Now on air
02:30
Russian Rice
It is a well-known fact that rice has played an important role in people’s diets for thousands of years. This cereal grain was brought to Russia from Persia and was initially called «Saracenic millet». Russia began growing its own rice only in the 16th century. The country’s first attempts at harvesting the grain were carried out in the lower reaches of the Volga River and in the Kuban River wetlands. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Soviet government made the decision to bring rice cultivation to an industrial scale. As a result, in 1931 the Soviet Union’s only Institute for the Scientific Research of Rice was opened near the city of Krasnodar. In order for the institution to conduct its first projects, 2,000 types of grain from all over the world were brought to the institute. Russian scientists gradually developed their own varieties of rice that could adapt to the local s...
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
02:30
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
02:30