The most extraordinary places on earth. The most interesting and beautiful places on planet earth. Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga
There are different places in the world that differ in their natural beauty, colorful, landscapes and rich vegetation. Others are beautiful in their simplicity and subtlety. In this article you will find something you probably haven't seen before: the most strange places in the world, but at the same time incredible beautiful.
1. "Bloody Pond" in Japan
Our list of the strangest places on Earth opens with a bloody spring (called Jigoku, which means hell) - a landmark of the city of Beppu, one of the nine thermal springs, which are more appropriate to look at than to swim in them.
The reddish color is due to the presence of high levels of iron in the hot waters, which makes this place quite strange.
2. Ice Caves of Eisriesenwelt (Austria)
These are the longest ice caves in the world. Today, only a small area of them is open to the public, but this is amazingly enough to allow visitors to experience the wonderful and mysterious whim of nature.
This strange place is located in the Richat structure, on the African continent. It is visible from space due to its length of almost 50 km. The structure is located about 400 meters above sea level in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania and has curious concentric rings. It is believed that the Eye of the Sahara was created by a meteorite impact.
4. Salt Desert
This is a huge salt desert in Bolivia, also known as. This is the largest salt marsh in the world and here you can see active volcanoes, plains with geysers, tall cacti, etc., which make the environment an endless illusion or landscape of another world.
5. Stone forest of China
Stone forest Shilin, known as the "first wonder of the world", is located in Yunnan Province. This forest covers an area of over 400 square kilometers and showcases amazing rock formations with breathtaking views. The forest was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.
6. Spotted Lake Kliluk
This huge unusual lake is located between the state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is rich in Natural resources, but the most amazing thing about it is the strange formation of circles with white borders and puddles inside, reflecting sunlight in blue and green colors, like mirrors or doors to other worlds.
7. Dry deserts of Antarctica
These are authentic dry valleys in Antarctica with dark gravel scattered across the ground, similar to the volcanic areas on Canary Islands, which are equated to Mars. The valley is so cool and dry (the driest place on earth) that everything that dies there is preserved like a mummy. She is like a natural freezer. In addition, here you can find the corpses of seals that died several centuries ago.
Our own little Mars on Earth is in Spain. The resemblance of this strange place to the red planet is so high that NASA conducted various experiments here because of this. This river creates such an unusual environment due to its enormous acidity, and it is the high copper content that gives it its red color. All this is due to the fact that gold and copper were mined on the river.
This island has very interesting vegetation that makes it a unique and almost anomalous ecosystem. It is part of an archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean that were separated from Africa about 7 million years ago. Like the Galapagos Islands, they contain more than 700 very rare species both flora and fauna, and about a third is unique to this area.
The Afar Depression in Ethiopia, better known as the Danakil Depression, is one of the hottest populated areas on Earth, with temperatures ranging from 35 degrees Celsius when it's cool, and about 60 degrees Celsius when it's hot. This is an area in the Horn of Africa where tectonic plates separate, allowing the waters of the Red Sea to reach the land and Gulf of Aden. This is the reason for such bright colors in the landscape. It is worth noting that it is very volcanic and radiation zone. Without a doubt, this is one of the most unusual places on the ground.
11. Soaring Geyser Nevada
This geyser in Nevada is one of the strangest attractions in the United States. It was created in 1916 by accident during oil drilling: water heated by geothermal energy came to the surface, causing this colorful spectacle. The geyser is made up of various minerals and thermophilic algae that shoot jets of water 1.5 m into the air and give it such a variety of colors and plastic appearance. This terrace consists of about 40 pools of water on an area of 30 hectares.
Located in Yellowstone National Park. It is the largest geothermal spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. With its appearance, it undoubtedly deserves a place on the list of the strangest places on the planet. The source is formed by thermophilic bacteria, which produce colors ranging from green to red. Colors depend on the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and on water temperature.
These were the strangest places on earth . I hope that the article was interesting for you. Thank you for your attention!
P.S. To reinforce the topic, I suggest watching a video selection of the most beautiful and unusual places on our planet:
Descriptions and photographs of unusual, mysterious and amazing places on our planet.
Semuc Champey (the name from the Mayan language translates as “where the river is hidden under the stones”) is the most beautiful natural attraction in Guatemala, formed by the Caabon River, passing through a 300-meter limestone bridge (of natural origin) and forming several natural pools with a depth of 1 to 3 meters. You can swim in these pools, and if you sit on a stone and put your feet in the water, then in just a few seconds you will begin to receive free massage and peeling from the small fish that live in these reservoirs. This is an extremely pleasant feeling, I liked it even more than directly swimming in a pond.
Semuc Champey is located in the deep jungle and remained unknown for a long time until it was accidentally discovered in the mid-50s of the last century. In 1999, the President of Guatemala declared Semuc Champey a natural monument.
Semuk Champey. View from observation deck
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Mount Kailash is located in the high mountain valley of Tibet in southwest China. This sacred land is full of mysteries and mysticism. It is here that pilgrims come from all over the world to perform the kora - a ritual circumambulation around Kailash.
Prohodna is the highest cave in Bulgaria. It is located 2 km from the village of Karlukovo in the valley of the Iskar River and is part of the Iskar-Panega geopark. This amazing karst cave is a natural rock bridge 262 meters long and 15 to 25 meters wide. It has two entrances, Big and Small, between which there is a path.
