They depict such famous landmarks as Red Square, Teatralnaya Square, Lubyanka Square, and Petrovsky Park. Notably, one of the cards featured an image of Moscow’s Central Station, which was proposed for construction in the early 20th century but subsequently lost its relevance.

On the back of each card there was a brief annotation of the drawing; on card No. 1 – of the entire series:

“Looking back with regret on a glorious past is not only difficult but downright unpleasant. No matter how wonderful the past, once it’s gone, there’s no point in talking about it.

While leaving the description and study of bygone times to wise historians, we, the compilers of this brief album, intended to peer, to the best of our ability and the richness of our colorful Imagination, into the more or less distant future of our beloved and familiar Mother Moscow.

Anyone who knows and loves Moscow will find it intriguing to imagine what Moscow and its inhabitants will be like in approximately 200-300 years. These are the pictures that open up to our gaze based on more or less precise logical conclusions.”

Central Station.

“Winter is the same as it was 200 years ago. The snow is just as white and cold. Central Station for Land and Air Transport. Tens of thousands of people arriving and departing, everything moves extremely quickly, smoothly, and conveniently. Passengers can travel by land or air. Those who wish can travel as fast as telegrams.”

Moskvoretsky Bridge.

“The Kremlin still adorns the ancient white-stone city, and with its golden domes, it presents a magical sight. Right next to the Moskvoretsky Bridge, we see huge new buildings housing commercial enterprises, trusts, societies, syndicates, and so on. The carriages of the aerial tramway glide gracefully against the sky.”

Lubyanka Square.

“A clear evening. Lubyanka Square. The blue sky is marked by the crisp lines of illuminated airplanes, airships, and airship carriages. Long carriages of the Moscow Metro, which was only a topic of conversation in our time in 1914, emerge from beneath the square’s pavement. Across the bridge over the Metro, we see a well-ordered detachment of valiant Russian troops, still in their uniforms from our own time. In the blue air, we spot the freight airship Einem, flying to Tula with supplies of chocolate for retail stores.”

The Moscow River.

“The bustling, noisy banks of the vast, navigable Moscow River. Enormous transport and merchant cruisers and multi-story passenger ships race along the clear, deep waves of the huge commercial port. The world’s entire fleet is exclusively merchant. The navy was abolished after the peace treaty in The Hague. The bustling harbor displays the diverse costumes of all the nations of the globe, for the Moscow River has become a global trading port.”

Petrovsky Park.

“We are transported back to Petrovsky Park. The alleys have been widened beyond recognition. The ancient Petrovsky Palace has been restored, and the Museum of the Peter the Great Era is housed within. Marvelous fountains gush and sparkle everywhere. Airships and airplanes cut through the perfectly clean air, free of germs and dust. Crowds of people in vibrant 23rd-century costumes enjoy the wondrous nature in the same place where we, our great-great-great-grandfathers, used to stroll.”

Red Square.

“The sound of wings, the jingle of trams, the honking of cyclists, the sirens of cars, the roar of engines, the shouts of the public. Minin and Pozharsky. The shadows of airships. In the center, a policeman with a sabre. Timid pedestrians seek refuge at the former execution site. This is how it will be in 200 years.”

Petersburg Highway.

“A beautiful, clear winter in the year 2259. A corner of “old” merry Moscow, the ancient “Yar” still serves as a venue for Muscovites’ revelry, just as it did more than 300 years ago. For the convenience and enjoyment of travel, the entire Petersburg Highway has been transformed into a crystal-clear, icy mirror, across which graceful aerosleds glide. Traditional sbiten* sellers and hot air balloon vendors dart along on small aerosleds. Even in the 23rd century, Moscow remains true to its customs.”

*Sbiten is an ancient, traditional East Slavic hot or cold drink made from honey, water, and spices. The name comes from the verb “sbit'” (to combine). Before the arrival of tea in Rus’, it was the main warming drink.

Theater Square.

“The pace of life has increased a hundredfold. Everywhere, there’s the lightning-fast movement of wheeled, winged, propeller-driven, and other vehicles. The Muir and Merliz Trading House, which existed as far back as 1846, has now grown to incredible proportions, with its main departments connected to overhead railways. Numerous engines fly up from under the pavement. Somewhere in the distance, a fire is raging. We see a fire brigade truck, which will soon put an end to the disaster. Meanwhile, biplanes, monoplanes, and numerous flying boats are rushing to the fire.”

