This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
When you’re dealing with a country that spans 11 time zones, simple divisions just won’t cut it. These fascinating maps show us Russia through different lenses – some scientific, some stereotypical, and some downright hilarious.
Let’s start with the most detailed view – a map that reads like a Russian’s stream of consciousness while describing their country. We’ve got everything from “FROZEN GOLD AND DIAMONDS” in Siberia to “BASICALLY RUSSIA” in the center. My favorite touch? The helpful label “BEARS’ CORNER” – because apparently, we all need to know where the bears hang out for business meetings.
The map gives us gems like “UFOs THROWING METEORITES” (a nod to the famous 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor) and “CHEAP LABOR” (a brutally honest assessment of certain regions of the former Soviet Unions). And don’t miss that tiny note about “CHINESE ARE OUR ALLIES BUT WE SHOULD HOLD THE DOOR ANYWAY” – capturing complex international relations in one wonderfully awkward phrase.
Then we’ve got these maps breaking down Russia by different categories. The “Bears live here” map is particularly helpful – turns out bears live… pretty much everywhere except that tiny bit in the west. Good to know! And can we talk about the Russian drivers? It’s just one solid color labeled “Bad drivers.”
This set gets more serious, showing us real divisions in:
Politics: Where the yellow “Conservatives” dominate everywhere except a few blue urban “Liberal” spots
Population: Revealing how 90% of Russians squeeze into about 25% of the country’s territory
Climate: Including the wonderfully labeled “Not suitable for life” zones
Life Conditions: With its brutally honest “Has not progressed since 1917” regions
The last mini atlas shows us everything from forests to religion, but my favorite has to be the temperature zones. Because sometimes “cold,” “very cold,” and “death” are your only options. Also, there’s apparently something called the “Brown bears capital” – which I assume is like New York City, but for bears.
You know what’s funny? Between all the jokes about bears and frozen wastelands, these maps actually teach you a lot about Russia. Like how the population is split 50/50 between the tiny western part and… everything else. Or how you can find pretty much every climate from “subtropical resort” to “literally Mordor” within one country.
Do you have any stories about traveling through Russia? Maybe you’ve visited the “It’s ok to live here” zone? Or braved the areas marked as “Death” (which I hear are lovely in July)? Drop your experiences in the comments!
Very naive and unlikely. I rate it one star.