Since time immemorial, people have peered into the sky and speculated about whether there is life on other planets. It seemed impossible to answer this question, but one day humanity made a breakthrough. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin made the world's first orbital flight around the Earth! True, this did not bring us much closer to solving the mystery. Science to this day cannot reliably confirm the existence of aliens, but ordinary people from different parts of the country confidently claim that they have seen them! On the occasion of Cosmonautics Day, Woman's Day decided to collect all the places in Russia where a UFO was spotted.
Text: Svetlana Fedorenko, Saniya Galeeva, Yana Lyubaeva, Marina Kuznetsova, Larisa Loskutova, Alexander Chernov, Anna Gerasimenko, Natalya Mishanina· April 12, 2015
Perm (Moleb) anomalous zone
A pointer to Molebka and a comic picture that is “walking” on the Internet
Photo vk.com, molebka.ru
The surroundings of the village of Molebka in the Perm Territory (Kishertsky district) have long been chosen by ufologists, researchers of all kinds and tourists who want something unusual. And there’s just a sea of this unusual thing here. Flying saucers, luminous balls hanging over the clearing, strange sounds... By analogy with the Bermuda Triangle, this territory is also called the Molebsky or Perm Triangle, and is also mysteriously called the M-zone. According to legend, there was once a prayer stone for the Mansi people here, near which they made sacrifices. Now the only reminder of this is the name of the village. But perhaps shamans were at one time attracted to the same energetic force that ufologists talk about today.
In summer, the only way to get to the M-zone is by boat
The anomalous zone is located opposite the village, near the Sylva River. Those who have been here talk about seeing different types of UFOs: flat “plates” (similar to a hat), glowing balls of different colors, elongated “cigars”... Moreover, from time to time there are whole “gatherings” of UFOs: several objects appear in the sky, line up in regular shapes, then disappear when they notice people. Some eyewitnesses even say that they managed to communicate with extraterrestrial civilizations - however, there is no evidence of this. But UFOs are often recorded here. Previously they shot on film, now they take photographs digitally.
Geologist Emil Bachurin was the first to notice this place. In the winter of 1983, he was hunting nearby and suddenly saw a luminous hemisphere. At the place where it touched the snow, a huge thaw with a diameter of about 62 meters formed. After the geologist spoke about this unusual phenomenon, researchers of all kinds began to frequent Molebka. Local residents willingly told them about their observations: strange luminous objects, flashes in the sky, and so on. In addition, they complained of health problems: near the abnormal zone they felt worse, headaches appeared, and blood pressure increased or decreased.
1990 Researcher Marat Kabirov: “The plate hung, then an energy column and a black hole or spot formed under it”
What did ufologists record in the Moleb Triangle?
- UFO: luminous spheres, elongated figures, etc.;
- sound mirages: people perceive strange sounds for which they cannot find an explanation;
- The passage of time changes: the clock slows down;
- Batteries and batteries run out very quickly here.
“For unknown reasons, our group lost the functionality of the dosimeter right before our eyes (although after returning home it started working again), several diodes in the flashlights burned out, the batteries in the watch quickly ran out, and the bioframes behaved restlessly (in certain places),” a participant describes his impressions one of the expedition to the M-zone, head of the Monitoring Station of the Ural Anomalies Dmitry Volobuev. “In addition, two people felt acutely unwell: fever, surges in blood pressure, etc.”
M-zone map
The M-zone itself is divided into different sections. Tourists are usually accommodated in the central clearing. But they must visit “places of power.” Thus, the most vivid visions are described by those who visited Vyselki - those who spent the night here say that they saw small creatures similar to fairy-tale elves. And disruptions in time are observed near the Black River.
Each visitor must be shown pyramids - these are stones stacked in three pyramids, and together they form an isosceles triangle. Measurements by ufologists have shown that a strong flow of energy comes from the tops of these pyramids. It is believed that the pyramids are a kind of beacon for UFOs, which helps the “plates” navigate in space.
Witches' rings are another interesting place in the M-zone. A large number of photographs taken here show dark orbs with light spots. They were nicknamed “witch’s rings,” and then the name was transferred to the site.
Monument to an alien and one of the “places of power” of Molebki
Photo vk.com, molebka.ru
There is evidence that a huge dark figure similar to a human was seen in the M-zone. “It was a moonlit night,” describes Valery Yakimov, who calls himself a stalker and organizer of expeditions to Molebka. “I quietly went down into a small ravine, and suddenly something made me raise my head. I saw that two steps in front of me stood a man 3 meters tall, black, opaque, proportional. I can’t say how long I spent in a daze, looking at him, but I woke up running with a flashlight 10 meters from this ravine.”
