7 most beautiful places in Russia that are worth seeing at least once in your life

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

From impressive waterfalls and lotus fields to vast underground grottoes and remains of an ancient Greek city.

1. Solovetsky Islands

The largest archipelago of the White Sea is known not only for its history and architectural sights, but also for its amazing nature. The Solovetsky Islands consist of six large islands and hundreds of small ones. The largest of them is Bolshoy Solovetsky Island, on which the spiritual center of this region is located - the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery, erected in the 15th century.

The nature of the Solovki is unique: here you can walk through the reserved coniferous forest, meet seals, belugas and bearded seals, and see the northern lights after sunset. The numerous lakes with fresh water amaze with their beauty, and the weather here is more than comfortable, especially in summer.

There are several ways to get to the islands. Before direct motor ship flights from St. Petersburg began to run here, one had to take a train to Kem, and then take a ferry. You can also take a charter flight from Arkhangelsk to Solovki.

2. Kivach waterfall

Not far from the Solovetsky Islands there is another natural attraction - the pearl of Karelia, the Kivach waterfall. Despite the fact that this is not the highest waterfall in the region, it can rightfully be considered the most beautiful and most powerful. Kivach is the second strongest (after the Rhine) flat waterfall in Europe, so its majesty is striking.

It is not easy to find the waterfall: hidden in the shade of tall trees, it is located in the depths of the Kivach nature reserve. You can get to it both by car and by public transport. If you are heading up the river to the Northern Islands by boat, you can stop in Petrozavodsk and from there get to the waterfall by transfer together with the excursion group. You can also walk to Kivach on foot from the village of Sopokha - the distance will be about 8 kilometers.

3. Putorana plateau

We are moving to another part of our country - the Krasnoyarsk Territory. There is one of the largest mountain ranges in Russia - Putorana. The highest mountain on the plateau is Kamen, its height is 1,701 meters. Also on the territory of Putorana there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Putorana Reserve.

It is especially interesting for wildlife lovers and those seeking tranquility. Among the deep canyons there are numerous waterfalls and lakes, and the Siberian coniferous forests are full of lingonberries and shiksha (this berry is also called crowberry). The reserve is also home to the world's largest population of wild reindeer and other species of animals listed in the Red Book.

You can get to these wild places only by water or air from June to September, when the weather is warm and the water is not frozen. It is best to start your journey from Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka along the Yenisei River, and from there you can take a helicopter tour to the top of the plateau.

4. Blue lakes

The system of lakes located near Kazan is known for its clear, cold, bright blue water. In total, the system includes three lakes: Big Goluboe, Protochnoe and Maloe Goluboe. All of them are natural monuments that attract tourists from all over the country.

The lakes are known primarily for their transparency - the bottom of the lake is perfectly visible from the shore. The water acquires its famous azure color thanks to the blue silt salt mud located at the bottom.

The Great Blue Lake is the central part of this system. Its depth is shallow, on average up to 3 meters, but there are also craters reaching 18 meters. The water temperature practically does not change throughout the year, fluctuating from 3 to 7 ° C - that is why the lakes have become favorite bathing places for walruses. But the color of the water can change depending on the weather and the season: from the usual bright azure to black.

It is very easy to get to the Blue Lakes directly from the center of the capital of Tatarstan - the road will take less than an hour. The most convenient way to get there is by personal transport, since the natural landmark is located in the middle of the M7 highway. But if this is not possible, take a bus to the village of Shcherbakovo.

5. Kungur cave

One of the main natural attractions of the Urals is the Kungur Ice Cave, located near the city of Kungur. Its length is more than 5 kilometers, but only the first 1,500 meters are open to visitors. Nevertheless, tourists will see more than one grotto along the way, the largest of which is called the Giant. In total, the cave has 58 grottoes and 70 underground lakes, the largest of which reaches a depth of 5 meters.

The nearest transport hub is in Perm, from where sightseeing buses and trains run to the city of Kungura. The cave itself is located outside the village of Filippovka, so if you want to save time and effort, it may be more convenient to use the services of travel agencies.

6. Reserve Tanais

A piece of Greece on the shores of the Sea of Azov, the city and reserve of Tanais is a truly unique place on the territory of our country. The city is located near Rostov-on-Don, it was founded by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. NS. and was considered the border between Europe and Asia. For many centuries, Tanais was the economic and cultural center of the Azov region, but at the beginning of the 5th century, after being destroyed by the Goths, it fell into desolation. The city was revived after the arrival of the Venetians, but in the XIV century it was again destroyed by the troops of Tamerlane.

Archaeologists were able to find the ruins of Tanais only in the 19th century, and it was recognized as a reserve in the middle of the 20th century. Modern tourists can see here the architectural and archaeological remains of ancient Greek temples and residential buildings. To get into the past, you don't need a time machine - just an electric train from Rostov towards the village of Nedvigovka to the Tanais stop.

7. Astrakhan reserve

In the Volga delta, where the river flows into the Caspian Sea, lies a picturesque reserve with thousands of lotus flowers and narrow wooden bridges, as if they came from the culture of the Ancient East. Here you can go on a boat excursion and see with your own eyes pelicans, peregrine falcons, swans and other rare birds in their natural habitat. After a leisurely boat trip, boats moor to one of the islands, from where trails stretch for kilometers through picturesque coastal forests.

You can get to the reserve from Astrakhan by a tourist transfer or by a private car - a natural attraction is located 100 kilometers from the bustle of the city.

As you can see, in the vastness of Russia there are many places for exciting travel and tourist discoveries. Don't waste time, pack your backpack - and go!