Weird Things About Russia And Why It’s A Bizarre Country
When people think of Russia, things like Vladimir Putin, vodka, and supermodels may come to mind. For those who aren't familiar with Russia and the country's culture and history, these stereotypes can be hard to escape. But there's so much more to the largest nation in the world, including some very strange aspects that are often overlooked.
Check out these often overlooked quirky facts about Russia.
The Controversial Way Russia Was Named Host
On December 2, 2010, Russia was selected as the host of the 2018 World Cup, which also qualified their team for the tournament. This didn't go down without controversy, however. The English Football Association accused the Russian team of bribing FIFA members in order to secure the bid.
President of the FIFA, Sepp Blatter, let it slip that the votes had been swayed to announce Russia as the host. He then announced that he would be stepping down from his role on June 2, 2015, six days after the U.S. government indicted FIFA officials.
Russian Bears Are Addicted to Jet Fuel
Bears in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, located in the far east of Russia have a strange addiction to aviation fuel. The nature reserve is home to more than 700 brown bears, who have taken a liking to inhaling the fumes that come from discarded kerosene and gasoline containers.
Afterward, they lay down on their backs, high off the fumes in the 'nirvana' position. Some of the bears even chase after the helicopters, hoping they'll leave behind barrels.
Yttygran Island Is Full of Whale Bones
Yttgran Island is home to the infamous "Whale Bone Alley." Tourists come to the island and see the whale skulls and bones that have been carefully arranged by local villagers for rituals. The island lies in a major whale migration path and they would often be hunted there.
It is believed that Whale Bone Alley was once used as a shrine by different villages along the eastern coast. Although never confirmed, the area is thought to have been used for initiation rituals and sporting contests as well.
Hand Shaking Superstition
Russians are very superstitious people, especially when it comes to shaking hands. They will never shake hands under a doorway as it's believed to be bad luck. They will wait until whoever they are greeting has fully walked into the room before shaking hands. The also always put empty bottles on the floor, not the table.
This is because Russians believe that doorways or "thresholds" are where the "house spirit" resides. Bridging a gap with a handshake would be terrible.
One In Four Russian Men Won't Live to See Their 55th Birthday
Russia has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The average life expectancy for men in Russia is 64 years old. Incredibly, 25 percent of men don't live to see their 55th birthday.
In comparison, 10 percent of U.S. men die before their 55th birthday, while the number drops to seven for men in the U.K.
Russia Beat Expectations In The World Cup
Sports analysts didn't expect much of Russia in the 2018 World Cup, but the team proved the world wrong. They kicked off The Cup with two wins, beating Saudi Arabia an incredible 5-0 and defeating Egypt 3-1.
Collectively as a team, Russia also ran further per game than any other nation, by a mile. They advanced after finishing second in their group and matched up against Spain, who was expected to win. However, Russia came through, defeating them in a penalty shootout after the match. Although they were beaten by Croatia, it was still Russia's best World Cup performance in history.
The Biggest McDonalds, Ever
Russians love their vodka, but they have a craving for McDonald's too. In fact, Russia is home to the largest McDonald's restaurant in the world. There are close to 700 seats in that particular location. It's also the only McDonald's location to offer the McShrimp.
Interestingly, new U.S. sanctions on Russia may be affecting the country's McDonald's experience. Russia imports potatoes from countries overseas for its McDonald's french fries since the local produce has never been up to scratch.
Billionaires Buy Ambulances To Get Through Traffic
Why sit in traffic when you can buy or rent a vehicle that has a siren and that people will pull over for? That might have been the thinking of the rich men of Moscow. The wealthy have been known to purchase ambulances in order to beat traffic or rent them for around $200 an hour!
These aren't your standard ambulances either. While they may look like a regular ambulance on the outside, inside they are full of luxurious amenities. As of 2013, cops in Moscow have been ordered to inspect ambulances to stop this problem.
Would You Eat Meat Suspended In Salted Gelatin?
Would you eat this meal? This traditional Russian dish is known as aspic. Aspic is a highly popular dish in the country and contains meat, eggs, and vegetables in a salted gelatin.
If this isn't your thing, perhaps you'd enjoy other Russian cuisines more — like cow tongue, Siberian meat dumplings, or fried meat patties.
Don't Whistle, Or We'll Go Broke
Another outlandish superstition of Russians is that if you whistle inside the home, bad things will happen. Legend has it that whistling is actually the language of evil spirits. By whistling, you are inviting them into your home.
