Going to Moscow, I constantly thought about why this city has not become a popular tourist destination among our compatriots. It is beautiful, interesting and more than colorful. Everyone understands this. But for some reason, such things always remain behind the scenes - as if somewhere on the sidelines. On the one hand, Belarusians travel to Moscow regularly. On the other hand, only a few will have a camera with them. As if Moscow does not exist at all for this. “Here is Peter, yes. And Moscow? Well, what is there to photograph?

Probably six months ago, when the Schengen visa was proudly shining in my passport, I would hardly have gone here myself. But now I am not at all disappointed that I nevertheless decided on this trip. The capital of Russia is really great city. And in these words now there is not a single gram of politics. I liked it here. Even though the cold weather is literally driving me crazy for the second trip in a row. And even despite the fact that for me personally it was far from the first trip to this city. Well, okay ... Enough chatter.

About what interesting places in Moscow it is worth visiting for a tourist, and also about how Tanya and I personally spent a weekend in this city, read further in our article. I will try to show you the capital of Russia the way only Chinese tourists see it. As Gagarin said: "Let's go!".

Interesting places in Moscow: where to go for a tourist and what to do in the Russian capital

Visit the Moscow residence of Catherine II.

For lovers of antiquity and classical Russian architecture, the Tsaritsyno museum complex, located near the metro station of the same name, is a real “must see”. It's beautiful, cozy and somehow not in the Moscow quiet. In general, getting here, you seem to fall into some other reality. I could imagine such a building somewhere in St. Petersburg. But in Moscow, it looked like an alien from some parallel world.
Well, imagine: you are walking around the city. On the one hand, some kind of zachuhannaya market. On the other hand, high-rise buildings. And then suddenly you cross the road - and a huge palace appears in front of you. Around big park, a crystal pond with some unrealistic number of ducks, forged lanterns and numerous bridges with mysterious Masonic symbols. It feels like in just a few minutes you wandered into some other - completely unfamiliar world. It's just a brain drain.

Bridge over the ravine. And a bunch of Masonic symbols.

In general, the Tsaritsyno museum complex is not only the famous Grand Palace (which does not want to fit into the frame in any way). But also a large number of other historical buildings. The bread house, ancient greenhouses, figured bridges, the Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God - all these buildings organically fit into the territory of one large Moscow park. It is very difficult to describe this complex “in a nutshell”. Therefore, a little later I will issue a separate article on this topic. And now I’ll just sketch a few more photos here so that you can appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this museum. No list of the most interesting places in Moscow is complete without mentioning the Tsaritsyno complex.

Bread House (also known as the Kitchen Building). Canteen, in short.

Grand Palace

Tanya and I. Selfie inside the imperial palace

Well, this lady, I think you recognized.

At the conclusion of the block, a little useful information, which my Tanya always insists on so much ... The Tsaritsyno Museum is open all week except Monday. Working hours:

• Tuesday-Friday: from 11:00 to 18:00
• Saturday: from 11:00 to 20:00
• Sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
• The park adjacent to the complex is open from 6 am to midnight.

A complex ticket to all halls and expositions costs 650 Russian rubles. A ticket to the Grand Palace and the Bread House will cost less - 350 rubles. A visit to the greenhouses alone costs 250 rubles. The third Sunday of each month is free admission to all halls (as, by the way, to other museums in Moscow). More detailed information about the Tsaritsyno Museum and current expositions can be found on the website www.tsaritsyno-museum.ru.

Walk along the Kremlin walls.

The Grand Palace in Tsaritsyno is a very beautiful and picturesque place. But there is one ancient fortress in Moscow, which will always remain number one for tourists anyway. I think you understand what I mean.
The Moscow Kremlin is a symbol of Moscow. And at the same time - the symbol of all of Russia. From its walls, soldiers went to the front in 1941. The great Victory Parade took place near its walls four years later.

As for me personally, I really liked this place. It has a spirit modern Russia. As if everything that this far and near country lives with was embodied in the features of one building. Ruby stars, a guard of honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the famous clock on the Spasskaya Tower are all worth seeing. As, however, and many other colorful little things scattered in the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin walls. Here, for example, is the "Minsk" star on the alley of "Hero Cities".
Monuments to the characters of Russian fairy tales.

Fountain with galloping horses (which, unfortunately, did not work in March).

All this gives the city a special charm, showing tourists that the most interesting places in Moscow can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

Visit Lenin's mausoleum.

I'll be honest: personally, Tanya and I never got here in three days in Moscow. Therefore, I will write about this cult place (at least for the Russian capital) in a nutshell. So, guess the riddle: what is the difference between Minsk and Moscow? Of course, there are hundreds of answers to this question. But in this case, I would note only one difference: in Minsk, Lenin is vertical, and in Moscow, horizontal. Although both of them are more like a monument than a person. The body of the leader of the world proletariat has been in the mausoleum since 1924. And since then, the “human” remains of Vladimir Ilyich, as many experts note, have survived by less than 10 percent.

Wander around Red Square.

Just to wander around, because taking pictures here is almost useless. Clouds of Chinese constantly climb into the frame, for whom Moscow, after the subsidence of the Russian ruble, has become the most popular destination for travel. To say that there are a lot of them is to say nothing. Instead, I will note another curious fact - many inscriptions in the center of Moscow have already been duplicated in Chinese. Here, for example, how the price tags look in the Moscow GUM.

Eat ice cream in the Moscow GUM.

By the way, about GUM... For me personally, this store was the most vivid impression of this whole spring trip. And the point here is not at all in shopping, but in the very atmosphere that reigns under the glass vaults of this ancient building. If you name the most interesting places in Moscow, I would boldly put the main department store of this city in the first place. Why? I personally can find several answers to this question at once.

When you get here, you seem to plunge into the atmosphere of Soviet Moscow in the 60s and 70s. Under the vaults of the store, the melodies of the USSR hits sound. Soviet posters hang on the walls. And colorful and austere ice-cream workers deliver branded Soviet ice cream in waffle cones (1 = 50 rubles) through the long galleries of GUM.

I understand that in the CIS the words “Soviet”, “USSR-ovsky”, as well as the word “GUM” itself, sound at least ambiguous. Many see them as unnecessary moldy relics of the past. Or some Soviet dullness. But the Moscow GUM has nothing to do with all this. Here, the atmosphere of the USSR does not repel, but, on the contrary, fascinates, attracts and inspires. She wants to penetrate. And take it with you. Like the music of Eduard Khil. Or the song "White Steamboat" from the comedy "Guardian", which still sounds in my head. Remember her?

What else do I remember in Moscow GUM? Painted benches, a colorful dining room No. 57, romantic bridges hanging somewhere under glass arches, and this unusual tree studded with dozens of colorful birdhouses with the names of various stores. It's hard not to fall in love with such Moscow. After all, this city knows how to be not only frowning and stern, but also open, romantic and heartfelt in a spring way.

Admire ancient Moscow churches

The ancient churches of the Russian capital have long become symbols known to the whole world. Russia can be misunderstood. You can not love Russia. But it is very, very difficult not to admire the beauty of ancient Russian architecture. And with my hands on the sacred keys of my laptop keyboard, I can honestly say that St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen in my life. But there are many other interesting churches in the Russian capital... The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Epiphany Cathedral, the Church of St. Sophia and many others - each of these places is a full-fledged attraction. We found only a few of them. I am attaching a couple of photos below.

Go to a performance of one of the Moscow theaters

Probably, I will not deviate much from the truth if I say that Russian theatrical art has been and remains, if not the best in the world, then definitely one of the best. The Bolshoi Theatre, the Vakhtangov Theatre, the Moscow Art Theater - all these names are known far beyond the borders of Russia. Although, to be honest, now I somehow don’t want to load you with serious stories about high art. Therefore, instead of long enumerations, I will only say one thing: in most Moscow theaters, you can watch live the performance of many stars of modern Russian TV series. For example, Tanya and I were going to go to a performance with the participation of some actors of the famous television project "Kitchen". Unfortunately, this idea did not come true. But maybe you will find time to go to the theater during your trip?

Ride the Moscow Metro.

Here's what you really don't want to miss on your trip to the Russian capital: Moscow Metro. Without it, moving around the city is almost impossible. Especially if you drive mainly in the central part of the city, which regularly suffers from traffic jams.
However, this is probably for the best. After all, the metro in the Russian capital is another full-fledged tourist attraction that can be safely attributed to the number of the most interesting places in Moscow. In many guidebooks, this subway is called “an underground masterpiece of architecture” and the most beautiful subway in Europe. Although, in my subjective opinion, not all local subway stations really deserve attention. The only exceptions are the oldest stations of the Moscow metro - Revolution Square, Kyiv (ring), Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya. Personally, I also really liked the Vorobyovy Gory metro station, where Tanya and I found some random exhibition of household items. As well as the Vystavochnaya metro station, combined with glass bridge Bagration. This bridge offers an excellent view of the Moscow River embankment, as well as the skyscrapers of Moscow City. A bit of tar in a barrel of honey is added everywhere by unwashed windows. But these are, so to speak, the little things in life.

