The country desperately needed foreign currency for industrialization, so every means possible was used to attract wealthy foreign tourists to the USSR. And this wasn’t limited to the major cities of Moscow and Leningrad.

You can see invitations to visit almost every interesting place in the USSR: theater festivals, river cruises, Russian hunting trips, large-scale construction projects. These posters were made to create an image of the pre-war Soviet Union as a “paradise on earth.”

Russia was one of the first in the world to begin developing a submarine fleet. On March 19, 1906, by decree of Emperor Nicholas II, the Russian Navy received a new type of weapon – military submarines. By August 1914, the fleet had approximately 15-22 combat-ready submarines. By 1916-1917, the total number reached about 50-60 units (including those under construction).

An AG-class submarine on one of the Baltic Shipyard’s piers.

They were actively used in the First World War, but without much success, and this is not surprising, since this was only the beginning of a new type of combat – submarine warfare.

Today, March 19 is celebrated in Russia as a professional holiday – Submariner’s Day. Photos by: humus

Submarine “Dolphin” (1904).

Submarines were used in both the Baltic and Black Sea theatres of military operations.

Submarine “Akula” (“Shark”).

The main mission in the Baltic was to defend the Gulf of Finland, disrupt German shipping (including iron ore from Sweden), and conduct reconnaissance. The submarines operated off the German coast and minefields. Initial attacks (such as the “Akula” attacks) were not very successful due to problems with torpedoes and tactics. Later, their effectiveness increased.

Submarine “Lvitsa” (“Lioness”).

An “AG” class submarine.

Submarine “Alligator”.

Submarine “Pantera” (“Panther”).

Submarine “Rys'” (“Lynx”).

Submarine “Morzh” (“Walrus”).

In the Black Sea, they engaged Turkish and German shipping (coal and supplies). Russian submarines (“Tyulen”, “Morzh”, and others) actively sank transports. “Krab” laid mines near the Bosphorus.

Submarine “Sudak” (“Pike Perch”).

Submarine “Krab” (“Crab”) – the world’s first underwater minelayer.

Submarine “Narwhal”.

Submarine “Beluga”.

Submarine “Orlan” (“Eagle”) (1917).

Russian submarines did not achieve the same strategic effect as German U-boats, but they contributed to the blockade of enemy communications, conducted dozens of campaigns, sank/damaged transports, and laid mines.

Many submarines were lost during the war or were sunk/captured in 1917-1918 after the revolution and the Brest Peace.

Submarines “Volk” (“Wolf”) and “Bars” (“Leopard”).

Submarine “Osyotr” (“Sturgeon”).

Submarine “Dragon”.

According to legend, Kutkh – a powerful spirit, the creator of the world, people, and nature – lived in Kamchatka and traveled its rivers and seas. One day, he prepared to leave, and so he placed his “baty” (traditional pumice boats) on the banks of the Ozernaya River, intending to return for them later.

The legend imbues this place with sacred significance and makes it special in the eyes of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka. “Kutkhiny Baty” can be translated as “The Boats of the God Kutkh.”

This story was passed down from generation to generation among the Itelmens, Koryaks, and other peoples of Kamchatka, who saw traces of a divine presence in this place. Today, Kutkhiny Baty is an important symbol of Kamchatka’s cultural heritage and mystical history.

Indeed, these rocks resemble long boats (similar to Indian canoes), ready to set sail at the first call of their master. This is a very unusual and beautiful place. Kutkhiny Baty on Google Maps. Photos by: lusika33.

Kutkhiny Baty are cliffs and outliers formed from pumice and tuff – light, porous volcanic rocks formed by powerful volcanic eruptions. These formations formed approximately 8,000-10,000 years ago, when powerful eruptions in the Kuril Lake region released enormous quantities of volcanic ash and lava into the atmosphere.

Over time, the rocks hardened, and erosion and wind sculpted them into whimsical shapes reminiscent of carved boats moored on the shore.

The pumice that makes up the Kutkhiny Baty rocks is unusually light and porous, giving the outliers a pale, almost snow-white appearance that stands out against the greenery of Kamchatka’s natural landscape. These formations are particularly striking at sunset, when the sun’s rays cast warm pink and orange hues across the rocks.

The cliffs reach a height of up to 110 m. In summer, the thickets of dwarf alder around the cliffs give them a special contrast.

The area around Kutkhiny Baty is rich in natural beauty and a diverse flora and fauna. Dense tundra vegetation, dwarf shrubs, and flowering grasses enliven the landscape around the cliffs. Nearby is Kuril Lake, home to one of the largest populations of sockeye salmon, making the area an important part of Kamchatka’s ecosystem. And it attracts numerous brown bears and birds of prey, such as eagles.