Suspecting that Bigfoot might live in Molebka, the researchers even tried to lure him by making bait from the pheromones of a large ape. But, unlike the Loch Ness monster, no one was able to photograph the Moleb Bigfoot people. But every tourist can photograph here a humanoid from another planet, albeit a wooden one. Don’t be surprised: a monument to an alien was simply erected in the village. Locals affectionately call him Alyoshenka.
Novokubansky district of Krasnodar region
Such crop circles in Novokubansk are not uncommon
The Novokubansky district of the Krasnodar Territory is considered by ufologists to be “the capital of Russian crop circles,” since geometric figures appearing from nowhere are found here about once a year. From year to year they appear in the middle of summer, the diameter ranges from 10 meters to plus infinity and sometimes they are not only round in shape: for example, last year ufologists recorded squares. The figures appear overnight, they are clearly burned out or heavily crushed, and the plants around remain untouched. Surveillance cameras do not record anything at this moment. And the next morning the farmers clutch their heads. They say they are tired of the aliens' machinations. But this phenomenon cannot be attributed to hooligans either - there are no human traces!
A few years ago, for example, giant circles, the largest of which was 40 meters in diameter, appeared in a wheat field. Very carefully, clockwise, the stems of the plant were crushed, and the weeds around were burned, and in a special way - only the leaves were burned, while the stems remained intact and even. And the day before there were power outages in the area, residents were without electricity. The next morning the news caused a lot of noise and was reported in the local media. The famous Russian researcher Vadim Chernobrov also visited the area with Cosmopoisk. “Novokubansky district is the Russian capital of crop circles. This is where most of the anomalous things happen in the Krasnodar Territory, and in Russia this place is among the leaders,” says Chernobrov. Local ufologists are also studying similar cases, but they also have no explanation. “On the video recordings, we noticed that lizards were running on the field, but all living creatures usually disappear within a day from such fields,” comment local Armavir experts.
Unidentified flying objects also periodically appear in the skies above the area. At night, village residents see luminous objects hovering for a couple of minutes, which then disappear without a trace. In the 90s, people even wrote appeals to the local administration to be protected from alien invasion.
It’s interesting that the locals even treat the anomalous phenomena that are occurring with humor. And for several years in a row there was a Novokuban festival of bard songs “Near the Crop Circles”.
The ice phenomenon only happened once
Photo: svet-mayakov.ru
But the Novokubansky district is famous for another phenomenon. 20 years ago, in winter, the Kuban River froze in a special way. In one place, a perfect ice circle appeared, as if outlined on a compass, around which the water flowed counterclockwise. A single place in the frozen river scared the local population. Various versions have been put forward - from a strangely acting undercurrent to a UFO landing in this very place. The villagers came to the shore, but no one dared to get across the ice to the mysterious place. This went on for two weeks until the thaw began. The phenomenon melted away, and a similar phenomenon was not noticed again.
Alat flower with tentacles
The Ashit River connects the villages of Alati and Potanikha
In 1803, Alat’s city status was removed, and the settlement began to deteriorate. Numerous manufactories and craft workshops moved to Kazan. But, according to local residents, it was then that the remaining residents began to regularly observe incredible phenomena in the sky.
“The whole action lasts a few minutes,” says local resident Vladimir. – After sunset, a yellow spot appears in the sky, from which multi-colored rays grow, like tentacles. They swirl around this spot, and then fly off to the side and disappear into the sky.
No one has yet managed to take a photo with a cell phone or a DSLR camera. Probably, the technology is not configured to recognize such objects. Last year, the object was scared away by camera flashes. The “flower with tentacles,” as the locals call it, disappeared into the sky faster than usual and has not reappeared since.
Local artists are happy to dedicate entire paintings and drawings to their “guests” with which they decorate their homes.
Local residents are so accustomed to space guests that they talk about flying saucers as something ordinary. And from March to early May and from mid-August to November, every now and then they glance at the sky after sunset.
Photo: drawing by local resident Vladimir Chernov
A couple of years ago, not far from the Ashit River, which connects Alati with the neighboring village of Potanikha, under the place where the fishermen saw the “flower,” the field was strewn with something resembling pieces of foil. No one dared to take the substance with them, and by noon the “foil” seemed to have melted from the daytime sun.
