These picturesque photos were taken on one hot summer evening in the Volga River delta somewhere in the Astrakhan region. The delta of the Volga is the largest river delta in Europe and the 8th in the world.

Due to the lowering of the level of the Caspian Sea, the delta area has increased ninefold over the past 130 years. The unique flora and fauna of the delta (sturgeon, lotus, flamingo, Siberian cranes, pelicans) are under state protection as the Astrakhan Nature Reserve. Photos by: Fedor Lashkov.

beautiful nature scenery

Tags: Astrakhan oblast

The mountain park “Ruskeala” is a tourist complex located in the Sortavala district of the Republic of Karelia, near the border with Finland. The basis of the complex is an abandoned marble quarry filled with groundwater – a cultural heritage site and historic monument.

The park is located near the village of Ruskeala, about 30 kilometers north of the town of Sortavala. The length of the former marble quarry from north to south is 460 meters, the width – up to 100 meters. Ruskeala Park on Google Maps. Photos by: Maria Mitrofanova.

picturesque abandoned quarry

Tags: Abandoned · Karelia Republic · Petrozavodsk city

Ayskiye Pritesy is a unique natural geological object – high limestone cliffs located on the section of the Ay River on the border of the Chelyabinsk region and the Republic of Bashkortostan.

These limestone rocks, picturesque vertical walls up to 90 meters high, consist of two groups – Bolshiye (Large) Pritesy and Malyye (Small) Pritesy. In the local dialect, Ayskiye Pritesy are called “Sybar-kaya”, which in Bashkir language means “varicoloured cliff”. Ayskiye Pritesy on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Lyapin.

amazing natural monument of the Southern Urals

Tags: Bashkortostan Republic · Chelyabinsk oblast

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.

beautiful natural scenery

Tags: Kamchatka krai

The Bermamyt Plateau is an amazingly beautiful place, one of the best panoramic sites of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. It is located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus, about 30 km south-west of Kislovodsk in the Malokarachayevsky district of the republic.

The main part of the plateau – Bolshoy (Big) Bermamyt – reaches a height of 2,591 m. Nearby there is a southern rocky ledge – Malyy (Small) Bermamyt (2,643 m). In clear weather, you can enjoy scenic views of the snow-covered peaks of the Greater Caucasus and Mount Elbrus. The Bermamyt Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrey Vasiliskov.

amazingly picturesque place

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Elton is a picturesque salt lake located in the Pallasovskiy district of the Volgograd region, not far from the border with Kazakhstan, 206 km east of Volgograd.

It is not only the largest lake in the Volgograd region, but also the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized lakes in the world. Lake Elton on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

the realm of salt

Tags: Volgograd oblast

The cliff of Bolshiye Pritesy, located in the west of the Chelyabinsk region, is one of the most famous and popular sights of the Ay River. The height of this steep rocky wall is up to 100 meters.

The Ay River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the Urals. In the Bashkir language its name means “Moon” or “Moon River”. It flows through the territory of the Chelyabinsk region and the Republic of Bashkiria. The length of the river is 549 kilometers. It has a lot of picturesque cliffs, rocks, caves.

very picturesque cliff

Tags: Chelyabinsk oblast

In the Caucasus there are a lot of interesting and beautiful places and one of them is Digoria located in the western part of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, on the northern slope of the Main Caucasian ridge.

Digoria, named after the local ethnic group of Ossetians-Digorians, is located on the territory of the Digorsky and Irafsky districts of North Ossetia. The mountainous part of Digoria is the most popular among travelers. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

beautiful mountain scenery

Tags: North Ossetia Republic

Taganay is a national park located in the Southern Urals, in the western part of the Chelyabinsk region, 130 km from Chelyabinsk. The territorial center of the park is the city of Zlatoust.

The total area of the park is 568 sq. km. The following photos were taken in the area of the Meteorological Station “Taganay-Gora” – the most remote shelter of the national park located on a picturesque mountain plateau. Air temperature – minus 30 degrees Celsius. Taganay National Park on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

beautiful dawn in the harsh winter conditions

Tags: Chelyabinsk oblast · Zlatoust city

The Sinyaya River is a 597 km long river running through the territory of the Republic of Yakutia, the left tributary of the Lena River.

In the lower reaches of the river, not far from the confluence with the Lena and relatively close to Yakutsk, there is an amazing natural monument called Sinskiye Stolby (Pillars). Sinskiye Stolby on Google Maps. Photos by: Petr Ushanov.

amazing monument of nature

Tags: Sakha Republic · Yakutsk city