Beautiful and unusual places. Lake Kezenoy-am, Chechen Republic. Agura waterfalls. City of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory

There are various places in the world that are distinguished by their natural beauty, colorfulness, landscapes and rich vegetation. Others are beautiful in their simplicity and subtlety. In this article, you will find something that you probably have not seen before: the strangest places in the world, but at the same time incredible beautiful.

1. "Bloody Pond" in Japan

Opening our list of the strangest places on Earth is the bloody spring (called Jigoku, which means hell) - a landmark of the city of Beppu, one of nine thermal springs that 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 rather strange.

2. Ice Caves Eisriesenwelt (Austria)

These are the longest ice caves in the world. Today, only a small part of them is open to the public, but this is surprisingly enough to allow visitors to feel the wonderful and mysterious whim of nature.

This strange place is located in the Richat structure, on the African continent. It can be seen from space due to its length of almost 50 km. The structure is located at an altitude of 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 from a meteorite impact.

4. Salt Desert

This is a huge salt desert in Bolivia, also known as. It 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

Shilin Stone Forest, 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 Kliluk Lake

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 blues and greens, like mirrors or doors to other worlds.

7. Dry deserts of Antarctica

These are genuine dry valleys in Antarctica with dark gravel scattered across the ground, similar to the volcanic areas in the Canary Islands that are equated with Mars. The valley is so cool and dry (the driest place on earth) that everything that dies there is preserved like a mummy. It 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 similarity of this strange place with the red planet is so high that NASA conducted various experiments here because of this. This river creates such an unusual environment because of the huge acidity, namely the red color betrays the high content of copper. All this is due to the fact that gold and copper were mined on the river.

This island has very interesting vegetation which makes it a unique and almost anomalous ecosystem. It is part of an archipelago consisting of four islands in the Indian Ocean, which were separated from Africa about 7 million years ago. Like the Galapagos Islands, they contain over 700 very rare species of both flora and fauna, and about a third are unique to this area.

Ethiopia's Afar Depression, better known as the Danakil Depression, is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth, with temperatures ranging from 35 degrees Celsius when cool to around 60 degrees Celsius when hot. This is an area in the Horn of Africa where tectonic plates separate, which contributes to the release of the waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This is the reason for such bright colors of the landscape. It is worth noting that this is a very volcanic and radiation zone. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most unusual places on Earth.

11. Soaring Geyser Nevada

This geyser in Nevada is one of the strangest sights in the United States. It was created in 1916 by accident while drilling for oil wells: water heated by geothermal energy came to the surface, provoking this colorful spectacle. The geyser is made up of various minerals and thermophilic algae that shoot water jets 1.5m 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 in the list of the strangest places on the planet. The source is formed by thermophilic bacteria that produce colors from green to red. The colors depend on the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and on the temperature of the water.

These were strangest places on earth . I hope that the article was interesting for you. Thank you for your attention!

P.S. To consolidate the topic, I suggest watching a video selection of the most beautiful and unusual places on our planet:

Aug 31, 2015

There are so many amazing, famous and not so amazing places on Earth, getting into which, you involuntarily feel like a small part of the majestic universe. When planning a vacation, some people dream of being in a piece of paradise and enjoying a comfortable stay, others are looking for exciting tourist routes, where every new day will give unforgettable impressions of the natural beauties and attractions seen, and still others want to combine business with pleasure. Given this diversity of interests, website selected for you the best tourist places in the world, many of which occupy the first lines in the rankings of the most interesting places on the planet and are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

1. Colorful villages of the Cinque Terre in Italy

Five bright villages located on the steep cliffs of the Cinque-Terre National Park (Cinque-Terre), do not look like a resort area with developed infrastructure. This amazing Italian hinterland is far from civilization and therefore, probably, attracts tourists from all over the world with its genuine simplicity of life. Plain and dissimilar villages, where to this day, as if strung together, there are low-rise houses of local residents, however, are full of sights and legends. So travelers will not have any questions about what to do and what to see. An indelible impression will leave a walk along a ten-kilometer trail that unites all the villages. You will not find such picturesque landscapes, winding paths and turns anywhere else in the world! And for the young spouses, the section of the trail, called the dear love since ancient times, will become symbolic.

2. Vine roads in Switzerland

The best walking tour through the vineyards and villages awaits visitors to the Swiss province of Martigny. Six kilometers of vine roads (The Chemins des Vignes) - such a tourist route is laid along the alpine slopes, lined with man-made terraces for vineyards. Magnificent landscapes, the purest mountain air and the serenity of rural life have made this place popular among tireless tourists.

3. Colored lakes at the top of Kelimutu in Indonesia

Three multi-colored lakes, shrouded in mystical beliefs about the souls of dead people living in them, are hidden from prying eyes in the crater of the majestic Kelimutu volcano at an altitude of almost 1700 meters. The "Lake of the Elderly", the adjacent "Lake of Boys and Girls" and the "Enchanted Lake" periodically change their color from black to turquoise, green and red under the influence of chemical reactions between the minerals in them. It is best to admire the lakes early in the morning or after twelve o'clock in the afternoon, when they are not covered by a veil of fog.

