Introduction.

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its administrative, economic, political and educational centre.

It is one of Russia’s major cities with the population of about 10 million people. It’s total area about 900 thousand square kilometers. The city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147. At that time it was a small settlement on the bank of the Moskva River. By the 15th century, however, Moscow had grown into wealthy city.

The city developed very quickly and in the 16th century, under Ivan the Terrible, Moscow became the capital of the state of Muscovy. Early in the 18th century Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg, but Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack in 1812. During the Patriotic War of 1812 the city was captured by the French army, and three quarters of ti were destroyed by fire, but by the middle of the 19th century Moscow had been completely rebuilt.

Modern Moscow is the seat of the government of the Russian Federation. President of Russia lives and works here; government offices are located here, too.

Moscow is known for its many historical buildings, museums and art galleries, as well as for the famous Bolshoi, Maly and Art theatres. There are more than 80 museums in Moscow, among them the unique Puskin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Andrey Rubliov Musium of Early Russian Art and many others.

Being the capital of the Russian Federation and one of the most beautiful Russian cities, Moscow attracts tourists from all over the world. The city is known for its beautiful old cathedrals, churches and monasteries. Some of them date from 15th to the 17th centuries. Before the revolution of 1917 Moscow had 350 churches, but many of them were destroyed after the revolution.

The oldest part of Moscow is the Kremlin. This is the main tourists’ attraction in Moscow. The Kremlin has become the synonym of Russian government and Russia.

Orientation

Picture Moscow as four ring roads spreading out from the centre; radial roads spoke out across the rings, and the Moscow River meanders across everything from northwest to southeast.

The first ring is the Inner Ring road formed by Mokhovaya ulitsa, Okhotny ryad, Teatralny proezd, Novaya ploshad and Staraya ploshad.

The second is the Boulevard Ring three-quarters of a circle about 1km from the Kremlin.

Third is the Garden Ring a full circle about 24km out.

The fourth, much father out, is Moscow’s Outer Ring road some 15km from the Krimlin in the east and west, and 19km north and south. A few protuberances apart, it forms the city limits.  

General facts

Moscow is the capital of Russian Federation.

Total area:  900 sq. km

Population: reaches to almost 10 million people.

Climate: continental,air temperature averaging -10 C in winterand + 20 C in summer.

Main waterway: MoscowRiver.

Main historical core: The Kremlin.

Main avenue: Tverskaya street

Moscow has a radial structure, and the Garden Ring road defines the center of the city.

International area code :+7(095)  and +7(495)