Oh yeah ... I also really liked those subway stations where trains jump out to the surface. You go and go among the dark tunnels of the subway and then suddenly - wow - and there is such beauty around.

Photograph the tallest building in Europe.

To be honest, for me personally, the skyscrapers of the Russian capital and, in general, the local business center were and remain one of the most interesting places in Moscow. Each building is a separate masterpiece. What is the twisted spiral of the Tower of Evolution worth (No. 1 according to Tanya) or the City of Capitals complex, as if made of giant cubes. All together it looks very beautiful and impressive. And the glare playing on the waves of the Moskva River only reinforces this impression.

As for the tallest buildings, there are three of them (no matter how strange it may sound). The Mercury Tower held this title in 2013. Tower "OKO" - in 2014. A East End The Federation Tower is the tallest building in Europe at the time of this writing. Its height is 374 meters. Damn... I don't know about you, but I just love skyscrapers.

Skyscraper Mercury - first on the right; Federation Tower is a double building to its left. In the center is the twisted spiral of the Evolution Tower.

If anyone is interested: some towers of the complex are equipped with separate observation decks. How cool the view opens from there, I personally do not know. But this pleasure is quite expensive - 500 Russian rubles (at the time of this writing - 150 thousand Belarusian rubles). For 5500 rubles in the Moscow City complex, you can even arrange a date. More detailed information this is presented on the site moscow-city-lookout.rf.

View of Moscow from Sparrow Hills

However, several excellent viewing platforms in Moscow can be found absolutely free. The most popular of them is the observation deck on Sparrow Hills, located near the metro station of the same name. The only negative in this case is that you will have to walk a little more to it. Part of the path goes uphill - along the roads of the local park. The other part is along highway, on normal asphalt. In total, from the doors of the metro station to observation deck Sparrow Hills stomp for 10-15 minutes. Oh yes, dress warmly. The observation deck is quite cool and windy.

Find all seven Stalin skyscrapers.

The building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Vorobyovy Gory lookout is also notable for the fact that it is from here that you can see all seven Stalinist skyscrapers, which were and remain one of the main symbols of modern Moscow. To be honest, I personally counted only six such buildings from this site. I once saw two more similar buildings in Riga and Warsaw. And in Moscow itself, I could see only two such buildings up close - the high-rise of the Moscow State University (near the Sparrow Hills) and the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry (near the Old Arbat). All the rest I saw only in the distance - somewhere in the distance or even on the horizon line.

The building of Moscow State University, which for 37 years was the tallest building in Europe. It is believed that during the construction of this tower, materials from the destroyed Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the German Reichstag were used. And according to one of the projects, a monument to the “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” should have stood right next to it.

And again the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry

Freezing in Moscow Tanya

Why were these buildings so interesting to me? I don’t know… Maybe I was somehow attracted by their sacred meaning, which is constantly attributed to them, coupled with the numerous secrets of their creation. Moscow skyscrapers are called "places of power", "space conductors" and "analogues Egyptian pyramids". Fans of various stories related to aliens say that Stalin built them as "communication switches" with extraterrestrial civilizations. And native Muscovites assure that under some buildings there are hidden entrances to secret subway lines (the so-called Metro-2).
Which of these is true and which is fiction, I, of course, do not know. However, it is known for certain that initially there were to be not seven, but eight skyscrapers. For the sake of one of them, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was even specially blown up in 1931. A few years later, the grandiose construction of the Palace of Soviets began on this site, which was stopped due to the outbreak of World War II. Subsequently, the project for the construction of the building of the eighth and most important skyscraper was never implemented. However, the original sketches of the building have survived to this day. Therefore, it is still possible to imagine what this architectural giant topped with a giant monument to Lenin would look like.

photo stroi.mos.ru

See the famous monument to the "Worker and Collective Farm Girl"

Another symbol of the Soviet empire and at the same time one of the most famous monuments of our time is located near the VDNKh metro station, not far from the Kosmos hotel. The steel sculpture stands on a separate pedestal. And it looks dark, but impressive. Probably, this is exactly what the real symbol of the Soviet Union should be.

Immerse yourself in the history of space exploration.

In fact, it is worth coming to the VDNKh station not only for the sake of famous monument Vera Mukhina. In addition to it, there is the Museum of Cosmonautics, the famous (but also rather gloomy) Cosmos Hotel, as well as the monument to the Conquerors of Space, which appears before your eyes almost immediately after leaving the metro. In March 2016, against the background of the lead Moscow sky, this pointed stele looked very unusual and even somehow mystical. The monument seemed surprisingly cold to me. But at the same time, it was hard to look away from him.

Find the Belarusian pavilion at the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy.

The golden fountains of VDNKh and the pavilions of this all-Union exhibition were one of the main reasons for me to travel to Moscow. I don't know why, but I personally expected a lot from them. And in the end, it was this place on the map of the Russian capital that disappointed me the most. Golden fountains disappeared behind piles of scaffolding. The alleys of the adjacent park were somehow gloomy and lifeless due to bad weather. It seemed that some kind of endless oppressive autumn reigned in this place. Although, probably, in warm weather, VDNKh looks much more bright and friendly.

One way or another, we still managed to find the Belarusian pavilion of this old exhibition. Does he look really cool? No. But to visit this interesting corner of Moscow is still worth it. Personally, I remember this space rocket much more here.
Colorful, isn't it?

Walk along the Moscow Arbat.

We ended our trip to Moscow with a walk along another famous corner of the Russian capital - the old Arbat. And I remember him for some huge number of unusual and amazing little things.
Here, for example, is a replica of the imperial crown in one of the local souvenir shops.

Tsoi wall.

A huge portrait of Zhukov on one of the walls.

And an unusual blue trolleybus, turned into one of the iconic Moscow cafes.

There is also a huge green Gulliver, the “golden” princess Turandot and an inconspicuous house in which Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin once lived on the old Arbat. All these pleasant little things turn the Moscow Arbat into a very colorful and unusual street - one of the most interesting in Moscow. Personally, we walked here with pleasure. Even despite the fact that at that moment two loaded bags hung on me.

Pushkin House

In general, this trip to Moscow justified my expectations by about 70-80 percent. I liked this city. But I can't say that I just fell in love with him. In general, my impressions after this trip are a topic for a full-fledged separate article. Therefore, I will now round off (and so the text turned out to be very large). So long, comrades!

Excursions in Moscow

If you are somehow not accustomed to walking around the Russian capital on your own, here is another free tip for you. You can find many unusual author's tours. There are programs for every taste, many of which will surprise even the natives of Moscow. In addition, all excursions have a description, ratings and reviews of previous tourists. Pay attention to such nuances, and you are guaranteed to get an excellent tour and a lot of vivid impressions from exploring the city.

As confirmation - a small selection of excursions in Moscow from professional guides.

Apartments for a day in Moscow

It is believed that Moscow is a rather expensive city. However, compared to European cities or even the Baltic countries, housing prices here are very reasonable. Therefore, it is not difficult to find a normal option for a trip to Moscow. The main thing is to make sure that the accommodation you have chosen is in close proximity to the metro - it is very difficult to move around the Russian capital without it.

Personally, during our trip to Moscow, Tanya and I rented a large room in a huge four-room apartment near the Sevastopolskaya metro station. And at the same time they gave absolutely ridiculous money for it - something about 4 euros per day. Yes, I understand, now you are probably all thinking: “What kind of housing is this?”. Therefore, here is for you, which describes this apartment itself, as well as the method by which it was possible to rent it for only 4 euros per day.

In general, a modern apartment in the Russian capital, not far from one of the local metro stations, can be rented for 25-35 dollars per day. Of course, if you wish, you can find an apartment for a smaller amount. However, I repeat: it is difficult to move around Moscow without the metro, so it is very important that the option you choose is within walking distance of one or another station.

You can find the best options and get a small bonus upon registration on the website AIRBNB. And don't forget that this site has its own discount coupons and promotional codes, by entering which you can reduce the cost of the selected housing by 11 or even immediately by 50 dollars in two mouse clicks.

Hotels in the Russian capital

There are also a lot of hotels and hotels in Moscow. But, if you choose this option, be sure to remember that the same number on different sites can cost completely different things! Therefore, it is best to look for options through search engine sites (for example, such as RoomGuru). These services allow you to compare prices in different booking systems and book hotels exactly where they are the cheapest.

