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

“Teremok” is a historical and architectural complex located in the former estate of the artist and patron of arts M.K. Tenisheva in the village of Flenovo, about 19 kilometers from Smolensk.

At the end of the 19th century, a center of art and enlightenment was established here. The creator of this center, Princess Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva, managed to realize in her estate the ideas of the revival of Russian national art. Flenovo on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Rubtsov.

interesting museum complex

Tags: smolensk oblast

Nikola-Lenivets is a village located in the Dzerzhinsky district of the Kaluga region, on the Ugra River.

Today, on the initiative of the artist Nikolai Polissky, Nikola-Lenivets is known as an art park, where you can find an extensive collection of architectural and artistic objects. The festivals “Arhstoyanie” and “Night of New Media” are held here too. Photos by: Alexandr Lipilin.

very unusual place

Tags: Kaluga oblast

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

The village of Pet, located in Pitelinsky district of the Ryazan region, is known for its amazing church. Vvedensky Church was built in eclectic style with elements of Art Nouveau and neo-Russian style in 1912-1913.

After 1917, the church was used as a warehouse to store agricultural tools, grain, and even meat. Photos by: Vadim Razumov.

very picturesque church

Tags: churches · Ryazan oblast

The Republic of Ingushetia is located on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. This region is also sometimes called “the land of towers.”

The towers of Ingushetia are unique in its architecture and occupy an important place in the history of the Caucasus. Also they are remarkably scenic as you can see in this video.

Tags: Ingushetia Republic

St. George’s Cathedral, a white-stone church located in the central part of the ancient Russian town of Yuryev-Polsky in the Vladimir region, is an outstanding monument of ancient Russian architecture.

The cathedral was built by Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich in 1230-1234. In 1326-1327, on the model of St. George’s Cathedral, the first stone church was built in Moscow – the Cathedral of the Assumption. Photos by: Pavel Labutin.

beautiful ancient temple

Tags: Vladimir oblast

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

Petr Kosyh, an amateur photographer from St. Petersburg, traveled about 10,000 km on the Russian North and visited such places as Solovki, Kizhi, Valaam, Pushkinogorye, Vitoslavlitsy, Kenozersky National Park, Ruskeala, Ladoga Skerries, Veppsky forest, abandoned and forgotten villages.

As a result, you can enjoy the following picture collection of magnificent landscapes and monuments of wooden architecture united under a single name “the Soul of Russia.”

Parts 2 and 3

Tags: Arkhangelsk oblast · Karelia Republic · Leningrad oblast · Murmansk oblast