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The Commander (Komandorskiye) Islands are an archipelago of two large and two small islands located in the southwestern Bering Sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean, part of Kamchatka Krai of Russia. The archipelago is named after the navigator Commander Vitus Bering, who discovered these islands in 1741.

Bering Island is the largest island of the Commander Islands. It is about 90 km long and 24 km wide. The grave of Vitus Bering and several of his comrades are located here. There is only one settlement here – the village of Nikolskoye with a population of about 600 people. Bering Island, like all the Commander Islands, is located on an underwater ridge that extends from Alaska. The Aleutian Islands of the US state of Alaska are also located on this ridge. Photos by Andrey Grachev.

The Commander Islands, Russia, photo 1

one of the most remote places in Russia

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In 2024-2025, there is a peak in solar activity, which directly affects the intensity and beauty of such a natural phenomenon as the northern lights. These photos were taken in the Kotlas district in the southeastern part of Arkhangelsk Oblast on the night of August 12-13, 2024. According to the author of the photos, this was the most active and brightest aurora he has ever seen.

Each northern light is unique. Sometimes they look like green stripes that encircle the night sky. Other times, the northern lights appear as a shimmering canopy or resemble a glowing fog. Their primary color is green, often with shades of pink around the edges and purple in the center. Photos by: Evgeny Smolsky.

The Brightest Northern Lights in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, August 12-13, 2024, photo 1

amazingly strong northern lights

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Aug/24

28

Amazing Landscapes of Kamchatka

Kamchatka is a peninsula stretching from north to south for about 1,200 km in the northeast of Eurasia. From the west it is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, from the east – by the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Kamchatka Krai, one of the federal subjects of Russia, is located on the territory of the peninsula.

Kamchatka is a land of contrasts, which looks completely different from Central Russia. This is the land of volcanoes and glaciers, hot springs and boiling geysers, fast-flowing rivers, lakes and waterfalls. There are 414 glaciers and 160 volcanoes, 29 of which are active. Kamchatka volcanoes are included in the UNESCO World Heritage. Photos by: Sergey Makurin.

Amazing Landscapes of Kamchatka, Russia, photo 1

beautiful natural scenery

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Aug/24

12

Sarykum – the Largest Sand Dune in Europe

Sarykum or Sary-Kum (translated from the Kumyk language as “Yellow Sand”) is the largest sand dune in Europe, located in the central part of the Republic of Dagestan, about 18 km northwest of Makhachkala. It is one of the largest sand dunes in Eurasia, approximately 3 km long, 2 km wide and up to 262 meters high.

The dune is located in a protected area, part of the Dagestan Nature Reserve, created on January 9, 1987. In 1968, several scenes of the famous Soviet movie “White Sun of the Desert” were filmed here. The Sarykum Sand Dune on Google Maps. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

Sarykum Sand Dune, Dagestan, Russia - the Largest Sand Dune in Europe, photo 1

unique natural monument

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Jul/24

26

Magnificent Landscapes of Ayskiye Pritosy

The Ay River is the largest tributary of the Ufa River and one of the most picturesque places in the Southern Urals. Ayskiye Pritosy is a unique natural geological object located on the Ay River, on the border of Chelyabinsk Oblast and the Republic of Bashkortostan.

These beautiful limestone cliffs, which are steep walls up to 90 meters high, consist of two groups – Bol’shiye (Big) Pritosy and Malye (Small) Pritosy. In the local dialect, Ayskiye Pritosy is called “Sybar-kaya”, which in translation from Bashkir language means “multi-colored cliff”. Ayskiye Pritosy on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Lyapin.

Ayskiye Pritesy, Russia, photo 1

amazing natural monument of the Southern Urals

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Jun/24

30

Photorealistic Paintings of Ivan Shishkin

Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898) was one of the greatest Russian landscape painters, who created very photorealistic pictures.

In his paintings, he often depicted the nature of the central zone of the East European Plain, also known as the Russian Plain, one of the largest plains in the world.

Rye (1878).

Photorealistic paintings of Ivan Shishkin, picture 1

beautiful pictures of Russian nature

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Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is a city in Russia, the administrative center of Kamchatka Krai. It is located on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the shores of Avacha Bay of the Pacific Ocean. The distance to Moscow in a straight line is almost 6,800 km.

The population of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is about 163 thousand people, slightly more than half of the total population of the region. The elevation difference in the city is 513.6 meters from sea level (Avacha Bay) to the top of Mount Rakova. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, photo 1

views of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky from above

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Tobolsk is a city in Russia with a population of about 100 thousand people, located at the confluence of the Tobol and the Irtysh rivers, about 250 km northeast of Tyumen. It was founded as the center of the development of Siberia in 1587, about 17 km from the Tatar settlement of Sibier (also known as Kashlyk, Isker), the capital of the Siberian Khanate (1468-1598).

From the end of the 16th to the 18th centuries, it was the main military, administrative, political, and religious center of Siberia. Today, Tobolsk is the second most populous city in Tyumen Oblast. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

Tobolsk city, Siberia, Tyumen region, Russia, photo 1

picturesque old Siberian city

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Apr/24

14

Beautiful Landscapes of Iturup Island

Iturup is an island of the southern group of the Great Ridge of the Kuril Islands, the largest island of the archipelago, part of Sakhalin Oblast, Russia. The island is disputed by Japan, which considers it as part of Nemuro Subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture.

According to the most common version, the name of this island goes back to the word “etorop”, which is translated from the Ainu language as “jellyfish”. In 2023, the population of the island was about 6,900 people. Iturup Island on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrey Grachev.

Beautiful Landscapes of Iturup Island, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, photo 1

amazing nature of Iturup

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Apr/24

10

Where to Play Poker Malaysia

Discover vibrant poker scenes in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Malacca, and Genting Highlands, offering competitive tournaments, diverse game options, and luxurious settings. From upscale poker rooms in city centers to high-stakes experiences with panoramic views, Malaysia caters to all levels of players. The thriving poker culture in different regions provides unique opportunities for immersive gaming experiences and professional tournament structures. Explore these top destinations to elevate your poker gameplay and immerse yourself in the excitement of Malaysia’s diverse poker landscape.

Where to Play Poker Malaysia
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

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