Where should you go first when you are in the capital? We made an overview of the most interesting places in Moscow, and also told you the most convenient way to get to them.

Capital Russian Federation causes conflicting feelings among tourists: some are tired of the noise and bustle of the metropolis, others sincerely admire its scale and beauty. However, we believe that Moscow - amazing city, where everyone will find a lot of interesting and unusual things for themselves, and we decided to compile a selection of the most interesting, in our opinion, places in Moscow that a tourist should see when visiting the capital for the first time. We do not pretend to cover all the sights of the Mother See, and have highlighted only those that seem interesting to us.

Kremlin and Red Square

Usually, tourists quickly find the answer to the question of where to go in Moscow in the first place - it is customary to start acquaintance with the capital from Red Square and the Kremlin. These are the main symbols of Moscow and Russia; the largest number of attractions are concentrated here. On Red Square there is the Execution Ground, the Lenin Mausoleum and the monument to Minin and Pozharsky.

The monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected in 1828 in front of the Upper Trading Rows (GUM), in 1931 it was placed in front of St. Basil's Cathedral (Photo © unsplash.com / @nikolayv)

To the west of the square is the Kremlin, to the east - GUM, to the south and north - St. Basil's Cathedral, the Historical Museum and the Kazan Cathedral. The Moscow Kremlin is an ancient fortress in the center of the capital and official residence the President of the Russian Federation. The southern wall of the fortification overlooks the Moscow River, the northern one - to the Alexander Garden.

St. Basil's Cathedral on the left, Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin on the right (Photo © essuera / pixabay.com)

On the territory of the Kremlin there are squares, palaces, temples, the Armory and Faceted Chambers, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell. A ticket to Cathedral Square costs 350 rubles. You are admitted to the Armory at 10, 12, 14:30 and 16:30. Ticket offices are open in the Alexander Garden from 09:30 to 16:30. A ticket costs 700 rubles, children under 16 years old are free.

How to get there? The most convenient way to get there is by metro, bypassing traffic jams and other delights of land travel. You can get to Red Square if you get off at the Okhotny Ryad or Lenin Library stations (on the red line).

On the left is the Nikolskaya Tower of the Kremlin, in the center - the State Historical Museum, on the right - the walls of GUM (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Sergey Lemtal)

Among the interesting places in Moscow that are worth visiting, an important place is occupied by temples and shrines. One of the most famous is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which It took 44 years to build and was erected in memory of the Russian soldiers who fell in the Patriotic War of 1812. In Stalin's times, it was completely destroyed, and only in the 90s of the last century was restored.

Near the temple there is one of the most beautiful bridges of the capital - the Patriarchal, from where wonderful views of the city and the Moscow River open. You can clearly see the Kremlin towers and the monument to Peter I, and on the other side of the river rises the building of the famous Red October confectionery factory.

How to get there? You can take the metro to the Kropotkinskaya station, then go to Volkhonka street. Or take a walk through the Alexander Garden from Red Square along Mokhovaya Street.

The temple is the largest cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, height - 105 meters. Above Isaakievsky (St. Petersburg) by 1.5 meters. (Photo © Bluesnap / pixabay.com)

Arbat

Once Arbat was a street of aristocrats: such famous families as Sheremetevs, Kropotkins, Tolstoys, Golitsyns lived here. Later, the Arbat became a haven for the Moscow intelligentsia; Konstantin Balmont, Marina Tsvetaeva, Sergei Aksakov, Bulat Okudzhava and other celebrities lived here.

Today it is a popular pedestrian street where you can buy souvenirs, sit in a cafe or order your own portrait. Among the interesting places in Moscow for young people, the wall of house number 37 is considered truly cult - the wall of Tsoi, the soloist of the legendary rock band Kino.

How to get there? You can walk to the Arbat from the metro stations "Arbatskaya" or "Smolenskaya" or take a walk from Red Square.

Morning Arbat. Following the example of the capital's street, the pedestrian streets of other Russian cities also began to be called "Arbats". (Photo © Ssppeeeeddyy / flickr.com)

VVC (VDNH)

Another interesting place for tourists in Moscow is the All-Russian Exhibition Center. The original significance of the exhibition center has been slightly lost, part of the pavilions of the former VDNH has been given over to trade. Residents of the capital and tourists come here to enjoy the sights and just relax.

The main attraction of the All-Russian Exhibition Center is the famous Friendship of Peoples fountain, surrounded by sculptures of women in national costumes of the former Soviet republics. Another fountain - "Stone Flower" - was the first light and music fountain in USSR. The sculptural composition is based on Bazhov's fairy tales, the flower petals are trimmed with malachite.

16 sculptures symbolize 16 former Soviet republics. From left to right: Lithuanian SSR, Georgian SSR, Uzbek SSR. (Photo © eAKuptsova / pixabay.com)
Fountain "Stone Flower", in the distance - the Central Pavilion, VDNKh (Photo © Valeri Pizhanski / flickr.com)

Not far from the central entrance of the All-Russian Exhibition Center, the most recognizable monument of the post-Soviet space rises - the sculptural composition "Worker and Collective Farm Woman". At the exit of the metro station, a rocket is installed, directed upwards, and the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is located nearby. Pavilion No. 1 houses the famous museum of the popular show "Field of Miracles".

The large territory of the All-Russian Exhibition Center is an interesting place in Moscow for walking, adults ride roller skates and bicycles, children have fun on trains and ATVs. But the center's best attraction is the 73-meter Ferris wheel.

How to get there? You can get to the place by metro, station "VDNKh".

We also recommend that you explore our special selection (12 hostels, hotels and apartments with impeccable guest reviews and an adequate price). Also look for hotels on the popular Skyscanner Hotels service - the choice is huge!

The monument was intended for international exhibition in Paris 1937, after the event, the sculpture was installed in Moscow on a pedestal near the North entrance of VDNKh (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Nikolai Bakhmarov)

Sparrow Hills

A very popular observation deck of the capital, located on the high bank of the Moskva River and overlooking Moscow State University. This is the place where tourists definitely need to go to admire Moscow from above. In Soviet times, this area was called Lenin's mountains. From the site, views of the Ostankino Tower, Stalin's skyscrapers, the White House and Moscow City open up. In the distance you can see the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

How to get there? You can take the metro to the Vorobyovy Gory station, from there climb the slope to the platform. Or get off at the Universitet metro station, then walk through the Moscow State University park.

If you prefer to stay away from the noisy metropolis, then we advise you to read ours. In it you will find an overview of the most optimal in terms of price and quality options for houses, cottages and recreation centers in the Moscow region.

10 most beautiful Moscow metro stations

Ostozhenka

Until the middle of the 18th century, Ostozhenka was an ordinary Moscow outskirts. Once here, in the floodplain of the Moskva River, trade routes passed through meadows with haystacks. Later, the royal stable yard was built, then the first residential buildings began to appear nearby. Wealthy people were built closer to Prechistenka, poorer houses and warehouses were located between Ostozhenka and the Moscow River.

Now Ostozhenka is an old Moscow street with preserved mansions, where it is interesting to take a walk. The most colorful houses are yellow buildings with triangular Empire-style porticos. Notable are the Vsevolozhsky mansion, the Turgenev house, the profitable houses of Gryaznov and Kekusheva, the Abrikosov mansion and others. Some tend to consider the Kekusheva mansion the home of Margarita, the main character of Bulgakov's famous novel The Master and Margarita.

How to get there? You can get to the place by metro to the station "Kropotkinskaya" or "Park Kultury".

Luzhkov bridge

This pedestrian bridge (official name- Tretyakovsky) was built in the 90s. An elegant building that connected Bolotnaya Square and Kadashevskaya Embankment. In 2007, a Love Tree was placed here for all lovers to attach their locks. Following the first tree, buried in locks, dozens of new ones appeared.

Luzhkov Bridge (Tretyakov Bridge) at night (Photo © Evgeny / pixabay.com)

Now a tradition has already developed - the newlyweds come to the bridge, hang up the padlock and throw the key into the river. A semicircular Bench of Reconciliation was placed next to the bridge, its design is such that it is impossible for two people to sit on it without clinging to each other. The bridge very quickly became popular, and the people call it the Kissing Bridge.

How to get there? The bridge is located on Kadashevskaya embankment, you can get to the place by metro to the Tretyakovskaya station.

Tree of Love on Luzhkov Bridge (Photo © Adam Baker / flickr.com)

Tsaritsyno

This is one of the most beautiful estates in the capital with ponds, a greenhouse complex and a light and music fountain. At one time, there were estates of the boyars Godunovs, Streshnevs, Golitsyns, the Moldavian prince Cantemir. Modern look acquired the estate after Empress Catherine the Great commissioned the construction of the architect Bazhenov.

