Let's be honest, our country is so huge that we simply do not know all the miracles that it possesses. For foreigners, Russia is completely a country shrouded in secrets. They do not understand the language, culture, and even architecture looks somewhat strange for visitors. Nevertheless, this does not negate the beauty of Russia, which is recognized throughout the world. Recently, travel enthusiasm has reached a new level, and tourists from near and far abroad can be found not only in Moscow, St. Petersburg or the Trans-Siberian Railway train, but also in less “untwisted” corners of our country. In the article we will introduce you to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Russia. They will lead you to the origins of the culture of our country.
1
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal, located in the southern part of Siberia, cannot be missed on the map. Baikal contains more water than all the Great Lakes (and there are five of them!) Combined. It is the oldest, largest and deepest freshwater body of water in the world. Baikal accounts for one fifth of the planet’s freshwater reserves, not counting glaciers. In addition, the lake is considered one of the cleanest in the world.
Baikal formed about 30 million years ago. He “sheltered” thousands of unique species and representatives of flora and fauna. Among them, freshwater seals, seals and other animals. On the southern and eastern shores of Lake Baikal, the indigenous population is still living, the Buryats. Among tourists, the lake is popular at any time of the year. Foreigners mainly go here from Irkutsk, the city through which the Trans-Siberian Railway, so beloved by travelers, passes.
By the way, do not miss the fascinating article on our site thebiggest.ru about the TOP-12 of the deepest lakes in the world.
2
Kazan Kremlin
You did not think that in our country the Kremlin is only in Moscow? The Kazan Kremlin, the main citadel of Tatarstan, was built not of red brick, like its metropolitan “colleague,” but of white stone. The construction of the Kremlin began in the X century with Kazan khans along with the construction of the city itself. After the capture of Kazan, the Golden Horde Kremlin was destroyed; its restoration was carried out in the 16th century by Ivan the Terrible.
According to thebiggest, the beauty of the Kazan Kremlin cannot be conveyed from photographs. It is an impressive architectural complex consisting of several religious and administrative buildings. One of the most significant buildings is the Kul-Sharif mosque, surrounded by a fortress wall with 13 towers, of various shapes and purposes.
For centuries, the Kremlin has been a stronghold of Orthodox Christianity, as well as an important object for Muslims, as it stood on the northwestern border of Islamic influence. Today the citadel is a mixture of architectural and cultural styles, located in the very center of Kazan.
3
Wrangel Island
Wrangel Island is a remote polar island with a cold climate, located in the Arctic Ocean, which, as scientists have proven, is the last refuge of woolly mammoths.
The island is characterized by a unique autonomous ecosystem. This is due to its remoteness from the mainland, which boasts the highest level of biological diversity in the Arctic. Although, of course, in comparison with mainland Russia, flora and fauna are not so diverse.
The largest population of Pacific walruses in the world lives here, and the island is also known as the largest "maternity home" of polar bears, because it is here that up to five hundred bears give birth every year.
Wrangel Island is one of the main attractions for extreme tourists and explorers of the Arctic. The main obstacle remains the inaccessibility of the island. This is one of the least accessible nature reserves in the world. Everyone who wants to visit the island must register for participation in the expedition and pay a large sum in order to get the opportunity to enter this place, isolated from prying eyes.
4
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
The current Orthodox monastery with brilliant gilded domes, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, is located in Sergiev Posad and is a major spiritual center. Lavra is also a popular tourist destination and a venue for many historical studies. It is here that the tomb of the Russian Tsar Boris Godunov and his family is located.
The monastery was founded in the first half of the XIV century, about 70 kilometers from Moscow, and this is one of the most significant exhibits of Russian Orthodox architecture. The Trinity-Sergius Lavra is associated with many historical events that took place during the Tatar-Mongol yoke, as well as the period that went down in the history of Russia under the name “Time of Troubles”.
5
Veliky Novgorod and its surroundings
Veliky Novgorod, founded by various estimates in the VIII-IX century, is one of the oldest cities in Russia, which was of great importance in the time of Russia. A trade route between Central Asia and Northern Europe passed through Novgorod, which determined its wealth and influence. Despite the antiquity, Veliky Novgorod managed to preserve most of its attractions.
