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INTRODUCTION

Moscow is the capital and largest city of the world’s largest country–Russia. This vast nation extends for some 5,592 miles (9,000 km) across two continents,

from Europe in the west to Asia in the east. Moscow is on the flat plain of European Russia and covers 970 square miles (2,511 square km). Its population of about 12.2 million makes it one of the largest cities in the world. The map on the left shows the city of Moscow as well as the Moscow region (in yellow).

The Kremlin’s walls, towers, and buildings are in the foreground of this Moscow view. In the distance are the high-rise buildings where many ordinary Muscovites live.

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Circular layout The city of Moscow, known in Russian as Moskva, began as a small settlement on the banks of the Moskva River and gradually expanded. At its heart are the Kremlin, a huge walled enclosure containing many magnificent buildings, and the wide open spaces of Red Square. Beyond this central area, highways and railroads divide the city into five great circles, linked by smaller roads.

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Major World Cities