Russia Has 11 Time Zones

The vast expanse of Russia, the world's largest country, is uniquely reflected in its division into eleven time zones, a number unsurpassed by any other nation. This geographical reality means that while the sun may be setting in the western exclave of Kaliningrad, it is already well into the morning of the next day on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east. The establishment of these time zones came after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1919, replacing the prior system where each locality observed its own solar time. Over the years, Russia's relationship with its time zones has been dynamic, with various reforms aimed at improving economic efficiency and central governance. For a period, the number of time zones was even reduced to nine in 2010, a decision that was later reversed in 2014.

The country's approach to daylight saving time has also seen numerous changes. After its initial introduction in 1917, it was abandoned, reinstated, and then abolished again in 2011. For a few years, the nation existed in a state of permanent summer time, leading to very dark winter mornings for many citizens. This ultimately led to another adjustment in 2014, which set the clocks back an hour to a permanent "winter" time. These frequent adjustments highlight the ongoing challenge of managing time across such a geographically diverse and expansive territory.

A particularly fascinating aspect of Russia's timekeeping was the historical practice of its railways operating exclusively on Moscow time, regardless of the local time. This system, which aimed to simplify a complex railway network, meant that a train timetable in Vladivostok, seven time zones away from Moscow, would still be based on the capital's time. This practice, however, was a source of considerable confusion for passengers and was finally abolished in 2018, with train schedules now adhering to local times. This change marked a significant shift in acknowledging the practical realities of life across Russia's immense breadth.