Another superstition says that whistling used to be a magical way to call the wind. Sailors would often whistle when the weather was too still. If you whistle in a home though, some believe the wind will come inside and blow valuables (including all of the cash) out of the windows.
Statues of Dogs in Space
Russia has a history of sending dogs to outer space and immortalizing them in statues. There are two statues of these intergalactic pups that are of importance in Russia.
First, there's a bronze sculpture of a dog at the Ploschad Revolutsii metro station. The dog's nose is shiny from visitors rubbing it for good luck. There's also a monument of Laika, the first dog who went to space in 1957, only to die a few hours after launch.
The Amber Room's Whereabouts Remain a Mystery
At the conclusion of WWII, one mystery that remained was the fate of the Amber Room. Originally located in the Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, the chamber was decorated in amber panels with gold leaf mirrors. The Amber Room was ransacked during WWII by an army group of Nazi German and brought to Konigsberg.
To this day, its whereabouts remain a mystery. Up next: is this the scariest sky bridge in the world?
The Super Scary Skybridge
One of the most terrifying walkaways ever is the 439-meter Skybridge. It lies 207 meters above the Krasnaya Polyana Valley. It includes two observation platforms, which offers great panoramic views of the mountains along with the Black Sea coast.
The bridge is actually just a small part of an entire Skypark owned by a famous bungee operator. Thrill seekers can do a 207-metre bungee jump, ride a zip line, or stay on the ground and enjoy a hike.
The Longest Railway in the World
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, connecting Moscow to Asia. The train is over 9,000 kilometers long and the entire trip, with no stops, will take you about a week to complete.
The construction of the railway first began in 1980 and is still in operation. Today, the network of railways branches to Mongolia, China, and North Korea.
Vodka Means Water?!?
Vodka holds a special place in the hearts of Russians. They down vodka as easily as the rest of us drink water. "Vodka" comes from the word "voda," which actually means "water."
With that in mind, it kind of makes sense that the Russians drink the liquor as often as they do! If it means water it must be hydrating. Speaking of alcohol, you won't believe this next weird Russia fact about beer.
Beer Wasn't Considered Alcohol Until 2011
The people of Russia consume lots of alcohol — so much so that up until 2011, beer wasn't even recognized as an alcoholic beverage.
During that year, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a bill that officially classified beer as alcoholic. Up until that point, anything that was less than 10% alcohol was just considered foodstuff.
The Wedding Band Goes On The Other Hand
While it's customary in many countries to wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand, in Russia, they do things a little different. Rather than the left hand being home to the ring finger, it's the right hand that notes whether or not the person is taken.
So which hand would the ring go on if half of the pair is from Russia and the other is from the U.S.? Sounds like an argument waiting to happen.
No Flowers For You
Flowers are a thoughtful gift you can give to someone, but the Russians have a few strict policies when it comes to gifting flowers. Men are only supposed to give a woman flowers in odd numbers. A bouquet of an even amount of flowers is considered bad luck and is associated with funerals.
Russia Is The Biggest Country By Area
Russia is the largest country in the world based on area. The total area of the country itself is just over 17,000,000 square kilometers. That covers more than one-ninth of the Earth's actual land area. In fact, Russia is geographically nearly two times bigger than the United States.
Russia is so big that even if it were to gift seven million square kilometers to other countries, it would still be the largest country in the world! Russia is also home to the Trans-Siberian railway, which is the longest railway in the world.
So Many Billionaires
Russia is home to a solid population of billionaires. In fact, the Russian city of Moscow has more rich folks than any other city in the world.
There are around 75 billionaires living in Russia, with the majority of their fortunes coming from real estate, steel, oil, and banking.
Was Postnik Yakolev Blinded After Building Saint Basil's Cathedral?
Postnik Yakovlev is a famous Russian architect. He built Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow between 1555 and 1560. Legend has it that Ivan the Terrible blinded him soon after he built it, so he wouldn't be able to build anything so beautiful again.
This, however, is likely a myth since Yakovlev went on to design the walls of the Kazan Kremlin and the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Kazan in 1561 and 1562.
Russia Has The World's Oldest And Deepest Lake
While other countries might have more famous lakes, such as North America's Great Lakes system, no lake in the world is deeper than Russia's Lake Baikal.
The lake, located in remote Siberia, is an incredible 1,642 meters — or 5,387 feet — deep. It's also an ancient lake, estimated to be the oldest in the world at 25-30 million years old. It's estimated the lake contains about a fifth of the world's unfrozen freshwater.