4. Age-old salt mines in Peru

The mesmerizing salt mosaic - the brainchild of the resourceful Incas - is one of the most interesting tourist places in the world. It would seem, what can attract salt baths, from which to this day salt is extracted manually?! Multi-stage terraces will not only be a brilliant find for photographers in every sense, but on a sunny day they will amaze impressionable tourists with the multicolored salt landscapes. And everyone has the opportunity to check for themselves whether it is easy to extract salt!

5. Monasteries of Meteora in Greece

The clear waters of the Pinios River, which form the Thessalian valley, hug the mighty rocks, immersed in the greenery of the forests... The harmony of nature and the harmony of the spirit! For 15 centuries, the history of this most popular tourist route in the world has been counted. Despite the fact that only 6 monasteries survived (4 male and 2 female) out of 24 built, Meteora (Meteora) is a real pillar of Orthodoxy. The six hundred meter high rocks, which were once the bottom of the most ancient sea, soaring upwards, have become a reliable foundation for monastic buildings. Climbing the stone steps, you involuntarily think about how difficult the staircase to heaven is. But that is precisely why the power of the monastic feat and God-given grace are felt so strongly.

6. The mysterious rock of Uluru in Australia

Monumental - 0.35 km high, 3.6 km long and 3 km wide - the orange-brown chameleon rock Uluru, located on the territory of the National Park, has become one of the most interesting tourist destinations in the world due to its ability to change color in depending on the time of day: from deep purple at dawn, bright red and pink in the morning to gold by noon. Indented by numerous caves and reservoirs, it keeps the history of ancient tribes in fantastic rock paintings. On the sacred path of the local Anangu tribe, you can climb to the top of the cliff, from where a truly breathtaking view of the surroundings opens during the day, and in the evening you can admire the carnival of the starry sky.

7. Ko Poda Islands in Thailand

The islands of Koh Poda in the province of Krabi are considered to be the most popular tourist destination in the world. Tourists tired of entertainment come here by boat for peace and quiet. Spreading palm trees, the purest white sand beach, clear sea water, a coral reef with exotic fish and stunning views of the rocks of the Railay Peninsula will give you heavenly pleasure. And not far from the island of Poda, there is a local attraction - a hundred-meter rock island Ma Tang Ming, also known as one of the best diving spots in the center of Krabi.

8. Isle of Skye in Scotland

Skye is the largest and most unusual island in Scotland. Typical Scottish landscapes: desert, hilly, with rocks, lakes and green meadows where sheep roam, are surprisingly interspersed with tropical oases, which arose under the influence of the Gulf Stream washing the island. Palm trees and rhododendrons bloom here in October too! The Isle of Skye is a favorite place for recreation and work of creative people. There are many small art museums here. Rock climbers from all over the world flock here to conquer the peaks of the Cullin mountain range, called the Scottish Alps.

9. The blue town of Chefchaouen in Morocco

All fans of small cozy places on Earth will like this glorious tourist town, which began its history in the 15th century with the construction of a small fortress, which is now one of the attractions of Chefchaouen. The blue color brought popularity to this town: it is in the bright shades of blue that the walls of houses and sidewalks in Chefchaouen are painted. Unforgettable impressions will leave walking along the stone narrow and winding streets, warm gatherings in cafes, climbing the mountains and visiting the most beautiful parks and reserves: Talassemtana, Talembot and Bukhashem.

10. Bryce Canyon in the USA

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Utah and covers an area of ​​145 km². It is a majestic miraculous amphitheater, consisting of bizarre orange, pink and creamy hoodoo rocks, the shape of which is tirelessly adjusted by the most unpredictable sculptor in the world - nature itself. Sharp peaks are replaced by mysterious turrets or spiers directed upwards. The slopes of Bryce Canyon are surrounded by bright green dense coniferous forests and mountain meadows, which soften the warlike landscape and make it charming. But Bryce Canyon presents its most spectacular sight at dawn, at sunset and in winter - that's when the parade of fantastic shades unfolds!

11. Camiguin Volcanic Island in the Philippines

Surrounded by lush greenery, Camiguin Island can be called the pearl of the Philippine archipelago for a reason. Just imagine: a tropical climate, magnificent white beaches and caressing azure waters of the ocean, amazing 50-meter waterfalls and hot springs, seven active volcanoes and first-class diving, unique flora and fauna! And if you climb to the top of Mount Hibok-Hibok, then fantastic views will appear to your eyes! A local attraction and tourist find is a huge white cross, which is installed on the site of a cemetery sunk in the sea.

