Moscow

Moscow (Russian: Москва, Moskva in English transcription) is the capital of Russia, and was formerly capital of the Soviet Union, and of pre-Soviet Russia (going back to the 15th century). It is the site of the famous Kremlin, with its elegant onion domes, which serves as the center of the national government. The Patriarch of Moscow serves as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The first reference to the town of Moscow is from 1147. In 1156, Prince Yury Dolgoruky built a wooden wall and a moat around the city. In 1237-1238, the Mongols captured the city, doing serious damage; it recovered from this and became the capital of an independent principality. By the 15th century, it was a large city, and Ivan III made it capital of Russia. When Napoleon invaded in 1812, the Moscovites burned the city and departed; Napoleon's troops soon left, defeated by hunger and the cold.

Local transport includes an excellent subway system, called the Metro. Begun in 1935, it has 11 lines and more than 150 stations.

The population of Moscow is estimated at 9 million.