Now on air
04:45
Urals gems
Bright as a flame, clear and sparkling like water and born out of emptiness deep beneath the Earth-crystals really are a natural wonder and a product of the elements. They decorate our lives and carry with them an ancient secret. People in the Urals discovered these multi-coloured crystals that seem to dance in the sunlight long ago. They found them in rivers and lakes, while tilling the fields in the spring and simply along the roads after heavy rains. In regular speech people began calling them poetic names such as «eyes of the earth» or, more popularly and accurately, «samosvety» translated to mean «colours themselves.» The Urals' many unique and precious stones soon became famous all over the world and it has been 18 years since they won over the world. The translucent cherry-coloured amethysts from the Urals decorated the tiaras of European empresses while emerald and topaz rings tw...
Siberian Deerskin Boots
The Siberian version of Russian valenki (felted wool boots), «pimy», came from the Nenets people and their «piyuny». That is what the Nenets, one of the peoples that have lived in Siberia for hundreds and hundreds of years, call reindeer skin boots. Russian immigrants borrowed the idea, developing their own boots from sheep’s wool. Long ago «pimokaty», craftsmen that specialise in making “pimy,” lived in every Siberian village. Nowadays there are very few such men. A pimokat’s job is not an easy one, but the woolen boots that they make keep them warm. In these parts people believe that there is no warmer shoe - a statement that should not be taken lightly considering the temperature here often falls below negative 40 degrees Celsius in the winter. For this reason valenki manufacturers in the Golyshmanovsky District of Tyumen Oblast have their work cut out for them even in the June heat a...
Now on air
04:30
Siberian Deerskin Boots
Karachay Horses
People say that Karachay horses are the best breed of climbers. It is on these creatures that people have accomplished several ascents of Europe’s highest peak – Mount Elbrus. Karachay recognised these horses as an independent breed in 1927 when they were introduced into the State Pedigree Book of Mountain Horses. Since that time the breed and its purity has been threatened in many ways. Karachay horses however, have managed to overcome these threats, maintaining a high level of endurance and quality in their work – something unique to them. These horses live in open fields all year round and in summer they climb to heights of up to 3,000 metres above sea level in search of food. RTG TV host Olga Degtyareva got to witness the proud nature of these mountain horses in this new programme.
Now on air
04:30