They're Used To The Cold
While some regions of Russia, such as Sochi, are in mild climate zones, much of the country is covered in ice for a large portion of the year.
This is evidenced by the significant number of people who live above the Arctic Circle in Russia. The city of Murmansk is the largest settlement north of the Arctic Circle. Its latitude is high enough that it experiences weeks of dark in the winter, and weeks of sun in the summer.
Again, They're Really Used To The Cold
While Murmansk may be the largest population center north of the Arctic Circle, it isn't quite the coldest. That distinction belongs to Oymyakon, located in Siberia, which is not just the coldest inhabited place in Russia — it's the coldest inhabited place on the planet.
A record low temperature of -89.6°F earned it that honor. The extreme cold carries with it many traditions, including frozen fish and reindeer meat as delicacies.
Cats Protect Priceless Artwork
The iconic Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is full of many pieces of art, some dating back centuries. Modern security techniques are used to keep the art safe, along with a more unconventional form of security: Guard cats.
The guard cats at the Hermitage are a tradition that was started by Empress Elizabeth in the 18th century. They're there for more than just show, as their mousing abilities help keep pests away from the artwork.
Some Cities Are Closed Entirely
Soviet-era paranoia gave rise to the concept of closed cities, which are exactly what they sound like: Cities that were kept secret and closed off from the outside world due to their scientific or military importance.
While the country has opened up in the decades since Soviet rule, some cities — such as Sarov — remain closed to outsiders to this day.
Russians Celebrate New Year's Twice
Most of the world is used to celebrating the New Year on January 1st, and Russians are no different in this regard. Where they do differ is the fact that, just under two weeks after New Year's, they celebrate it all over again.
This is because, according to the Julian calendar, the "Old New Year" falls on January 14th. In Russia, this day is commemorated similarly to January 1st, with eating, drinking, fireworks, and other traditions.
The Kremlin Holds Many Secrets
In addition to the secrets, subterfuge, and general intrigue that have been a hallmark of the Kremlin for decades, the facility holds another unique secret: A series of secret underground tunnels.
Details on these tunnels are murky. Some say they were used as an emergency escape route by tsars in years past, and may date back centuries. It's also rumored that they're part of a secret metro system.
Nesting Dolls Hail From Russia
Russia has many national symbols, but to the outside world, the most enduring icon of Russia may be the Matryoshka doll.
These nesting dolls, engrained in Russian folk art, are generally made of wood and are characterized by a series of nesting dolls, each hidden inside a larger version. They often represent family, historical, or mythical themes.
The Country Has Many Languages
While Russian is the official language of Russia, and the language most often used to depict Russians in mass media, the country is home to over a hundred languages in all.
This is largely explained by the sheer size of the country and the many ethnic groups that live within it, including Chechen, Tatar, and Bashkir people.
Russians Just Need To Get Away From It All Sometimes
Lots of countries have a tradition where city dwellers escape to the countryside in the summer months, generally to more rustic accommodations. Americans might refer to it as a summer house, Canadians might call it a cottage, and Russians call it a dacha.
Russian dachas often contain gardens for flowers as well as fruits and vegetables, and the annual retreat to the dacha is ingrained in Russian culture.
St. Basil's Cathedral Was Almost Demolished
It's hard to imagine Moscow, or Russia, without the iconic domes of St. Basil's Cathedral. The colorful cathedral, first commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, is an enduring symbol of Russia, after all.
Still, during the reign of Stalin, it wasn't seen as particularly important, and Stalin reportedly considered demolishing the cathedral. The reason was ostensibly to create more space to hold military parades. Thankfully, the cathedral was spared.
Kaliningrad Is Isolated
The region of Kaliningrad is recognized as part of Russia, but it isn't attached to any part of Russia. This makes it an exclave in geographic terms, since it isn't connected to its mother country.
The exclave of Kaliningrad is located on the Baltic Sea and is sandwiched in between Poland and Lithuania. It's long been a bone of contention in this region of Europe.
The Country Has Many Volcanoes
Volcanoes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Russia, but it isn't particularly surprising that a country of Russia's size would have a few.
While lots of countries have mountains that used to be volcanoes and are now dormant, Russia has a surprising number of currently active volcanoes. Most of these are located on the remote Kamchatka Peninsula. The highest, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, is known to erupt quite frequently.
