Russian Travel Guide

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Природа. Восточная Сибирь. Байкал

Valaam monastery in winter

A winter day at the Valaam Monastery may seem the same as all the rest, but compared to the unhurried life filled with daily duties led by the monks, these winter days are not boring at all. For centuries the Valaam Monastery has preserved the traditions of Russian monasticism and has served and continues to serve as a religious lighthouse that every year attracts thousands of people to the far-off islands in Lake Ladoga. Over its long history, monks have been forced to leave the monastery multiple times, but time after time they have returned and monastic life at Valaam continued. This is what happened at the end of the 20-th century during the fall of the Soviet Union. Nowadays the Valaam Monastery is once again known as one of Russia’s spiritual centres.

Nature reserve Island of the gulf of Kandalaksha

There are still a few places on our planet that have remained untouched by mankind, maintaining their pure nature. One such place is the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve on the Kandalaksha Gulf. Here it is nature that reigns strong with only a handful of human guests having visited – mostly defence lawyers and observers. The State Kandalaksha Nature Reserve expanded in Northern Russia. Although it may seem a rigid and cold place at first, the reserve is full of life and splendor. A short trip around parts of the Kandalaksha Reserve and the islands of the White Sea help us understand just why these lands are so carefully preserved, from what and, most important of all, why.