Russia is the largest and most powerful of the states to emerge from the former Soviet Union. Spanning nine time zones, Russia is the largest country on earth in terms of surface area, although large tracts in the north and east are inhospitable and sparsely populated. The Russian economy, like many around the world, was affected by the global financial crisis, however, Income from vast natural resources, above all oil and gas, have helped Russia overcome the economic downturn of 2008. By 2010, the Russian economy had begun a modest recovery, bolstered by government anti-crisis policies, the global rebound, and a rise in oil prices. Russia’s Economic Development Ministry predicts that the nation’s GDP will grow 4.2% in 2011.