Baskunchak is a salt lake, with an area of about 115 square km, located in Akhtubinskiy district of Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea and 53 km to the east of the Volga River.

Salt extraction on the lake began in the 8th century. Lake Baskunchak was officially mentioned first time in 1627 in the first geographical description of Russia as a place “where they mine salt as pure as ice.” The view of the lake from the satellite. The photos were taken by Richard Zorge.

two in one – the lake and the desert

Tags: Astrakhan oblast · landscapes

Kurilskoye Lake, located in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the territory of the South Kamchatka Federal Preserve, is the place with the highest density of bears in Russia.

The lake area is about 77 square kilometers (the third largest lake of Kamchatka), the average depth is 195 meters, the maximum depth is 316 meters.

bears, they are everywhere

Tags: Kamchatka krai

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

November 18, 2014, the mine Solikamsk-2, owned by a Russian company “Uralkali”, was partially flooded. All the miners were safely evacuated, and the work was suspended. The mine is located near the town of Solikamsk in Perm region.

After some time, 3.5 km from the mine, on the territory occupied by garden plots of Solikamsk residents, a giant sinkhole (30×40 meters) was found. Risks of expansion of the sinkhole and its danger to the city are still not fully understood.

the gate to the underworld

Tags: Perm krai

Dalniye Zelentsy village is standing on the shore of a small bay (Oscar Bay) of the Barents Sea in Kolsky district of Murmansk region.

In 1935, Murmansk Biological Station was opened in this place. In 1958, it was reorganized in Murmansk Marine Biological Institute. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, almost all people left this place.

picturesque abandoned base

Tags: Abandoned · Murmansk oblast

South Kamchatka Reserve, located in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, is a part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.

According to the author of these photos Igor Shpilenok: “Kamchatka is the most bearish place in Russia. And South Kamchatka Reserve is the most bearish place of Kamchatka.” It’s easy to believe in it looking at these beautiful pictures.

paradise for bears

Tags: Kamchatka krai

Today, Staraya Ladoga (until 1703 – Ladoga) is a small village (population about 2,000) located in the Volkhov municipal district of the Leningrad region of Russia. But prior to 1703, Ladoga had a status of a town.

In 2003, the 1250th anniversary of Staraya Ladoga was celebrated and the village was called “the ancient capital of Northern Russia.”

beautiful historic place

Tags: Leningrad oblast

Kamchatka is a peninsula located in the north-eastern part of Eurasia in Russia. It stretches from north-east to south-west for 1200 km.

In general, the landscapes and nature of Kamchatka are very similar to the open spaces of southern Siberia, the main difference – volcanoes. And another big difference is climate.

beautiful land

Tags: Kamchatka krai · landscapes

Sunflower is a major oilseed crop in Russia. In 2013, the gross yield of sunflower seeds amounted to about 10.2 million. tons – 3 times more than in 1990 during the Soviet period, and by 27.7% more than in 2012.

Russia occupies a leading position in the world in this area, together with Ukraine (10.0 million tons of oilseeds in 2013). Blooming sunflower fields look very picturesque. The following wonderful pictures were taken in Lipetsk region by Petr Ushanov

beautiful field of sunflowers

Tags: landscapes · Lipetsk oblast

“Zyuratkul” is a national park located in the southern part of Satka region of Chelyabinsk oblast, 200 km west of Chelyabinsk. The total area of ​​the park is 88,249 hectares, the length from north to south – 49 km, from east to west – 28 km.

The park preserves unique natural complexes, monuments of nature, history, culture, archeology and other cultural heritage sites. There are such natural sites as the alpine Zyuratkul Lake, Kalagaza and Berezyak rivers, Zyuratkul Pillars rocks and others. Photos by Andrey Grachev

majestic nature views

Tags: Chelyabinsk oblast · landscapes