They say that the queen was dissatisfied with the result, and no one has ever lived in the estate. By order of Nicholas I, a hospital for peasants was opened in the Bread House, and in Soviet years up to the 70s there were communal apartments in it. After a complete restoration in 2006, the palace and park complex received the status of a museum-reserve.

Entrance to the park is free, and to the palace, greenhouses and the Bread House - by tickets. A full ticket costs 250-350 rubles, preferential categories - 100 rubles. In summer, the park is open daily from 6 am to 24:00, the palace is closed on Monday.

How to get there? You can take the metro to the station "Tsaritsyno".

Grand Palace in Tsaritsyno (Photo © katerinasipaeva / flickr.com)

Moscow Zoo

Perhaps one of the most interesting places for children in Moscow. However, adults will also enjoy it. Dolphinarium, esotarium, pink flamingos, wild cats of all varieties, ponds with giant fish, giraffe - a favorite of the public, and other representatives of the wild fauna. There are about 1100 species in total. For kids there is a small area with attractions and a pony club.

How to get there? The zoo is located on Bolshaya Gruzinskaya. You can take the metro to the station "Barrikadnaya" or "Krasnopresnenskaya". For children and representatives of preferential categories, admission is free, for adults - 400-500 rubles.

Lowland gorilla in the Moscow Zoo (Photo © moscowzoo.ru)

We couldn't help but include Venice with its picturesque canals, grandiose basilicas, colorful houses and cozy wine bars. There is no other place like it on Earth.

2. Seville, Spain

Seville is the pearl of imperial Spain, where tourists can enjoy walking through the narrow streets of the city with orange blossom, Moorish castles and the famous Spanish tapas.

3. New York, USA

No wonder New York is often referred to as "the crossroads of the world." Nowhere else will you find such a breathtaking concentration of art, culture, cuisine and business.

4. Lhasa, China

Lhasa is the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism in the unshakable Himalayas. Incense-filled monasteries and palaces lie against the background of magnificent landscapes.

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From the world-famous carnival to iconic sites, Rio de Janeiro is an experience for all five senses. And here are the two most famous beach on the ground!

6. London, England

Prestigious museums, renowned street markets and a bustling financial center all contribute to London's consistent position as one of the most visited cities in the world.

7. Marrakesh, Morocco

You will never forget a visit to the Medina of Marrakech. An endless labyrinth of streets full of vibrant bazaars, stunning architecture and tagines at every corner.

8. Petra, Jordan

Petra stands out among all the majestic ancient cities of the world. To believe in the existence of these epic, windswept monumental buildings carved into the rocks, you need to see them with your own eyes.

9. Rome, Italy

Walking around Rome is like exploring a huge open-air museum. No place on Earth can accommodate such an abundance visual arts, kitchens and masses ancient history like the Eternal City.

10. Varanasi, India

Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India. Watching the sunrise on the ghats along the banks of the Ganges, together with believers, pilgrims and locals, will forever remain in your memory.

11. Florence, Italy

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and boasts an incredible art collection, not to mention magnificent cathedrals, delicious Tuscan cuisine, and rich, enchanting architecture.

12. Havana, Cuba

Walking the streets of Old Havana is a journey into the past, into the world of majestic pre-revolutionary buildings and classic cars, into an atmosphere filled with the smell of home cooking mixed with the sea breeze.

13. Kyoto, Japan

Once the city of Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the main residence of the emperors. Visiting elegant tea houses, gardens and local castles will the best way to know the true essence of the traditions of the land of the rising sun.

14. Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is a real crossroads of cultures, cuisines and beliefs. The clearest evidence of this can be found on the streets of the Old City, associated with the greatest people and events in history.

15. Paris, France

This is the city of lights, which is considered the most romantic place on Earth. Here you can get carried away by going to museums and walking through amazing squares with many cozy cafes.

16. Beijing, China

Beijing is the historical and cultural capital of China, famous for two of the most impressive monumental complexes on Earth: the Forbidden City palace complex and the Great Wall of China.

17. Lalibela, Ethiopia

Lalibela is one of the greatest holy cities in Ethiopia, renowned throughout the world for its unique and stunning collection of monolithic churches carved into the rock.

18. Granada, Spain

Granada is filled with magic from the Alhambra itself to the narrow cobbled streets of the Albaicín district. You won't find such charm even in some big cities of Europe.

19. Athens, Greece

The Acropolis of Athens ranks first as one of the most recommended sites to visit. But Athens is much more than just ancient ruins. The city has sun-drenched streets, flower-decorated squares, and incredible museums.

20. Bagan, Myanmar

Perhaps, here you will meet the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Just imagine: the creeping fog, the first glimpses of light and the almost endless plain of the ancient pagodas of Bagan.

21. Kathmandu, Nepal

For many, Kathmandu is the gateway to the majestic Himalayas. It is one of the most colorful cities on Earth, populated by ascetic sadhus and monks in saffron robes, singing cult prayers.

22. Vatican

The Vatican is a city-state and the center of the Roman Catholic Church. Even if you are a non-religious tourist, one look at the columns and dome of St. Peter's Square is enough to take your breath away.

23. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon really has it all: sun, sea and a charming decadent atmosphere, along with such colorful city blocks as Chiado and Alfama.

24. Tokyo, Japan

Once in Tokyo, you will feel transported into the future. This sparkling metropolis of 13,000,000 has become a Mecca for shopaholics, gourmets and party goers. And at the same time, there is still room for soothing gardens and shrines.

25. Istanbul, Türkiye

In this city East meets West. Istanbul, with its thousand-year history, monumental mosques and bustling bazaars, is more relevant today than ever before.

26. Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An (Hội An) - a historic Vietnamese port, which is recognized by UNESCO as a site world heritage. This unique old town reflects Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences. Oh and local kitchen is something.

27. Amsterdam, Netherlands

The quality of life index in Amsterdam is one of the highest in the world. This fact attracts millions of tourists enchanted by its famous Red Light District and the stunning Van Gogh Museum.

28. Luxor, Egypt

Luxor is the most beautiful of the ancient cities of Egypt. It is located on the banks of the Nile near the cities of Karnak and Thebes, and not far from the Valley of the Kings, making it a must-see if you love history.

29. Berlin, Germany

Few cities have played such an important role in recent history like Berlin. Plus, its legendary nightclubs and lively restaurants make the German capital one of the most exciting cities in modern Europe.

30. Jaipur, India

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan with spectacular palaces and gardens. This large city is part of the famous Indian "Golden Triangle" along with Agra (the location of the Taj Mahal) and Delhi.

31. Lyon, France

The ancient part of Lyon is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the history of the city dates back to Roman times. Try to visit it during the "Festival of Lights" (Fête des Lumières), when thousands of lights illuminate the cathedrals, gardens and streets.

32. Oia, Greece

Oia is the most famous town in Greek island Santorini. Its gorgeous white and blue houses cascade down to the sea like a postcard!

33. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Most travelers flock to this country to visit the stunning ancient complex of Angkor Wat, but Siem Reap, with its laid-back bohemian tourism vibe and delicious food, is also worth a look.

34. Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a majestic imperial city with beautiful palaces, manicured gardens and elegant cafés. It has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most livable cities in the world - just a cherry on the cake.

35. Cusco, Peru

In addition to being the main starting point for those wishing to explore the Andes and Machu Picchu, the World Heritage-listed city of Cusco is full of historic temples, monasteries and magnificent colonial houses.

36. Cartagena, Colombia

Colonial city of Cartagena on the coast caribbean in Colombia has its own history associated with explorers, pirates and kings. Old city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is as charming as you can imagine.

37. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar is one of the most popular ancient cities in Africa, which is famous for its white sandy beaches and a mixture of African, Arabic and Portuguese culture in the historic area - Stone Town.

38. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City offers a delightful mix of sights, sounds and colors. A city with a population of over 20 million, beautiful colonial architecture, close proximity to ruins, and solid cuisine.

39. Singapore

Whether on vacation or business trip, while in Singapore, be sure to visit its Little India quarter. Here you will find the best street food in the world.

40. Las Vegas, USA

Sin City is a favorite destination for Americans and tourists from all over the world. A place with an incomparable combination great hotels, famous restaurants, as well as the largest casinos. Viva Las Vegas!

41. Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand - ancient city Great Silk Road. Its mosaic and monumental Registan square with Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tillya-Kari madrasahs is one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture in the world.

In our review, we will provide a list of 21 places in Moscow that are worth visiting. Some of them are not included in the generally recognized routes of the city's sights, but this makes them no less good for visiting.

After looking at them and visiting these places, you will understand how many-sided and interesting the capital is, which will sparkle before you with new facets.

These places in Moscow are worth visiting not only for tourists, but also for Muscovites who have not yet discovered these corners of the capital.

