What is the largest country in the world by area?

Russia is recognized as the largest country in the world by area, covering approximately 17 million square kilometers. Its vast expanse includes a diverse range of geographical features, from tundras to mountains and vast forests, spanning across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. This immense territory allows Russia to surpass other large countries like Canada and China significantly in area.

Canada, while the second-largest country, covers about 9.98 million square kilometers, which is nearly half the size of Russia. China also ranks as one of the largest nations but is slightly smaller than Canada in total area. The United States, though it is one of the largest countries, is smaller still, rounding out the list as the fourth-largest when considering total land面积.

Understanding the rankings of these countries in terms of area highlights the geographical diversity and territorial extents of different nations on the globe.