Welcome to Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world that spans 11 time zones and two continents. This country combines the features of enigmatic East and practical West. Millions of visitors come to Russia each year. They want to see its unique landscapes, crystal-clear rivers and lakes, vast forests and tall mountains.

Baikal

In the midst of a thinly populated wildness there is the foremost natural wonder - Lake Baikal. It is the oldest lake in the world - its age is about 25-30 million years. Scientists estimated that more than 1500 life forms live in and around this lake. They can be found nowhere else on Earth. It occupies the territory of 12000 m2 and 400 km long. About 30 uninhabited isles are scattered throughout the lake. It’s the largest reservoir of drinking water. It contains 1/6 of fresh water found on the planet and in spite of the vast pollution by the nearby industry the most of it still remains clean and clear.
Most of the coastline lies in an environmentally protected area. The most numerous of the indigenous people are Buryats. They have been living here for many centuries. A feeling of tranquility settles over the coastal villages during long summer afternoons. A vehicle driving along the village’s streets is a rare sight. A motorcycle with a sidecar is the most popular civil transport; and a passenger car still remains an object of curiosity for children.
The area’s largest city is Ulan-Ude which was first established by the Russians as an outpost for tsar’s tax collectors during Russia’s Eastward expansion in the XVI and XVII centuries. It lies in the border area between the Siberian forests and the grassy steppes. It’s an average Siberian town without much distinction, except for a strange fancy relict in the main square. The world’s biggest head of Vladimir Lenin has more than 25 feet tall and it is ironically said by rumor that it was inspired by the head of Buddha that was located in Ulan-Ude before the Soviet takeover. And now although most of Soviet monuments have been dismantled this one is going to stay because the locals became quite fond of it.

Turgoyak

National symbols of the country are the Matryoshka dolls and the brown bear.

Russian people are known for their hospitality and spirituality. Thus, foreign visitors are always warmly welcomed. Many people associate Russia with its capital city Moscow. There are certainly lots of architectural and historical sites there, but that’s only a tiny part of what Russia can offer. Perhaps, the most interesting tour is around the prominent “Golden Ring”, which includes a number of ancient cities, such as Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Suzdal, Kostroma, Ivanovo. Another purely Russian destination is Siberia.

Siberia

(Climate In Russia
There is a global belief in the world that Russian climate is frosty and cold. However, not everyone is aware that due to its vast area Russia has versatile and changeable weather. Much of the European plain is exposed to mild weather. In northern regions the weather is rather cold. People living there suffer from severe winters and lack of summers. There are places where temperature in January falls far below 50 degrees. On such days people try to stay home all day long. Nearly everyone in the country spends holidays in the southern part. It includes the area of Black Sea coastline. It is always warm and sunny there, except winters which are rainy, humid and snowy at times. Only mountainous areas in that region are exposed to heavy snowfalls. It is worth mentioning that southern region is rich in any type of harvest. Even unusual citrus plants grow there. Last year we had a group of British students visiting our school. To show the warmest and nicest parts of the country we took them to Sochi. In fact, it’s a versatile city. It is equally possible to swim and sunbathe there and to go skiing in the nearby resort. There is an established stereotype about Russia that it’s the country of extreme climates and I fully agree with it. Nowhere else you can find semi-tropics and polar deserts within the borderlines of one state. Climatic conditions have always played a significant role in the history of the country. It is known that several wars were lost to Russia thanks to its cold and bitter winters.)

It’s a huge geographic region, which covers most of North Asia. It stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the borders of China. Everybody knows about the cold climate of Siberia, but it doesn’t stop the travelers. People want to see the beauty of Lake Baikal, the Altai Mountains, the Yenisei River, the Trans-Siberian route, the Kamchatka Peninsula and other wonders of this region. Apart from that, the country is full of national parks and wild forests with large selection of flora and fauna. If you are a fan of historical monuments, churches and cathedrals, museums and art galleries, you should stay longer in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. These two cities in the heart of Russia offer endless possibilities for tourists. For those, who want to try Russian cuisine, there are plenty of authentic restaurants in every city or town. The most delicious Russian dishes are borscht and pancakes.