Arch height large entrance is 45 meters: this is a favorite place for fans of extreme jumps. In addition, the cave is very popular among rock climbers. In the surrounding area of Prohodna there are sports routes that are considered one of the most difficult in Bulgaria.
The main feature of Prohodna is two through holes in the rock shaped like human eyes. Locals call them "God's Eyes" and sometimes "Devil's Eyes." These “windows” provide natural light in the cave and captivate tourists with their amazing symmetry. But the “Eyes of God” make a special impression in rainy weather, when real tears seem to flow from them.
national park Bryce Canyon is located in the state of Utah (USA). This amazing natural site is known throughout the world for its beauty and unique marine geology. It is a gigantic amphitheater of rocky peaks varied in structure.
New Zealand is a beautiful country proud of its picturesque landscapes. However, its main attractions are not only on the surface - it is just as beautiful underground. Proof of this is the famous Waitomo district, which lies on one of the most large islands states. It is famous for its impressive limestone caves, which are amazing in themselves, but what makes them even more special are the numerous fireflies that choose these underground labyrinths as their home. Thousands of tiny insects emit phosphorescent light, creating surreal light installations.
The picturesque island quarter of Burano in the northern lagoon of the Italian city of Venice can rightfully be called one of the most colorful places on planet Earth. In addition to its skilled lace-makers, it is famous for its bright, colorful buildings. Interestingly, each building is assigned a specific color, for which homeowners receive permission from local authorities. The condition of cartoon houses and the saturation of the shade are carefully monitored, if necessary, refreshing the lost brightness of their appearance. According to legend, it was the bright colors of the facades that from ancient times showed Buran fishermen the way home.
The small village, located on one of the 400 Shengxi Islands located east of the Chinese province of Zhejiang, has been abandoned by people for decades, but every year it increasingly attracts the attention of tourists. After the town, famous for its fishing, was abandoned by people who found more convenient ways to make money on the mainland, it began to disappear under the onslaught of local vegetation, turning into a kingdom of greenery. Plants are slowly consuming dilapidated stone buildings, demonstrating the power of nature and creating a truly fantastic spectacle. Quiet picturesque area east coast China did not become a comfortable place for humans to live, but it quickly became a cozy home for local flora and fauna. The transformation of the city is especially impressive considering the fact that residents only left it in the early 90s, and empty houses and broken windows are already completely merging with thriving greenery. So abandoned locality It is gradually turning from ruins into a green jungle, which has already become a famous local landmark.
In cold Iceland, a land of snow, ice and unique natural attractions, there is always something to see and admire. Its main assets are represented by powerful fjords, volcanoes, waterfalls and, of course, glaciers, striking in their scale and beauty. In their depths, as if in the castle of the Snow Queen, something even more magnificent lurks - ice caves. The most amazing of them are concentrated in the southern part of the giant Vatnajokull glacier, which has the status of the largest in Europe and the third largest in the whole globe after the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland. Its area is 8133 km², which is 8% of the entire territory of the island. The ice thickness is on average 400 meters, and the maximum reaches 1000 meters. Vatnajökull is part of the largest national park in Europe of the same name.
Yosemite National Park in California has an impressive natural feature called Horsetail Fall. For this unusual name lies an ordinary seasonal waterfall, falling from the east side El Capitan mountain range. The most interesting things begin to happen in these parts at the end of February. For just a few days a year, park visitors have the opportunity to see a rare event- transformation of an ordinary water stream into a fiery waterfall, reminiscent of lava erupting from a volcano. In fact, this natural phenomenon is a visual illusion, the secret of which is hidden in the reflection of the rays of the setting sun at a certain angle and under favorable weather conditions. The luminary, blazing with fiery reflections in the water flowing from the mountain, creates truly apocalyptic landscapes. The unusual effect lasts only a few minutes, but travelers and hunters for unique footage regularly gather near Mount El Capitan in order to see and capture the stunning illusion.
Blue Fields is an unusual photo project, similar to a beautiful fantasy of an artist, authored by Scottish photographer Simon Butterworth. The bodies of water in western Australia captured by aerial photography look very surreal, as if these are not photographs at all, but watercolor paintings depicting abstract patterns. In fact, the pictures show ordinary artificial ponds from which a concentrated salt solution evaporates, leaving a harvest of salt. The salt fields reflecting the blue sky were captured by a photographer from an airplane at an altitude of about 1,500 meters near the abandoned town of Useless Loop, in Shark Bay, the westernmost point of mainland Australia.
Goats are known for their acrobatic skills and ability to maintain balance on sheer cliffs. However, their amazing abilities do not end there - in the kingdom of Morocco you can see an even more unusual sight: dozens of horned animals nestle comfortably in the trees, like a flock of birds. They climb to the highest branches, like skilled tightrope walkers, where they engage in measured eating of green leaves and fruits.
As night falls, the beaches of some islands in the Maldives archipelago erupt with millions of glowing neon dots, as if the starry sky is falling onto the shore Indian Ocean. The surreal picture does not appear through magic, but as a result of the life activity of microscopic organisms called bioluminescent phytoplankton. Blue glow is most common in the Maldives from around July to February, especially during the new moon, when the darkness of the sky helps microorganisms glow as brightly as possible. The amazing effect of bioluminescence can be seen in any of the atolls of the state, but the most enchanting “star” surf occurs on the island of Vaadhoo.
During a visit, your skin gets goosebumps from what you see here. We will get acquainted with the most terrible places on earth below.