12. The many faces of Cape Town in South Africa

The capital of the multinational Western Cape and the legislative capital of South Africa, the southernmost African city nestled near the legendary Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town is of great interest to tourists from all over the world. Even the architecture of the city itself is a popular tourist route. A vibrant mosaic of historic and ultra-modern buildings creates the unique flavor of Cape Town, as if walking around the city, you are making a journey through time. This is especially evident when visiting the colorful district of Bo-Kaap, where the descendants of slaves live.
The wonderful climate, natural wealth, excellent infrastructure will make a beach holiday unforgettable and allow you to enjoy the popular surfing here. The best tourist places in Cape Town are, of course, Table Mountain - the main lighthouse for sailors, Victoria and Alfred Harbor - the focus of shopping and entertainment centers, the stunning beauty of the Kirstenbosch botanical garden, the Aquarium of Two Oceans, where the inhabitants of the Atlantic and Indian oceans are represented. A huge number of cultural centers, national museums and art galleries, historical monuments and objects will not let the most demanding guests of Cape Town get bored.

13. Impressive Cappadocia in Turkey

Fairy-tale Cappadocia, symbolized by mushrooms with hats, fully justifies its definition. Strange landscapes created by volcanic eruptions and weathering of rocks seem unreal, coming from childhood dreams. Imagine only the mysterious natural labyrinths in which the first Christians hid during the period of persecution, mountains and rocks in the form of cones, pyramids, stone pillars and freaks! Tourists will have to observe the bizarre landscapes of Cappadocia from the height of a balloon flight. But the popularity of this place is also brought by the "Open Air Museum", which brings together ancient rock churches and monasteries worthy of the attention of travelers with some preserved frescoes of times that have sunk into oblivion.

14. Halong Bay in Vietnam

Ha Long Bay, beloved by tourists, is one of the most beautiful and mysterious places in the world, covered with ancient legends. Two thousand stone blocks-islands, covered with luxurious greenery, are solemnly scattered over amazing, emerald-colored water. A lot of bewitching grottoes and caves, mirror lakes and waterfalls will amaze even the most unromantic natures and set you in a contemplative mood. Delightful landscapes combined with a wonderful climate make for a relaxing holiday on white-sand beaches, water skiing or jet skiing, as well as provide excellent opportunities for camping and rock climbing.

15. Lake Tahoe in the USA

The most beautiful in North America, Lake Tahoe (Tahoe), whose crystal clear blue waters do not freeze in winter, is ringed by the amazing scenery of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Coniferous forests and snow-covered rocks give the lake a unique charm. This lake district is famous for its beach and ski resorts, several national parks with dozens of hiking trails for ecotourism lovers. Add to the natural resources a brilliantly developed infrastructure - and we have one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, where you can have a great rest at any time of the year.

16. Waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia belongs to the amazing tourist places of the world. On a territory of almost 30,000 hectares, 16 large and a huge number of small lakes, more than a hundred waterfalls and several dozen caves are picturesquely located. But the most striking sight is the Great Sastavci Waterfall. The crystal waters of the Plitvica and Korana rivers rush down from a 72-meter height in polyphonic silver jets.

17. Nemophila Blue Sea in Japan

Are you also one of those
Who does not sleep is intoxicated with flowers ...
Basho

The most touching place in the world that brings out the best in a person, everything pure, is the Hitachi National Seaside Park in Japan, which occupies 120 hectares. There are no age-old trees or intricate shrubs here - here all year round, replacing each other, delicate flowers reign. They are not collected in elegant flower beds, but planted in huge fields, which is why suddenly a person begins to feel himself not the master of nature, but an integral part of it. Surprisingly, the world fame for the park was brought not by proud tulips and graceful poppies, but by millions of quivering nemophiles with airy petals that turn the earth into a blue ocean. Every year Hitachi Park hosts an enchanting flower festival called Nemophile Harmony.

July 2, 2016

We bring to your attention ten fantastic places on planet Earth that will amaze you with their unique, perhaps even unearthly beauty. These mysterious and amazing corners of the planet must be visited by everyone at least once in a lifetime.

The most unusual places on earth

1. Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island, Chile. Easter Island or Rapa Nui is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous mainly for its main attraction - the Moai stone statues. Perhaps there is no more mysterious, even mystical island in the world. The impressive monuments of Moai sculptures inspire the viewer with incredible delight and unjustified fear, indescribable joy and an inexplicable feeling of anxiety. Everyone should certainly visit Easter Island and feel the fascinating history of the people of Rapa Nui.

2. Antelope Canyon, USA

Antelope Canyon, USA.Antelope Canyon is probably the most beloved and popular tourist attraction in the United States. The quaint name of the Antelope Canyon was due to the color of its rocks: reddish-red shades resemble the color of the skin of an antelope. For centuries, water and wind have created that fantastic relief, which today is impossible to stop admiring. The play of intricate shapes and graceful lines of the walls of the canyon rocks is an unusual and unforgettable sight.

3. Zhangye Danxia, ​​China

Zhangye Danxia, ​​China. Zhangye Danxia are rocks, but the rocks are not simple, but colored! Variegated mountain formations were formed due to various natural anomalies. The result is truly stunning - bright iridescent colorful stripes adorn the mountains. To believe in the existence of such fabulous landscapes, you need to see them with your own eyes, the opening picture is really breathtaking.

4. Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan. The ancient city of Petra is considered one of the wonders of the world. The city is located in the narrow canyon of the Siq. At one time, the city of Petra was the richest and most prosperous trading center. Now Petra is not only an architectural monument, but also a vast tourist area that attracts crowds of foreign guests. The main advantage of Petra is the facade of the building of the temple of El-Khazneh, carved from a single rock. Petra makes an indelible impression, be sure to stay in this amazing city.

5. Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Phi Phi Islands, Thailand. The Phi Phi Islands are truly heaven on earth. More impressive landscape beauties cannot be found all over the world. Beautiful beaches, clear turquoise waters and spectacular cliffs covered with dense tropical greenery make this a perfect place to relax.

Caño Cristales means "Crystal River" in Spanish. Due to the various types of mosses and algae growing on the bottom, an illusion is created that the waters of the river are colored in different colors: red, blue, green, yellow and even black. Therefore, Caño Cristalis is sometimes called the river of five colors. A real miracle is to see such indescribable beauty with your own eyes.

The Socotra Islands are a World Heritage Site. They are quite difficult to access and are suitable only for ecotourism. Restaurants, hotels and a high level of service? Forget about it, because here the first roads were laid only a couple of years ago. However, a visit to Socotra will be the most unforgettable trip of your life if you dare to endure discomfort. Being here is like being on another planet. The flora of this land is unique: you will not see a huge number of plants growing on the island anywhere else. This exceptional flora originated here due to the isolation of the island and the favorable climate.

8. Uyuni, Bolivia

Uyuni, Bolivia. Uyuni is the largest salt lake in the world. But an interesting feature of this lake lies not only in its scale. Uyuni is a hard salt marsh with a smooth, mirror-like surface that you can drive a car on. In fact, Uyuni is a huge block of salt. The lake has a high economic value to Bolivia, due to the extraction of its colossal salt reserves. Here, salt is used not only for food, it is even used as a building material. Therefore, travelers have the opportunity to stay in a real salt hotel.

Wonderful Lake Kliluk is located in British Columbia. The waters of the lake are rich in various minerals and during evaporation, many mineral spots form on the surface, which, depending on the time of the year, turn into different colors - an incredibly amazing sight. In addition to its magical appearance, Kliluk is also famous for its healing properties.

We present the most beautiful places of our country, which should be seen not only by every photographer and traveler, but also by every inhabitant 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

The 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. The complex of vertically elongated rocks stretching for many kilometers, bizarrely piled up along the banks of the Lena, a deep valley cutting through the Prilenskoe plateau, never ceases to attract photographers and travelers. The pillars reach the highest 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 form of relief - about 400 thousand years ago.

The Lena Pillars Nature Park was organized on the basis of Decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and government decree dated 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 - "Pillars" 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 on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka natural complex.

The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which, on an area of ​​​​about 6 square meters. km there are numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal sites, waterfalls and lakes. On this territory, there is an abnormally high biodiversity and a high contrast of natural conditions and microclimate. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique for the whole country. The reserve regime operates on the territory of the valley.

Since 1992, helicopter excursions have been organized here, under an agreement with the reserve, there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, according to the voting results, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.

Weathering pillars, Komi Republic

Pillars of weathering (Mansi blockheads) is a geological monument located in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (“Small mountain of idols” translated from the Mansi language), in the interfluve of the Ichotlyaga and Pechora rivers . There are many legends associated with this extraordinary place. Pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.

Weathering Pillars are located quite far from inhabited places. Getting to them is already a feat in a sense. For this, by the way, you need to get a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the side of the Sverdlovsk region and the Perm Territory there is a walking route, from the side of the Komi Republic - automobile, water and foot routes.

About 200 million years ago, there were high mountains in the place of stone pillars. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and first of all the weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite shales were less destroyed and 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, either resemble the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or a ram. Indeed, this place is ideal for a photographer's fantasy! In the past, the Mansi deified the grandiose stone sculptures, worshiped them, but climbing the Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.

Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad Region

The Curonian Spit is a sandy spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long strip of saber-shaped land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretching from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient tribes of the Curonians, who lived here before the colonization of Prussia by the Germans.

Length - 98 kilometers, width ranges from 400 meters (near the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (near Cape Bulviko, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit is a unique natural and anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic significance: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, which, along with the Hel and Vistula, is part of the Baltic sand spits complex, 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 swamp) - gives an idea of ​​important and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.

The most significant element of the relief of the spit is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, partly approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Due to its geographic location and northeast-southwest orientation, 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 Central and Southern Europe. Every year, in spring and autumn, 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, most of which stop here for rest and feeding.

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, bordering on 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 on the city of Krasnoyarsk, the border of the reserve can be reached by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of the city residents to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite remnants - "pillars". At present, 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 deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Locals and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.

The value of the maximum depth of the 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 high - 744.4 m. In addition to 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 the visiting cards of 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 standing on the lake shore. The area of ​​the lake is 260 sq. km, including about 38 sq. km. km falls on the islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is the island of Khachin. The area of ​​the entire pool is 2275 sq. km.

Seliger receives 110 tributaries. The largest are the rivers Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha. Only one river Selizharovka flows from it. The lake lies at an altitude of 205 meters above sea level and is of glacial origin. This explains its peculiar form - it is not a lake in the usual sense, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and interconnected by short narrow channels. The coastline with a length of more than 500 km is notable for its indentation - capes overgrown with forests, deep picturesque bays protruding into the land, various island shapes.

