The Russian Federation (Russia: Российская Федерация, Rossiyskaya Fyedyeratsiya), colloquially known as Russia (Россия, Rossiya), is a sovereign state located in northern Eurasia. Russia is the largest nation by area, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Caspian Sea to the Arctic Ocean. The modern day state of Russia gained independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Prior to that, the Russian Empire ruled the territory.