The Kremlin and St.

Basil’s
Cathedral

Neil Treni
Global Connections
Russian Federation Map
Russian Federation Information

• The Russian Federation - Largest of the 21 republics that

make up the Commonwealth of Independent States
• Was the center of the Communist empire, Cold War with
the United States, is the government center of the Russian
Federation, site of many international meetings
• Located in both Europe and Asia
• Area – 17,075,200 mi.2
• Population – 144,530,000
• Capital – Moscow
• Currency – Ruble
 Russian Federation Information

• People - 79.8% Russian, 3.8% Tatar, 2% Ukrainian, 1.2%

Bashkir, 1.1% Chuvash, 0.9% Chechen, 0.8% Armenian,
10.3% non-specified ethnicity
• Climate – Steppes in the south, humid continental in
European Russia, Subarctic in Siberia, tundra climate in
the polar north
• Imports – Machinery, consumer goods, medicines, meat,
sugar, and semi-finished metal products
• Exports – Petroleum, natural gas, wood, metals, chemicals,
and civilian and military manufactures
 Russian Federation Culture

• Government – Semi-Presidental Federal Republic

• Language – Russian (82%), Ukrainian, Byelorussian
• Religion – Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%,
other Christian 2%
• Education - Literacy rate 100%, focus on reading and
math, must pass rigorous tests for further two years of
secondary education, even tougher to attend a university
• Technology – defense industries including radar, missile
production, vehicles, aircraft
 Russian Federation Culture

• Art – Porcelain collections, Fabrege, Jewelry

• Music – Classical, Folk, Pop, Hip Hop, Rock
• Recreation – Camping, Golf, Hiking
• Customs – Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
• Food –
– Main courses: Potato, bread, eggs, meat, butter
– Desserts – Pancakes, Oladi, Pastries
Tvorog, Syrniki
 The Kremlin
• The Kremlin is a historic fortified
complex in Moscow, Russia
• Serves as the official residence of the
President of Russia
• Includes Red Square, four palaces, four
cathedrals
• Enclosed by the Kremlin wall with
Kremlin towers
 Kremlin - History
• Continuously inhabited since the 2nd millennium
BC
• The word "kremlin" was first recorded in 1331
• Kremlin means fortress
• First stone structures were built late 1320s and
early 1330s
• Buildings have undergone many transformations
depending on who was in power at the time
 St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible 1555-

1561
• Named Cathedral of Saint Basil the
Blessed in 1588 after the Russian
Orthodox saint
• Features distinctive onion domes
 History of Major Structures
• Churches of Cathedral Square built 1479-1508

• Kremlin wall and towers built 1485-1495

• Ivan the Great Bell Tower built 1505-1508

• Grand Kremlin Palace was constructed in 1839-

1849 to serve as the residence of the Tsar
 Cathedral Square
• The heart of the Kremlin
• Surrounded by six buildings, including
three cathedrals
• Cathedral of the Dormition - 1479
– the main church of Moscow and where all the
Tsars were crowned
• Cathedral of the Annunciation - 1489
• Cathedral of the Archangel Michael – 1508
 Kremlin wall and towers
• Forms an irregular triangle
• Area = 275,000 square meters (68 acres)
• Length = 2235 meters (2444 yards)
• Height ranges from 5 to 19 meters
• There are 20 towers in all
• All are square, except three have circular
sections
 Ivan the Great Bell Tower
• Tallest of the bell
towers that ring the
Kremlin
• Height = 81 meters
(266 feet)
• Marks Moscow's
precise geographic
center
Grand Kremlin Palace
• Built 1837 -
1851
• Length = 125
meters
• Height = 47
meters
• Area = 25,000
square meters
• Has over 700
rooms
 Red Square
• Considered the central square of Moscow
and Russia
• Separates the Kremlin from a historic
merchant quarter
• Major streets of Moscow radiate from it
in all directions
• Named from the Russian word, krasnaya,
meaning either "red" or "beautiful"
 Bibliography
http://www.visaexpress.net/russia/arts.htm
http://www.waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/RussianFood
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/countrylisting.htm
l
Geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm
www.factmonster.com/countries.html
www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_infopays.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremlin