Russia

Followers 4

Entry posted by korver · December 5, 2020

1,931 Views

true earth

Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country of 144 million located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. One of the world's most beautiful countries, Russia is truly one of a kind - let's take a trip to this incredible country and visit a few of its most impressive sights in today's update.

Spoiler

We'll begin with a brief introduction of this historic country. Russia extends from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the south. Once the preeminent republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.; commonly known as the Soviet Union), Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. By far the world’s largest country, it covers nearly twice the territory of Canada, the second largest. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and the eastern third of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms, from deserts to semiarid steppes to deep forests and Arctic tundra. Russia contains Europe’s longest river, the Volga, and its largest lake, Ladoga. Russia also is home to the world’s deepest lake, Baikal, and the country recorded the world’s lowest temperature outside the North and South poles. The inhabitants of Russia are quite diverse. Most are ethnic Russians, but there also are more than 120 other ethnic groups present, speaking many languages and following disparate religious and cultural traditions. Most of the Russian population is concentrated in the European portion of the country, especially in the fertile region surrounding Moscow, the capital. Moscow and St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) are the two most important cultural and financial centers in Russia and are among the most picturesque cities in the world. Our look at Russia formally begins however with a look over one of the country's most spectacular natural wonders, Lake Baikal. This massive lake in eastern Siberia is one of the world's largest and deepest lakes and has held great cultural significance for the locals for a millennia.

Another one of Sibera's most amazing natural wonders is the mesmerizing delta of the Lena River as it enters the Arctic Ocean. This maze of rivers, streams, and swampland stretches for hundreds of miles around and is quite the sight from space.

Eastern Siberia is also home one of the world's largest and most isolated seas - the Sea of Okhotsk. The fishing grounds here are world class, but these waters can turn deadly at a moments notice is the weather turns bad.

Russia's and Siberia's massive size is almost incomprehensible - getting from one city to the next can take days or even weeks of traveling across vast wilderness. The Trans-Siberian Railroad helped to alleviate this upon its completion in 1904, and finally provided a vital link from the east to the west.

Bordering the Sea of Okhostsk is the Kamchatka Peninsula - a region of Russia that's well known for its wild, undiscovered landscapes. Massive volcanoes can also be found here along the Pacific's Ring of Fire - they're some of the world's most active and deadly.

After exploring some of Eastern Russia's most magnificent scenes, we make a quick stop in the port city of Vladivostok to stock up on supplies. The city's interior and suburbs are lined with drab commie apartments and houses.

After a lengthy trip on the railway, we finally board a plane at Novosibirsk's Tolmachevo Airport and embark for our next destination.

Norilsk is another one of Siberan Russia's most famous cities - but not necessarily for the best reasons. It's known for its heavy pollution, as massive heavy industrial smokestacks spew a sea of smoke into the surrounding sky, and heavy pollutants into the surrounding rivers. Combined with some of the world's coldest temperatures, living here can make for harsh existence.

After exploring vast Siberia, we catch another plane, this time heading for Western Russia - home to a number of Europe's largest and most important cities. Along the way, towering nuclear power plants are a common sight - they're one of the country's most important sources of energy.

Not too far away is one of the country's most impressive natural wonders - the Ural Mountains. Marking the divide between Europe and Asia, this vast mountain range is filled with dense forests and hilly, mountainous ridges.

We now make our way towards St. Petersburg - Russia's second largest city. The Neva River is lined with historic, traditional Russian architecture, and a riverboat cruise or walk along these streets can be quite picturesque.

St. Petersburg also has its share of modern wonders as well, such as the towering Lakhta Center. Standing 1,516 feet tall, it's Europe's tallest skyscraper and one of the world's tallest buildings as well.

Due to its geographic position at the confluence of the Neva River and Gulf of Finland, St. Petersburg has served as a vital port city for centuries. Here we see a scene from the city's shipyards on a busy afternoon.

The last couple of scenes for our trip through Russia will come from the country's iconic capital city, Moscow. We'll catch a flight from St. Petersburg and land in the famed capital's Domodedovo Airport.

Perhaps Russia's most famous landmark is the distinctive St. Basil's Cathedral, which has towered over the iconic Red Square since its completion in the mid 16th century.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is another one of Moscow's most famous landmarks and is well known for its glistening gold domes.

Moscow's skyline is largely dominated by imposing Stalinist-styled architecture - the so called "Seven Sisters" were built from 1947-1953 and are some of the country's most defining buildings. The Moscow State University building, pictured below, towers over a large park in the center of the city.