Polar Lights or Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) is a natural phenomenon of glowing (luminescence) of the upper layers of atmosphere of the planet that has magnetosphere, due to their interaction with charged particles of solar wind.

When viewed from the surface of the planet Aurora Borealis appears as a general rapidly changing glow of the sky or moving beams, stripes, etc. Duration of the phenomenon varies from tens of minutes to several days.

Here you can see Polar Lights captured on video in Murmansk oblast of Russia near the town of Apatity-Kirovsk. The author of the video is Valentin Zhiganov.

Tags: Murmansk oblast

Ingushetia Republic is located in the northern part of Big Caucasus range, part of North Caucasus Federal District. The length of the region from north to south is 144 km, from west to east – 72 km.

The northern part of the region has steppe terrain, the southern – the mountainous terrain, which consists of ridges separated by valleys and gorges (the Caucasus Mountains). The highest point of the region is Mount Shan (4500 meters). Ingushetia is known for its tower buildings – historical and architectural monuments. Photos by timag82

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Tags: Ingushetia Republic

While the majority of people in Russia enjoy warm summer weather with temperatures ranging from +10 to +30 degrees Celsius, there are places where the rivers has yet to be opened from the winter ice.

For example, this video was shot on June 3 this year, on the Yenisei River in the small town of Dudinka (24,000 people) located in the north of Krasnoyarsk krai. The town is a seaport in the lower reaches of the Yenisei River, the largest in Siberia.

Tags: Krasnoyarsk krai · Siberia

The North Caucasus is the region where the best Russian sea and mountain resorts are located. Among them are the resorts of Krasnodar Region, Caucasian Mineral Waters, Dolinsk, Elbrus, Dombai. At the same time it is the most unsettled region of the country.

The following scenic photos were taken in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia republics by Vadim Mahorov.

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Tags: Kabardino-Balkaria Republic · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

A characteristic feature of the nature of Russia is a huge amount, and an exceptional variety of lakes. According to the Big Russian Encyclopedia the total number of lakes in Russia exceeds 2.7 million; the total area (excluding the Caspian Sea) is more than 400 thousand square kilometers.

In the most part (about 98%) the lakes have small area (less than 1 square kilometer) and a depth of 1-1.5 meters. Large lakes are relatively few. There are about 140 lakes in Russia with an area of over 100 square kilometers, and only 9 lakes with an area of more than 1000 square kilometers.

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Elbrus is a stratovolcano in the Caucasus (on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia). Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Also because the border between Europe and Asia is controversial, Mount Elbrus can also be the highest peak in Europe.

Elbrus is a saddle-shaped volcano with a two peaks. Western peak has an elevation of 5642 meters, Eastern – 5621 meters. The peaks are connected by a saddle (5200 meters), the distance between peaks is about 3 kilometers. By climbing classification Elbrus has rating 2A (snow and ice), climbing to the top of two peaks – 2B. Photos by Oleg Grigoryev.

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Tags: Kabardino-Balkaria Republic · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

The Yakut horse (“sylgy” or “sakha ata” on Yakut language) is aboriginal breed of horses common in Yakutia. This breed of horses with long hair (8-15 cm) is the most frost-resistant. In winter it can feed on the grass from under the snow.

In Yakutia, the horses are living outdoors all year round (in summer the temperatures are up to +30 ° C and in winter down to -50 ° C).

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Tags: Sakha Republic

Karelia Republic is a remarkably beautiful land of white nights, boundless forests, and blue lakes. Karelia is located on the border of Western and Eastern Europe, on the border of cultures and religions.

Severe beauty of Karelia Republic nature, the climate, not too favorable in these latitudes, the coexistence and intermingling of various peoples inhabiting this land for centuries, all that conditioned the character of the people living here: very laconic, self-assured, contemplative, and tolerant people.

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Pyatigorsk (“the city of five mountains”) is the oldest balneological and mud resort of Russia and the largest cultural and tourist center of eco-resort region Caucasian Mineral Waters.

On January 19, 2010 Pyatigorsk received the status of the center of North Caucasus Federal District. It is the only center of the federal district not being the capital of the subject of the federation. Photos by timag82. Click the photos for high resolution versions.

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Saratov region (oblast) is located in the southeastern part of European Russia. Main river of the region is Volga dividing the region into two parts.

Saratov oblast is traditionally an agricultural region. The oblast is the 10th among Russian regions in the amount of agricultural product. The specific feature of the region is a great number of farmers having lands under crops.

The following video showing the beautiful nature of Saratov region was made by Anton Starikov.

Tags: landscapes · Saratov oblast