Witnesses suggest that a UFO always appears over the rural cemetery between the village churches - the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist in the village of Potanikha and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Alata. Locals say that both temples are connected by an underground gallery, which they tried to find during the Soviet years. And some even insist that aliens use the Alat church as a compass. During its construction in 1712, street rays symmetrically extended from the square where it stands in all directions of the world, which can be seen from satellite images.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Alati
Maria Petrova, head of the organization "Cosmopoisk-Kazan":
– Similar observations have already been made in this region of Tatarstan. The presence of the Ashit River nearby confirms that the phenomenon most likely refers to a UFO. After all, flying saucers attract precisely large areas of water bodies.
Belovsky district, Kemerovo region, Mokhovsky coal mine
On January 31, 2015, at the Karakansky coal mine near the city of Belovo, mining foreman Artur Presnyakov came across an unusual object. At a depth of 40 meters there was a stone disk with bulges on both sides in the middle. After measurements it turned out: its diameter is 1 m 20 cm, weight is 200 kg. Amazing finds for the Karakan section are not uncommon. Fossils and mammoth bones have already been found here, but they were closer to the surface of the earth - at a depth of 20 meters. This means that the stone disk appeared even earlier than mammoths. Scientists have calculated that the age of the find is about 250 million years.
Arthur Presnyakov reported the discovery on his social network page, and scientists immediately became interested in it. The disk was handed over to the Kemerovo Regional Museum of Local Lore, where geologists and ufologists came for research.
Arthur Ponomarev and his unusual find
Tomb or UFO?
Various versions have been put forward: a disk of ancient people, a tomb, the fossilized remains of sea inhabitants. But the most popular versions are two: a device for storing information or a fragment of an unidentified flying object.
“It really looks like a flying saucer, what’s there to hide,” admitted ufologist Vadim Chernobrov, head of the Kosmopoisk organization. “As an aerospace aircraft specialist, I am convinced that this shape is the most convenient from an aerodynamic point of view. But if a flying saucer made of almost any material actually fell into the rock and lay there for 200 or more million years, this product would not have reached us in its original form.
The ufologist emphasizes that the atoms of the material could be replaced by atoms of the surrounding substance, and the object came to us not in its original form, but in this petrified form. As for the version that the disk is a storage medium like modern flash drives and disks, Chernobrov comments on this:
– It is known that electronic data is stored well on silicon, much more efficiently than on many modern devices. Maybe we are facing an experiment that was not started by us. Indeed, in Egyptian museums, for example, several similar disks are also stored. The Egyptians made them for a reason.
The disc really looks like a UFO
Photo Kemerovo Regional Museum of Local Lore, Maxim Kiselev
Scientists conducted research and measurements, but did not find any objects inside the disk. Other studies are now being carried out - studying the composition and nature of the disk, comparing it with other finds. For example, the same disks were found in China. The version considered was that these were black boxes of interplanetary spacecraft, carriers of information from other civilizations. Ufologists are sure that there must be other similar objects in the area of the cut. And not a couple, but many at once, perhaps about ten.
An alien from the Chelyabinsk region - where did the “Kyshtym dwarf” disappear?
Lovers of the mysterious and inexplicable know Alyoshenka, a mysterious creature thanks to whom a small village in the Chelyabinsk region became known throughout the world. It was in the village of Kaolinovy near Kyshtym that the mummy of an unknown humanoid, whom ufologists consider an alien from distant planets, was found - and mysteriously lost. Who was he really? We may never know.
Already the very beginning of history was marked by mysticism. In the summer of 1996, Tamara Vasilyevna Prosvirina heard a voice in her head that persistently called for help. The voice led the old woman not just anywhere, but to the cemetery. At one of the graves, a pensioner discovered a barely alive humanoid creature. Small - 25 centimeters in length, skinny, like a baby. The grandmother took pity on the creature and decided to shelter it - she began to look after it, fed it candy and gave it water. She gave him a name - Alyoshenka.
The humanoid lived with his adoptive parent for about a month. The information about him, subsequently collected from the stories of the village residents, was very fantastic. Some of the villagers saw Alyoshenka still alive. Eyewitnesses said that the creature smelled strange, and after eating it was covered in mucus. Some report that the creature had vertical pupils and was covered in fur.
The circumstances of the death of the humanoid are also shrouded in mystery. According to one version, after the old woman was taken to a psychiatric hospital, there was no one to care for the “alien.” According to another, Alyoshenka died much earlier, being extremely weak and unadapted to human food. Tamara Prosvirina, unfortunately, will never talk about her strange adopted child - in 1999 she was hit by a car.
Alyoshenka’s dried body was found by policeman Evgeniy Mokichev during a search. His colleague Vladimir Bendlin became interested in the find and began his own investigation. This is how photographs of Alyoshenka’s corpse were taken - the only thing that remained in the hands of scientists after his mysterious disappearance. Something that will help judge who the humanoid really was. A mutant, an alien or a representative of a species unknown to science?
