Baskunchak is a salt lake located in Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km to the east of the Volga River.

The lake is a kind of hollow on top of the salt mountain. Numerous springs flow into the lake on the north-west coast bringing in the lake more than 2.5 thousand tons of salts per day. Baskunchak Lake location on Google Maps. Photos by Denis Frantsouzov

unusual colors of salt lake

Tags: Astrakhan oblast · landscapes

Lena Pillars is a geological formation and nature park of the same name located on the banks of the Lena River in Yakutia, about 104 km from the town of Pokrovsky. It is a complex of vertically elongated rocks up to 100 meters height piled along the banks of the Lena River.

The total area of the park is 485 thousand hectares, the main goal – the development of ecological tourism. Lena Pillars are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lena Pillars location on Google Maps. Photos by Sergey Dolya

look at the bizarre rocks

Tags: Sakha Republic

Forests in Moscow region hide a lot of various abandoned buildings and structures. Some buildings are in ruins, but others are hardly affected by time.

Most often you can find abandoned military facilities, academic institutions, and summer camps. In the latter, usually, you can’t see anything unusual, but not in this case. On the territory of one summer camp the following collection of retro cars has been found. Photos by saoirse_2010

explore the abandoned camp

Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast

These days are particularly hot in Russia. The temperature in many cities has risen above plus 30 degrees Celsius. It’s a good time to enjoy picturesque scenery of cold Russian winter like the following photos taken in Ugra at the temperature of minus 20 degrees C.

Ugra is the territory in the Northern Urals, between the Pechora River and the Ural mountains. These wooden cabins-yurts belong to the indigenous people of this land – Khanty. Photos by Sergey Anashkevitch

enjoy the snowy winter

Tags: Ural

Ingushetia is located on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. The length of the republic territory from north to south is 144 km, from west to east – 72 km.

Northern part of the republic has steppe relief, in the south – the terrain is mountainous, consisting of ridges separated by valleys and gorges. The highest point is Mount Shan (4500 meters).

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Tags: Ingushetia Republic · landscapes

The Republic of Karelia is located in the north-western part of Russia, bordering Finland. The region is of great interest in the first place from a tourist point of view. Active, cultural and green forms of tourism are the most popular.

Karelia attracts tourists for its environmentally friendly nature, low population density and relatively low prices. A large part of the region is above the Arctic Circle and at night in the sky you can see fascinating pictures of Aurora Borealis like the following ones taken near the village of Rabocheostrovsk (Google Maps location of the place). Photos by Denis Frantsouzov

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Tags: Karelia Republic

Architectural and Ethnographic Museum of the Vologda region “Semyonkovo” invites you into the world of the Russian village of the late 19th – the early 20th centuries. Here you can learn more about the traditions, cultural background, and mentality of the Russian people.

The museum was opened in 1979. It is a monument of national value. The museum covers an area of 12.7 hectares and has a lot of monuments of wooden architecture of the middle 19th – the early 20th centuries. Photos by Denis Spirin

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Tags: museum · Vologda oblast

This majestic Savior Cathedral, built in the early 20th century, is standing in the center of the small village Kukoboy (population about 1,000). The cathedral is a picturesque temple constructed in high artistic style.

It is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Yaroslavl region and in all Russia. The temple impresses in its beauty and amazing proportions, rich ornamentation of white facing stone. Photos by Denis Spirin

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Tags: churches · Yaroslavl oblast

Earlier this place, located in the north of the Moscow region, was Olkhovskoye swamp. In 1936, the swamp was drained, and peat extraction began in 1955.

In 2010, one of the sites began to fill with water because of its depletion. A lot of different machines for peat extraction were left creating a very beautiful post-apocalyptic landscape now. Photos by rotweller

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Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast

Perm is a city in the east of the European part of Russia, in the foothills of the Urals, the administrative center of Perm Krai. The city is a major industrial, scientific, cultural, and logistic center of the Urals.

Perm was founded in 1723. In 1876, first in the Urals and Siberia railroad was built through the city. In 1979, the city’s population exceeded 1 million people.

In 2009, the authorities of the region started an ambitious project – “Perm – Cultural Capital.” The project significantly increased the number of cultural events held in the city, a lot of various art objects appeared in the streets.

Tags: Perm city · Perm krai · time-lapse