Tourism in Russia is not limited to Red Square, Peterhof and endless churches. There are a few unusual things to look out for when traveling in our country.
Voices ravine
Take the Novokuznetskaya-zelyonaya train heading south to Kolomenskaya station. After a short walk through the dense forests of the Kolomenskoye park-estate, you will see the infamous Golosov ravine . If you are lucky, you will travel back in time.
According to Russian folklore, the Golosov ravine is a place under the control of mythical creatures: fabulous, amazing and deadly. The legend goes back to 1621 and says: a gang of Tatar horsemen appeared at the walls of the royal palace, lost, bewildered and disoriented. They were strangely dressed and after interrogation it turned out that the gang was a detachment of the army of the Crimean Khan, who approached Moscow in 1571. Fearing defeat in battle, they retreated into a ravine, where a thick green fog enveloped them. It seemed to them that several hours passed - but they emerged from the fog only after 50 years, much to the surprise of the tsar and his people. Outdated uniforms and weapons suggested that the story was true. Very soon, the story was overgrown with legends and new stories of time travel began to appear. Looking at the green depths of the Golosov ravine, it is difficult to disagree with the tsar's people.
Big Zayatsky Island
In the north of Russia, in the White Sea, not far from the Finnish border, there is a mysterious island called Bolshoy Zayatsky. Less than two square kilometers, it is home to 35 Neolithic labyrinths known as Babylon .
No one knows when these intricate and ornate labyrinths originated, but the prevailing local opinion is that detailed labyrinthine formations serve as a doorway between this world and the other world, allowing the souls of the deceased Sami natives of the region to pass through them into the afterlife.
Getting to the islands is not easy - most often it is done by plane from Moscow or St. Petersburg. The journey is worth it to get the opportunity to experience the feeling of being on the border of the worlds - at the edge of the Earth.
Izmailovsky Kremlin
The Kremlin on Red Square is to Moscow what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Few people know that on the outskirts of Moscow, in the northeast, there is another Kremlin, smaller and less famous.
Izmailovo Kremlin was built in 2007: it is a cultural and leisure center, as well as the largest flea market in the capital . The style is based on traditional Russian architecture and fabulous images of old Russia, and its beautifully decorated and colorful façade will make you fall in love almost instantly.
The famous Izmailovsky market of the 17th century is located nearby, connected to the Kremlin by a fancy wooden bridge. The “other” Kremlin is a 10-minute walk from the Partizanskaya metro station, it is easy to reach, it is much less crowded and much more hospitable.
Mountain Altai
Siberian Gorny Altai is located at the crossroads of 4 countries - Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Inhabited by traditional horse and forestry ethnic groups, it is a popular tourist destination for both local and foreign travelers. Along with a number of nature reserves and lakes, Altai Mountain is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is a lot of untouched beauty in Altai, where frozen rivers and snow-capped mountains attract skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts, tourists in winter (the area around the Aktru glacier is especially popular for trekking), and in summer - cavers, kayakers and climbers. You can also do more non-trivial things here, including diving, exploring caves, collecting herbs and mushrooms.
The Denisova Cave in Siberia is of particular importance: bone fragments, artifacts and remains of prehistoric horses dating from different periods were discovered here - the oldest of the found samples is more than 50 thousand years old. You can talk about the beauty of the Ukok plateau for hours, but why talk - you need to see it.
The resort town of Belokurikha is a popular starting point for adventures in Altai, and many travel agencies offer organized trips from here.
Tundra
Tundra is a unique biome that exists only beyond the Arctic Circle or near it. The temperature here is so low that trees cannot grow, and only moss, shrubs and some types of grasses can survive the winter. In most cases, tundra is synonymous with permafrost - this means that the land is frozen to a considerable depth. In areas where the top layer of the earth melts in summer, swamps and streams form above the ground, leading to beautiful puddles-lakes of colorful ice (or water).
The Russian tundra is home to polar bears, seals, gray wolves and swarms of birds during the nesting season. In the last 20 years, ecotourism in permafrost regions has been gaining in popularity. One of these areas is the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve near the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Visitors can take a number of ecological trails to explore, try bird watching or volunteer under the guidance of ecologists and bird watchers.
Olkhon
Olkhon , one of the largest lake islands in the world, is covered with steep mountains, dense forests and taiga. The island is located in Eastern Siberia and has a small permanent population, which consists mainly of local Buryats and the Mongolian autochthonous group, for whom the island is the habitat of powerful spirits.
Tourism is a growing industry on Olkhon. Travelers come here to explore places such as the coastal sand dunes, the abandoned village of Peschanaya, and a former Soviet concentration camp nearby.
The area is also known for its "walking trees", an unusual phenomenon that causes strong winds to expose the roots of trees on the beach and give them the appearance of a walking person.
There are several villages on the island, the largest of which - Khuzir - offers accommodation in a guest house for visitors wishing to spend the night. Also in the village there is a small but rather interesting State Historical Museum of Revyakin - here they chronicle island life from the Neolithic times to the present day.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky , located in the Russian Far East, is surrounded by volcanoes (including the active snow-covered volcano Koryakskaya Sopka) and cannot be reached by road. However, those who rise to the challenge and take a ferry, mountain trail or helicopter here will discover the active city center with many monuments, squares and churches. The city is located directly opposite Avacha Bay - a great place for walks along the coast and for whale watching.
From a tourist's point of view, at the top of the must-do list should be hiking tours to the throats of dormant volcanoes, a little lower - descent from the slope of Krasnaya Sopka Mountain and a visit to the world's only Salmon Museum .
The small but unique Vulcanarium Museum offers a very close acquaintance with the world of volcanoes and is probably your only chance to ever touch real volcanic lava.