Old Jewish cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic
Processions in this cemetery took place for almost four centuries (from 1439 to 1787). Comparatively small area more than 100 thousand dead are buried in the land, and the number of gravestones reaches 12,000. More ancient
Cemetery workers covered the burials with earth, and new tombstones were erected in the same place. On the territory of the cemetery there are places where 12 burial tiers are located under the earth's crust. As time passed, the subsided earth revealed old gravestones to the eyes of the living, who began to move later slabs. The view was not only unusual, but also creepy.
Island of Abandoned Dolls, Mexico
There is a very strange abandoned island in Mexico, most of which is inhabited by scary dolls. They say that in 1950, a certain hermit, Julian Santana Barrera, began collecting and hanging dolls from trash cans, who in this way tried to calm the soul of a girl who had drowned nearby. Julian himself drowned on the island on April 17, 2001. Now there are about 1000 exhibits on the island.
Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima is a former coal mining settlement founded in 1887. It was considered one of the most densely populated places on earth - with coastline about a kilometer its population in 1959 was 5,259 people. When coal mining here became unprofitable, the mine was closed and the island city joined the list of ghost towns. This happened in 1974.
Chapel of Bones, Portugal
The Copella was built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk. The chapel itself is small - only 18.6 meters long and 11 meters wide, but the bones and skulls of five thousand monks are kept here. On the roof of the chapel is written the phrase “Melior est die mortis die nativitatis” (“Better the day of death than the day of birth”).
Suicide Forest, Japan
Suicide Forest is the unofficial name of the Aokigahara Jukai forest, located in Japan on the island of Honshu and famous for the frequent suicides committed there. The forest was originally associated with Japanese mythology and was traditionally thought to be the abode of demons and ghosts. Now it is considered the second most popular place in the world (first at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco) to commit suicide. At the entrance to the forest there is a poster: “Your life is a priceless gift from your parents. Think about them and your family. You don't have to suffer alone. Call us 22-0110."
Abandoned psychiatric hospital in Parma, Italy
Brazilian artist Herbert Baglione created an art piece from a building that once housed a psychiatric hospital. He depicted the spirit of this place. Now ghostly figures of exhausted patients wander around the former hospital.
Church of St. George, Czech Republic
The church in the Czech village of Lukova has been abandoned since 1968, when part of its roof collapsed during a funeral ceremony. Artist Jakub Hadrava populated the church with ghost sculptures, giving it a particularly sinister look.
Catacombs in Paris, France
Catacombs - a network of winding underground tunnels and caves near Paris. The total length, according to various sources, is from 187 to 300 kilometers. Since the end of the 18th century, the remains of almost 6 million people have been buried in the catacombs.
City of Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA
Due to an underground fire that broke out 50 years ago and continues to burn to this day, the number of residents has decreased from 1,000 people (1981) to 7 people (2012). Centralia now has the smallest population in the state of Pennsylvania. Centralia served as the prototype for the creation of the city in the Silent Hill series of games and in the film based on this game.
Magic Market Akodessewa, Togo
The Akodesseva market for magical items and witchcraft herbs is located right in the center of the city of Lome, the capital of the state of Togo in Africa. Africans of Togo, Ghana and Nigeria still practice the voodoo religion and believe in the miraculous properties of dolls. Akodesseva's fetish assortment is extremely exotic: here you can buy cattle skulls, dried heads of monkeys, buffalos and leopards and many other equally “wonderful” things.
Plague Island, Italy
Poveglia is one of the most famous islands Venetian lagoon, northern Italy. It is said that since Roman times the island was used as a place of exile for plague patients, and therefore up to 160,000 people were buried on it. The souls of many of the dead allegedly turned into ghosts, with which the island is now filled. The island's grim reputation is compounded by tales of horrific experiments allegedly carried out on patients. psychiatric clinic. In this regard, paranormal researchers call the island one of the most terrible places on earth.
Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
The Mountain of Crosses is a hill on which many Lithuanian crosses are installed, their total number is approximately 50 thousand. Despite the external resemblance, it is not a cemetery. According to popular belief, good luck will accompany those who leave a cross on the Mountain. Neither the time of the appearance of the Mountain of Crosses nor the reasons for its appearance can be said with certainty. To this day, this place is shrouded in secrets and legends.
Burials of Kabayan, Philippines
The famous fire mummies of Kabayan, dating back to 1200-1500 AD, are buried here, as well as, as local residents believe, their spirits. They were made using a complex mummification process, and are now carefully guarded, as cases of their theft are not uncommon. Why? As one of the robbers said, “he had the right to this,” since the mummy was his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Overtoun Bridge, Scotland
Old arch bridge is located near the Scottish village of Milton. In the middle of the 20th century, strange things began to happen on it: dozens of dogs suddenly threw themselves from a 15-meter height, fell on rocks and were killed. Those that survived came back and tried again. The bridge has turned into a real “killer” of four-legged animals.
Actun-Tunichil-Muknal Cave, Belize
Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave near the city of San Ignacio, Belize. It is an archaeological site of the Mayan civilization. Located on the territory natural park Mount Tapira. One of the halls of the cave is the so-called cathedral, where the Mayans made sacrifices, as they considered this place to be Xibalba - the entrance to the underworld.
Leap Castle, Ireland
Leap Castle in Offaly, Ireland is considered one of the cursed castles in the world. Its gloomy attraction is a large underground dungeon, the bottom of which is studded with sharp stakes. The dungeon was discovered during the restoration of the castle. In order to remove all the bones from it, the workers needed 4 carts. Local residents say that the castle is haunted by many ghosts of people who died in the dungeon.