The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shores of the southern part of Lake Seliger are the city of Ostashkov and the estate "New Yeltsy".

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 in the 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. The maximum width is 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 sq. km in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Lake Baskunchak is part of a unique natural complex, which includes Mount Bolshoye Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky 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 swim in brine and take mud baths. There is no need to talk about the beauty of these places. There are no less photographers than those wishing 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, lies among the mountains, at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the north-west direction is 10 kilometers, the depth is 50 meters.

There are many small lakes around Jack London Lake. The most prominent in size are the lakes Mechta, Anemone, Gray Gull, Invisible, Neighboring, Kudinovskie lakes. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes in the 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, on the shore, the researchers found Jack London's book "Martin Eden".

Lake Elton, Volgograd Region

Elton is a salty drainless self-sustaining lake in the Pallasovsky district of the 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" - "gold mine".

The area of ​​the lake is 152 sq. km. Until 1882, salt was mined on the Elton, in 1910 the medical sanatorium "Elton" was founded on its shore (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the surrounding areas of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution "Natural Park" Elton "".

Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkar Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria

A group of five karst lakes in the Cherek region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of a rocky ridge, from where the Cherek-Balkar gorge begins. 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. Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (balk.) - rotten (stinking) lake; Sherej-ana (kab.) - mother of Cherek; Psykhurei (kab.) - round water (lake), natural artesian well.

The uniqueness of the Lower Blue Lake lies in the fact that with a relatively small surface (only 235 × 130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The water temperature on the surface 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 daily. At the same time, the level of the lake is 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 a deep pool.

The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in a blue haze, peaks sparkling in the sun. Closer to Babugent, the greenery becomes brighter, juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake, there is a cave in the rock, in which traces of an ancient site of the 5th-10th centuries AD were found. Now many bats settle there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep hide.

Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region

Lake in the Lovozero tundra on the Kola Peninsula. "Seid" in translation 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, the width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.

According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, one of the alleged 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 the Satkinsky district of the Chelyabinsk region on the territory of the national park of the same name. One of the highest (724 m above sea level) reservoirs of 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 that feeds the reservoir is the Bolshoi Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam is the small village of Zyuratkul, connected by bus with the city of Satka.

Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now - a reservoir formed by a dam built on the Big Satka. A giant geoglyph was found near the lake. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also found. The stone chipping technique makes it possible to date the tools to the Neolithic and Eneolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined towards the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at that time there were practically no forests in the Southern Urals (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), so the figure was easy to build and then view from a neighboring ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.

Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shores of Lake Zyuratkul - Kitova Pier, which was also called the "Ural Disneyland". But in the fall of 2012, by a court decision, 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, often Elbrus is also called the highest European mountain peak, thereby referring it to the list of "Seven Peaks".

The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one is 5621 m. The gorges of Adylsu, Shkheldy, Adyrsu, Donguz-Orun and Ushba massifs are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. Elbrus is the most popular ski resort in Russia. The total area of ​​Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 sq. km. The most famous of them are: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.

Altai mountains

The Altai Mountains represent a complex system of the highest ranges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. The 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 nature 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.

Plateau "Divnogorie", Liskinsky district, Voronezh region

"Divnogorye" - a hill and a museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region of Russia. It is located 10 km west of the district center on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum was founded here 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 sights of 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. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine 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 is the peak of the western part of the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak of 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 lowering - the "Dombay saddle". From the Dombai saddle, there is a classic route (category 3B) going up, accessible for climbing in one day with a descent to the camp.

Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory

The Putorana Plateau is a mountain range located in the northwest of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau breaks off 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 the Kamen (1701 m), Holokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m) mountains. In the north, the Putorana Plateau borders on the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana, translated from Evenki, means "lakes with steep banks."

The area of ​​the plateau is 250 thousand square kilometers, which is comparable to the territory of Great Britain. On the territory of the plateau is the Putoransky State Natural Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Marble canyon Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala village

Mountain Park "Ruskeala" is a tourist complex located in the Sortavalsky district 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 experts. 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 wall to its bottom is over 50 meters. The transparency of water reaches 15-18 meters.

Ruskeala marble was used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings in St. Petersburg and its palace suburbs. St. Isaac's Cathedral was lined with it, the floors of the Kazan Cathedral were laid out, the window sills of the Hermitage were made, the windows of the Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle were framed, as well as the underground halls of the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya stations of the St. Petersburg metro. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film "The Dark World" took place in Ruskeala.

Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia

Eastern and Western Sayans - a common name for two mountain systems in southern Siberia. They distinguish the Western Sayan (length 650 km, height up to 3971 m - Mount Mongun-Taiga, which is the top of the ridge of the same name - the highest peak in Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not classified as the Sayan, but is isolated into a separate mountain system - the mountains of Tuva), consisting from leveled and pointed 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. Mountain taiga prevails on the slopes, turning into mountain tundra.

