Russian Travel Guide

The animal kingdom of the Commander archipelago

The Komandorsky Archipelago (the Commander Archipelago) in the Pacific Ocean has also long been known as the Clandestine Islands as it is one of the most remote and mysterious territories in Russia. It is thanks to this location that after centuries these lands — their flora and fauna — have hardly been touched by civilization and have maintained their original form. Here on the protected territory of the nature reserve live populations of rare animals such as northern fur seals, northern sea lions, island seals such as the Antonov and the Larga, sea otters and Arctic foxes. The area is also home to many species of birds, including the famous puffin, also called the northern parrot due to its bright colouring.  

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Природа. Владимирская область

THE FOUNTAINS OF PETERHOF. PETER THE GREAT'S PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE

Having seen the gardens of the French kings, Emperor Peter the Grat wanted to create his own “Versailles”, and to even surpass it. But, in choosing the site of his future residence, he set a key condition – the water in the fountains should be “self-propelled”, through a fall in height, rather than by using expensive pumps as were employed in Versailles. Peter had begun developing this idea for a grandiose park and palace ensemble on the shores of the Finnish Gulf when he first began to fight Sweden for an outlet onto the Baltic Sea. Many of Peterhof’s fountains are dedicated to the victories of the young Russian fleet over a more experienced and powerful opponent. The main jet of water, Samson, is dedicated to the decisive battle of Poltava. The concept for the new, sumptuous residence the drafts that reveal all of its main constructions – these were all the work of Peter the G...