Chauchilla Cemetery, Peru
The Chauchilla Cemetery is located about 30 minutes from the Nazca desert plateau, on south coast Peru. The necropolis was discovered in the 20s of the twentieth century. According to researchers, bodies found in the cemetery are about 700 years old, and the last burials here took place in the 9th century. Chowchilla differs from other burial sites in the special way in which people were buried. All the bodies are “squatting”, and their “faces” seem to be frozen in a wide smile. The bodies were perfectly preserved thanks to the Peruvian dry desert climate.
Sanctuary of Tophet, Tunisia
The most notorious feature of Carthage's religion was the sacrifice of children, mainly infants. During the sacrifice it was forbidden to cry, since it was believed that any tear, any plaintive sigh would detract from the value of the sacrifice. In 1921, archaeologists discovered a site where several rows of urns were found containing the charred remains of both animals (they were sacrificed instead of people) and small children. The place was called Tophet.
Snake Island, Brazil
Queimada Grande is one of the most dangerous and famous islands of our planet. There is only a forest, a rocky, inhospitable coast up to 200 meters high, and snakes. There are up to six snakes per square meter of the island. The poison of these reptiles acts instantly. Brazilian authorities have decided to completely ban anyone from visiting the island, and locals are telling chilling stories about it.
Buzludzha, Bulgaria
The largest monument in Bulgaria, located on Mount Buzludzha with a height of 1441 meters, was built in the 1980s in honor of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Its construction took almost 7 years and involved more than 6 thousand workers and experts. The interior was partly decorated with marble, and the staircases were decorated with red cathedral glass. Now the monument house has been completely looted, only a concrete frame with reinforcement remains, looking like a destroyed alien ship.
City of the Dead, Russia
Dargavs in North Ossetia looks like a cute village with small stone houses, but in fact it is an ancient necropolis. People were buried in various types of crypts along with all their clothing and personal belongings.
Abandoned military hospital Beelitz-Heilstetten, Germany
During the First and Second World Wars, the hospital was used by the military, and in 1916 Adolf Hitler was treated there. After World War II, the hospital found itself in the zone of Soviet occupation and became the largest Soviet hospital outside the USSR. The complex consists of 60 buildings, some of which have now been restored. Almost all abandoned buildings are closed to access. The doors and windows are securely boarded up with high boards and sheets of plywood.
Unfinished subway in Cincinnati, USA
An abandoned subway depot in Cincinnati - a project built in 1884. But after the First World War and as a result of changing demographics, the need for the metro disappeared. Construction slowed in 1925, with half of the 16 km line completed. The abandoned subway now hosts tours twice a year, but many people are known to wander its tunnels alone.
Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Philippines
On the island of Luzon, in the village of Sagada, there is one of the most frightening places in the Philippines. Here you can see unusual funeral structures made of coffins placed high above the ground on the rocks. There is a belief among the indigenous population that the higher the body of the deceased is buried, the closer his soul will be to heaven.
Nuclear lighthouse at Cape Aniva (Sakhalin)
The lighthouse was built with great difficulty in 1939 according to the design of the architect Miura Shinobu - it was a unique and most complex technical structure in all of Sakhalin. It operated on a diesel generator and battery backup until the early 1990s, when it was refurbished. Thanks to the nuclear energy source, maintenance costs were minimal, but soon there was no money left for this either - the building was empty, and in 2006 the military removed two isotope installations that powered the lighthouse from here. It once shone for 17.5 miles, but is now plundered and abandoned.
Eighth workshop of the Dagdizel plant, Makhachkala
Naval weapons testing station, commissioned in 1939. It is located 2.7 km from the coast and has not been used for a long time. Construction took a long time and was complicated by difficult conditions. Unfortunately, the workshop did not serve the plant for long. The requirements for the work carried out in the workshop changed, and in April 1966 this grandiose structure was written off from the factory balance sheet. Now this “Array” is abandoned and stands in the Caspian Sea, resembling an ancient monster from the shore.
Lier Sikehus Psychiatric Clinic, Norway
At the Norwegian psychiatric hospital, which is located in small town Lier, half an hour from Oslo, has a dark past. Experiments on patients were once carried out here, and for unknown reasons, four hospital buildings were abandoned in 1985. Equipment, beds, even magazines and personal belongings of patients remained in the abandoned buildings. At the same time, the remaining eight buildings of the hospital are still operating to this day.
Gunkanjima Island, Japan
In fact, the island is called Hashima, nicknamed Gunkanjima, which means “cruiser island.” The island was settled in 1810 when coal was discovered there. Within fifty years, it has become the most populated island in the world in terms of the ratio of land and the number of inhabitants on it: 5,300 people with a radius of the island itself of one kilometer. By 1974, the reserves of coal and other minerals on Gankajima were completely exhausted, and people left the island. Today, visiting the island is prohibited. There are many legends about this place among the people.
We present the most Beautiful places of our country, which should be seen not only by every photographer and traveler, but also by every resident 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
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. Stretching for many kilometers, the complex of vertically elongated rocks, intricately piled up along the banks of the Lena, cutting through the Prilenskoye Plateau with a deep valley, never ceases to attract photographers and travelers. The pillars reach their greatest 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 landform began about 400 thousand years ago.
Natural Park“Lena Pillars” was organized on the basis of the decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and the government decree of 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 - “Stolby” 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 in the list world heritage UNESCO as part of the natural complex “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”.
