Yoshkar-Ola is a city in Russia, the capital of Mari El Republic, with a population of about 260,000 people. The city was founded in 1584 as a military fort in the center of the Volga-Vyatka region, on the banks of the river Malaya Kokshaga.

Present day Yoshkar-Ola is one of the cultural centers of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Cultural heritage of the city reflects different historical periods of formation of Yoshkar-Ola.

interesting cityscape

Tags: Yoshkar-Ola city

According to the words of Maxim Ksenzov, the deputy head of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Mass Media, Twitter and Facebook can be blocked in minutes in the country and his agency “does not see big risks” in this. This news caused a great public outcry yesterday.

Today, after the words of Prime Minister that such statements are unacceptable, he was reprimanded. However, this does not negate the fact that he told the truth – to block these social networks in Russia only an order from the top is needed. Caricature by zhgun

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Since Soviet times, free flying over Moscow is limited, so the following set of photos may be interesting.

These photos taken during a rehearsal of the Victory Parade let you see how the capital of Russia looks like if you are on board of a military transport helicopter Mi-26. Photos by Stepanov Slava

flight over Moscow

Tags: Moscow city

Today, Russia celebrates Victory Day in the Second World War. In honor of this memorable date, military parades have been held in many cities across the country.

The main parade has been held on Red Square in Moscow.

Tags: Moscow city

Rostov Kremlin (1670-1683), currently the State Museum-Reserve, is one of the most amazing cultural and architectural objects of Russian heritage. Photo by Alexey Skalin

Tags: churches · Yaroslavl oblast

This beautiful photo can be a good illustration of classic Russian landscape. It was taken in ancient Suzdal, city-reserve included in the Golden Ring of Russia, by Victor Peryakin.

Tags: landscapes · Suzdal city

The Weathering Pillars is a geological monument, located in the Troitsko-Pechorsky region of Komi Republic in the territory of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-Ner (on Mansi people language it means “Little Mountain of Idols”). The pillars height varies from 30 to 42 meters.

About 200 million years ago, there were high mountains in this area. Gradually, frost and sun, snow and wind destroyed them leaving these amazing objects. The Weathering Pillars location on Google Maps. Photos by aventure

it is a real miracle of nature

Tags: Komi Republic · landscapes

Ergaki is a natural park and tourist center of Ergak-Targak-Taiga ridge located in the Western Sayan to the south-east of Abakan city, the capital of Khakassia Republic.

This area is a miracle of nature and a real pearl of Siberia, along with Baikal Lake and Altai. This place is a “dreamland” lost in Sayan mountain range. Nowadays, Ergaki is one of the symbols of Russian nature. Photos by Andrey Grachev

amazing nature views

Tags: Khakassia republic · landscapes

Leningrad (present Saint Petersburg) pioneers after the announcement of the alarm. 1937. Photographer Viktor Bulla.

There is something sinister and prophetic in this photo. Over the next years, they had a lot to go through and probably only a few survived.

Tags: Saint Petersburg city

In this photo made not far from Udina volcano (Kamchatka krai), you can see the lava tube window. If you look into this truly hellish pit, you can watch the lava river. Photo by Denis Budkov

Tags: Kamchatka krai