This part of Kamchatka is protected, and Kutkhiny Baty, like Kuril Lake, is part of the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve. This protected status helps preserve the natural environment and ecosystem, protecting native plant and animal species.

Kutkhiny Baty have become one of Kamchatka’s most popular tourist attractions. Despite its inaccessibility, travelers flock here to see the unique volcanic formations, imbued with mythological and cultural significance. Many tourist routes in southern Kamchatka include a visit to Kutkhiny Baty, along with Kuril Lake and its surrounding area, allowing for a better understanding of the region’s natural and cultural features.

A visit to this place offers a unique opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of Kamchatka’s indigenous peoples, experience their mythology, and see places that play a significant role in their worldview. Tours to Kutkhiny Baty include guided tours of Kamchatka’s legends and history, making the experience not only spectacular but also educational.

Following the earthquake of July 30, 2025, this unique natural site suffered damage: the middle rock of the group was severely damaged, and a deep crack appeared in another. The site was not closed, but the tour route was changed to ensure the safety of visitors to the reserve.

Belyana is a wooden, unpainted, flat-bottomed barge used for rafting timber along the Volga and Kama rivers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These ships were perhaps the most unique river vessels in the world.

These boats were built in logging areas in the Upper Volga region and on the Kama River, and were designed for only one downstream voyage. Their primary cargo was timber. They were equipped with a burlap sail for steering. The hull was up to 100 meters long, 25 meters wide, 5 meters high, and had a carrying capacity of up to 10,000 tons.

The hull was made from the finest timber. The trees were stripped of bark but not treated with resin, hence the name of this vessel (“belyana” literally means “white”). Cargo could be stowed in the hull and superstructure, gradually extending beyond the sides (up to 2.5-3 meters).

Belyany were rafted mainly to Tsaritsyn (Volgograd) and Astrakhan, where the semi-finished timber and hulls were dismantled for firewood or sent to sawmills for final processing.

The entire structure was braced with ribs for strength. The belyana was steered by a rudder at the bow and a cast-iron drag at the stern, which kept it in the fairway.

The belyany differed from the rafts in that they had some maneuverability and did not lose timber as they moved.

The heyday of these ships came in the mid-19th century, precisely when steamships began arriving en masse on the rivers. At first, steamships ran exclusively on wood, and one can imagine the amount of firewood that had to be transported to the cities on the lower Volga, where steppe expanses predominated, meaning timber supplies were tight. Later, however, with the transition of steamships to oil, the demand for wood declined somewhat.

Houses rose on the deck, giving the belyany the appearance of a floating village. These were used for crew housing and storing supplies. Particular attention was paid to the pilot house, which could be carved and painted gold. According to historians, when the belyany reached its final destination and the timber was dismantled, these beautiful houses were sold separately.

The lake is situated on the territory of the Belukha Nature Park, which also includes the Kucherlinskoye and Akkemskoye lakes, and is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. Lake Darashkol on Google Maps. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

Darashkol receives its water from the Ioldo-Ayry glacier along the Ioldo-Ayry River. Swimming here is unlikely, as the lake temperature remains around 8 degrees Celsius even in August. The river flows into the lake through flat terrain, and at its outlet, it forms a low but very picturesque cascading waterfall.

The lake is surrounded by mountain peaks and glaciers of the Katunsky Range. Cliffs reach right up to the shore of Lake Darashkol.

This rocky cape is a favorite tourist destination offering picturesque views.

Lake Darashkol is 890 meters long and 330 meters wide.

A hiking expedition to the lake takes at least two days. Along the way, tourists will have a wealth of experiences, including beautiful views and fording icy mountain rivers. If you don’t have the time or energy for such a journey, you can book a helicopter tour.

Lake Darashkol lies in a remote area. It rarely hosts many tourists at a time. Only the most determined manage to reach it. That’s why Darashkol remains one of the Altai’s most hidden spots.

Between 1909 and 1916, Prokudin-Gorsky traveled across a significant portion of the Russian Empire, photographing old churches, monasteries, factories, towns, villages, and a variety of everyday scenes.

The town of Zubtsov (Tver Oblast) on the Volga River (1910).

Thanks to him, we can see what the Russian Empire looked like in color in the last years of its existence. Source: International research project “The Legacy of S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky”.

Rostov Kremlin (Yaroslavl Oblast) (1911).

Krasnaya (Red) Cliff at Minyar Station (Chelyabinsk Oblast) (1910).

