Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. It is situated in Central Russia along the banks of the Moskva River. The city serves as a major geographic hub, holding the distinction of being the most populous city entirely within Europe.
The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers, while its urban and metropolitan areas extend significantly further to cover 5,891 square kilometers and over 26,000 square kilometers, respectively. Moscow is recognized as the largest urban and metropolitan area in Europe and the largest city by land area on the European continent.
The population of Moscow is substantial, with over 13 million residents living within the city limits. The broader urban area exceeds 19.1 million people, while the total metropolitan population is estimated to be over 21.5 million.