Russia is home to some of the most beautiful and remarkable places on the planet. Being the largest country in the world, she stretches over several climate zones and her nature is diverse and unique. In this article I will take you on a journey from west to east and tell you a little about some of the natural wonders of Russia, that Mother Earth herself has created. The pearl of Siberia, Lake Baikal, is of course a true wonder of nature but since it is also the one that first comes to mind and is the most rewritten place in Russia, I will skip it in this article and turn the spotlight towards some other, maybe less known ones.
1. Ruskeala Mountain Park (Горный парк «Рускеала»)
Starting in the western parts of Russia we find the region called Karelia. I wish to incorporate this place on the list since my family is from Karelia, but from the Finnish part, and I know that the nature there is just stunning. Karelia is a land of forests and lakes and great for outdoor activities. The most remarkable place is the Ruskeala Park which is located north of the city Sortavala and close to the Finnish border. The most famous site in the park, which is also a cultural heritage, is the Marble Canyon. For several hundred years, marble was mined in the canyon and it is today a monument of that era. The quarry is today filled with groundwater that is so clean that its transparency reaches several meters.
2. Elton Lake (Эльтон)
Heading southeast on our journey we find ourselves just east of the city Volgograd and on the shore of Lake Elton. This is the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineral-rich ones in the world. From the early 1800th century salt has been excavated here. It is famous for its rich mud and there is a mud and spa resort located nearby.
3. Kungur Ice Cave (Кунгурская ледяная пещера)
When getting closer to the centre of Russia we are faced with the Urals, the mountain chain that separates Europe from Asia. Near the city of Kungur, a city close to Perm is the Kungur Ice Cave. This hidden frozen treasure is made up of ancient ice, which forms the most beautiful formations. The cave host underwater lakes, grottoes, stalactites and stalagmites of all different shapes and sizes. This is a very popular destination for tourists and several thousand visit the cave each year.
4. Lena’s Stone Pillars (Ленские столбы)
In eastern Siberia we find the place in Russia that I would like to visit most of all. Lena’s Pillars is one of the most stunning works of Nature in my opinion. This cluster of rock pillars is neighbor with the river Lena, therefore its name. These pillars have heights of astonishing 150 – 300 meters. The Nature Park which hosts the pillars is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The closest city is Yakutsk, in which you can book trips up along the Lena river to see the pillars.
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5. Valley of Geysers (Долина гейзеров)
The last stop on our trip is in the Russian Far East, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Valley of Geysers is a geyser field with the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. The valley stretches six kilometers and holds around ninety geysers. This is a beautiful but dangerous place and the only way to reach it, and to enjoy it, is by helicopter. Unfortunately in 2007, a large part of the valley was covered by a mudflow and changing the landscape forever.
I could easily get lost in dreaming about all these beautiful places. Nature is truly magical and speaks to us on a deeper level. My dream is to be able to travel Russia, every corner of it, and to see not only the places listed above but everything she has to offer. How about you? Do you wish to explore some of these natural wonders of Russia? Which place is your dream destination? Share it in a comment below!
(Featured photo: https://www.freeworldmaps.net/russia/russia-relief.jpg)