Location
Moscow is situated on the Moskva River in the central part of European Russia.
Time Zone
The time difference with UTC (GMT) is +3 hours. In April 2011 the Russian Parliament passed legislation to keep Russia on Daylight Saving Time year round. This has become Russia's new standard time.
Climate
The Moscow climate is continental. The cool period of the year starts in the end of September and ends in the beginning of May. The rainy period lasts from April to October. The snow period lasts from the End of November to the beginning of April. Typical high temperatures in the warm months of June, July and August are around 23 °C, but sometimes in the period from May to September, daytime temperature highs to 30 °C. The highest temperature ever recorded was 38.2 °C on July 29, 2010. In the winter, temperatures normally drop to approximately −10 °C. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −42.2 °C in January 1940.
Vegetation and animals
Moscow is situated in the mixed-forest zone. Oak and lime grow in the south, spruce and oak grow in the north-west, pine grow in the east and north-east, spruce and deciduous trees are common in the north.
There are over 160 species of birds, 34 species of mammals, 15 species of fishes. The most widely spread mammals are squirrel, hare, mole, mouse, rat.
There is a National Nature Park on the territory of Moscow. It's called Losiny Ostrov. The national park 'Losini ostrov' and its recreational zone is one of the most popular relaxation spots for inhabitants and visitors of the capital. The forest park is located in the north-eastern part of Moscow and its nearest suburbs. It begins at the border with the Sokolniki Park and stretches in the north-eastern direction to the cities of Mytishchi, Korolev, Shchelkovo, and Balashika.
Population
Moscow is the most populated city of Russia. More than 10,5 mln people are living in Moscow. The majoraty of the population living in Moscow are Russians but Tatars, Jews and Caucasus communities are presented in Moscow as well.
Religion
The predominant religion in Moscow is Orthodox Christianity. Other religious societies of Muslims, Protestants, Old Believers, Judiasts, Buddhists are active as well. Almost each religious confession presented in Moscow has its own house for praying as well as a school and publishing house.
History
The reference to a Moscow, as to a town, is registrated in the old manuscript of 1147. In 1156, prince Yury Dolgoruky erected timber walls around Moscow with a moat. He is regarded as a founder of Moscow. Tatar-mongolian invasion in 1237-38 produced a great destruction of Moscow. However, Moscow recovered rather rapidly (in the second half of 13 century), and became capital of the independent Moscow principality.
In the end of 15th century, during Ivan III princing, Moscow becomes a capital of united Russian state. In the late 15th century the Kremlin adopted the current appearance in the main.
In the beginning of the 17th century after long period of so called «Time of Troubles” in Russia Moscow has been occupied by Polish-Lithuanian army. Then merchant Kouzma Minin and prince Dimitry Pozharsky organized people's militia, and Moscow was liberated in 1612. In 1613 Mikhail Romanov was elected Tsar.
As the result of Peter I (Peter the Great) reforms arts and science in Moscow progressed strongly. In 1755 Moscow University was opened. Moscow architecture reached its peak level of perfection in the second half of 18th century due to advanced Russian architects Vassiliy Bazhenov (Pashkov's house), Matvey Kazakov (Senat bilding in Kremlin).
In 1712 the capital of Russia was transfered from Moscow to St.Petersburg. But even in those times Moscow played an important role in the history of Russia.
During the war with Napoleon in 1812 folk army has been organized in Moscow to withstand the French invasion. Famous Borodino battle took place in August not far from Moscow. This battle is thought to be a prerequisite for the victory in the War, although the battle itself was more a failure than a victory. Moscow was left to Napoleon's troops, but before that it was burnt by moscovites almost entirely. Fires and hunger compelled the French army to leave Moscow, where the Russian army entered very soon. After the liberation of the city a commission was authoritized for Moscow reconstruction after the fire, and talented architects were its members (Osip Beauve (Giuseppe Bova), Afanasiy Grigoriev). The present-day appearance of Moscow city centre was founded in those times.
To the end of the 19 century it became the second industrial centre in Russia (after Saint-Petersburg). The 19th century is known to be a "golden age" for arts and science, and Moscow was a birthplace for many famous artists, writers, painters and scientists; a number of outstanding politicians were also moscovites. You are, of course, familiar with the following names, whose talent and ideas made the glory of Russia: Alexander Pushkin, Nikolay Gogol', Leo Tolstoi, Anton Chekhov, Alexander Herzen, Nikolay Pirogov, Nikolay Sklifosofsky, Victor Vasnetsov, Valentin Serov, Isaak Levitan and many others.
In 1918 after the "Great October" Revolution of 1917 the capital was again transferred from St.Petersburg («Petrograd» in 1914-1924) to Moscow. The social structure of Moscow inhabitants changed in the 1920-ies on the account of peasants leaving their villages in search of job and "new life"; later on the most poor part of population came to Moscow as non-qualified workers on factories and in house building.
Moscow architecture changed as well: the proportion of blocks inhabited by workers increased drastically, the city sprawled outside, many churches were destroyed or transformed into "Palaces of Culture", clubs, stores for vegetables or for building materials. The most active construction of living blocks was initiated by Nikita Khruschev in the 1960-ies, and many families moved from extremely overcrowded multi-family apartments, where more than 5 persons were living in one small room to individual, although small apartments.
The opening of Russia to the West and changes in political situation caused many changies in the image of Russian capital and in the life of its inhabitants. In the 1990-ies — beginning of 2000 Moscow has grown to an international cultural, financial, business and tourist centre which is opened to everyone who would like to visit this beatiful ancient and still modern big city.