Russia is the world's largest country by area, with a territory of 17 million km2

Background

The Russian Federation occupies a vast territory of 17 million km2, making it the world's largest country in terms of area.
Its ecosystems range across polar deserts, tundra, forest tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest steppe, steppe, semi-desert and subtropics.
The northern ecosystems of tundra and taiga dominate the country's territory.
Russian forests cover 776.2 million ha, accounting for about 22% of the world's forest resources and 40% of the most valuable coniferous stands.
Peatlands and marshes occupy 1.8 million km2; combined with lakes, wetlands cover 15% of the territory and are connected by 120,000 rivers.
The country is bordered by 13 marginal seas of three oceans, the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific.
About a quarter of Russian territory is occupied by mountains.
Its recorded flora includes 12,500 species of vascular plants, representing 5% of the world's vascular flora.