The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which there is an area of about 6 square meters. km there are numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal areas, waterfalls and lakes. In this area there is an abnormally high biodiversity and high contrast natural conditions and microclimate. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique throughout the country. The territory of the valley is protected by a reserve regime.
Since 1992, under an agreement with the reserve, helicopter excursions have been organized here, and there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, based on voting results, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.
Weathering pillars, Komi Republic
Weathering pillars (Mansi logs) are a geological monument located in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (“ Malaya Gora idols" translated from the Mansi language), in the interfluve of the Ichotlyag and Pechora rivers. Many legends are associated with this extraordinary place. The pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.
The weathering pillars are located quite far from inhabited places. Reaching them is in some sense a feat. To do this, by the way, you need to obtain a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the Sverdlovsk Region and Perm Territory there is a walking route, from the Komi Republic there are road, water and walking routes.
About 200 million years ago, there were high mountains in place of the stone pillars. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite shales were less destroyed and have 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, resemble either the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or ram. It’s true: this place is ideal for a photographer’s imagination! In past times, the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.
Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region
Curonian Spit- a sand spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long saber-shaped strip of land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and extending from the city of Zelenogradsk Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient Curonian tribes who lived here before the colonization of Prussia by the Germans.
The length is 98 kilometers, the width ranges from 400 meters (in the area of the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the area of \u200b\u200bCape Bulviko, just north of Nida).
The Curonian Spit is a unique natural-anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic value: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, included, along with the Hel and Vistula, in the Baltic complex sand spits, 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 bog) - provides insight into important and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.
The most significant element of the spit's relief is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of them approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Thanks to his geographical location and orientation from northeast to southwest, 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 the Middle and Southern Europe. Every year in spring and autumn, from 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here to rest and feed.
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 Mountains, bordering 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 the city of Krasnoyarsk; the border of the reserve can be reached by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of city residents to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite outcrops - “pillars”. Currently, 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 fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Local residents and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.
Meaning maximum depth lake - 1642 m - was established in 1983 by L. G. Kolotilo and A. I. Sulimov during hydrographic work. The average depth of the lake is also very large - 744.4 m. Besides 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 business cards 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, located on the lake shore. The area of the lake is 260 sq. km, including about 38 sq. km. km there are islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is Khachin Island. The area of the entire pool is 2275 sq. km.
Seliger receives 110 tributaries. The largest are the Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha rivers. Only one river, Selizharovka, flows out of 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 concept, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and connected by short narrow channels. The coastline, more than 500 km long, is rugged - forested headlands, deep picturesque bays jutting into the land, and islands of various shapes.
The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shore of the southern part of Lake Seliger are the city of Ostashkov and the New Yeltsy estate.
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. Maximum width - 735 meters. The length of the coastline is 10 kilometers.
Lake Baskunchak
Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region
Baskunchak is a salt lake with an area of about 115 square meters. km in Akhtubinsky district Astrakhan region, approximately 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Lake Baskunchak is part of a unique natural complex that includes Mount Big Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature 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 bathe in brine and take mud baths. There is no need to talk about the beauty of these places. There are no fewer photographers here than people who want 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, it lies among the mountains, at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the northwest direction is 10 kilometers, depth is 50 meters.
There are many small lakes around Jack London Lake. The most prominent lakes in size are lakes Mechta, Anemone, Gray Chaika, Nevidimka, Neighboring, and Kudinovskie lakes. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes 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, researchers found Jack London's book "Martin Eden" on the shore.
Lake Elton, Volgograd region
Elton is a salty, endorheic, self-sedating lake in the Pallasovsky district 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” - “golden bottom”.
Lake area - 152 sq. km. Until 1882, salt was mined on Elton; in 1910, the Elton medical sanatorium was founded on its shores (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the adjacent territories of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution “Eltonsky Natural Park”.
Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkarian Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria
A group of five karst lakes in the Chereksky region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of the rocky ridge, where Cherek-Balkarian Gorge. 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. The Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (bulk) - rotten (smelly) lake; Sherej-ana (kab.) - Cherek’s mother; Psykhurey (kab.) - round water (lake), natural artesian well.
The uniqueness of Nizhny blue lake is that with a relatively small surface (only 235×130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The surface water temperature 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 every day. The lake level remains 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 the deep pool.
The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in the blue haze, peaks sparkling in the sun. Closer to Babugent the greenery becomes brighter and juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake, in the rock there is a cave in which traces of an ancient site of the 5th-10th centuries AD were discovered. Now many bats live there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep take shelter.
Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region
Lake in the Lovozero tundra on Kola Peninsula. "Seid" translated 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, width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.
According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, it is one of the supposed 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 national park of the same name. One of the highest (724 m above sea level) reservoirs in 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 feeding the reservoir is the Bolshoy Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam there is the small village of Zyuratkul, connected by bus to the city of Satka.
Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now it is a reservoir formed by a dam built on Bolshaya Satka. A giant geoglyph was found in the lake area. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also discovered. The technique of stone chipping makes it possible to date the tools to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined to the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at that time Southern Urals There were practically no forests (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), so the figure was easy to construct and then view from the neighboring ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.
Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shore of Lake Zyuratkul - Whale Pier, which was also called the “Ural Disneyland”. But in the fall of 2012, by court order, 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. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often called the highest European mountain peak, thereby including it in the list of “Seven Summits”.
The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one is 5621 m. The Adylsu, Shkheldy, Adyrsu gorges, the Donguz-Oruna and Ushba massifs are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. The Elbrus region is the most popular ski resort Russia. The total area of Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 square meters. km. The most famous of them: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.