So, go!

This is the place that everyone without exception must visit in Moscow. It is here that you will understand how time can stop: the rush and vanity of a huge metropolis seems to be cut off by bamboo gates, and the symbols of the culture of the Islands of the Rising Sun, like pagodas, bridges and pavilions, will encourage you to unhurried contemplation.

The Japanese garden was created by masters from Japan itself. You can admire the beauties of this corner of the capital at any time of the year, but the garden is especially beautiful at the time of cherry blossoms. This phenomenon is almost fleeting, as the Japanese cherry tree blooms in less than one week.

The second green corner of Moscow on our list, which is definitely worth a visit, is the Pharmaceutical Garden on Prospekt Mira. It is considered the oldest botanical garden in the Russian Federation.

But not only this attracts many visitors. Thanks to the work of local employees, few people can compete with the pharmaceutical garden of its kind in terms of information content, visibility, special grooming, comfort and even photogenicity.

By his decree, this garden-garden was ordered to be created by Peter the Great in 1706 for the cultivation of medicinal plants (hence this unusual name garden), and a century later - in 1805 - it came under the jurisdiction of the current owner - Moscow State University.

The house of the architect Melnikov is especially popular outside of Russia as an example of the Soviet avant-garde. To our shame, few people here know about it, moreover, few people have been in it. Therefore, it is worth visiting!

The design decision, inspired by the futuristic theme, made the house look like a mysterious spaceship. The interior of the building also arouses admiration: the spatial solution is many-sided and carefully verified, and, meanwhile, mysterious. It was not for nothing that Melnikov promised to pay a prize to someone who could name the exact number of floors in this building.

And again about recognition! Even many Muscovites do not know about the existence of the Savvinsky Metochion, not to mention the guests of the capital and tourists. That is why we have included this place in Moscow in our list, which is worth a visit.

Before your eyes will appear the most beautiful, without exaggeration, architectural monument erected on this site back in 1907 by the architect Kuznetsov. It was designed in a fabulous Russian style with elements of Baroque and Art Nouveau.

Savinskoye Compound is a former profitable possession of the monastery of the same name. Once it stood on Tverskaya itself, but during the reconstruction of the latter, the building was moved to the depths of the courtyards and thus preserved for posterity.

Therefore, when walking along the street, take at least a little time and go into the arch of house number 6. So in a matter of seconds you will get from the present to the last century.

Located not far from some of the main sights of the city of Moscow, for example, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it is rightfully deprived of the attention of foreign, and even our tourists.

But it is on Prechistenka that you can see a huge number of former mansions, which today are rightfully considered architectural monuments. It is not for nothing that this place in Moscow was called Moscow Saint-Germain, drawing an analogy with the luxurious district of Paris.

This street will also be interesting for fans of Bulgakov's work. After all, it was in the profitable property on Prechistenka that he settled Professor Preobrazhensky from the Heart of a Dog.

Although the architecture of the building itself is interesting, the Moscow Planetarium is just the right place to visit if you come here for numerous performances.

In various halls, you can find answers to many scientific questions: how our Universe was born, are we the only ones in outer space, why stars fall on Earth, and so on. Astronomy enthusiasts have the opportunity to get closer to the stars: look at them through the eyepiece of a powerful telescope.

Located in Armenian Lane, the Moscow Lights Museum is another place worth visiting.

It is housed in a historic building of ancient chambers. Upon entering it, you will be given a remote control with which you can turn on and off the lamps of different eras.

On the second level there is an exposition that will tell about the life of different generations of Muscovites and about the lamps that they each used in their time.

The building for the electric theater was completed by 1909, and it was the first in Russian Empire, which was intended specifically for watching films.

It was here, for the most part, that previews of new Russian films were held, and every director considered it an honor if his tape got on the screen of the "Artistic" film.

Currently, the iconic Soviet and Russian cinema is under reconstruction, but will reopen its doors very soon.

It should be said right away that such a format of a museum - a museum of one house - can be found in Russia only in the capital, and there are none in the world, so this place in Moscow is worth a visit without fail.

It recreates the era of the 30s of the last century, and all the items and documents once belonged to famous residents, among whom were Svetlana Alliluyeva - Stalin's daughter, the poet Demyan Bedny, marshals Zhukov and Tukhachevsky, the future Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev and many others.

Unfortunately, the history of this house bears a tragic imprint. You can learn about this and more by visiting the Houses on the Embankment Museum.

The Museum of Man "Living Systems" is a truly unique educational and entertainment format for all family members: from a child to an adult. Visitors will learn a lot about the human body and how our organs work in a playful way.

The best part is that the exhibits in this museum can and must be touched with your hands in order to better understand all the ongoing processes.

The Muzeon Arts Park is the largest museum of sculptures and monuments in Russia in an open area, moreover, made in various artistic directions and created in the 20th and 21st centuries.

In addition, the current format of the Muzeon includes not only viewing the exhibits, but also holding entertainment and cultural programs: performances by artists and musicians, lecture halls, photo exhibitions and much more.

The East Garden, recently created here, is especially popular.

Observation deck in Moscow City

The time has come and unprecedented skyscrapers appeared in Moscow, which are compactly located on the Moscow City site. Estimates of this project vary from rejection to admiration.

But be that as it may, the towers have already been built and may eventually become the same symbol of the capital as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was also initially not perceived by most of its contemporaries.

As for the observation deck, one of them is located on the 58th floor of a skyscraper tower called "Empire". From there, the main building of Moscow State University on Sparrow Hills, the Ostankino TV tower, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the government building (White House) are clearly visible. Moreover, you will see all this from a bird's eye view.

Graffiti area on Izumrudnaya

If you love urban wall art - graffiti, then Izumrudnaya Street is just the place in Moscow that is worth a visit. It is located not far from the Babushkinskaya metro station, and the painted houses themselves, 12 in total, are located next to Yantarny Proezd and the street itself. A riot of colors is guaranteed!

It is worth saying that this graffiti was made in 2007 by Russian and foreign masters - participants of the project "Color Moscow!". The level of execution is the highest, incl. this place will interest many lovers of painting, and everything unusual.

Peredelkino

The village of Peredelkino is extremely interesting for its unique landscape, nature and culture.

After all, it is here that the Writer's Town is located, where many famous writers and poets lived and live. After the death of some of them, memorial museums were opened here: Pasternak, Bulat Okudzhava, Chukovsky.

There is also a patriarchal residence in Peredelkino, on the territory of which there are beautiful temples and churches.

Restaurant "In the Dark"

Why is this place in Moscow worth visiting? Yes, simply because you can plunge into the world of blind people and understand them better, find out how difficult it is to live in total darkness.

Visitors are served by completely blind waiters - in halls where there is not even a strip of light and no contours are visible.

The session will last 2 hours, and the menu includes 5 complex dinners: fish, meat, Japanese, vegetarian and mixed. The restaurant is located on Oktyabrskaya street, 2/4.

A truly openwork house on Leningradsky Prospekt, 27. This is exactly what typical block houses in the Soviet Union should have become.

External facades, thanks to openwork lattices, seem to echo with luxurious estates and palaces of the pre-revolutionary era, although the interior spaces are arranged, one might say, in a Spartan way.

Unfortunately, this house remained a model, and, moreover, in a single copy (in the post-war years there was no time for frills, albeit simple ones).

Settlement Gateways

Do you want to return, even if not for long, to the times of the Soviet Union? Then you should visit this place in Moscow - the village of Gateways in Pechatniki.

In a settlement on three islands, you will not find the usual supermarkets or chain cafes. Local architecture is not represented not only by examples from the times of Luzhkov, but even by Brezhnev.

You will find here a decent size sand beach, you will see households with poultry and even beavers near the water's edge.

Below we provide a list of places worth visiting, but this will be associated with certain difficulties: either this is a secure facility, or an area not officially open under protection. If you are interested in this information and want to visit this place, then opportunities can be found.

Spotting at Sheremetyevo

Do you love airplanes? Do you enjoy watching them take off and land?

Periodically, the administration of Sheremetyevo Airport conducts so-called spotting excursions.

What is their beauty?

Yes, in that you can be inland not as a passenger with a limited travel route, but as an employee. You can believe that these are already different sensations and impressions that will be remembered for a lifetime.

It is definitely not possible to get into the territory on your own. Regime object, however.

The city estate of the Usachyov tea merchants with a park area, the plans of which can be seen in many Soviet films.

Surprisingly, this place, which is definitely worth a visit, is that a quiet and cozy old park with gazebos, classical sculptural compositions and even a mysterious grotto is located almost in the center of the capital - on Zemlyanoy Val.

The main house of the 19th century is also admired, incl. the atmosphere of this place seems to immerse us in the history of a bygone era.

