The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia has revised its growth forecast of the Russian economy in 2015. Deterioration in the forecast is related to the sanctions because of the events in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions.

Overall, the new picture of development of the country in the next year corresponds to a recent estimate made by the head of the Ministry Alexei Ulyukayev said that Russia is balancing between stagnation and recession.

some figures

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Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, also known as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, was built on the place where March 1, 1881, as a result of the assassination, the Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded.

The church was built by the order of the Emperor Alexander III in 1883-1907 as a monument to the Emperor Alexander II with funds collected throughout Russia. It is standing in the historic center of Saint Petersburg on the banks of Griboedov Canal near the Mikhailovsky Garden. The height of the church – 81 meters, the total capacity – up to 1,600 people. Photo by Andrey Rumyantsev

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In Soviet times, the myth that Russia (the Russian Empire) before 1917 was a backward peasant country without a strong industry and technology became widespread. However, the situation was not so straightforward, and here is one example.

March 19, 1906, by the decree of Emperor Nicholas II, the Navy of the Russian Empire received a new kind of force – military submarines. By 1916, the Russian Navy had 55 submarines.

Submarine of “AG” class on one of the stocks of the Baltic plant

unique photos of the first submarines

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Everyone knows that a bear’s den is the wintering shelter of bears in the wild. But have you ever seen the inside look of the lair? One student was not lazy, climbed inside and made some measurements. See for yourself!

let’s get into the den

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Vasya Lozhkin (real name Alexey Kudelin) was born August 18, 1976 in Solnechnogorsk (Moscow region) where he lives to this day. The artist is very popular in the Russian Internet for his paintings in which he ridicules the types of the surrounding reality.

He likes to draw animals, especially cats of all possible and impossible kinds. Here’s an example of the zodiac signs in his performance. The site of Vasya Lozhkin

The Ram

amusing cat zodiac

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“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

Somewhere on the Pomorsky coast of the Onega Bay of the White Sea (north of Arkhangelsk region), there is an old village called Vorzogory.

The population of the village is only about 100 people and who knows for how long it will exist. It is a very picturesque place with a unique flavor of the Russian North. Photos by Petr Ushanov

severe beauty of the Russian North

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Norilsk is a city located in the north of Krasnoyarsk region, south of the Taimyr Peninsula, about 90 km east of the Yenisei River. Norilsk is the second largest city in the world (after Murmansk) located within the Polar Circle.

It is one of the most environmentally polluted cities in the world. Environmental hazard for the population of Norilsk and its surrounding areas is determined by one of the world’s largest mining and, at the same time, metal-producing plants. Photos by Stepanov Slava

unique northern city

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Tobolsk is a town with a population of about 98,000 people, located in the south of Tyumen oblast, at the confluence of the Tobol and the Irtysh rivers.

The town was founded in 1587 as a center for the development of Siberia. From the end of the 16th till the 18th century, it was the main military, administrative, political and religious center of Siberia. Photos by Sergey Dolya

walk through the streets of Tobolsk

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Scenic view of the Pskov Krom (Kremlin) – the historical and architectural center of one of the oldest cities in Russia. Today, Pskov is the administrative center of Pskov region and an important tourist center of the north-west Russia.

Pskov was first mentioned in chronicles in 903 AD. Prior to the beginning of the 18th century, Pskov was one of the largest cities in Russia and Europe, one of the most important defense and commercial centers of the country. Photo by Victor Peryakin

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