Yesterday, the 16th FINA World Championships (aquatic sports) was officially opened in Kazan, the capital city of Tatarstan Republic. The World Championships will be held from July 24 to August 16, 2015 (including the 16th FINA World Masters Championships that will be held August 5-16, 2015).

Competitions in six water sports (swimming, open water swimming, diving and high-diving, synchronized swimming and water polo) will be held in three main arenas. This is the first time in history when Russia holds such competitions.

Good luck to all the participants and let the best win these beautiful medals!

more info

Tags: Kazan city

In the south of Gamov peninsula in the Sea of Japan (Primorye krai), there is a cape of the same name. It was named in honor of an officer of the frigate “Pallada” that arrived here in 1854.

This area, characterized by strong winds and frequent fogs, was very dangerous for navigation. That’s why it was decided to build a lighthouse here. The construction began in 1901, and the lighthouse was opened in 1906.

on the eastern edge of Russia

Tags: Primorye krai

The mansion of Mikhail Aseev, opened after restoration in the autumn of 2014, is one of the most outstanding sights of Tambov.

This luxury two-storey house is located in the most prestigious part of the city – in the park on the picturesque bank of the River Tsna (Gogol Street, 1).

explore the mansion

Tags: Tambov city

On the central squares and streets of almost every city, town, and even village of the former Soviet Union, you can easily find a monument to Vladimir Lenin. Yelabuga, a small town in the Republic of Tatarstan, is no exception.

The town has probably the most unusual monument to Lenin in Russia. Just look at this marvel of monumental sculpture – the high stele with the tiny bust of Lenin on top. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

marvelous monument

Tags: Tatarstan Republic · Yelabuga city

In the late 1970s, after the closure of the Soviet lunar program and work on the super-heavy carrier rocket N1, the development of a new super-heavy rocket called “Energy” began.

The first launch was made in 1987, and, in 1988, the rocket put into orbit the Soviet space shuttle “Buran.” Photos by: Ralph Mirebs.

abandoned rocket

Tags: Abandoned · Soviet past

The Hermitage is a park pavilion built in the Baroque style in the Catherine’s Park in Tsarskoye Selo, the former Russian imperial country residence located near St. Petersburg.

The pavilion, constructed in 1744-1754, served for entertainment meetings of the courtiers. The Hermitage combines white columns, pilasters, architraves, pale turquoise walls and a number of gold-plated elements. Sixty-four decorative columns, stucco garlands, masks, lush window frames don’t leave smooth surfaces. Photos by: deletant.

explore this unique place

Tags: Leningrad oblast · Russian Empire · Saint Petersburg city

July 6, in the middle of summer, heating season will be resumed in Vorkuta because of a sharp drop in temperature. Next week, weather forecasters predict rain and snow and the air temperature around plus 5 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday, July 5, the snow fell in the city. Vorkuta is located in the north of Komi Republic in the permafrost zone. It is the third largest city in the Arctic Circle. And here’s a video from the scene – summer snow in Vorkuta.

Tags: Komi Republic · Vorkuta city

Just look at this beautiful summer scenery found on the territory of Smolensk region located in the western part of European Russia – misty morning and afternoon on a field of lupine on the Ugra River. Photos by: Petr Ushanov.

beautiful nature views

Tags: landscapes · smolensk oblast

Great video about the changes in the style of women living in Russia since the 1910s to the 2010s.

Tags: No tags

St. John the Baptist Convent, founded in 1536, is located in the small town of Vyazma (population about 50,000), in the east of Smolensk region, 210 km from Moscow.

The convent itself is small, on its territory there are two churches: Church of the Ascension with a bell tower and Church of the Icon of the Holy Mother “Hodegetria.”

Church of the Ascension

the beauty of the second church

Tags: churches · smolensk oblast