The interior of the main manor house in Uzkoy amazes visitors with its sophistication: cultural rarities of the 17th-20th centuries, skillfully made furniture, beautiful decor made in various styles.

The local exposition is the envy of many Russian, and even Moscow, museums, incl. look for the opportunity, because this place is worth it to visit. In addition, today the Uzkoye estate is located within the boundaries of modern Moscow - on Profsoyuznaya street, 123.

The last place on our list in the city of Moscow, which is worth visiting, although it is difficult to do this.

The Izmailovsky anomaly (also called the Strokinsky fortification) is located in Izmailovsky Park. The history of its occurrence is mysterious and so far experts have not come to a consensus.

It is believed that these are either the “amusing” fortifications of Peter I, or the fortified area of ​​the Time of Troubles, or simply the destroyed buildings of the former old brick factory. Some fans generally awarded him the title of "Russian Stonehenge".

It is located on the territory of the local state farm behind a high concrete fence, but if you wish, you can get over it.

That's the whole list of places in Moscow that are worth visiting, although many of them are not particularly visited and are not even included in various guides to the main metropolitan attractions. You have the opportunity to discover new and beautiful places in your favorite city!

Did you like the material? Thanks are easy! We will be very grateful if you share this article on social networks.

Introducing the most Beautiful places of our country, which should be seen not only by every photographer and traveler, but also by every inhabitant of our vast Russia. Read our material and you will see: we all have something to be proud of!

Natural parks, reserves

Lena Pillars, Yakutia

The Lena Pillars is a natural park in Russia, located on the banks of the Lena River in the Khangalassky ulus of Yakutia, 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk. The complex of vertically elongated rocks stretching for many kilometers, bizarrely piled up along the banks of the Lena, a deep valley cutting through the Prilenskoe plateau, never ceases to attract photographers and travelers. The pillars reach the highest density between the villages of Petrovskoye and Tit-Ary.

The height of the rock formations reaches 100 meters. Scientists believe that the formation of rocks began 560-540 million years ago, and the formation of the Lena Pillars as a form of relief - about 400 thousand years ago.

The Lena Pillars Nature Park was organized on the basis of Decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and government decree dated February 10, 1995 and is subordinate to the regional Ministry of Nature Protection. The area of ​​the park is 485 thousand hectares, the park consists of two branches - "Pillars" and "Sinsky".

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka

The Valley of Geysers, one of the largest geyser fields in the world and the only one in Eurasia, is located in Kamchatka in the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka natural complex.

The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which, on an area of ​​​​about 6 square meters. km there are numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal sites, waterfalls and lakes. This area has abnormally high biodiversity and high contrast natural conditions and microclimate. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique for the whole country. The reserve regime operates on the territory of the valley.

Since 1992, helicopter excursions have been organized here, under an agreement with the reserve, there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, according to the voting results, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.

Weathering pillars, Komi Republic

Pillars of weathering (Mansi blockheads) is a geological monument located in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (“Small mountain of idols” translated from the Mansi language), in the interfluve of the Ichotlyaga and Pechora rivers . There are many legends associated with this extraordinary place. Pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.

Weathering Pillars are located quite far from inhabited places. Getting to them is already a feat in a sense. For this, by the way, you need to get a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the side of the Sverdlovsk region and the Perm region there are hiking route, from the Republic of Komi - automobile, water and foot routes.

About 200 million years ago, in place of stone pillars were high mountains. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and first of all the weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite shales were less destroyed and survived to this day, while soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into relief depressions.

One pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, either resemble the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or a ram. Indeed, this place is ideal for a photographer's fantasy! In the past, the Mansi deified the grandiose stone sculptures, worshiped them, but climbing the Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.

Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad Region

curonian spit- sandy spit located on the coast Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long strip of saber-shaped land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretching from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient tribes of the Curonians, who lived here before the colonization of Prussia by the Germans.

Length - 98 kilometers, width ranges from 400 meters (near the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (near Cape Bulviko, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit is a unique natural and anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic significance: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, which, along with the Hel and Vistula, is part of the Baltic sand spits complex, which has no analogues in the world. The high level of biological diversity due to the combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised swamp) - gives an idea of ​​important and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.

The most significant element of the relief of the spit is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, partly approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Due to its geographic location and northeast-southwest orientation, it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Every year, in spring and autumn, 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, most of which stop here for rest and feeding.

Favorable climatic conditions allow you to relax on the Curonian Spit from May to November. In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Nature reserve "Stolby". Krasnoyarsk region

The reserve is located on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan, bordering on the Central Siberian Plateau. The natural boundaries of the protected area are the right tributaries of the river. Yenisei: in the northeast - the Bazaikha river, in the south and southwest - the Mana and Bolshaya Slizneva rivers. From the northeast, the territory borders on the city of Krasnoyarsk, the border of the reserve can be reached by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of the city residents to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite remnants - "pillars". At present, its area is 47,219 hectares. Submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

lakes

Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia

It is unlikely that Baikal needs any descriptions, but still ... Baikal is the most deep lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Locals and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.

The value of the maximum depth of the lake - 1642 m - was established in 1983 by L. G. Kolotilo and A. I. Sulimov during hydrographic work. Average depth The lake is also very large - 744.4 m. In addition to Baikal, only two lakes on Earth have a depth of more than 1000 meters: Tanganyika (1470 m) and the Caspian Sea (1025 m). One of the visiting cards of Russia, a place that you need to see with your own eyes at least once in your life!

Lake Seliger, Tver and Novgorod regions

Another place that needs no introduction. By the way, Seliger has another name - Ostashkovskoye Lake, after the name of the city of Ostashkov standing on the lake shore. The area of ​​the lake is 260 sq. km, including about 38 sq. km. km falls on the islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is the island of Khachin. The area of ​​the entire pool is 2275 sq. km.

Seliger receives 110 tributaries. The largest are the rivers Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha. Only one river Selizharovka flows from it. The lake lies at an altitude of 205 meters above sea level and is of glacial origin. This explains its peculiar shape - it is not a lake in the usual sense, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and interconnected by short narrow channels. The coastline with a length of more than 500 km is notable for its indentation - capes overgrown with forests, deep picturesque bays protruding into the land, various in shape of the island.

The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shores of the southern part of Lake Seliger are the city of Ostashkov and the estate "New Yeltsy".

Lake Kezenoy-am, Chechen Republic

Kezenoy-am is a lake on the border of the Vedeno region of the Chechen Republic and the Botlikh region of Dagestan. This is the largest and deepest lake North Caucasus located at an altitude of more than 1800 meters above sea level. The surface of the lake is 2.4 sq. km.

The depth of the lake reaches 74 m. The length of the lake from north to south is 2 kilometers, and from west to east - 2.7 kilometers. The maximum width is 735 meters. Length coastline- 10 kilometers.

Lake Baskunchak

Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region

Baskunchak - salt Lake with an area of ​​about 115 sq. km in Akhtubinsky district Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Lake Baskunchak is part of a unique natural complex, which includes Mount Bolshoye Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Reserve), where a special environmental regime was established on an area of ​​53.7 thousand hectares.

On the coast of the lake there are deposits of medicinal clays. In June-August, tourists come to the lake to swim in brine and take mud baths. There is no need to talk about the beauty of these places. There are no less photographers than those wishing to improve their health.

Jack London Lake, Magadan Region

Located in the upper reaches of the Kolyma River in the Yagodninsky district of the Magadan region, lies among the mountains, at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the north-west direction is 10 kilometers, the depth is 50 meters.

There are many small lakes around Jack London Lake. The most prominent in size are the lakes Mechta, Anemone, Gray Gull, Invisible, Neighboring, Kudinovskie lakes. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes in the Far East. Old-timers say that the lake got its name thanks to an unusual find made by the “discoverers”. When the lake was discovered, on the shore, the researchers found Jack London's book "Martin Eden".

Lake Elton, Volgograd Region

Elton is a salty drainless self-sustaining lake in the Pallasovsky district of the Volgograd region, located near the border with Kazakhstan. It is considered the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. They say that the name of the lake comes from the Mongolian word "Altyn-Nor" - "gold mine".

The area of ​​the lake is 152 sq. km. Until 1882, salt was mined on the Elton, in 1910 the medical sanatorium "Elton" was founded on its shore (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the surrounding areas of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution "Natural Park" Elton "".

Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkar Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria

A group of five karst lakes in the Cherek region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of a rocky ridge, from where the Cherek-Balkar gorge begins. Located at the entrance to the gorge, Blue Lake is a unique natural phenomenon, interesting not only for Kabardino-Balkaria, but also on a national scale. Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (balk.) - rotten (stinking) lake; Sherej-ana (kab.) - mother of Cherek; Psykhurei (kab.) - round water (lake), natural artesian well.