The Western Sayan in the southwestern part borders on Altai. Its main ridge is the Dividing Sayan Range with the highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The ridges of the Western Sayan are characterized by steep slopes, indented relief, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, in the east it decreases to 2000 m.

The Eastern Sayan stretches almost at right angles to the Western. Its ridges form a system of “white mountains” (Manskoye, Kanskoye) and “squirrels”, which got their name because of the snow on the peaks that does not melt all year round. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a "knot" with the highest point - Grandiose Peak (2982 m). In the southeast there are the highest and hardest-to-reach ridges - Big Sayan, Tunkinskiye Goltsy, Kitoyskiye 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, known for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting a large number of waterfalls.

Almost everywhere in the Sayans, dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests prevail, rising in the western and central parts to altitudes of 1500–1800 m and more; light deciduous-cedar forests form the upper boundary of the forest at altitudes of 2000–2500 m. The fauna is as rich as the flora. The largest city located in the Sayans is Krasnoyarsk.

Mountains of Shikhany. Republic of Bashkortostan

Shikhany - 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. Shikhany are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique monuments of nature - the remains of a barrier reef formed in the warm sea of ​​the early Permian period. The imprints of ancient plants and animals have been preserved in the stones of which these shikhans are made.

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, the ruins of a women's prison, one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago, have been preserved. 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

An active volcano on the Onekotan Island of the Great 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 Koltsevoe lying at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (heights 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).

Only one historical eruption is known, which happened in 1952.

Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands

An active volcano on the Kunashir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Reserve. In geographical terms, Tyatya is a stratovolcano of the somma-vesuvius type ("volcano in 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 the material collapsed into the northeastern crater. As a result, the total height of the volcano 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 foot slopes of the volcano are decorated with coniferous-broad-leaved forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and elfin cedar. In the forests at the foot you can often meet a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

caves

Orda cave, Perm region

Orda Cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda in the Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of "dry" and underwater parts. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, underwater - 4600 meters. To date, the 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 is ranked 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Viktor Lyagushkin dedicated a whole photo project to Orda Cave.

Kungur cave, Perm region

This is one of the most popular sights of Siberia and the Urals, a natural monument of all-Russian significance. The cave is located in the Perm Territory, 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 tourists. The average air temperature in the center of the cave is +5 °C, the relative humidity in the center of the cave is 100%. The Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 t. "organ pipes" (the highest - in the Etheric grotto, 22 m) - high shafts, reaching almost to the surface.

Architecture

Leaning tower of Nevyansk. Sverdlovsk region, city of Nevyansk

Not everyone knows that we in Russia have our own kind of Leaning Tower of Pisa - an inclined 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, and the greatest slope is 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 exactly established. Demidov's office was located on the second floor, and during the Soviet era there was a prison in it. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in the soot taken from the chimneys of 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 in 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 they say 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 chiming 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 hoisted on it, made of perforated iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs is engraved.

There is a legend saying that the tower tilted due to the flooding of the cellars with all the workers who minted counterfeit money. By Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 1327 of August 30, 1960, the tower was included in the list of historical monuments to be protected as monuments of national importance.

Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga

Ivolginsky datsan is a large Buddhist monastic complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the brightest 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 sights of Crimea, it is not easy to choose one thing. But we decided to stop at one of the most inspiring places. The Swallow's Nest is a monument of architecture and history, located on a sheer 40-meter Aurora cliff 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 the Miramare villa near Trieste. The first wooden building 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 of the time.

The second owner of this amazing dacha was the court physician A. K. Tobin. There is also very little information about him. After his death, the house was owned by a widow for some time, 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".

The Swallow's Nest got its present form thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who liked to relax in the Crimea. Steingel bought a summer cottage on the Aurora Rock and decided to build a romantic castle there, which resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The project for the new house was commissioned from engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, son of architect Vladimir Sherwood, author of the Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.

At the beginning of World War I, 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 of the local Rest House, but the premises were recognized as emergency and closed.

In 1927, the Swallow's Nest was damaged during a strong earthquake. It was not until 1967–1968 that repairs were made. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by anti-seismic belts. The tower, increased in height, acquired more decorative effect thanks to four spiers. In 2013, cracks were found in the foundation slab, and in the autumn the visit was suspended for design work on the 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 about 10 km by 5 km in size. The 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 massif is a geological monument of nature of the geomorphological type of federal rank.

BAM station Novaya Chara is 10 kilometers away. The massif is elongated from the southwest to the northeast and occupies an area of ​​about 50 sq. km. There are no such large massifs of free-flowing moving sands in any basin of Transbaikalia. The Chara sands are outwardly similar to the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larch, dwarf birch and moisture-loving dwarf pine. In the northeastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoye.

Avacha Bay, Kamchatka Territory

Avacha Bay is a large non-freezing bay of the Pacific Ocean near the south-east 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, the total area of ​​the 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 base of the Russian Pacific Fleet in Kamchatka.

A kind of symbol of the bay and its attraction are the Three Brothers rocks, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.

Commander Islands. Aleutsky District, Kamchatka Territory

Commander Islands - an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part of the Bering Sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutsky District 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 a grave of a navigator. Commander Islands - a place of mixing of Russian and Aleutian cultures. They have great potential for the development of northern tourism.

Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region

Patomsky crater - a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slope of a mountain in the Patomsky Highlands in the Irkutsk region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among the local population it is called the "Nest of the Fiery Eagle", also known as the "Kolpakov's Cone", "Dzhebulda Crater", "Yavaldinsky Crater".

This is a geological object unique in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestone and other rocks. The Patom 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 an annular shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a hill up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230-250 thousand cubic meters, the mass is about a million tons.

Agura waterfalls. City of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory

Cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. The distance from the Black Sea coast is 4 km. Further up the river - the Middle waterfall, then the Upper.

The Lower Agur waterfall is the first and most interesting of the three large 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. Under it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. From the Devil's hole canyon to the Lower waterfall is approximately 1.5 km. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and rises lead up through 500 m to the Middle Agur waterfall - 23 meters, and then to the Upper - 21 meters waterfall. Near the Upper waterfall, to the left of the path, there are rocks called Eagles.

Vasyugan swamps. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions

Some of the largest swamps in the world are located in Western Siberia, between the Ob and Irtysh rivers, on the territory of the Vasyugan plain, which is mostly within the Tomsk region, and in small parts - the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

The swamp area 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.

Vasyugan swamps arose about 10 thousand years ago and have been constantly increasing since then - 75% of their modern area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Marshes are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves - 400 cubic km), there are about 800 thousand small lakes, many rivers originate from swamps, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Big Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.

Vasyugan swamps are home to numerous local fauna, including rare ones. Of the rare species of animals in the swamps, in particular, reindeer, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, gray shrike, peregrine falcon live. Squirrels, elks, sables, wood grouses, white partridges, hazel grouses, black grouses are present in significant quantities, mink, otter, wolverine are in smaller quantities. The flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Cranberries, blueberries, and cloudberries are widely distributed among wild plants.

Now the fauna and flora of the swamps is under threat due to the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.

In preparing the article, materials from Wikipedia were used.

Happy travels!

Our planet is beautiful. And the more a person travels, the more he is convinced of this. But to visit all the beautiful places, cities, lagoons and natural sites, a lifetime is not enough. It is difficult to rank the "Top 10 most beautiful places on the planet." And what can serve as a criterion? The aesthetic sense of people is different. In addition, there are man-made landscapes, the sight of which is breathtaking. These are, for example, tulip fields in Holland, flower plantations in Provence, Hitachi Park near the Japanese city of Hitatinaka, laid out in 1991 on the site of a former military base, or the Rhine Valley with its medieval castles and vineyards. But we still chose a dozen dizzying landscapes that everyone should like. In this article we will list the most beautiful places on the planet with their descriptions and photographs. Do you agree with the rating below?

big blue hole

This unique natural phenomenon is invariably present in all lists of the most beautiful places on our planet. It may not always take the first line. Not far from the Yucatan Peninsula, along the Caribbean coast, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches for 700 kilometers.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau discovered the Blue Hole at the site of the underwater coral ridge Lighthouse. The phenomenon belongs administratively to Belize and is located one hundred kilometers from the coast of this Latin American country. The hole is a perfectly round hole with a diameter of 305 meters and a depth of 120 m. Among the azure of shallow water, it seems to be a dark blue pupil. Alas, the most beautiful places on the planet are often the most inaccessible. You can also admire the hole from the air. But in order to fully enjoy the beauties of this phenomenon, you need to immerse yourself in it - in the truest sense of the word. If you are a professional diver, you will have an unforgettable sight. The walls are surrounded by stalactites, and this “cave” is inhabited by huge groupers, rays and lemon sharks.

Fly Geyser

The most beautiful places on the planet are not limited to masterpieces created by nature, such as, for example, the Blue Hole. Fly Geyser is a thermal and permanent source on the ranch of the same name in the US state of Nevada.

This beauty arose…by mistake. In 1916, a rancher wanted to cut a well. But in his zeal, he dug into the geothermal pocket. Boiling water began to dissolve mineral rocks and in 1964 came to the surface. Now the geyser throws three jets of water to a height of one and a half meters. Cyanobacteria, algae and calcium carbonate color the liquid in bizarre colors. Unfortunately, few can see this beauty. And not because the ranch is located in impregnable mountains. No, the geyser, which occupies the second position in the "Top of the most beautiful places on the planet" is located 30 km from the town of Gerlach and very close to the R34 road. But the ranchers carefully hide their wealth and let only those they wish look at it. All attempts to buy out the territory in order to make the passage to the geyser available to the public have so far been unsuccessful.

crystal river

The official name of this waterway is Caño Cristales. But the local tribes living in the jungles of Central Colombia call it the "River of Five Colors" or "Escaped from Paradise." Many planets are in the tropics. But Caño Cristales is the most original river.

Its waters are indeed colored red, green, yellow, black and blue. The inhabitants of the river - algae - make them so. A rainbow streams through the foothills of the Amazon rainforest. You can get to this natural phenomenon with an excursion to the Serrania de la Macarena National Park. The tours last four days and run from June to November, during the algal bloom season.

