Russia travel blog

The most powerful thermoelectric power station in Russia

Sergei Rzhevsky — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:24:04 +0000

Surgut GRES-2 is the largest thermoelectric power plant in Russia. The station is located in the city of Surgut (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District). As of 2012, it is one of the largest thermoelectric power plants in the world in the annual generation and the largest producer of electricity in Russia.

The installed electric capacity is 5,597.1 MW, installed thermal capacity – 840 Gcal/h. The station is working on associated petroleum gas (70%) and natural gas (30%). The height of the pipes is 273 meters. Photos by Vadim Makhorov

In 2012, electricity production reached a record high – 39,967 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. All in all, the power plant generated more than 820 billion kWh.

In the 1980s, due to the rapid growth of oil and natural gas extraction, the region experienced energy shortages. There was a need to take a leap of electricity production – it was decided to build large power plant in Surgut, the oil capital of Russia.

The beautiful scenery of the mountain Ingushetia

Sergei Rzhevsky — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:13:55 +0000

Ingushetia is located on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. The length of the republic territory from north to south is 144 km, from west to east – 72 km.

Northern part of the republic has steppe relief, in the south – the terrain is mountainous, consisting of ridges separated by valleys and gorges. The highest point is Mount Shan (4500 meters).

Ingushetia landscapes are renowned for their distinctive buildings (towers) that served both military and civilian purposes. Too bad the region is not safe to visit, but at least we can see its beauty on the following photos taken by Timur Agirov

The Red Army in 1936 – Part 2

Sergei Rzhevsky — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:24:45 +0000

Here is the second part of photos on the state of the Read Army just before the Second World War, in 1936. We can see the Red Army soldiers at study, rest and in combat. Pictures by humus

Camouflage is an important part of military art. Tanks, guns, and entire units of the Red Army can become invisible to enemy aircraft, to enemy intelligence, thanks to the ability to disguise themselves.

In the field and in the clean dining rooms decorated with flowers soldiers of the Red Army are fed delicious and satisfying.

At night, the Red Army must be able to fight as in the daytime. If enemy attacks from the air, sound-locators will open its oncoming, searchlights will find it, tracer bullets and artillery shells will accurately hit it

The Red Army is still not only fighting organization for soldiers, but also the school where they receive a thorough political education, become responsible citizens of the Soviet Union. K. Voroshilov

In the political class, soldiers of the Red Army study history of the USSR and the party of Lenin and Stalin, the Soviet government policies, Stalin Constitution, international situation.

We improve the general education level of our soldiers, give them a variety of skills, instill culture, orderliness, discipline (not just military), we develop their ability to work on themselves, perfect themselves. K. Voroshilov

The Red Army amateur performances are widely known throughout the country. Each unit has its own orchestras, choirs, dancers and entertainers

Cheerful and swift are the dances of the Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble of the Soviet Union – the largest art collective in the Red Army

We do our best to organize the physical fitness of the Red Army soldiers and the entire command staff, so that the entire Red Army consists of physically strong, hardy and physically beautiful people. K. Voroshilov

The Red Navy sailors are spending their leisure hours cheerfully and joyfully

In the clubs and houses of the Red Army, on the hunt

Tank units are already on the move. In the forest, they were moving slowly, on the open spaces they were moving at full throttle, they used pontoon bridges to cross rivers

Field portable radio was working in a remote wooded ravine. Radio operator in headphones was lying on the ground and recording with concentration. The scouts were keeping a sharp look out for the “enemy.” The company commander was writing a report

In the forests, in ravines, on the crossroads enemy met unexpected resistance. Everywhere they were caught by a sure fire, fast counterattack

Soldiers in gas masks were walking through clouds of poisonous gases

They attacked with heavy machine guns, barbed wire was cut with special scissors

The infantry was advancing overcoming anti-tank ditches

Tankers spent their time in a warm conversation with peasants waiting for the order to move

The wide river was flowing in the distance. Sappers with amazing rapidity made pontoon bridge

Tanks suddenly came out of the woods. Tanks attacked. They raced in drifts of dust as torpedo boats. Several kilometers wide field was covered by them. They crossed the ditches, took the steep climbs. Motorized infantry was transported to the place of “battle”

Heavy bombers were flying in the air in open formation. Huge terrible force felt in their relentless movement, in the roar of their engines. Suddenly a black dot separated from the first bomber and flew down.

Parachute blossomed close to the ground – it was the commander in a hurry to find himself on the ground before his fighters. And now hundreds of black dots separated from the aircraft and flew down, white tops of the parachutes suddenly flashed in the sky

It looked like a sudden heavy snowfall. Soldiers landed, lined in the battle order and followed their commanders. Their attack behind enemy lines must be damaging, full of terrible suddenness

Cavalry rushed to the attack accompanied by ground attack aircraft

The Read Army in 1936 – Part 1

The Red Army in 1936 – Part 1

Sergei Rzhevsky — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:35:57 +0000

May 9 in Russia and some countries of the former Soviet Union is celebrated as the Day of Victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Paying tribute to those who died in the war, we want to share with you a number of unique photos from an album on the state of the Red Army just before the war, in 1936. Pictures by humus

Soviet young people go with joy to their Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army

Fit for military service!

Nowadays our army is the army of military equipment, industrial army. K.Voroshilov

The artillery of the Red Army can carry out any military tasks assigned to it. Its young cadres in the Bolshevik way master the complex combat equipment

The USSR borders are well protected from the sea. Navy with excellent young manpower stands up to any enemy ship.

