Every year at the beginning of August the Gorky Reservoir fills up with brightly coloured sails as athletes flock here for part of the Russian Yachting Cup. Such competitions have been taking place since 1936 and promote the tradition of champions made popular in the time of the Soviet Union. A regatta is a fascinating, exciting and intense competition that is beautiful to watch from both near and far.
The mysterious Nivkh people, or “the children of the sea and the taiga,” as they call themselves, live in the northern part of Sakhalin Island. The Nivkh have lived hand in hand with nature for hundreds of years, and to this day their primary activities include hunting and fishing. They have, of course, also managed to adapt to modern life in other ways. The Nivkh number at a little over 5,000 and are known for their unusual beliefs. They believe that the spirits of the Sea, Forest, Earth and Air help them in their everyday lives. This belief is reflected creatively through their melancholy songs and expressive dances. The Russian Travel Guide’s Igor Maximenko found out what gear fishermen use when hunting salmon, the correct way to sun-cure the fish and how Nivkh summer and winter houses are built. Learn this and much more in RTG TV’s new programme from Sakhalin Island.
The delta of the Volga River has been famous for its rich fishing waters for hundreds of years. Before flowing into the Caspian Sea, the delta turns into a true water maze made up of innumerous channels, forks and lakes. Here fishermen throw back pike that weigh less than a kilogram because, compared to the rest of their catch, the fish seems like nothing special. Astrakhan Oblast can surprise the most experienced of fishermen from Russia and abroad with its impressive number of big fishing trophies.