The ship’s hull is made of reinforced concrete. Those parts of the hull where concrete was unsuitable were made of iron. This ship is not unique. Several countries designed and built various reinforced concrete ships during periods of severe metal shortages. Photos by zhgalin_photo.

Indeed, concrete is a very practical material for shipbuilding. Firstly, it’s much cheaper than metal, and secondly, damage is easy to repair. The main drawback of concrete as a building material is its brittleness.

It appears to be a small tanker rather than a bulk carrier. However, the deck could also be used for transporting cargo such as timber. Overall, its true purpose remains a mystery.

The first patent for a vessel with a reinforced concrete hull was registered in 1852 in France. French inventor Jean-Louis Lambot, who made plant pots, chairs, and other items from cement on a metal frame, created a rowboat with a hull made of a material he called “ferrocement,” which consisted of cement applied to a frame of metal rods or wire.

However, the invention failed to generate interest until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, when pre-war industrial steel reserves were depleted and a shortage of metal for shipbuilding arose.

Until 1915, the construction of reinforced concrete ships, in limited numbers, was underway in all countries, including the Ottoman Empire and China. After the outbreak of hostilities, warships and merchant navies suffered losses, and in 1915, the German Empire declared “unrestricted submarine warfare.” As a result, the tonnage shortage of the active navy worsened in 1915, forcing all developed countries to adopt reinforced concrete for shipbuilding.

Until 1919, this work was carried out in the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. During this time, at least 1,000 reinforced concrete vessels (sea tugs, self-propelled ferries, motor launches, barges, etc.) with a total tonnage of over 600,000 tons were built.

With the end of World War I in 1918, the intensive construction of reinforced concrete vessels largely ceased. In Russia, it began to develop rapidly after the October Revolution, and by the 1930s, the former Rybinsk shipyard was already producing series of concrete vessels for inland navigation. Between 1946 and 1948, large-scale construction of concrete vessels was launched at the Baturin, Gorodetskaya, Kostroma, Sokolskaya, Svirskaya, and Shatilkovskaya river shipyards.

Rodchenko is perhaps the most famous Russian photographer; almost everyone in Russia has seen at least a couple of his photographs. Let’s take a look at some of his works. Source: humus.

On the corner of Myasnitskaya Street in Moscow (1920s).

Rodchenko began photographing relatively late, already an established artist, illustrator, and teacher. He brought constructivist ideas to the new art form, using lines and planes to convey space and dynamics in photographs. Among these experiments, two important techniques stand out, pioneered by Rodchenko for global photography and still relevant today.

Poet Vladimir Mayakovsky with Scotty (1924).

Poet Vladimir Mayakovsky at the editorial office in Moscow (1927).

The first technique is perspective. For Rodchenko, photography is a way to communicate new ideas to society. In the age of airplanes and skyscrapers, this new art form should teach us to see from all sides and show familiar objects from unexpected perspectives. Rodchenko is particularly interested in “top-down” and “bottom-up” perspectives. This technique, one of the most popular today, was a true revolution in the 1920s.

Literary critic Osip Maksimovich Brik (1924).

Mother (1924).

The second technique is called the diagonal. Even in painting, Rodchenko identified line as the basis of any image: “Line is the first and last thing, both in painting and in any construction in general.” Line would become the fundamental constructive element in his later work-photomontage, architecture, and, of course, photography.

Rodchenko would most often employ the diagonal, as, in addition to its structural load, it also carries the necessary dynamism; a balanced, static composition is another anachronism he would actively combat.

Producer Vitaly Zhemchuzhny (1924).

Artist Alexander Shevchenko (1924).

Poet Sergei Tretyakov (1925).

Workers’ demonstration (1925).

Cabby (1926).

Cigarette sales on Strastnaya Square (1926).

Vase (1928).

Woman with Child (1929).

Radio Amateur (1929).

On the Sidewalk (1930).

Pioneer (1930).

Pioneer with a Bugle (1930).

Pioneer (1930).

Girl with a Leica (1933).

With Worms for Bait (1933).

Diver (1934).

Athletes on Red Square (1935).

Athletes on Red Square (1935).

Fencers with Foils (1936).

Lilya Brik – a Soviet prose writer and translator, the “muse of the Russian avant-garde”, and the hostess of one of the most famous literary and artistic salons of the 20th century.

Fire Escape.

Laughing Children.

Alexander Rodchenko (1924).

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