Russia covers eleven time zones, more than any other country on Earth.

The longer version

Each time zone spans about fifteen degrees of longitude, matching the angle Earth turns in one hour. A country reaching far across the globe therefore crosses many such bands. The count also depends on political choices, since the borders of zones are often drawn to follow regions rather than straight lines.

Clocks in the far east run many hours ahead of those in the west, so a single day stretches over a long span. Rail schedules, broadcasts and government hours all have to account for this. Some areas have shifted their offset over time for convenience, which is why counts vary slightly between sources.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.