Patomskiy Crater: The Mysterious Stone Cone Hidden in Siberia

In the remote wilderness of eastern Siberia, there is a strange geological formation that looks almost like a volcanic crater, but scientists say the story is far more complicated. The Patomskiy Crater, or Patom Crater, is an unusual stone cone that towers over the forested Patom Highlands in the Bodaibinsky District of Irkutsk Oblast of Russia.

The unusual Patomskiy Crater rises from the forested landscape of eastern Siberia.

Fort Alexander: Russia’s Mysterious Plague Fort

Fort Alexander, also known as Fort Alexander I or the Plague Fort, is one of the most unusual historic fortifications near Kronstadt, Russia. The massive naval fortress, built on an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland, was originally designed to protect the approaches to Saint Petersburg. Its later history, however, became much more unusual. At the end of the 19th century, the isolated fort was transformed into a laboratory for researching plague and other dangerous infectious diseases.

Aerial view of Fort Alexander I, the historic Plague Fort in the Gulf of Finland near Kronstadt, Russia.

Manpupuner Rock Formations

There are many beautiful and interesting places in Russia. Some of them even shroud themselves in mysticism, since even the great minds of scientists cannot explain some of their characteristics. These objects include the rock formations of Manpupuner. The seven massive rock pillars are in the west of the Ural Mountains in the Troitsko-Pechorsky district of the Komi region.

Iturup is the largest island of the Kuril archipelago

Iturup Island is the largest of the Kuril Islands, with an area of ​​3200 square kilometres. It is slightly more than the Pacific island nation of Samoa. In the language of the Ainu, "Etorop" means "Jellyfish"; there is also a version that the name of the island is associated with the neighbouring island of Urup, "salmon". It was formerly known as Staten Island. It is the largest and northernmost island in the southern Kurils, also called Etrof. The Ownership of which is disputed by Japan and Russia. On Iturup, there is the city of Kurilsk, where more than 2600 people live. 

200-year-old Bridge Built Without A Single Nail In Dagestan, Russia

In the mountains of Dagestan, Russia, there is a strange wooden bridge that seems to contradict the normal idea of traditional construction. The bridge is near the village of Gulli (or Juli) in the Tabasaran district and is believed to be about 200 years old, built without traditional metal nails. At first glance, it might seem like just a huge collection of wooden beams. But look a little closer, and the design becomes a lot more interesting. Big logs and thick timbers are carefully fitted and joined together to make a surprisingly strong building that has lasted for generations.

This remarkable wooden bridge in Dagestan is commonly described as around two centuries old.

This remarkable wooden bridge in Dagestan is commonly described as around two centuries old.

Parus Rock: The Sail Rock of Russia

On Russia's Black Sea coast, near the resort city of Gelendzhik, a remarkable slab of sandstone rises almost vertically from the shoreline. Known as Parus Rock, or Sail Rock, it looks surprisingly like the sail of a ship standing against the sea. The unusual shape is not the result of human construction. It is a natural rock formation shaped by the long interaction of the coastline, erosion, and differences in the strength of the surrounding rocks.

Parus Rock, also known as Sail Rock, stands dramatically along the Black Sea coast near Praskoveyevka in Krasnodar Krai, Russia.

The largest solar power plants in Orenburg, Russia

Russia's two solar power plants are in Sorochinsk and Novosergievka in the Orenburg region. Sorochinsk, with a capacity of 60 MW, has become the most powerful photovoltaic facility built in Russia. The second, Novosergievka, with a capacity of 45 MW, ranked second in the list of solar stations.

Kyzyl Center of Asia

Kyzyl, the capital city of the Tuva Republic, Russia. The name of the city means "red" in Tuvan. The geographical center of Asia - the point marking the geographical center of the world's largest region. The title of the geographical center of Asia, claim several places, depending on the method of calculation and conditions - whether includes remote island in the list of the extreme points of Asia, or not. One of the "center" is a place located 20 kilometers east of Kyzyl in the confluence of the Biy-Khem (the Big Yenisey) and Ka-Khem ( the Small Yenisey). The first sightseeing to visit here is the Geographical Centre of Asia. Built in 1964, the monument represents a big globe on which the contours of continents are marked. 

Kutkhiny Baty, A Beautiful Valley of Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Kutkhiny Baty is an amazing place in terms of geology and extraordinary in its beauty, located in Ust-Bolsheretsky district, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, near the place where the river that originates from Kuril Lake and the lake are formed by large volcanic explosions, the first 41,500 radiocarbon years ago and the second around 6440 BC. The huge amount of material ejected during the second explosion, comparable to some of the largest eruptions in recorded history, produced by thick pyroclastic flow deposits around the countryside, and some ash fell more than 1000 km away on the Asian mainland. Thus formed porous rock – pumice. Over time, this place was covered with earth and raised new forests. But things are changing. And the small creek began to grind the rock, and the wind completed the initiative and opened it for public gaze on the white cliffs. The beautiful valley Kutkhiny Baty appears in the middle of the green mountains like a white oasis. From this view from the air, it is a natural depression formed by unique rock pumice, also known as pumice.

Photo credit: Commons. Wikimedia

Moscow Metro Stations, The Underground Palace

The Moscow Metro, the world's first by passenger density, carried 9.27 million people in 2011. Moscow Metro stations are also known as the underground palace. It has 196 stations and an underground length of 327.5 kilometres, with 12 lines. All lines are connected by a 20 km long ring line. Lines 2 and 4 cross the Moskva River, and line 1 crosses the Yauza River on a bridge. 

Mud Volcano Tizdar, Russia

Volcano Tizdar, also known as Blue Beam, is located near the village of "For the Motherland" in the Temryuksky district of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. This town is famous throughout the Krasnodar region and beyond for its unique mud volcano, Tizdar, which is located 400 metres from the Sea of Azov and offers therapeutic mud baths in its crater. 

Extraction of Mammoth tusks in Siberia

About 10 thousand years ago, shaggy giants called mammoths inhabited northern Siberia. Now, an extinct genus of mammals was affected by the rise in temperature at the end of the last Ice Age, and Ancient hunters killed woolly mammoths for their meat, which resulted in their habitat being flooded and reduced. Animals caught in limbo on an isolated island, with no chance of returning to the mainland. Some populations, which had adapted to these land areas to the east and north of Siberia, delayed their extinction and became extinct about 3,700 years ago.

The Tsar Bell, Moscow Kremlin

The Tsar Bell, also known as the Tsarsky Kolokol, Tsar Kolokol III, or Royal Bell, is on display on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin. The Tsar Bell is one of the most prominent and famous monuments of the art foundry in Russia. It's the biggest bell in the world. It weighs about 200 tonnes, but no one has ever heard its ringing. 

The Motherland Calls: Volgograd’s Monument at Mamaev Kurgan

A woman stands high above Volgograd, Russia, holding a massive sword aloft while extending her other arm as if calling people forward. This is The Motherland Calls, one of the world's most recognisable war memorials. But it is the dramatic pose and colossal size that make it a striking landmark; the monument is more than just a giant statue. It is a symbol of hope and freedom. It commemorates the soldiers and civilians caught up in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II.

The Motherland Calls in Volgograd, Russia. Explore the 85-metre monument at Mamaev Kurgan.