 The Russian Federation (population 144.6 million) reaches from the Gulf of Finland to the North Pacific Ocean , an expanse of land covering 17million square kilometres. I Its boundaries border the fourteen countries of Azerbaijan , Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland and Ukraine. It is divided into 49 provinces (oblasts), 6 regions (krai), 21 republics (including Chechnya) and 10 autonomous districts. . The population is 1 .million people ( 1995 ), of whom 72.9% live in urban areas.Its boundaries border the countries of Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland and Ukraine. Natural hazards include permafrost over much of Siberia and volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands. Environmental issues centre on air and water pollution; deforestation; soil erosion and radioactive contamination. 1 Since the break-up of the Soviet Union (1991), the country has struggled to achieve economic growth and a strong market economy. The United Nations Human Development Index – which gives an insight into a country’s human rather than economic development - ranks Russia 63/175 countries worldwide. This places Russia in the medium development group. 2 |
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