Moscow Introduction

City Introduction

Moscow is the capital and the largest city of Russia. It is a major political, economic, cultural, and scientific center of Russia and Eastern Europe. The city has served as the capital of a progression of states, from the medieval Grand Duchy of Moscow and the subsequent Tsarist Russia to the Soviet Union and the contemporary Russian Federation. Moscow is considered as the center of Russian culture, having served as the home of Russian artists, scientists, and sports figures. In 1980, Moscow held the 22th Olympic Games.

(Image source: www.kreml.ru)

History

The first known reference to Moscow dates from 1147 as a meeting place of Yuri Dolgorukiy and Sviatoslav Olgovich. In 1380, Prince Dmitry Donskoy of Moscow led a united Russian army to an important victory over the Mongols. Afterwards, Moscow took the leading role in liberating Russia from Mongol rule. Moscow ceased to be Russia's capital when Peter the Great moved his government to the newly built Saint Petersburg in 1712. When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, the residents of Moscow were evacuated. There was a great fire in the city and Napoleon’s army was forced to retreat and was nearly annihilated by the devastating Russian winter and attacks by Russian military forces.

Following the success of the Russian Revolution of 1917, Vladimir Lenin moved the capital from Saint Petersburg back to Moscow in 1918. When the USSR was dissolved in 1991, Moscow became a capital of the Russian Federation.

Natural Environment

Moscow is situated on the banks of the Moskva River. Teplostanskaya highland is the city's highest point at 255 meters. The width of Moscow city from west to east is 39.7 km, and the length from north to south is 51.8 km.

Climate

Moscow has a humid continental climate with long, cold winters usually lasting from mid-November through the end of March, and warm summers. Typical high temperatures in the warm months of June, July, and August are around a comfortable 20 to 26 °C. During the winter, average temperatures normally drop to approximately −10 °C.

Holidays:

New Year's Day January 1, 2

Christmas Day January 7

Defenders of the Fatherland Day February 23

International Women's Day March 8

Labor Day/May Day May 1, 2

Victory Day May 9

Independence Day June 12

Day of Accord and Reconciliation November 7

Constitution Day 12 December