While people are celebrating Christmas in many countries around the world, we continue to share with you interesting and sometimes very unusual news and photos from Russia.

This scene could be seen in the city of Samara yesterday, December 24. Chief Russian Father Frost (Santa Claus) came to Samara from Veliki Ustyug town (his official residence). Special metal barriers were installed for “safety” reasons.

Safety first?

Tags: Samara city

Summing up the year, we would like to present to you top 7 posts about Russia published in 2013 (in ascending order).

#7 On the vast territory of Russia there are many abandoned military bases, airfields, summer camps and other structures. Sometimes you can find real treasure, for example this abandoned summer camp with a lot of retro cars.

Our Top 7 posts about Russia

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One of the most significant events in recent years has happened in Russia today. Former head of the oil company “Yukos” Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the main political prisoner of the country, has been pardoned by order of Vladimir Putin and released from prison.

Khodorkovsky spent more than 10 years in prison (since 2003). The whole story of his release looks like a complex operation, covered with a veil of secrecy. State propaganda is already saying that his petition of clemency means that he admits his guilt, while in all his statements made before he refused to do it.

some thoughts on the topic

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Not so long ago, in St. Petersburg, a new attraction “Grand Model of Russia” has appeared. It is the largest model in Russia (800 square meters) showing cities and towns, forests and seas, people and animals, roads and railways.

The exposition has all key and typical objects of every Russian region. You can see different scenes from the life of the country: moving trains and cars, naval base, spaceport, a shepherd with a flock of sheep, ships at sea, etc. Here is just a small part of the models presented. Photos by deletant

Russia in miniature

Tags: museum · Saint Petersburg city

We have made a special page devoted to the upcoming 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi to gather all the interesting facts about this Olympics.

Tags: Sochi city

Chirkeisk Hydro Power Plant (HPP) is standing on the Sulak River near the village Dubki, in the Buinaksk district of Dagestan Republic. It is the largest HPP in the North Caucasus.

This power station has the second highest dam in Russia (232.5 meters). Also, it is the highest arch dam in Russia. Chirkeisk HPP is located in the narrow gorge bearing the same name.

magnificent views

Tags: Dagestan Republic

Why Russians rarely smile? This is one of the questions foreigners often ask about people living in Russia.

The following article about Russian smile and its features reveals this mystery.

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What is most unusual in Siberia and in Yakutia Republic in particular? Maybe it is the frost below minus 50 degrees Celsius, permafrost, diamonds, or cruel northern mosquitoes the size of a fist?

You will be surprised, but there is something even more unusual – the desert! Yes, the real desert in the taiga.

very unusual landscapes

Tags: landscapes · Sakha Republic · Siberia

In Russia, there is a phrase “Potemkin villages” which means fake things made to impress. It originates from a historical myth of fake villages built on the orders of Prince Potemkin along the route of the Russian Empress Catherine II during her visit in the northern Black Sea region in 1787.

In a remote region recently captured during the war with the Ottoman Empire, she saw numerous buildings, troops, prosperous population. These achievements surprised not only the Empress, but also foreigners, who were traveling with her.

centuries later…

Tags: Suzdal city

Art painting is the art of decorating any surface by paints and brush. It is considered one of the most popular types of arts and crafts.

In Russian folk art, there are many styles of art painting. You can see the most popular styles (Khokhloma, Gzhel, North-Dvina, Zhostovo, Mezen, Gorodets) with the help of these unusual pictures made by Sasha Vinogradova

really unusual but cool pictures

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