There's No Telling What's In The Permafrost
Permafrost — a layer of frozen ground that never thaws — can be a rich source of artifacts for archaeologists since the freezing helps to preserve them.
Numerous important finds have been discovered in Siberian permafrost. These include frozen remains of ancient people, plants, and even extinct animals like the woolly mammoth. More ominously, scientists have also discovered viruses lurking in the permafrost.
Russia Has Forests For Days
On the whole, Russia is characterized more by its vast swaths of wilderness than it is by its cities, and this is characterized by its vast boreal forest or taiga.
This is the largest forest on the planet, spanning over five million square miles and covering most of Siberia below the Arctic Circle. Not only is this forest home to diverse wildlife, it also plays an important role in the global ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide.
The Metro Is A Work Of Art
Commuters are generally accustomed to subway stations being bland, utilitarian spaces, but in Moscow, these stations are works of art. Many stations are decorated with flourishes like marble, chandeliers, mosaics, and statues.
The majority of these pieces were installed during the Soviet era. In addition to the unique art, Moscow's metro is one of the busiest in the world, transporting millions of people daily.
Russia Has Lots Of Time Zones
While different countries handle time zones in different ways, it's a safe bet that the more east-west land a country has, the more time zones it'll have. Considering Russia spans nearly half the planet's longitude, it shouldn't be surprising that it has the most time zones in the world.
In 2010, Russia reduced its number of time zones from 11 to nine to simplify things, but then reverted to the original number in 2014.
The Volga Is An Important River
You can add "Europe's longest river" to the long list of records held by Russia. The Volga stretches more than 2,100 miles through Russia, and is known as "Mother Volga" for its historical and cultural significance.
It's a central part of major cities like Volgograd and Kazan, and eventually empties into the Caspian Sea. The Volga is also home to the endangered beluga sturgeon, which is used to make caviar.
It Has A Floating Nuclear Power Plant
Known as Akademik Lomonosov, this facility is the first (and only) floating nuclear power plant in the world. It was launched in 2019 in the Arctic Ocean, and is designed to supply power to remote communities.
It was built with harsh Arctic conditions in mind, and can supply power to up to 100,000 people. While Russia views it as a sustainable energy solution, it's also led to environmental concerns.
Russia Shares A Border With North Korea
The "hermit kingdom" of North Korea famously has a border with South Korea to the south and borders China to the north — but North Korea also shares a land border with Russia.
The Russia-North Korea border is tiny, just 11 miles long along the Tumen River. It's one of the shortest international borders in the world, but still plays a vital trade role and transportation link thanks to its sole railway bridge.
Tetris Is Russian
If you've ever played Tetris and wondered why its intro screens often feature Russian architecture, there's a good reason for this: The game was created by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984 while he was working at Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre in Moscow.
The game's simple but compelling gameplay loop made it a hit when Nintendo packaged it with their Game Boy console. While Pajitnov wasn't initially allowed to profit from his invention, he later gained recognition and financial rewards.
Russia Has Its Own Riviera
Russia is essentially synonymous with wintry and cold conditions, but the Sochi region, located along the Black Sea coast, is actually classified as subtropical.
Sochi hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics despite its mild winters, and is known as the "Russian Riviera" for its spas, tea plantations, and adventure sports. It's a popular tourist destination not just for Russians, but also people from elsewhere in Europe.
Stalin Built Skyscrapers
Moscow is a large city, but isn't synonymous with massive skyscrapers. Still, there are some impressively large buildings in Moscow, most notably the Seven Sisters.
The Seven Sisters are a group of iconic skyscrapers built during the Stalinist era to showcase Soviet power and architecture. They were built throughout the 1940s and 1950s and are still some of the largest buildings in the city.
The AK-47 Hails From Russia
The AK-47 is not just one of the most used guns around the world, it also might be the most recognized. Also known as the Kalashnikov, it was designed by Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 and quickly became standard in the Soviet military.
Thanks to its durable and simple design, the AK-47 soon spread around the world, and more than 100 million units — not to mention scores of variants — have been produced over the decades.
There's An Abandoned Space Shuttle In The Middle Of Nowhere
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the largest spaceport in the world, known for launching the first person into space in 1961. It's located in remote Kazakhstan but operated by Russia, and parts of it have been abandoned since the Soviet era.
One of the most fascinating finds in the abandoned section is the remains of the Buran — Russia's answer to the space shuttle. It was never launched, and the abandoned shuttle is a magnet for urban explorers.
