Even if you have never been to Russia, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about this amazing country. In fact, you’ve probably heard quite a lot. The biggest country in the world is covered in stereotypes, including bears, extremely low temperatures, vodka, bad drivers, funny headdresses, and so much more.
And although there is a certain charm in being shrouded in mysteries, there are so many Russian myths around that it became almost impossible to form a comprehensive picture of what’s Russia really like. So, inspired by the legendary Mythbusters, we’ve decided that it’s time to have a closer look at the most popular believes about Russia and its citizens and separate truth from fiction.
1. Russia is Unbearably Cold
Russia is famous for its harsh unwelcoming climate. After all, the Russian winter defeated Napoleon’s army during the French invasion of 1812. The weather conditions were so harsh that the numbers of Grande Armee decreased by half due to cold, deceases, and desertions during the first eight weeks of the invasion. And all of that even before any major battle of the campaign!
But the devil is not so black as he is painted. Russia is large and boasts four different climatic zones, including the subtropical one. The country houses several popular summer resorts, nestled on the Black Sea coastline, such as Sochi and Adler. Both Moscow and Saint Petersburg boast an average summer temperature of 23°C (73°F) with occasional spikes over 30°C (86°F) for several weeks. And even winters in Russia are usually not so scary with an average temperature of -10°C (14°F), so all you need to comfortably experience the fairy tale white winter is warm clothing and a good mood.
