Which is the Largest Country in the World?

Question

Vedantu Content Team · Accepted Answer

Answer: Russia

Explanation:

Russia is officially known as the Russian Federation and stands as the world's largest country by land area. This massive nation covers an incredible 17.1 million square kilometers (6.6 million square miles), which is almost twice the size of the second-largest country, Canada.

To put Russia's enormous size into perspective, it spans across 11 time zones - more than any other country in the world. When it's morning in Moscow, it's already evening in Russia's far eastern regions! This vast territory stretches from Eastern Europe all the way to the Pacific Ocean, covering about one-eighth of Earth's inhabited land area.

Russia's massive territory includes diverse geographical features and landscapes. The country contains everything from frozen tundra in the north to vast forests, mountain ranges, and steppes. It borders 16 different countries and has coastlines along three oceans - the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. The famous Trans-Siberian Railway, which runs across Russia, is the longest railway line in the world at over 9,000 kilometers long.

Despite being the largest country by area, Russia ranks ninth in terms of population with approximately 146 million people. This means that Russia has a relatively low population density compared to many other countries. Most of Russia's population lives in the western part of the country, particularly around major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Here's how the top five largest countries compare by land area:

• Russia - 17.1 million km²• Canada - 9.98 million km²• United States - 9.83 million km²• China - 9.6 million km²• Brazil - 8.5 million km²

Russia's vast size has played a significant role in its history and development. The country is rich in natural resources, including oil, natural gas, minerals, and forests, largely due to its enormous territory. However, the sheer size also presents challenges in terms of transportation, communication, and governance across such a massive area.