Young soldiers learn to master all sorts of weapons. The machine-gunners are trying to achieve the accuracy of a sniper shooting

Red Cavalry, young Soviet Cossacks are fighters who mastered saber and rifle, they are ready to crush the enemy

Securely hiding in the woods, radio operators maintain contacts between parts of the army, transmit and receive reports and orders

We must keep our Red Army on alert and strengthen its fighting ability at all costs. Lenin

Our great party of Lenin and Stalin organized, educated, and made the Red Army invincible

I, the son of working people, a citizen of the USSR, accept the title of soldier of worker and peasant army

I agree to bear this title with honor

I agree to serve to protect the USSR on the first call of the working and peasant government

The bugler heralds the beginning of the day in the Red Navy

In this hour hundreds of thousands of men are doing physical training. Healthy, strong, young, full of combat energy, they are preparing for busy day in the Red Army and the Red Navy

The number of super-sniper marksmen is increasing

Everyone knows how crucial machine guns are in defense. Machine guns have different functions

Machine guns have different functions in a modern defense – against the manpower, against tanks, against air attacks. K. Voroshilov

Our valiant cavalry, covered with the glory of the Civil War, written the golden pages in the history of the Red Army, is improving in the daily learning

Nowadays, if you are strong in the air, you are strong in general. K.Voroshilov

Training of paratroopers – one of the most delicate and technically challenging art – is mastered by the Red Army. K.Voroshilov

To be continued…

The Red Army in 1936 – Part 2

Northern Lights in the sky over Karelia

Alex Smirnov — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:19:00 +0000

The Republic of Karelia is located in the north-western part of Russia, bordering Finland. The region is of great interest in the first place from a tourist point of view. Active, cultural and green forms of tourism are the most popular.

Karelia attracts tourists for its environmentally friendly nature, low population density and relatively low prices. A large part of the region is above the Arctic Circle and at night in the sky you can see fascinating pictures of Aurora Borealis like the following ones taken near the village of Rabocheostrovsk (Google Maps location of the place). Photos by Denis Frantsouzov

And great video of this beautiful natural phenomenon

Soviet propaganda of May 1 – International Workers Day

Sergei Rzhevsky — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:32:36 +0000

May 1 is a holiday in many countries around the world and is known as Labor and Spring Day in present Russia. In the USSR it was celebrated as International Workers Day.

May 1, 1886, socialist, communist and anarchist organizations in the U.S. and Canada staged a series of rallies and demonstrations. May 4, 1886, six people were killed when the police broke up one of these demonstrations in Chicago.

If you have worked well – you will have good rest

In the ensuing mass protests in the bombing and shootings several policemen and workers were killed.

After being convicted of the bombing, four workers were sentenced to be hanged. In memory of those executed the Paris Congress of the Second International (July 1889) announced May 1 – the Day of Solidarity of workers around the world.

In the USSR, it was one of the most important holidays of the year, and of course the Soviet propaganda could not ignore it.

May 1 in the West. The world capital wants to suppress the revolutionary upsurge of the proletariat by blood of the workers. But its efforts are futile: The Social Revolution is coming!

In Soviet Russia – building the new economy
Abroad – strike. The fight for Soviet power

The workers have nothing to lose but their chains, and they will gain the whole world

Workers of the world unite!

Long live the international workers day May 1! Long live the world proletarian alliance of the Communist International!

May 1 – the day of international proletarian solidarity

The revolutionary forces of the world proletariat

May 1 greetings to glorious athletes of our motherland!

Unique photos of the first Soviet cosmonauts on a picnic

Sergei Rzhevsky — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:00:28 +0000

August 19, 1963 – the first cosmonauts of the world: Yuri Gagarin, Alexei Leonov, Boris Volynov, Victor Gorbatko.

Khabarovsk – the center of the Russian Far East

Alex Smirnov — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 09:34:31 +0000

Khabarovsk is the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District and Khabarovsk region of Russia. The city is a major economic, transport and logistics, political, and cultural center of the Russian Far East.

The city is standing on the right bank of the Amur River near the border with China. Distance to Moscow by air is about 6100 km, by rail – 8533 km.

Khabarovsk was founded in 1858 and named after the Russian explorer of the 17th century Yerofei Khabarov. Khabarovsk Bridge, as well as rock and monument to Count Muravyov-Amursky are depicted on the 5000 rubles banknote – at the moment it’s the biggest banknote in Russia.

Unearthly views of snow cave in Kamchatka

Sergei Rzhevsky — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:09:21 +0000

These photos were taken near Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka krai, in 2012. Last winter was not snowy, and the summer was hot. Therefore huge snow piles that never melt reduced in size greatly. As a result, a passage in the snow was opened leading to the cave underneath.

At the entrance to the cave the ceiling is not thick and sunlight breaking through it gives unique beautiful views. As you go further away from the entrance, the arch of the cave becomes thicker, and less sunlight comes through it, but you can still see various bizarre images, both in form and color.

The entire length of the cave is about 300 meters. Mutnovsky volcano area is known for its abundance of precipitation. This cave is located in a ravine 10 meters depth with an ordinary mountain stream. Mutnovsky volcano on Google Maps.

Pavilion “Space” in the Exhibition of the Soviet Achievements

Sergei Rzhevsky — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:43:20 +0000

Currently this place is known as the All-Russian Exhibition Centre – exhibition complex in the northeast region of Moscow, the second largest exhibition center in Moscow. In Soviet times, this complex was known as the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy of the USSR.

Since 1967, the latest models of Soviet space technology were exhibited in a special pavilion “Space”. It was the pride of Soviet science and technology. These pictures were taken by Rob Ketcherside in 1969 at the peak of interest in space travel. The photos were originally published in sovietdetstvo