The uniqueness of the Lower blue lake lies in the fact that with a relatively small surface (only 235 × 130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The water temperature on the surface in winter and summer is about +9 degrees. Not a single stream or river flows into the lake, but about 70 million liters flow out daily. At the same time, the level of the lake is unchanged, which is explained by powerful underwater sources. The blue color of the water is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and the refraction of light rays in a deep pool.

The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in a blue haze, peaks sparkling in the sun. Closer to Babugent, the greenery becomes brighter, juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake, there is a cave in the rock, in which traces of an ancient V-X parking centuries AD. Now many bats settle there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep hide.

Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region

Lake in the Lovozero tundra on the Kola Peninsula. "Seid" in translation from the Sami language means "sacred". The lake is located at an altitude of 189 m above sea level. The length of Seydozero is 8 km, the width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.

According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, one of the alleged places of existence of the Hyperborean civilization. Seekers of the unknown have been exploring these places since 1922.

Lake (reservoir) Zyuratkul. Chelyabinsk region

Zyuratkul is located in Satka District Chelyabinsk region on the territory of the same name national park. One of the highest (724 m above sea level) reservoirs of the Southern Urals. The reservoir is surrounded by mountain ranges covered with dark coniferous forests. To the southwest is the Nurgush ridge - the highest ridge in the Chelyabinsk region. The main river that feeds the reservoir is the Bolshoy Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam is the small village of Zyuratkul, connected by bus with the city of Satka.

Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now - a reservoir formed by a dam built on the Big Satka. A giant geoglyph was found near the lake. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also found. The stone chipping technique makes it possible to date the tools to the Neolithic and Eneolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined towards the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at the time Southern Urals there were practically no forests (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), so the figure was easy to build and then view from a nearby ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.

Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shores of Lake Zyuratkul - Kitova Pier, which was also called the "Ural Disneyland". But in the fall of 2012, by a court decision, it was demolished.

Mountains and volcanoes

Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria

Elbrus is a stratovolcano located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Given that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often also called the highest European mountain peak, thereby referring it to the list of "Seven Peaks".

The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one is 5621 m. ski resort Russia. The total area of ​​Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 sq. km. The most famous of them are: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.

Altai mountains

The Altai Mountains represent a complex system of the highest ranges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. The mountain system at the junction of the borders of Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. It is divided into Southern Altai (Southwestern), Southeastern Altai and Eastern Altai, Central Altai, Northern and Northeastern Altai, Northwestern Altai.

The Altai, Katunsky nature reserves and the Ukok plateau together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Altai - Golden Mountains". Thousands of tourists come to Altai. This is a favorite place for photo tours and independent trips.

Plateau "Divnogorie", Liskinsky district, Voronezh region

"Divnogorye" - a hill and a museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region of Russia. It is located 10 km west of the district center on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum was founded here in 1988, and in 1991 it received the status of a museum-reserve. Currently, the museum-reserve is one of the most popular and most recognizable sights of the Voronezh region. Every season, from May to October, it is visited by more than 60 thousand tourists.

The area of ​​the museum-reserve is more than 11 sq. km. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level).

Dombay-Ulgen, Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Dombay-Ulgen is the peak of the western part of the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak of Abkhazia, located east of the village of Dombay, has three peaks: western (4036 m), main (4046 m) and eastern (3950 m).

A steep ridge extends from the main peak to the north, ending in a lowering - the "Dombay saddle". From the Dombai saddle, there is a classic route (category 3B) going up, accessible for climbing in one day with a descent to the camp.

Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory

The Putorana Plateau is a mountain range located in the northwest of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau breaks off with a steep ledge (800 m or more), while the southern and eastern parts are characterized by gentle slopes. The maximum height of the plateau is 1701 m, among the highest peaks are the Kamen (1701 m), Holokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m) mountains. In the north, the Putorana Plateau borders on the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana, translated from Evenki, means "lakes with steep banks."

The area of ​​the plateau is 250 thousand square kilometers, which is comparable to the territory of Great Britain. On the territory of the plateau is the Putorana State nature reserve recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Marble canyon Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala village

Mountain Park "Ruskeala" is a tourist complex located in the Sortavalsky district of the Republic of Karelia, near the village of Ruskeala. The main object of the complex is a former marble quarry filled with groundwater.

The quarries, discovered by pastor Alopeus, began to be developed at the beginning of the reign of Catherine II. The first developments were led by Captain Kozhin, who was advised by Italian experts. Today, the length of the quarry from north to south is 460 meters, the width is up to 100 meters. The distance from the highest point of the quarry wall to its bottom is over 50 meters. The transparency of water reaches 15-18 meters.

Ruskeala marble is used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings Petersburg, its palace suburbs. St. Isaac's Cathedral was lined with it, the floors of the Kazan Cathedral were laid out, the window sills of the Hermitage were made, the windows of the Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle were framed, as well as the underground halls of the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya stations of the St. Petersburg metro. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film "The Dark World" took place in Ruskeala.

Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia

Eastern and Western Sayans - a common name for two mountain systems in southern Siberia. They distinguish the Western Sayan (length 650 km, height up to 3971 m - Mount Mongun-Taiga, which is the top of the ridge of the same name - highest peak In Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not referred to as the Sayan Mountains, but is distinguished into a separate mountain system - the mountains of Tuva), consisting of leveled and pointed ridges, on which there is no glaciation, separated by intermountain basins, and the Eastern Sayan (length about 1000 km, height up to 3491 m - Mount Munku-Sardyk) with typical mid-mountain ridges bearing glaciers. The rivers belong to the Yenisei basin. Mountain taiga prevails on the slopes, turning into mountain tundra.

The Western Sayan in the southwestern part borders on Altai. Its main ridge is the Dividing Sayan Range with the highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The ridges of the Western Sayan are characterized by steep slopes, indented relief, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, in the east it decreases to 2000 m.

The Eastern Sayan stretches almost at right angles to the Western. Its ridges form a system of “white mountains” (Manskoye, Kanskoye) and “squirrels”, which got their name because of the snow on the peaks that does not melt all year round. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a "knot" with the highest point - Grandiose Peak (2982 m). In the southeast there are the highest and hardest-to-reach ridges - Big Sayan, Tunkinskiye Goltsy, Kitoyskiye Goltsy, Kropotkin. The highest point of the Eastern Sayan - Munku-Sardyk (3491 m) is located in the ridge of the same name. Between the Sayan ridges there are more than a dozen basins of various sizes and depths, the most famous of which is the Abakan-Minusinsk basin, known for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting a large number of waterfalls.

Almost everywhere in the Sayans, dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests prevail, rising in the western and central parts up to altitudes of 1500–1800 m and more; light deciduous-cedar forests form the upper border of the forest at altitudes of 2000–2500 m. Animal world as rich as vegetable. The largest city located in Sayanakh - Krasnoyarsk.

Mountains of Shikhany. Republic of Bashkortostan

Shikhany - isolated hills in the Bashkir Cis-Urals, consisting of four single mountains: Tratau, Shakhtau, Yuraktau and Kushtau, which form a narrow chain stretched along the Belaya River for 20 km. Shikhany are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique monuments of nature - the remains of a barrier reef formed in the warm sea of ​​the early Permian period. The imprints of ancient plants and animals have been preserved in the stones of which these shikhans are made.

The highest shihan is Tratau (or Toratau). Its height is 402 meters above sea level, and its relative height is 280 meters. At its foot, the ruins of a women's prison, one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago, have been preserved. Shikhan Tratau flaunts on the coat of arms of the city of Ishimbay, is a symbol of the Ishimbay region of Bashkiria. In the past, this mountain was considered sacred.

Volcano Krenitsyn. Sakhalin Region, Onekotan Island

An active volcano on the Onekotan Island of the Great Kuril Ridge. The largest two-tiered "volcano within a volcano" in the world is located in the southern part of Onekotan Island. The height of the volcano is 1324 m.

The volcanic cone rises in the form of an island inside Lake Koltsevoe lying at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (heights 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).

Only one historical eruption is known, which happened in 1952.

Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands

An active volcano on the Kunashir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Reserve. In geographical terms, Tyatya is a stratovolcano of the somma-vesuvius type ("volcano in a volcano"). Height reaches 1819 m ( highest point Kunashir; in 1977 and subsequent years, the southeastern part of the rim of the summit crater collapsed, and most of the material collapsed into the northeastern crater. As a result, the total height of the volcano has decreased by about 30-50 meters and is now probably less than 1800 meters above sea level).

