Russia travel blog

Key facts about the sale of Alaska

The sale of Alaska was a deal between the governments of the Russian Empire and the North American United States. In 1867, Russia for 7.2 million USD (about 108 million USD in 2009), sold its territories in North America (total area 1,518,800 square km or 586,412 square miles). At the time of the sale the [...]

Soviet propaganda – the beginning

Soviet propaganda is propaganda of communist ideas and the Soviet way of life. It was carried out deliberately and centrally under the direction of the Communist Party and was officially called the ideological work, educating the masses, etc. The propaganda combined the universal values (freedom, social justice), and patriotism. Propaganda was conducted through the media, [...]

Frost-resistant horses of Yakutia

The Yakut horse (“sylgy” or “sakha ata” on Yakut language) is aboriginal breed of horses common in Yakutia. This breed of horses with long hair (8-15 cm) is the most frost-resistant. In winter it can feed on the grass from under the snow. In Yakutia, the horses are living outdoors all year round (in summer [...]

The bomb shelter of abandoned Institute of Corrosion

Abandoned Research Institute of Corrosion is located somewhere in the Moscow region. The institute was working on studying the effects of different environments and conditions on certain substances. In the late 1980s due to lack of funding the institute was closed. Now this is the place where you can feel the atmosphere of the Soviet [...]

“BelAZ 75600″ – the biggest truck in the former USSR

Bachatskiy coal open-cast mine, located in Belovo city (Kemerovo oblast) is one of the largest mines of the Kuzbass (total area is about 20 square kilometers, depth – 300 meters). Annual production amounts to more than 8 million 700 thousand tons. The mine produces fuel for energy and metallurgical industries of Russia and other countries [...]

Karelia – the land of winter tales

Karelia Republic is a remarkably beautiful land of white nights, boundless forests, and blue lakes. Karelia is located on the border of Western and Eastern Europe, on the border of cultures and religions. Severe beauty of Karelia Republic nature, the climate, not too favorable in these latitudes, the coexistence and intermingling of various peoples inhabiting [...]

Beautiful still life paintings of Marina Zakharova

Marina Zakharova was born in Kostroma and graduated from the Yaroslavl Art School in 1987. She takes part in Russian and foreign art exhibitions. In 1998, she received an award from the President of Russia for achievements in art. The paintings of the artist can be found in the collection of Kostroma Art Museum and [...]

Abandoned base of Soviet military equipment

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union produced a huge amount of various military equipment. The country was preparing for the Third World War, but it did not happen. With each passing year more and more of the machinery and equipment became obsolete. A lot of the machines were dismantled or conserved at special bases. [...]

Grozny city at night time

Today, after the war, Grozny is once again the administrative center of the Chechnya Republic of Russia. The reconstruction works are in process. In 2005 the railway connection with other parts of Russia was restored and the Grozny city airport, Severny, began to offer flights to Moscow. Also, after several years of reconstruction, the beautiful [...]

The convicts of main prison in Eastern Siberia

Nerchinsk state prison was a part of penitentiary system of the Russian Empire, the main place in Eastern Siberia for state convicts sentenced to hard labor. It was located on the territory of present Zabaikalsky krai. The prison system in Eastern Siberia appeared in the beginning of the 18th century as a place of serving [...]