Kasli (Chelyabinsk Oblast) (1909).

Ryazan (1912).

Dagomys (Sochi) (1912).

Sochi (1912).

Vladimir (1911).

Suzdal (Vladimir Oblast) (1912).

Vitebsk – a city in northeast Belarus (1912).

Construction of a dam and lock near the village of Kuzminskoye on the Oka River in Ryazan Oblast. (1912).

Manhoff, a talented photographer, captured hundreds of scenes from everyday life in the Soviet Union, both in Moscow and in other regions of the USSR.

The construction of the hotel “Ukraine” from the roof of the US Embassy on Novinsky Boulevard. The Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus (1954) is visible on the left.

After being accused of espionage, Martin Manhoff fled the country, taking with him hundreds of color slides and negatives taken during his stay in the USSR. Among these materials were footage of Stalin’s funeral, one of the turning points in Soviet history.

Hotel “Moscow” on Manezhnaya Square.

The Kremlin from the entrance to the US Embassy.

In 1953, Red Square was not yet closed to traffic.

We are approaching the intersection of Okhotny Ryad and Tverskaya Street.

The movie theater “Khudozhestvenny” on Arbatskaya Square. Poster for the movie “Lights on the River”. Election campaign: “Everyone to the elections to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on March 14, 1954!”

Theater Square.

We are driving along Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

Novinsky Boulevard, 18. Banners on the building: “Peace to the world!” and “Peace will defeat the war!”

Who needs a bus when you can take a ride with the wind in your hair?

Soviet policeman.

A shop window on Theatre Square.

Novospassky Monastery.

Soviet kids.

The corner of Bolshoy Devyatinsky Lane and Novinsky Boulevard. The inscription means: Moscow City Information Center. “Phototelegraph” is advertised.

View from Sparrow Hills.

The new main building of Moscow University illuminated at night.

Stalin’s funeral.

Unique video of Stalin’s funeral.

Festive demonstration on Manezhnaya Square.

Text on the banner on the left: “Fraternal greetings to the People’s Republic of China.” Poster on the building: “Glory to the party of Lenin-Stalin!”

Pushkinskaya Square.

The Central Telegraph building. The sign on the building reads: “300 years since the reunification of Ukraine with Russia. Long live the fraternal friendship of the peoples of the USSR.”

Ice cream street vendor.

Moscow Zoo.

In the swimming pool of Moscow State University.

Snowstorm near the metro station “The Park of Culture”.

The second part of photos

The goal of the project was to create a humorous contrast between global stars and the harsh, everyday reality of post-Soviet Russia. Pavel Meleshkin is known for this and similar art projects where he integrates famous figures into provincial Russian settings.

1. Sylvester Stallone

2. Brad Pitt

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger

4. Nicolas Cage

5. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman (Léon: The Professional)

6. John Travolta and Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction)

7. Leonardo DiCaprio

8. Michael Jackson

9. Justin Timberlake

10. Terminator and RoboCop

11. Jack Nicholson

12. Nicolas Cage

13. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (Titanic)

14. Samy Naceri (Taxi)

15. Steven Seagal

16. Batman

17. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (Harry Potter)

18. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)

19. Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci

20. Sharon Stone

In 2025, Moscow saw a record volume of office space commissioned – 704,000 square meters. This is the highest figure since 2015, when the volume was 720,000 square meters. In 2026, the announced volume of new projects exceeds 1 million square meters. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

The total labor force in Moscow exceeds 7.2 million people (May-July 2024), of which approximately 7.16 million are employed. This represents approximately 9% of Russia’s total labor force.

Federation Tower.

Office employment is primarily concentrated in the service sector, including finance, IT, trade, administration, and professional services. In Moscow, the share of such sectors is significantly higher than the Russian average.

VTB Eurasia Tower.

Business center “Skylight”.

Federation Tower.

Business center “White Gardens”.

Federation Tower.

Moscow-City.

T-Bank.

Sberbank.

Business center “Oruzheyny”.

VTB Eurasia Tower.

Federation Tower.

T-Bank.

Sberbank.

Federation Tower.

It is the deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water, and the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia by area. The lake’s width ranges from 24 to 79 km. The bottom of Lake Baikal at its deepest point is 1,187 meters below sea level.

The origin of the name is usually explained by the Turkic “Baiköl”, meaning “rich lake,” as it is particularly rich in the rare salmon species caught here. Another theory says that the name derives from the Chinese “Běihǎi”, meaning “northern sea.” Baikal is especially beautiful in winter.