Overview
Moscow is the capital and most populous city of Russia, with a population of approximately 13 million people in the city proper and over 21 million in the metropolitan area. It is located in western Russia on the Moskva River, about 800 kilometers from the Baltic Sea. Moscow is the largest city in Europe by population.
Geography and Physical Features
The city lies in the East European Plain at the confluence of the Moskva and Neglinnaya Rivers, with an average elevation of about 156 meters above sea level. Moscow is organized into a series of concentric ring roads radiating from the Kremlin at its center. The city's climate is humid continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
Significance
First mentioned in chronicles in 1147, Moscow rose to become the capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and later the Russian Empire. After the 1917 Russian Revolution, it served as the capital of the Soviet Union until that state's dissolution in 1991. The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square form a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the city's historic heart.
Notable Facts
Saint Basil's Cathedral, with its iconic colorful onion domes, was completed in 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible. The Moscow Metro, opened in 1935, is famous for its lavishly decorated stations and is one of the busiest subway systems in the world. The State Tretyakov Gallery houses the world's largest collection of Russian art.