Tatarstan is a semi-presidential federal republic located in Northern Asia, and borderning Europe. Tatarstan was taken over by Russia in the 17th century, and did not regain independence until 1975. Over that centuries-long period, a lot of Tatarstan was Russified, and Russians settled there. As such, Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion, though most people are atheists and Islam is still practiced by a notable minority.