Exploring The Treasures Of Russia: The Seven Wonders Of Russia

The Seven Wonders of Russia are seven of Russia’s natural and historical treasures that have been selected after several rounds of voting and judgement. The project of selecting the wonders was first organized as a joint venture by Radio Mayak, television channel Russia, and the newspaper Izvestia. The competition was held in three stages between October 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. The final results were declared on June 12, 2008, at Moscow’s Red Square.

7. Mount Elbrus -

Mount Elbrus is not only the highest mountain in Russia but also the highest one in Europe (although some consider Mont Blanc to be Europe’s tallest). The Mount Elbrus is also the 10th most prominent peak in the world. Elbrus, a dormant volcano is part of the Caucasus mountain range and rises near Russia’s border with Georgia. The mountain has two summits, both being volcanic domes. The taller west summit is 5,642 meters high while the shorter one is 5,621 metres in height.

6. Manpupuner rock formations -

The Manpupuner rock formations is a cultural site located in Russia’s Troitsko-Pechorsky District, west of the Ural Mountains. Seven massive abnormally shaped pillars formed by the weathering action of winds and ice. The rock formations are about 39 to 42-meter high. Several local legends are associated with these rock formations. One says that the stone pillars once served as the entourage of the Samoyed giants who would walk across the mountains to attack the Mansi people. However, when they saw the holy Mansi mountains, the team of giants froze into the stone pillars that is seen today.

5. Saint Basil's Cathedral -

Located in Moscow's Red Square, is one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed. Also known as the Saint Basil's Cathedral, the church was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built from 1555 to 1561. The church served as the tallest building in the city till the taller Ivan the Great Bell Tower was completed in 1600. The building of the Saint Basil's Cathedral is shaped in the form of a bonfire’s flame rising into the sky. It is like no other building in Russia. Later, the church was confiscated from the Orthodox community in Russia and has since 1928 operated as a division of the State Historical Museum. It is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square.

4. Peterhof -

The Peterhof Palace is a series of gardens and palaces located in Petergof, a municipal town in the federal city of St. Petersburg. It is famed for its beautiful landscape, and is often nicknamed as the "Russian Versailles.” The Peterhof Palace has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Russia,

3. Mamayev Kurgan -

Mamayev Kurgan, located in southern Russia is a dominant height overlooking the city of Volgograd. The site hosts a memorial complex that was built to commemorate the Battle of Stalingrad, infamous as one of the deadliest battles in the history of humankind. It was fought between the Soviet and the Axis forces on the Eastern front during World War II. The Motherland Calls, the statue established in memory of the war, was at the time of its establishment in 1967, the world’s largest free-standing sculpture. Currently, it is regarded as the world’s tallest sculpture of a woman.

2. Valley of Geysers -

The Valley of Geysers is a geyser field located in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. This site hosts the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. Nearly 90 geysers and numerous hot springs are housed within a 6 km long basin in the Valley of Geysers. The valley is located on the left bank of the ever-deepening Geysernaya River. A relatively young stratovolcano called Kikhpinych is also located in the vicinity of the basin.

1. Lake Baikal -

Lake Baikal is the world’s biggest freshwater lake by volume. The lake holds 23,615.39 cubic km of water. The lake hosts about 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water. Lake Baikal is also our planet's deepest lake with a maximum depth of 1,642 meters. The lake is one of the clearest and oldest lakes in the world. Baikal was formed as an ancient rift valley and has a typical crescent shape.