Russia

Russia (Russian: Россия, tr. Rossiya, pronounced `{`rɐˈsʲijə`}`), or the Russian Federation,`{`b`}` is a country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, covering over 17,125,191 square kilometres (6,612,073 sq mi), and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass. Russia extends across eleven time zones, and borders sixteen sovereign nations, the most of any country in the world.`{`c`}` It is the ninth-most populous country, and the most populous country in Europe, with a population of 145.5 million. Moscow, the capital, is the largest city entirely within Europe; while Saint Petersburg is the country's second-largest city and cultural centre.