What Are the Russian States?

Like the United States, Russia is a federation. The Russian Federation has 83 federal subjects or sub-national levels of government. Each federal subject is represented by two delegates in the Federation Council, which is the upper house of the Federal Assembly. Subjects are also organized in eight federal districts, which are administered by an envoy appointed by the president of Russia, who serves as a liaison between the federal subjects and the federal government.

Oblasts

• The most common federal subjects are oblasts. As of May 2011, there are 46 oblasts, also known as provinces or regions, recognized in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Each oblast is named after its capital city. Although provincial legislatures are locally elected, governors of each oblast are appointed by the federal government. Unlike republics, oblasts have charters rather than constitutions.

Republics

• Republics are relatively autonomous in comparison to provinces and territories in the Russian Federation. Unlike oblasts and krais, republics have their own constitution and official language, along with Russian. Republics also have their own parliament and president. There are 21 republics in the Russian Federation, as of May 2011. Republics are often home to ethnic minorities and have been established since 1919. Despite their autonomy, republics are still represented by the federal government in international affairs.

Krais

• The Russian Federation includes nine krais, or territories. These regions are similar to oblasts, although they retain their designation as territories because of their historical role as frontier regions. They maintain their own elected legislatures and charters, and have governors appointed by the central government. As of May 2011, Russia's krais were Altay, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorsky, Stavropol and Zabaykalsky.

Autonomous Okrugs

• Autonomous okrugs, or autonomous districts, were once autonomous entities within oblasts and krais. They were created specifically for minor ethnic minorities, and as of May 2011, there are four in Russia. Autonomous okrugs remain administrative subdivisions of krais or oblasts. Although these districts are federal subjects, they remain administratively subordinate to the krai or oblast they are part of, with the exception of Chukotka. Khanty-Mansi and Yamalo-Nenets are subordinate to Tyumen Oblast, and Nenets is subordinate to Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Autonomous Oblasts

• Beginning in 1990, all of the autonomous oblasts were elevated to republics. The Jewish Autonomous Oblast is the only autonomous oblast or autonomous province remaining in the Russian Federation, as of May 2011. Tracing its roots to 1930, the region is located in the Russian Far East ,and from 1938 to 1991 it was an administrative subordinate of the Khabarovsk Territory. In 1991, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast was elevated to a full federal subject in the constitution.

Federal Cities

• Moscow and St. Petersburg are classified as federal cities or cities of federal importance in the Russian Federation, placing them above other cities in the country. They are federal subjects recognized in the constitution and act as separate regions. The mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg are the administrative leaders of the regions, similar to governors in oblasts. Moscow shares its borders with the Moscow Oblast, while St. Petersburg is surrounded by the Leningrad Oblast.

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What Are Two Russian Landforms?

Russia is the largest country in the world, and it covers one-seventh of the world's landmass. Because of its massive size, Russia contains some of the most diverse ecosystems of any country in the world, from the arctic hinterland of Siberia to the steppes in the south of the country. As part of these ecosystems, there are numerous landmasses in Russia that define the landscape of the country.

The Volga Delta

• The Volga Delta is the largest delta in Russia and the whole of Europe. The delta is created by the Volga emptying out into the Caspian Sea. The delta is home to a large variety of plant life, much of which is rare. Some types of plants found in the delta include the sacred lotus and water chestnuts. The delta is inhabited by many types of animals, including 230 species of birds, 61 species of fish and 30 species of mammals.

The Kama River

• The Kama River, starting in the Upper Kama Upland in Udmurtia, is the largest tributary to the Volga River. The river is 1,125 miles long and passes through the cities of Solikamsk, Berezniki, Perm, Sarapul and Naberezhnye Chelny. The river serves as a waterway connecting many cities, including Perm and Moscow. There are many different types of fish living in the river, including sturgeon, perch and carp. The river provides electricity to cities along its banks through dams and hydroelectric generators.

Kuznetsk Basin

• The Kuznetsk Basin is a 10,000-square-mile basin that is known for its many coal deposits. The basin was the second largest coal producing site in the Soviet region. The region has a history of being an industrial center, with the first iron-smelting works founded there in 1697. Coal was discovered in the basin in 1721 and was mined starting in 1851.

Khamar-Daban Mountains

• The Khamar-Daban Mountains are located south of Lake Baikal, close to the border of Mongolia and Russia. The mountains are a relatively low chain, with an altitude of only 1.24 to 1.43 miles in height. The climate is wet and mild, and most of the range is undeveloped and inside the Baikalsky National Park. Fauna in the range include deer, grouse and bear. Flora include birch, pine and fir.

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