The sky over the northern regions of Russia often presents locals and tourists a colorful show. Let’s look at the beautiful views of the aurora borealis, also known as northern lights, over Murmansk region. The photos were taken by Valentin Zhiganov

the sky in a green fire

Tags: Murmansk oblast

The Sedov (the Magdalene Vinnen II in 1921-1936, the Kommodore Johnsen in 1936-1948), is a 4-masted steel barque, acquired by the USSR as a war reparation in 1945. She was the largest traditional sailing ship for about eighty years.

Today, the Sedov is used to train cadets from Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and Saint Petersburg universities. Also, she often participates in maritime international events. The photos by Eduard Gordeev

frost, sun and beautiful ship

Tags: Arkhangelsk city · Murmansk city · Saint Petersburg city

Cubism theme from the previous post about the Russian army has received an unexpected continuation. The trend has gone further and has already reached the very heart of Russia – Red Square in Moscow.

Because of restoration work, Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, for the first time in modern history, has become a constructivist object. Red Square looks very unusual now. Also, New Year’s Fair is held in the square these days. The photos were taken by periskop

unique view of Red Square

Tags: Moscow city

In Russia, there are many sayings and proverbs dedicated to idiocy that often occurs in the army. For example, “people, served in the army, don’t laugh in the circus” or “in the army, they carry round things and roll square ones”, etc.

And here’s one example. In winter, when the territory of the army garrisons is covered with deep snow, soldiers are often busy making these nice looking snowdrifts – square snowdrifts.

square paradise

Tags: No tags

Nizhny Novgorod (often called just “Nizhny” in spoken language) is a city in Russia, the administrative center of the Volga Federal District and Nizhny Novgorod region.

It is located in the center of the East European Plain, at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga rivers. Nizhny Novgorod is an important economic and industrial center of Russia, a major transport hub.

Nizhny Novgorod in the evening

Tags: Nizhny Novgorod city

Russian nature is known for its diversity. The nature of the Russian North occupies a special place in this variety.

Let’s look at the wonderful scenery of the severe nature of northern Karelia (Karelia Republic) and the Kola Peninsula (Murmansk region). Photos by Andrey Grachev

northern landscapes

Tags: Karelia Republic · landscapes · Murmansk oblast

Novosibirsk is the third most populous city in Russia (population – about 1.5 million). It is the administrative center of the Siberian Federal District and Novosibirsk region.

The city is a commercial, business, cultural, industrial, transport, and scientific center of federal importance. Let’s see how Novosibirsk looks at night time. Photos by Denis Mukimov

The district near the railway station

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Tags: Novosibirsk city

Pereslavl-Zalessky is a small town with a population of about 40 thousand people in Yaroslavl region of Russia.

It is located 140 kilometers from Moscow, on the highway M8 “Kholmogory” Moscow – Arkhangelsk, on the shores of Pleshcheyevo Lake. The town is the center of the national park “Pleshcheyevo Lake.” Photos by Andrey Grachev.

picturesque Russian provincial town

Tags: Yaroslavl oblast

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the largest Orthodox Monastery in Russia, located in the center of Sergiev Posad in Moscow region.

It is considered that the monastery was founded in 1337. In the Middle Ages, the monastery played a prominent role in the political life of the North-Eastern Russia. Photos by Dmitry Gazin

the largest Russian monastery

Tags: churches · Sergiev Posad city

Gorky nuclear heating plant is an unfinished station for the production of thermal energy for heating Nagorny district of Nizhny Novgorod (former Gorky). Construction of the station was carried out in the 1980s, a few kilometers east of the city limits.

By the end of the 1980s, the station was finished by 85%, but due to public outcry and a growing budget deficit, the completion of construction of the station in the post-Chernobyl period was impossible, and the station was abandoned. Photos by Lana Sator

explore the station

Tags: Abandoned · Nizhny Novgorod city