Let yourself be surprised by the most interesting and fun Russia facts for kids!

Russia is an extensive country, chacterized by an intriguing history that is really worth discovering, at all ages. That’s why I have dedicated an entire family tour to St Petersburg, a city rich in culture that can be discovered with a super fun and engaging Tapsy Tour!

TOP 9 RUSSIA FACTS FOR KIDS

1.  THE NATURAL FREEZER

If you think Russia is just “cold”, that’s because you haven’t been told that in the country you can find the coldest place…on Earth! Its name is Oymyakon. The coldest tempeture ever recorded? -67.8° C, about -90° F!

2. BORDER WITHOUT BOTHER

With so many as 14 countries, Russia is the country with more borders in whole Europe. The full list? Here you are: Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, China, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and North Korea.

3. LONG AND WILD

If you like trains, you are in the right place. Russia owns the longest railway in the world. Probably you have already heard about it: the Trans Siberian. It goes from Moscow to Vladivostok, taking eight days of travel and crossing 8 time zones.

4. A PLANET ON A PLANET

With 17 million square kilometres, it has been calculated that Russia in so extended that it surface almost reaches the one of the planet Pluto!

5. WHO’S NEXT?

One of the most characteristic icons of Russia are the Matryoshka dolls. But, have you ever stopped and asked yourself what are their origins and meaning? It’s time to see what’s what. Matryoshka dolls where originally designed, carved and painted by two craftsmen in 1890 to be toys for kids. The first one had 8 dolls one inside the other, starting from the mother, passing through the little boys and girls and finishing with the inner one, the baby. In fact, Matryoshka dolls are associated with the value of family, very much felt in Russia.

6. USA, MY NEIGHBOUR!

Although Russia and USA seem to be very far from each other in maps, in reality they are not. In fact, there is a point of the Russian country that is extremely close to the USA: just 4 kilometers! That’s the distance between the Russian Big Diomede Island and the USA Little Diomede Island, belonging to the state of Alaska.

7. REACH ME IF YOU CAN

For all those who have no fear of heights, that’s for you! The highest peak in whole Europe can be found nothing less than in Russia. With 5,642m (18,510 ft) of height, the Mount Elbrus is a true giant of the montains.

8. WHICH CONTINENT AM I?

Russia can be considered a transcontinental country. In fact, it extends in both Europe and Asia. The curious thing is that, although only one quarter of its territory lies in Europe, almost the 80% of Russian population lives there.

9. WHO WANTS TO SLEEP?

Due to the extreme latitude of some regions in Russia, for about two summer months a year, the sun doesn’t properly set at night, on the contrary it is still visible all night long. This means that nights in these areas are not dark and you can enjoy the “White Nights” festivals that are organized every year to emphasize this phenomenon. Among the most famous ones are St Petersburg ones, where my Tapsy Tour takes place!

Tapsy