The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. Made up mostly of flat plains, tundra, taiga, and steppes, Russia lies across two continents, Europe and Asia. Czars and empresses ruled this giant country for almost 400 years, until the Communists came to power. Today Russia is building a modern and free economy. This primary-source tour for kids includes an example of Cyrillic writing from the eleventh century and the proclamation stating that the Soviets had taken over the government in 1917.