No worse than the Norwegian fjords: 6 places in Russia where it is breathtakingly beautiful

The first lines in this list, of course, should be occupied by Baikal, the Valley of Geysers, the Curonian Spit and other legends of the country. But why write about what everyone already knows? Catch a list of slightly less famous, but definitely no less stunning corners of Our-with-you-Immense, where you will be breathless with delight.

1. Ruskeala canyon, Karelia

Honored leader of the top places to visit in Karelia. The development of the Ruskeala Canyon was ordered to begin by Catherine II, and the marble mined here can still be seen today in the decoration of St. Isaac's Cathedral, Mikhailovsky Castle, the Hermitage, Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations. In the 19th century, the abandoned canyon filled with water and turned into a real mini-fjord with amazing marble “walls”. People are invited to look at this miracle of Karelia during hiking and boat trips – or, even cooler, during scuba diving.

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2. Krenitsyn Volcano, Kuril Islands

This member of the Hundred Wonders of Russia list, located on Onekotan Island, is best viewed from a helicopter. It is from the air that the Krenitsyn volcano will amaze you the most, because you can immediately see that it is actually a volcano in a volcano, and the largest on the continent. The 1324 m high mountain is surrounded by Lake Koltsevoe with a diameter of 7 km, closed in turn in the ring of the crater of another, external, volcano. Despite the apparent serenity, this zone is characterized by increased activity: fumaroles smoke on the volcano, and waves up to 3 m high sometimes walk along the lake. “https://fs.tonkosti.ru/sized/f550x700/4z/qy/4zqy0m4cauwwggs0swkg0c88k.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”>

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4. Big Thach, Adygea

From afar, the Bolshoy Thach mountain range can easily pass for a medieval castle. This ridge stretches for 10 km, its light limestone “towers” have different heights and non-pointed peaks – exactly like fortress walls! Big Thach (translated as “god”, and also, by the way, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is considered a hard-to-reach place. People go hiking here for several days, as it is not possible to get there by transport – although they say it is possible on horseback. The massif is surrounded by luscious alpine meadows and a whole scattering of “accompanying” attractions: the Mankin noise waterfall, photogenic bridges, talkative streams, grottoes and caves. 5 tips for a chic and inexpensive holiday in Norway.

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5. Sulak Canyon, Dagestan

The Sulak Canyon is a layer-cake-like rocks that are divided into two parts by the turquoise ribbon of the Sulak River. The Dagestan Canyon is not only picturesque, it also beat the famous Grand Canyon in depth – 1920 m for ours against 1857 for the American one. It is unnecessary to talk about what sunrises and sunsets you can meet here – you need to go and see. A stone's throw from the canyon are small villages, whose residents hospitably welcome tourists. Freestyle wrestling, contented lads: a guide to Dagestan.

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6. Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory

The plateau is unique primarily in its area – almost like in the whole of Great Britain. But tourists are only interested in a small part of this natural wealth, which is included in the Putorana Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A couple of days is not enough to get to know Putoran. Usually tours of 10 days are organized here in order to have time to see at least the largest of its 25 thousand lakes, waterfalls and basalt rock masses, resembling giant mounds or volcanoes with truncated cones. A trip to the plateau should be taken seriously. Insurance, a knowledgeable guide, reliable equipment – a necessary minimum.

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