ?