While foreigners associate Russia with the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral and wintery landscapes, the country is much more diverse than one can imagine. You would be surprised to find out that you could find a Tibetan temple, volcanos and a city full of skyscrapers without even leaving the territory of one country.
Guess where is this place! Reminds you of the Alps?
Nope, this is Shavlinskoye Lake in the Altai Republic in northwestern Russia.
Nope, this is Shavlinskoye Lake in the Altai Republic in northwestern Russia.
Is it a street in Germany's Bremen?
Wrong answer! It's the city of Zelenogradsk in Russia's westernmost territory, the Kaliningrad region.
Wrong answer! It's the city of Zelenogradsk in Russia's westernmost territory, the Kaliningrad region.
Take a look at this beautiful desert landscape. Reminds you of Morocco, huh?
This is Russia's Chara Sands desert in Siberia, surrounded by taiga. What makes it unique is the rapid change from the boreal forests to the sand without any transition zone.
You thought Siberia is only about snow, right?
This is Russia's Chara Sands desert in Siberia, surrounded by taiga. What makes it unique is the rapid change from the boreal forests to the sand without any transition zone.
You thought Siberia is only about snow, right?
This is definitely Tibet!
And wrong answer again! This is a Buddhist Temple, Ivolginsky datsan, in Russia's Buryatia, located in Siberia.
And wrong answer again! This is a Buddhist Temple, Ivolginsky datsan, in Russia's Buryatia, located in Siberia.
Stonehenge?
It's the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations or Poles of the Komi Republic located west of the Ural mountains.
It's the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations or Poles of the Komi Republic located west of the Ural mountains.
Looks like a view of Dubai?
You would probably be surprised to find out that this is how the capital of Chechnya, Grozny, looks now.
You would probably be surprised to find out that this is how the capital of Chechnya, Grozny, looks now.
Is it a ski resort in the Swiss Alps? No! This is Sochi's Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Interestingly, it's located in southern Russia off the Black Sea. So you can ski in the mountains, then make it down and enjoy the heat and swimming. Probably, that's because Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Sochi very often.
Interestingly, it's located in southern Russia off the Black Sea. So you can ski in the mountains, then make it down and enjoy the heat and swimming. Probably, that's because Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Sochi very often.
It may look like the famous Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey's Istanbul, but it's the Zolotoy Bridge (Golden Bridge) in the city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
While the view reminds of Istanbul, the residents of Vladivostok call the city Russian San Francisco.
While the view reminds of Istanbul, the residents of Vladivostok call the city Russian San Francisco.
Mount Fuji in Japan? And wrong again! However, it's not too far from the territory of Japan.
It's the Kronotsky Volcano in Kamchatka, Russian Far East.
It's the Kronotsky Volcano in Kamchatka, Russian Far East.
It looks like you can guess right now! This is a typical Caucasus landscape with all its heritage and ancient architecture. But it's not Georgia, it's Russia's Ingushetia.
The waterfront in Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic near the Volga River, looks like a twin of Bruges, Belgium.
Is this Vietnam's Hạ Long Bay? No!
This is the beautiful view of Three Brothers Rocks in Avachinskaya Bay (Pacific Ocean) at sunset located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East.
This is the beautiful view of Three Brothers Rocks in Avachinskaya Bay (Pacific Ocean) at sunset located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East.
And try to guess one more time! No, it's not famous South China Karst, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by the way.
This place is called the Lena Pillars. It is located in Yakutia, eastern Siberia.
The Lena Pillars, which were formed in some of the Cambrian period sea-basins, are 150–300 metres high. And they are also in the World Heritage List.
This place is called the Lena Pillars. It is located in Yakutia, eastern Siberia.
The Lena Pillars, which were formed in some of the Cambrian period sea-basins, are 150–300 metres high. And they are also in the World Heritage List.