Bend of the Colorado River

Many of the most beautiful places on the planet, photos of which are known to everyone from posters and postcards, are located in the USA. The government of this country reverently protects natural attractions by creating national parks and reserves. The Colorado River itself is very picturesque. But there is such a section in its channel that, bending, forms the shape of an ideal horseshoe. It is best to look at such beauty from a bird's eye view - from the side of a helicopter. The Colorado Bend is located near the city of Page, eight kilometers below Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.

Arizona wave

To see this phenomenon of nature, you need to be lucky and win the lottery. Why? Because these mountains were formed from ancient sand dunes about two hundred million years ago. Under the influence of winds and rains, the ridge acquired a truly unearthly landscape. However, excessive human exposure can destroy the soft sandstone. Therefore, only twenty people are allowed here per day. Ten tickets are drawn online four months before the tour, and another 10 - the day before, on R89. This highway passes not far from the already mentioned Page. It just so happened that these most beautiful places on the planet - the Colorado bend and the Martian landscape of the Arizona wave - are located nearby.

Cueva de los Cristales Cave

Some of the most beautiful places on the planet, alas, are hidden underground. This natural object was discovered quite recently - in the year 2000. And then the Mexican city of Chihuahua became known not only as the birthplace of the Chihuahua dog breed (Chihuahuan). When they were laying a new mining tunnel, they came across an underground cavity filled with water. Its depth is three hundred meters. But not because of this, the cave got into the Top 10 "The most beautiful places on the planet." The photo shows giant ray-shaped crystals that have grown on the walls of underground halls. Some of them reach the size of fifteen meters. And what is most interesting, these crystals formed in the aquatic environment. For several hundred thousand years, selenite (a kind of gypsum) settled on the walls of the labyrinth. Tourists are not allowed into the cave, because the temperature in it is +60 o C, and the air is hydrogen sulfide.

Salar de Uyuni

The facility is located near the high mountain lake Titicaca. It is named after the nearby town of Uyuni (Bolivia). This is the largest dry lake in the world. But not because of the size it got into the rating of "The most beautiful places on the planet." A huge field is covered with small crystals of salt. They shine so brightly in the desert sun that you can't do without goggles. But that's not all. Tourists are taken to look at the salt marsh during the rainy season, which lasts in Bolivia from November to March. Then this natural attraction again turns into a shallow lake. But the high concentration of salt gives the water the properties of a mirror. The reflecting sky merges with the horizon.

Later, the lake is covered with a salt crust. Water breaks out in small cone-shaped volcanoes. The city of Uyuni is also famous for the Fisherman's Island (Isla de Pescadores). In fact, this is an oasis in which eight-meter cacti grow, sometimes up to a thousand years old. And the banks of the salt marsh are surrounded by the Forest of Stones. Fanciful sculptures are created by rain and wind.

Spotted Lake Kliluk

Three seasons a year, this is the most common body of water. And only in the hot summer the surface and the shores of the lake turn into the most beautiful places on the planet. This body of water has the highest concentrations of sodium, calcium, magnesium sulfate, titanium and silver in the world. When the summer heat comes, the top layer of water dries up. Minerals form multi-colored islands - "floes" that float on the surface of the lake, and you can walk on them. Imagine! The color of such icebergs depends on the predominant substance. The facility is located near the town of Osoyoos in Canada, close to the US border.

The Europeans gave the reservoir the name Spotted Lake (Spotted Lake), which is a literal translation of the name given to the object by the Okanagan Indians. For them, Kliluk is still a sacred place. After all, the waters of the lake heal wounds. The indigenous population bought the reservoir and does not allow whites to go to it. You can admire the lake only from a distance - from the highway.

Enchanted Well

If the Canadian lake is included in the Top 10 "Beautiful places on planet Earth" only in summer, then this attraction reveals its magic for only an hour and a half a day. After all, there is an enchanted well at the bottom of an 80-meter cave. The water in it is so clear that you can see the bottom to the smallest detail. But the well is deep - thirty-seven meters! At the bottom rest trees and branches that fell into the cave many years ago. The well reveals its charms from half past eleven to noon. Then the sun's rays penetrate the cave.

As if at the wave of a fairy wand, everything - the reservoir and the walls of the underground cavity - is illuminated with magical sapphire light. This phenomenal natural object is located in the Chapada Diamontina National Park in the northeast of Brazil. Due to the fragility of the eco-system, access to the well is strictly regulated.

marble caves

And closes the list of "The most beautiful places on the planet" lake, lying on the border of Argentina and Chile. It has three names at once. The Argentines call it Buenos Aires, the Chileans - General Carrera, and the local Indian tribes - Chelenko, which means "Storm Lake". The name is very successful, because the climate here is harsh, mountainous. But the lake is teeming with fish, especially trout and salmon. The most beautiful and original corner is on the Chilean side. These are the Marble Caves.

The valuable stone here is apparently invisible. And marble in the caves of different shades - even deep blue. The rays of the sun penetrating under the arches of the caves make the mineral play with hundreds of colors.