Altai Mountains
The Altai Mountains represent a complex system of the highest ridges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. A 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 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.
Divnogorye plateau, Liskinsky district, Voronezh region
“Divnogorye” - a hill and a museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district Voronezh region Russia. It is located 10 km west of the center of the region on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum here was founded 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 attractions in 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. Maximum height the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Tikhaya Sosna 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 - the top of the western part of the Dividing Range Greater Caucasus(on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak in 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 depression - the “Dombay saddle”. From the Dombay saddle there is a classic route (category 3B), which can be climbed in one day with a descent to the camp.
Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory
Putorana Plateau - mountain range, located in the north-west of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau ends 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 Mount Kamen (1701 m), Kholokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m). In the north, the Putorana Plateau borders the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana translated from Evenki means “lakes with steep banks.”
The area of the plateau is 250 thousand sq. km, which is comparable to the territory of Great Britain. On the territory of the plateau is the Putorana State nature reserve, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Marble Canyon Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala village
Mountain Park "Ruskeala" - tourist complex, located in the Sortavala region 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 specialists. 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 side to its bottom is over 50 meters. Water transparency reaches 15-18 meters.
Ruskeala marble was used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings of St. Petersburg and its palace suburbs. It covered St. Isaac's Cathedral, laid out the floors of the Kazan Cathedral, made the window sills of the Hermitage, and framed the windows. Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle, as well as the underground halls of the St. Petersburg metro stations “Primorskaya” and “Ladozhskaya”. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film “The Dark World” took place in Ruskeala.
Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia
The Eastern and Western Sayans are the common name for two mountain systems in southern Siberia. There are 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 Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not classified as the Sayan Mountains, but is separated into a separate mountain system - the Tuva Mountains), consisting of leveled and peaked 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. The slopes are dominated by mountain taiga, turning into mountain tundra.
The Western Sayan borders Altai in its southwestern part. Its main ridge is the Watershed Sayan Range with its highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The Western Sayan ridges are characterized by steep slopes, rugged terrain, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, to the east it decreases to 2000 m.
The Eastern Sayan stretches almost at right angles to the Western Sayan. Its ridges form a system of “Belogory” (Manskoye, Kanskoye) and “belkov”, which got their name because of the non-melting all year round snow on the peaks. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a “knot” with the highest point - the Grandiozny peak (2982 m). In the southeast are the highest and most inaccessible ranges - the Bolshoy Sayan, Tunkinskie Goltsy, Kitoiskie 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, famous for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting a large number of waterfalls.
Almost everywhere in the Sayan Mountains, dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests predominate, rising in the western and central parts to heights of 1500–1800 m or 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 Sayany - Krasnoyarsk.
Shikhany Mountains. Republic of Bashkortostan
Shikhany are 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. Shihans are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique natural monuments - the remains of a barrier reef formed in the warm sea of the early Permian period. The stones from which these shikhans are made contain imprints of ancient plants and animals.
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 are the ruins of a women's prison - one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago. 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
Active volcano on Onekotan Bolshoi Island 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 Koltsevoye, which lies at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by a somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (heights 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).
There is only one known historical eruption, which occurred in 1952.
Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands
An active volcano on the Kunashir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Nature Reserve. In geographical terms, Tyatya is a stratovolcano of the somma-vesuvius type (“volcano within a volcano”). The height reaches 1819 m (the highest point of Kunashir; in 1977 and subsequent years, the southeastern part of the edge of the summit crater collapsed and most of material collapsed into the northeastern crater. As a result, the total height of the volcano has decreased by about 30-50 meters and is currently 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 foothills of the volcano are decorated with coniferous-deciduous forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and dwarf cedar. In the forests at the foot you can often find a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Caves
Orda Cave, Perm region
The Orda Cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda, Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of a “dry” and underwater part. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, the underwater part is 4600 meters. Today, Orda 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 ranks 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Viktor Lyagushkin dedicated an entire photo project to the 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 located in the 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 visits by tourists. average temperature air in the center of the cave is +5 °C, relative humidity in the center of the cave is 100%. The Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 so-called. “organ pipes” (the highest is in the Ethereal Grotto, 22 m) - high shafts reaching almost to the surface.
Architecture
Nevyansk Leaning Tower. Sverdlovsk region, Nevyansk city
Not everyone knows that in Russia we have our own version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - a leaning 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, with the greatest inclination 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 precisely established. Demidov's office was located on the second floor, and during Soviet times it was a prison. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in the soot taken from the chimneys of the 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 at 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 is being said 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 chimes with musical 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 mounted on it, made of milled iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs is embossed.
There is a legend that the tower tilted because the basements were flooded with all the workers minting counterfeit money. By Resolution 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, village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga
Ivolginsky datsan- a large Buddhist monastery complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the most striking 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 attractions of Crimea, it is not easy to choose just one. But we decided to stop at one of the most inspiring places. bird home- an architectural and historical monument located on the steep 40-meter Aurora rock 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 Villa Miramare near Trieste. The 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, and also in photographs from that time.
The second owner of this amazing dacha was the court physician A.K. Tobin. There is also very little information left about him. After his death, the house was owned for some time by a widow, 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.”
“Swallow’s Nest” received its current appearance thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to vacation in Crimea. Steingel acquired on Aurora Rock country cottage area and decided to build a romantic castle there, which is reminiscent of medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The design of the new house was commissioned from engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, son of architect Vladimir Sherwood, author Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.