This is a working museum city. Here you can find about 50 architectural masterpieces of great historical value. Many churches, frescoes and monuments are still waiting for tourists, including the Kremlin, built in the 15th century, and the Novgorod named Detinets. A special place among Novgorod architecture is occupied by St. Sophia Cathedral, built in the XI century, which makes it one of the oldest stone buildings in Russia.
The popularity of Veliky Novgorod is also added by its convenient location. It is located on the route between Moscow and St. Petersburg, which, for example, was visited by many visiting fans during the 2018 World Cup, wanting to personally see one of the centers of Ancient Russia.
6
Kizhi Pogost
Kizhi Pogost or Kizhi is an architectural ensemble built at the beginning of the 18th century on the island of the same name Onega Lake in Karelia. Kizhi is a unique example of the forgotten art of Russian wooden architecture. The architectural ensemble includes two unique churches and a tent bell tower, completely made of wood. This is the only surviving complex with two multi-domed wooden churches throughout Russia.
According to legend, the 37-meter church of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built by a carpenter Nestor without a single nail. He used only an ax, which he later drowned in the lake, so that no one could repeat his masterpiece. Inside the church with 22 domes is a four-level iconostasis, which includes 102 icons. The easiest way to get to the island is by boat. They regularly run between the island of Kizhi and Petrozavodsk, connected to St. Petersburg by rail.
7
The historical center of Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl stands at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers, about 250 kilometers from Moscow. This is one of the oldest cities in Russia, founded in the XI century. Despite its age (more than 1 thousand years), Yaroslavl has preserved many architectural monuments, and today tourists are interested. Churches and monasteries of the XVI-XVII centuries, the period of the highest point of prosperity of Yaroslavl, are fascinated by the beauty of the facades and the richness of the interiors with many frescoes and iconostases.
The historical center of Yaroslavl is known as the Earth City, and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are 140 architectural monuments, including the Transfiguration Monastery and the Assumption Cathedral.
Special mention deserves the Church of St. John the Baptist, located not in the center of the city, but in one of its districts. Despite the fact that it is not included in the territory protected by UNESCO, it has federal cultural significance and admires no less than the central buildings.
By the way, on our site thebiggest.ru there is an interesting article about 9 amazingly beautiful wooden churches.
8
Lena Pillars
Lena Pillars is a rock formation up to 200 meters high, located along the banks of the Lena River, about 110 kilometers upstream from Yakutsk in eastern Siberia. Around them, in 2018, the eponymous national park was formed, 6 years after the Lena pillars were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
They were a sacred place for the indigenous population, Yakuts and Evenks. Ordinary people were afraid of the power of stones, spiritualizing them and being afraid to come up. Only elders and shamans of tribes could approach the Lena pillars without fear for their lives. The rest, of course, according to the assurance of those same shamans and elders, could turn into stone.
It is wrong to think that the Lena pillars are just a stone picket fence. Here you can find numerous caves, ancient cave paintings and many traces of the Cambrian explosion. The easiest way to get to the national park is by water, boarding a boat from Yakutsk. And there is also a ground road along the banks of the Lena. If you are not afraid of the spirits of stones, then go ahead for adventure!
9
Altai mountains
The UNESCO Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage Site includes the Ukok Plateau, as well as the Katun and Altai Reserves. They are located in the south of Siberia and, without a doubt, these are one of the cleanest and most beautiful regions of our country.
Altai is home to a huge number of rare and endangered species of animals, including the snow leopard. And also on the territory of the “Golden Mountains of Altai” the Irtysh and Ob rivers flow. Altai mountains are visited annually by thousands of tourists who prefer outdoor activities. There are also rallies of climbers from around the world.
Only here you can feel the beauty of untouched Siberian nature, whose air is not polluted by the activities of industrial enterprises or the nearby location of highways. All this makes Altai the best place for any type of outdoor recreation!
Finally
A complete list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia includes many more various attractions. We just included the most beautiful of them in our article, according to TheBiggest. We hope you enjoyed our article and we expect interesting comments from you.
Author: Maxim Svistunov