This March, people living in central Russia could see in the sky unusual for these places natural phenomenon – northern lights. According to experts, it was caused by a powerful magnetic storm.

Let’s enjoy the following beautiful pictures of the northern lights in the sky over Sverdlovsk region. Photos by: Sergey Makurin.

amazing views

Tags: Sverdlovsk oblast

During freeze-up (usually from the beginning of January till early May) Lake Baikal freezes completely, except for a small area of ​​15-20 km length located in the source of the Angara River.

By the end of winter, ice thickness on the lake reaches 1 m, and in bays – 1.5-2 m. During severe frosts, cracks break ice on separate fields. The length of cracks is about 10-30 km, the width – 2-3 m.

mysteries of Baikal ice

Tags: Buryat Republic · Irkutsk oblast

Lake Teletskoye is located in the south of Western Siberia (Altai Republic). It is the fifth deepest lake in Russia (maximum depth – 325 meters).

This lake is one of the most popular tourist destination in Altai Republic: hiking, water, bike, air and road trips. In addition, many tourists come to the lake for fishing. The photo was taken by Alexey Kachurin.

Tags: Altay Republic · landscapes

Only a few hundred kilometers from the bustling Moscow city life goes in a completely different pace.

Let’s look at Russian countryside, for example, these tranquil rural landscapes of Yaroslavl region, located in the north of European Russia, in the center of the East European Plain. The photos were taken by Alexey Lobanov.

classic Russian province

Tags: landscapes · Yaroslavl oblast

Lake Baikal, located in Irkutsk region and Buryatia Republic, is known not only because it is the deepest lake in the world and the largest natural reservoir of fresh water, but also for its fantastically beautiful ice fields formed in winter time. The photos were taken by Anton Petrus.

magnificent ice of Lake Baikal

Tags: Buryat Republic · Irkutsk oblast

Karachay-Cherkessia Republic is a subject of the Russian Federation (population about 470 thousand people), a part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

The region is located in the foothills of the north-western Caucasus. About 80% of Karachay-Cherkessia Republic territory is situated in mountainous terrain providing favourable conditions for development of tourism, mountaineering and resort activities. The photos were taken by Timur Agirov.

fly over the mountains

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic · landscapes

About two years ago, we published a post with beautiful photos of an amazing natural phenomenon – snow caves formed near Mutnovsky volcano in Kamchatka.

Last year, access to the cave was blocked with snow, but this year things were better and we can again see this beauty. Mutnovsky volcano on Google Maps. The photos were taken by Denis Budkov.

let’s get into the cave

Tags: Kamchatka krai

Baikal is a lake of tectonic origin located in the southern part of Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region and Buryat Republic). It is the deepest lake in the world (maximum depth – over 1600 meters) and the largest natural reservoir of fresh water.

The lake and coastal areas feature a unique variety of flora and fauna. Baikal is one of the most beautiful lakes in Russia. The photos were taken by Anna Anikina.

stunningly beautiful scenery

Tags: Buryat Republic · Irkutsk oblast · landscapes

Lake Kezenoyam is a lake located on the border of Vedensky district of Chechen Republic and Botlikhsky district of Dagestan Republic. This alpine lake, situated at an altitude of about 1,800 meters above sea level, is the largest and deepest lake in the North Caucasus.

The maximum depth of the lake is 74 meters, the length from north to south – 2 km, from west to east – 2.7 km, the maximum width – 735 meters.

very scenic lake

Tags: Chechnya Republic · Dagestan Republic · landscapes

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is an active volcano located in the east of Kamchatka. It is the highest active volcano in Eurasia. The height of the volcano varies from 4750 to 4850 meters above sea level.

It is also the highest peak in Russia outside the Caucasus. January 1, 2015, the regular eruption of Klyuchevskaya Sopka began. Klyuchevskaya Sopka on Google Maps. The photos were taken by Denis Budkov.

look at the volcanic eruption closer

Tags: Kamchatka krai