At the beginning of the First World War, 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 here at the local holiday home, but the premises were considered unsafe and closed.
In 1927, Swallow's Nest was damaged during a strong earthquake. Only in 1967–1968 were repairs carried out. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by anti-seismic belts. The tower, increased in height, became more decorative thanks to its four spiers. In 2013, cracks were discovered in the foundation slab, and the visit was suspended in the fall to conduct design work for reconstruction - strengthening the rock.
And 6 more amazing places:
Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory
Chara Sands is a tract in the Kalarsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory, which is a sandy massif measuring approximately 10 km by 5 km. 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 array is geological monument nature of geomorphological type of federal rank.
BAM station Novaya Chara is 10 kilometers away. The massif stretches from southwest to northeast and covers an area of about 50 sq. km. Not a single basin of Transbaikalia has such large massifs loose moving sands. Chara sands are similar in appearance to the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larches, dwarf birches and moisture-loving dwarf cedar. In the northeastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoe.
Avachinskaya Bay, Kamchatka Territory
Avacha Bay is a large ice-free bay Pacific Ocean off the south-eastern 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 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 location Pacific Fleet Russia in Kamchatka.
A unique symbol of the bay and its landmark are the Three Brothers rocks, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.
Commander Islands. Aleutsky district, Kamchatka region
Commander Islands - an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part Bering Sea Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutian region 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 the navigator’s grave. The Commander Islands are a place where Russian and Aleutian cultures mix. They have huge potential for the development of northern tourism.
Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region
The Patomsky crater is a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slope of a mountain in the Patom Highlands in the Irkutsk region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among local population is called the “Nest of the Fire Eagle”, also known as the “Kolpakov Cone”, “Dzhebuldinsky Crater”, “Yavaldinsky Crater”.
This is a unique geological object in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestone and other rocks. The Patomsky 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 a ring shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a slide up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230–250 thousand cubic meters, weight - about a million tons.
Agur waterfalls. Sochi city, Krasnodar region
A cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. Distance from the Black Sea coast - 4 km. Further up the river - the Middle Falls, then the Upper.
Lower Agur waterfall - the first and most interesting of all three big 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. Below it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. From the Devil's Hole canyon to the Lower Waterfall it is approximately 1.5 km. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and climbs go up, leading through 500 m to the Middle Agur waterfall - 23 meters, and then to the Upper - 21-meter waterfall. Near the Upper Waterfall, to the left of the path, there are rocks called Eagle Rocks.
Vasyugan swamps. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions
Some of the largest swamps in the world are located in Western Siberia, in the interfluve of the Ob and Irtysh, on the territory of the Vasyugan Plain, located mostly within the Tomsk region, and in small parts - the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.
The area of the swamps 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.
The Vasyugan swamps arose about 10 thousand years ago and have been constantly increasing since then - 75% of their current area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Swamps are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves are 400 cubic km), there are about 800 thousand small lakes, many rivers originate from swamps, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Bolshoy Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.
The Vasyugan swamps are home to numerous local fauna, including rare ones. Rare species of animals in the swamps include, in particular, reindeer, golden eagles, white-tailed eagle, osprey, gray shrike, and peregrine falcon. There are significant quantities of squirrels, moose, sable, wood grouse, partridges, hazel grouse, black grouse, and in smaller quantities mink, otter, and wolverine. Flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Among wild plants, cranberries, blueberries, and cloudberries are widespread.
Now the animal and vegetable world swamps are under threat due to the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.
Wikipedia materials were used in preparing the article.
Happy travels!
On our planet, along with modern, technologically and industrially developed megacities, there are many places created by ancient masters or nature itself.
Each such attraction has its own legend and, naturally, is silent about a lot of things. Mysterious places raise a huge number of questions among scientists, confusing them with anomalous phenomena and the unknown.
1. Devils Tower, USA
The so-called Devil's Tower is actually a natural rock of amazingly regular shape and consists of columns with sharp corners. This truly mysterious place, which, according to research, is more than 200 million years old, is located in the USA, in the territory of the modern state of Wyoming. 
In size, the Devil's Tower is several times larger than the Cheops Pyramid and from the outside resembles a man-made structure. Thanks to its unrealistic size and unnaturally correct configuration, the rock has become the object of attention of many scientists, and local residents claim that Satan himself built it.
2. Cahokia Mounds, USA
Cahokia or Cahokia is an abandoned Indian city, the ruins of which are located near Illinois, USA. This place is reminiscent of how ancient civilizations lived, and its complex structure proves that this area was inhabited by a highly developed people 1500 years ago. Old City It is striking in its scale; a network of terraces and 30-meter earthen mounds, as well as a huge solar calendar, have been preserved on its territory. 
It is still unknown why a society of almost 40 thousand people left their settlement, and which Indian tribes are direct descendants of the Cahokians. Despite this, the Cahokia mounds are a favorite place for many tourists who come here in the hope of unraveling the mystery of the ancient city.
3. Chawinda, Mexico
This mystical place, according to Aboriginal beliefs, is the center of intersection of the real and other worlds. That is why incredible things happen here that are difficult for modern people to understand. 
Chawinda is of interest to many treasure hunters, because according to legend, this area hides unprecedented wealth. Unfortunately, no one has yet managed to find the treasure. Would-be treasure hunters often attribute their failures to otherworldly forces.
