Russia is a country that stretches a vast expanse of Europe and Asia. With an area of 17,075,200 sq km (6,595,600 sq mi), it is the largest country in the world, covering almost twice the territory of the next largest country (Canada). With a population of approximately 142,800,000 people, it ranks as the world's eighth largest population. Russia shares land borders with several countries and is an independent country and an influential member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Russia has a coastline of over 37,000km (23,000 miles) along the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, as well as inland seas. The two widest separated points in Russia are about 8,000 km (5,000 miles) apart using the shortest line between two points. However, this is sometimes confusing, because the points which are furthest separated in longitude are only 6,600km (4,100 miles) apart using the same measurement. It is commonly understood that the Russian Federation spans 11 time zones (as compared to the United States, which spans 3). Russia has so many different genres of culture that one cannot attempt to list some, without risk of forgetting more. Russia is famous for films, music, architecture, cuisine, humor, literature, ballet, opera, etc