The height of the somma is 1485 m, it has a regular truncated cone with a diameter of 15–18 km at the base and up to 2.5 km at the annular ridge. The foot slopes of the volcano are decorated with coniferous-broad-leaved forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and elfin cedar. In the forests at the foot you can often meet a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

caves

Orda cave, Perm region

Orda Cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda in the Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of "dry" and underwater parts. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, underwater - 4600 meters. To date, the Ordinskaya cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia. In addition, part of the cave is the longest siphon in the CIS - 935 meters.

The cave is ranked 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Viktor Lyagushkin dedicated a whole photo project to Orda Cave.

Kungur cave, Perm region

This is one of the most popular attractions in Siberia and the Urals, a natural monument of all-Russian significance. The cave is in Perm region, on the right bank of the Sylva River on the outskirts of the city of Kungur in the village of Filippovka, 100 km from Perm.

A unique geological monument - one of the largest karst caves in the European part of Russia, the seventh longest gypsum cave in the world. The length of the cave is about 5700 m, of which 1.5 km is equipped for tourists. The average air temperature in the center of the cave is +5 °C, the relative humidity in the center of the cave is 100%. Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 t. "organ pipes" (the highest - in the Etheric grotto, 22 m) - high shafts, reaching almost to the surface.

Architecture

Leaning tower of Nevyansk. Sverdlovsk region, city of Nevyansk

Not everyone knows that we in Russia have our own kind of Leaning Tower of Pisa - an inclined tower in the center of Nevyansk, built in the first half of the 18th century by order of Akinfiy Demidov.

The height of the tower is 57.5 meters, the base is a square with a side of 9.5 m. The deviation of the tower from the vertical is about 1.85 m, and the greatest slope is observed at the lower tier (3 ° 16 "). The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, different sources give dates ranging from 1721 to 1745.

The tower is a massive quadrangle with 3 octagonal tiers built on top. Inside the tower is divided into several levels - floors.

The purpose of the first floor is not exactly established. Demidov's office was located on the second floor, and during the Soviet era there was a prison in it. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in the soot taken from the chimneys of furnaces. According to one version, Demidov minted counterfeit money here. According to another, here Demidov, secretly from the state treasury, smelted silver and gold, which was mined in his mines in Altai.

Even higher is the so-called "auditory room". Its peculiarity is that standing in one corner of the room, you can clearly hear what they say in the opposite corner. The effect observed in the room is associated with the special shape of the ceiling - it is vaulted and at the same time slightly flattened.

On the seventh and eighth floors there are chiming chimes created by the English watchmaker Richard Phelps in 1730. The tower is completed by a roof and a metal spire with a weather vane hoisted on it, made of perforated iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs is engraved.

There is a legend saying that the tower tilted due to the flooding of the cellars with all the workers who minted counterfeit money. By Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 1327 of August 30, 1960, the tower was included in the list historical monuments subject to protection as monuments of national importance.

Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga

Ivolginsky datsan is a large Buddhist monastic complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the brightest monuments of Russian history and architecture. Located in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga, 36 km from the center of Ulan-Ude.

Bird home. Republic of Crimea

Among all the sights of Crimea, it is not easy to choose one thing. But we decided to stop at one of the most inspiring places. The Swallow's Nest is a monument of architecture and history, located on a sheer 40-meter Aurora cliff of Cape Ai-Todor in the village of Gaspra (Yalta City Council).

The structure resembles a medieval knight's castle like the Belem tower or the Miramare villa near Trieste. First wooden structure on this site was erected for a retired Russian general after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, it can be seen on the canvases of famous marine painters: I. K. Aivazovsky, L. F. Lagorio, A. P. Bogolyubov, as well as in photographs that time.

The second owner of this amazing dacha was the court physician A. K. Tobin. There is also very little information about him. After his death, the house was owned by a widow for some time, who sold the plot to the Moscow merchant Rakhmanina. She demolished the old building, and soon a wooden castle appeared, which she called "Swallow's Nest".

The Swallow's Nest got its present form thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who liked to relax in the Crimea. Steingel acquired on the Aurora rock country cottage area and decided to build a romantic castle there, which resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The project for the new house was commissioned from engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, son of architect Vladimir Sherwood, author of the Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.

At the beginning of World War I, the estate was bought by the Moscow merchant P. Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant in the castle. In the 1930s, there was a reading room of the local Rest House, but the premises were recognized as emergency and closed.

In 1927, the Swallow's Nest was damaged during a strong earthquake. It was not until 1967–1968 that repairs were made. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by anti-seismic belts. The tower, increased in height, acquired more decorative effect thanks to four spiers. In 2013, cracks were found in the foundation slab, and in the autumn the visit was suspended for design work on the reconstruction - strengthening the rock.

And 6 more amazing places:

Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory

Chara Sands - a tract in the Kalarsky district Trans-Baikal Territory, which is a sandy massif about 10 km by 5 km in size. The Chara sands are located in the basin of the same name, in the foothills of the Kodar ridge, 9 kilometers from the village of Chara, between the valleys of the Chara, Middle Sakukan and Upper Sakukan rivers. The massif is a geological monument of nature of the geomorphological type of federal rank.

BAM station Novaya Chara is 10 kilometers away. The massif is elongated from the southwest to the northeast and occupies an area of ​​about 50 sq. km. There are no such large massifs of free-flowing moving sands in any basin of Transbaikalia. The Chara sands are outwardly similar to the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larch, dwarf birch and moisture-loving dwarf pine. In the northeastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoye.

Avacha Bay, Kamchatka Territory

Avacha Bay is a large non-freezing bay of the Pacific Ocean near the south-east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, it is the main transport "gateway" of the Kamchatka Territory. The main advantage of the bay is that it is one of the largest bays in the world: it can accommodate any ship in the world!

The length of the bay is 24 kilometers, the width at the entrance is 3 kilometers, total area water surface is equal to 215 sq. km. Depth up to 26 meters. The Avacha and Paratunka rivers flow into the bay. The cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vilyuchinsk are located along the shores of the bay. The bay is the main base Pacific Fleet Russia in Kamchatka.

A kind of symbol of the bay and its attraction are the Three Brothers rocks, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.

Commander Islands. Aleutsky District, Kamchatka Territory

The Commander Islands are an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part Bering Sea Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutsky district of the Kamchatka Territory of Russia. The islands are named after the navigator Commander Vitus Bering, who discovered them in 1741. On the largest of them - Bering Island - there is a grave of a navigator. Commander Islands - a place of mixing of Russian and Aleutian cultures. They have great potential for the development of northern tourism.

Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region

Patomsky crater - a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slope of a mountain in the Patomsky Highlands in the Irkutsk region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among the local population it is called the "Nest of the Fiery Eagle", also known as the "Kolpakov's Cone", "Dzhebulda Crater", "Yavaldinsky Crater".

This is a geological object unique in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestone and other rocks. The Patom crater was formed over a long period of time about 500 years ago.

The diameter of the crater along the ridge is 76 m. The cone is crowned with a flat top, which is an annular shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a hill up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230-250 thousand cubic meters, the mass is about a million tons.

Agura waterfalls. City of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory

Cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. The distance from the Black Sea coast is 4 km. Further up the river - the Middle waterfall, then the Upper.

The Lower Agur waterfall is the first and most interesting of the three large waterfalls on the Agura River. It consists of two cascades: the lower one is 18 m high and the upper one is 12 m high. Under it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. From the Devil's hole canyon to the Lower waterfall is approximately 1.5 km. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and rises lead up through 500 m to the Middle Agur waterfall - 23 meters, and then to the Upper - 21 meters waterfall. Near the Upper waterfall, to the left of the path, there are rocks called Eagles.

Vasyugan swamps. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions

Some of the largest swamps in the world are located in Western Siberia, between the Ob and Irtysh rivers, on the territory of the Vasyugan plain, which is mostly within the Tomsk region, and in small parts - Novosibirsk and Omsk region and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

The swamp area is 53 thousand square meters. km (for comparison: the area of ​​Switzerland is 41 thousand sq. km), the length from west to east is 573 km, from north to south - 320 km.

Vasyugan swamps arose about 10 thousand years ago and have been constantly increasing since then - 75% of their modern area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Marshes are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves - 400 cubic km), there are about 800 thousand small lakes, many rivers originate from swamps, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Big Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.

Vasyugan swamps are home to numerous local fauna, including rare ones. Of the rare species of animals in the swamps, in particular, reindeer, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, gray shrike, peregrine falcon live. Squirrels, elks, sables, wood grouses, white partridges, hazel grouses, black grouses are present in significant quantities, mink, otter, wolverine are in smaller quantities. The flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Cranberries, blueberries, and cloudberries are widely distributed among wild plants.

Now animal and vegetable world swamps is under threat due to the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.

In preparing the article, materials from Wikipedia were used.

Happy travels!