The Northern Urals is one of the most hard-to-reach areas of the Urals, but it gradually becomes more popular among tourists primarily thanks to two main attractions: the rock formations on the Manpupuner Plateau and the Dyatlov Pass.

Both of these places are covered with legends. Although one of them was created by nature, and the second – by human tragedy that is still an unsolved mystery. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

fly over the Northern Urals

Tags: Komi Republic · Perm krai · Sverdlovsk oblast

Dombay is a resort village located at an altitude of about 1,600 meters above sea level in the intermontane basin at the northern foothill of the Main Caucasian Range in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.

The word “dombay” in translation from Karachai means “bison”. In the past, the local forests were inhabited by herds of bison. The settlement arose in connection with the development of tourism in the region in the 1920s. Dombay on Google Maps. Photos by: Konstantin Antipin.

picturesque mountain resort

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Iturup is an island of the southern group of the Kuril Islands, the largest island of the archipelago and part of the Sakhalin region.

The nature of this island is amazingly picturesque. On the coast you can see beautiful contrast of white pumice cliffs and black hexagonal pillars of volcanic magma. Iturup on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Dolya.

natural beauty of Iturup

Tags: Sakhalin oblast

The state nature reserve “Stolby” (“Pillars”) is located on the north-western spurs of the Eastern Sayan and from the north-east adjoins the city of Krasnoyarsk.

The reserve was founded on the initiative of the city residents to preserve natural complexes around picturesque rocks in 1925. Today, the area of the reserve is 47,219 hectares. Picturesque rocks are the main attraction of the reserve. Photos by: Sergey Filinin.

great place for hiking

Tags: Krasnoyarsk city

The tract of Akkurum (Ak-Korum) is located on the right bank of the Chulyshman River, about 15 km from its confluence with Lake Teletskoye, in the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic.

Akkurum, meaning “white rockslide”, is a very picturesque place which main attraction is the group of so-called “stone mushrooms” – stone pillars formed as a result of wind and water erosion and reaching a height of 7 meters. Akkurum on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

beautiful nature monument

Tags: Altay Republic

The peninsula of Kamchatka is a unique mountainous region in Russia. Ecologically pure wildlife attracts more and more tourists, despite the remoteness and inaccessibility of these places. You can get here only by air or by sea.

About one-third of the Kamchatka territory is occupied by specially protected natural sites (reserves, natural parks and monuments). Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

fly over Kamchatka

Tags: Kamchatka krai

Dombay is a mountainous territory located in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the North Caucasus, at a distance of about 65 km from Elbrus and the coast of the Black Sea.

The junction of the three main gorges: Alibek, Amanauz and Dombay-Ulgen – forms a natural center of the territory – the picturesque Dombay glade, lying at an altitude of 1,630-1,650 m above sea level. Dombay on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

picturesque mountain landscapes

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Sunduki (meaning “chests”) is a mountain range, natural and historic monument located in Ordzhonikidze and Shirinsky districts of the Republic of Khakassia.

One of the most mysterious places in Khakassia, this mountain range got its name from the most northern mountain – “Sunduk” (“chest”), on top of which there is a rock in the form of a cube. Sunduki on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Filinin.

stone waves of Khakassia

Tags: Khakassia republic

Serguei Fomine, a photographer from Russia, began his project “Russia From Above” in 2003. The project is an artistic photo shoot of the most visually attractive natural, historical and architectural sites located on the territory of the country.

A lot of his photos are unique because these hard to reach places have never been photographed before. Let’s take a look at some of these photos.

Acid lake in the crater of Maliy Semyachik volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

fly over Russia

Tags: Arkhangelsk oblast · Kamchatka krai · Khabarovsk krai · Krasnodar krai

Lago-Naki is a famous plateau located at an altitude of about 2,000 meters in the Western Caucasus, in Maikop district of the Republic of Adygea.

It is a place of stunning natural beauty known for its flowering alpine meadows. Almost the entire territory of the plateau is included in the Caucasian Reserve. Photos by: Vladimir Mulder.

beautiful alpine scenery

Tags: Adygeya Republic