4. Newgrange, Ireland
Newgrange is the oldest building on the territory of modern Ireland, it is already about 5 thousand years old. It is believed that this long corridor with a transverse room is a grave, but scientists have not yet been able to determine for whom. 
It is still unknown how ancient people were able to build such a perfect structure, which for five thousand years was not only lucky enough to survive, maintaining its primitive appearance, but also to remain completely waterproof.
5. Pyramids of Yonaguni, Japan
Mysterious underwater pyramids near the western Japanese island of Yonaguni are causing a lot of controversy among modern archaeologists and surveyors. The main question is whether the structures are a natural phenomenon, or whether they were created by the hand of an ancient man. 
In the course of numerous studies, it was possible to establish that the age of the Yonaguni pyramids is more than 10 thousand years. Therefore, if the Yonagun monuments created mysterious civilizations unknown to us, then the history of mankind should be rewritten.
Mysterious civilization. Underwater cities of Yonaguni
6. Geoglyphs of Nazca, Peru
The Nazca geoglyphs in Peru are one of the most mysterious places on the planet. They were discovered in the middle of the last century and are still actively discussed by scientists who cannot say unambiguously what the ancient people wanted to express with these giant drawings of animals and for what purpose were they used? 
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to ask the creators, but scientists offer 2 main versions: some, leaning towards the cosmic theory of the origin of geoglyphs, believe that they are landmarks for alien ships, others claim that they are giant lunar calendars. In any case, the Nazca rock paintings are proof of the existence on the territory of modern Peru of an ancient and mysterious civilization that lived here long before the famous Incas and was distinguished by a high level of development.
7. Black Bamboo Hollow, China
Black Bamboo Hollow or Heizhu is perhaps the most terrible place on Earth. Local residents have nicknamed it the Valley of Death, and they do not even want to get close to it at any cost. Just the memory of the ravine fills them with great horror. 
They say that children and pets disappear here without a trace, and there is a lot of documentary evidence of this. Scientists have been interested in the hollow of black bamboo for decades; they have been able to prove that the valley in the Chinese province of Sichuan is an anomalous area with a harsh climate and sharply changing weather conditions, which together provokes soil subsidence, which, according to scientists, is the reason for the loss of people.
8. Giant's Causeway, Ireland
The Giant's Causeway, or the Giant's Causeway Northern Ireland– an amazing coastal area, formed many centuries ago as a result of a volcanic eruption. It consists of approximately 40 thousand basalt columns that look like giant steps. 
The natural attraction is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This place deserves admiration, which is why more than one thousand tourists from all over the world visit it every year.
9. Goseck Circle, Germany
The Goseck Circle is an ancient Neolithic structure in the German district of Burgenlandkreis. The circle was accidentally discovered in the early 90s of the last century while surveying the area from an airplane. 
The original appearance of the building was restored only after complete reconstruction. Scientists have little doubt that the Goseck Circle was used for astronomical observations and calendaring. This proves that our ancestors also studied cosmic bodies, their movements and kept track of time.
10. Moai Monuments on Easter Island
Easter Island is famous throughout the world for the giant Moai statues located throughout its territory. Each such megalithic figure is a large monument created by the masters of an ancient civilization in the crater of the local volcano Rano Raraku. 
In total, about 1,000 remains of such man-made monuments were discovered on the island. Most have already gone under water.
Today, the vast majority of the statues are once again placed on platforms facing the ocean, from where they continue to greet visitors to the island and remind them of their former power ancient people who inhabited these spaces.
Easter Island - Moai Message
11. Georgia Tablets, USA
The Georgia Tablets are 20-ton polished granite slabs with inscriptions in eight of the world's most famous languages. The inscriptions represent commandments for future generations on how to rebuild civilization after a global cataclysm. The monument was erected in 1979, the customer is listed in the documents under the name Robert C. Christian. 
The height of the monumental structure is just over six meters, and the slabs are oriented towards the four sides of the world and have holes. In one of them you can see the North Star at any time of the year, in the second - the Sun during the solstice and equinox. Several years ago, the monument was vandalized and was damaged by paint, which has not yet been removed.
12. Rishat (Eye of the Sahara). Mauritania
On the territory of modern Mauritania, the largest desert in the world hides an amazing natural phenomenon of the Proterozoic period, whose name is Richat or the Eye of the Sahara. 
This object is incredibly huge (up to 50 kilometers in diameter), so it can be seen even from space. The structure consists of several ellipsoidal rings formed by sedimentary rocks and sandstones about 500 million years ago.
13. “Gateway to Hell” – Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan
The Darvaza gas crater is located in the Turkmen Karakum desert, appearance resembling a gate to hell. This fire pit, about 60 meters in diameter and up to 20 meters deep, is the result of excavations carried out here during the Soviet Union. 
During such geological research, a group of scientists discovered an underground cavern with natural gas, which almost led to death huge amount of people. Therefore, the management decided to set fire to the gas so that it would not threaten local residents. But the fire, which was supposed to burn for no more than 5 days, is still burning, bringing fear to everyone who approaches it.
Brave people are ready to take selfies at the Gates of Hell
14. Arkaim, Russia
Arkaim is an ancient settlement, reminiscent of ancient civilizations, which was discovered several decades ago in the vicinity of Chelyabinsk. It is believed that this landmark of Russia is the birthplace of the ancient Aryans, who gave rise to European, Persian and Indian civilizations. 
Arkaim is not only a unique architectural monument with a thousand-year history, but also a place of concentration of healing energy flows that can save a person from any disease.
