Russian Travel Guide

High jumper Alexander Shustov

Viewers have always considered the high jump to be one of the most dramatic, spectacular and beloved track events. Alexander Shustrov is a Russian Championship winner and a two-time silver medal winner at the Indoor Russian Championship and the 2010 European Championship. With a personal record of 2 metres 36 centimeters he is one of the strongest jumpers in the world. His burning desire to be the best at what he does pushes him to always look ahead and continue on with his training. This is important as Alexander still has many competitions ahead of him as he strives to conquer new heights.

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Города. Москва

MESHCHORA NATIONAL PARK. THE RENAISSANCE

The vast low-lying regions in the center of the Eastern European plains have long borne the name of Meshchyora. In prehistoric times they were part of a gigantic forested area that extended from the Bialowieza Forest in the west to the Urals in the east. In days of yore, the thick Meshchorya forest served as a sanctuary – for princes’ military retinues hiding from Mongol attacks, for runaway serfs, and for swashbuckling bandits. These lands have historically had a reputation as a deep, dark, even enchanted place, the home of myriad forest sprits: rusalki (water nymphs) and vodyanie (water sprites), leshie (forest spirits) and Solovey Razboynik (Nightingale the Robber). Today, mythological and fairy-tale characters can be seen adorning nature trails: in 1992 Meshchyora National Park was established as a protected area. The forests and swamps are being restored, bird populations tracked an...