Best Emails Inbox: November 2009

The 7 Wonders of Russia
As a response to Europe’s “Seven Wonders of the World” list, which didn’t include any Russian sights, Russia organized a national contest to select the seven most beautiful destinations the country has to offer. Almost 26 million people went online and voted for their favorites since the contest started in autumn 2007.

The Baikal Lake
Declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1996, Lake Baikal is truly a lake of records. It is the deepest lake in the world, going as deep as 1,637 meters and it holds almost 20% of the world’s fresh-water supply, making it the largest supply by volume on the planet. Research has shown Lake Baikal is more than 25 million years old, which makes it the oldest lake in the world

Valley of the Geysers
This six kilometers basin is the only geyser field in all of Eurasia and second largest in the world. It is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it has about ninety geysers and many other thermal springs. It was discovered by Tatiana Ustinova, a local scientist, in 1941 but serious exploration of the area began in 1972. In the 1980s The Valley of Geysers was presented as one of the main attractions of the Kamchatka peninsula, in an attempt to raise tourist awareness. Foreign tourists were allowed access to the valley in 1991.

Mother Motherland Monument
Just a strange name to most of us, Mamayev Kurgan is a place of great significance for the Russian people. This dominant hill, overlooking the city of Volgograd (former Stalingrad) saw some of the fiercest combat of all World War II, as it had immense strategic importance. It changed hands several times during the Stalingrad offensive, but the soviets held their positions heroically on the hill slopes until the German forces were finally surrounded and annihilated.Mother Motherland Monument

Peterhof
(“Peter’s Court” in German) is even more beautiful than the famous French complex. Peterhof Often referred to as “the Russian Versailles” the palace and park of Peterhof are one of Saint Petersburg’s most popular attractions. Versailles was indeed Peter the Great’s inspiration when he decided to build an imperial palace and many

Saint Basil’s Cathedral
Also known as The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat is considered the most beautiful cathedral in Russia and one of Europe’s most beautiful holy places. It was constructed during the reign of Ivan the Terrible and a legend says the architect was blinded after finishing his creation, so he couldn’t build anything as beautiful again.

Poles of the Komi Republic
No one knows how long ago they were created, but for sure scientists know that only nature could create such a thing. Estimated age is 200 million years and their height is 42 meters at most (~140 feet.)

Elbrus
The mountain is the highest point in Russia and some people believe that it is also the highest point in Europe. Lots of tourists, ski and snow boaring lovers visit this place yearly. Its height is 5600 meters which is 18600 feet.