The Top 10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Russia

A couple of years ago Russia organized contest to select the seven
wonders of Russia. Everyone could take part in this poll, by offering
and voting for Russia's most beautiful destinations. Here are the
winners of this contest:1. The Baikal Lake in Irkutsk Oblast. This is
truly a natural wonder that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1996. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world (1,637 meters),
world's oldest lake (25 million years) the largest fresh water supply
(holding as much as 20% of world's supply). Over 1,000 species of
plants and 1,500 species of animals live in this area, and 85% of them
can be found only here.2. Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka Krai. This is
the only geyser field in Eurasia and the second largest in the world.
It is about 6 km long and contains over ninety geysers and hot
springs. This valley has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. This breathtaking place is certainly worth visiting, but the
problem is that it's very difficult to reach, being only accessible by
helicopters.3. The Motherland Calls monument and Mamayev Kurgan in
Volgograd Oblast. This place is very significant for Russian people:
one of the severest battles of the World War II was held here, and
Soviet soldiers held this strategic point heroically and combated
German forces. Now, this is a hill overlooking the city of Volgograd
with the Motherland Calls monument on top. When the monument was
erected in 1967, it was the tallest sculpture in the world.4. The
Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg. Peterhof is a series of palaces
and parks built by the orders of Peter the Great. It is often referred
to as "the Russian Versalles" or "the capital of fountains" containing
180 fountains. This cultural masterpiece is also recognized as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.5. Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. This
is certainly the most beautiful cathedral in Russia located in the
heart of Moscow, on the Red Square. It was built during the reign of
Ivan the Terrible, and the legend says that the king blinded the
architect so he couldn't recreate this masterpiece elsewhere.6. Poles
of the Komi Republic. This is a set of seven gigantic oddly shaped
rock formations of about 40 meters high. This site is not famous on
international level, but it is popular among Russian tourists.7. Mount
Elbrus. This is an inactive volcano, the highest point in Russia and
some authorities believe that the highest point in all of Europe.
Every year, it attracts crowds of skiers, snowboarders, nature lovers
and tourists from all over the world.8. Lomonosov Moscow State
University - the biggest and largest Russian university located on the
Sparrow Hills.9. Sparrow Hills - a park on the bank of the Moskva
River. It's one of the highest points in Moscow that gives a
spectacular panorama of the city.10. The Kremlin - a historic
fortified complex located in the center of Moscow, the official
residence of the President of Russia.