Wildfires and dense smoke in central Russia In mid-July 2016, satellites observed dense smoke over central Russia. Many of the fires appeared in the tundra-taiga interface, where boreal forest give way to low-lying vegetation and permafrost.

Central Russia is, broadly, the various areas in European Russia. Historically, the area of Central Russia varied based on the purpose for which it is being used. It may, for example, refer to European Russia, except the North Caucasus (according to the definition of Europe accepted in Russia, the Caucasus is not a part of Europe ), or to the whole of European Russia.Wildfires and dense smoke in central Russia

There is also a Central economic region of the Russian Federation, and a Central Federal District of the Russian Federation.

Central Russia is located in the country’s extreme west, but it casts the main role in Russian history and economics. Pioneer cities were established here 1000+ years ago. During its feudal disunity this territory took the main impact of the Tartar Yoke, started in 13th century and lasted for two hundred years. Central Russia is that core area, which formed around Moscow Princedom when in 15th century it started to collect Russian feudal lands into a back single state to throw down the Tartars. That was the only period, when this region was the geographical center of Russia.

Later on, Central Russia continued to be the core of the country, proving its name for at least 700 years. 3 major battles in Russian history hit this region in 1380, 1812 and 1941. Many of famous Russians were born and lived there, including Lev Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Sergey Yesenin, Yuri Gagarin and others.