Alyoshenka disappeared just as mysteriously as he had appeared. Bendlin contacted the UFO Star Academy society. Contact using the Zolotov method” from the city of Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk region, dealing with the problems of ufology, and its employees removed the mummy, allegedly for further research. They never returned it. Nobody knows where this society of ufologists has gone.
From the photos and videos we can conclude about the unique, non-human structure of the humanoid. He has a large head that looks like an onion. There are teeth, but no cartilage, organs of the genitourinary system and anus.
Who is Alyoshenka? Ufologists insist on the version of its extraterrestrial origin. Participants in the 15th season of the show “Battle of Psychics” Julia Wang and Tatyana Larina argued that Alyoshenka is really an alien. But what does science say about this?
Maybe Alyoshenka was just a premature mutant baby? According to many village residents, this would not be surprising. The ecology of the area leaves much to be desired: the chemical industry pollutes the soil and water with heavy metals, and relatively recently - in 1957 - an explosion occurred at the Mayak plant in the local area, and radiation was added to the chemical pollution. Scientists are against this version: such mutations, in their opinion, are impossible in a human embryo. For example, there was no way he could have teeth.
Such a twin develops on the body of his brother or sister according to the principle of Siamese twins, but often develops more slowly and cannot eat or think on his own. And the worst thing is that such a twin can develop inside its “carrier”! And it may even be in the uterus of a female “sister”. Moreover, she may not even know about it for many years. Moreover, an unsuspecting woman may one day “give birth” to her twin, separated from her body.
Green Island
A seemingly ordinary river island is fraught with a lot of mysteries.
The 4 km long river island, located in the lower reaches of the Don River in the Rostov region, is famous for its “anomaly”. For more than 70 years, Rostovites and guests of the city have been encountering strange entities here. The story began back in the 1930s: several fishermen, having moored their longboats, went to the island to spend the night. In the darkness they heard something like a strong explosion! It was accompanied by large hail, but the strange thing was that this hail did not melt... Several maples fell nearby, and sparks flew up from there, which then also turned into strange grains. The next morning, the fishermen, confused and with chest pain, returned to Rostov... Immediately the bridge to the island (it is located on the Don, not far from the city) was hastily closed - the NKVD military hastily arrived there.
One of the eyewitnesses of those events later said that as a boy he went to the island to investigate what happened in his own way. He discovered a dug hole of 20x20 meters, which someone then tried to disguise. And around the pit there are grains that look like lead. The guy tried to make a sinker for a fishing rod out of lead, but... it floated! The surprise was so strong that the boy chose not to tell anyone about the strange find, and only decades later, when conversations about the Green Island resumed, did he share his observations. Strange stories about the island appeared long before this incident: in the 1920s, Rostovites liked to say that ghosts, drowned people and zombies often appeared there.
More from history: between Rostov and Bataysk it was planned to build an underground railway tunnel, the path of which would run directly under the island. The project had already been approved, when suddenly the authorities canceled it. At the same time, in Stalin’s times, they planned to build a children’s health camp on Zeleny. However, again, at the last moment, without explanation, the idea was nipped in the bud, although a construction plan had already been drawn up.
During the war, an entire regiment died on the island... Historians are perplexed: why was it necessary to destroy so many lives in order to protect a small piece of land without any infrastructure?! Scientists suggest that what the fishermen witnessed was nothing more than a UFO shipwreck. Allegedly, its wreckage was examined in a secret laboratory immediately built on the island. She was protected...
Later they decided to plant the island with poplars: in Rostov they take root just fine! But the landscaping plan was thwarted: only a few trees took root. And it’s not surprising - measurements of radioactivity show that it is abnormally high! This, however, does not prevent one from being surprised by opposite phenomena: for example, on the island there are cherry bushes that amaze with the size of their truly “Chernobyl” fruits, and some trees grow at an angle of 45 degrees.
An incident during the search for Chikatilo, when the entire Rostov region became more active, amazes the minds. A team of operatives was sent to monitor Green Island. One of them, having retired at night with a girl, suddenly saw something strange: the whole life of his companion flashed in detail before his eyes... The same thing happened to her! In shock, they began checking each other for details. Everything coincided!
There is also a story of a fisherman who knew the island like the back of his hand. On one of his trips, he managed to get lost there, and no matter how hard he tried to get to the place he needed, he invariably returned to his boat. The amazing thing is that he followed the compass and still came to the same point.
And one day a group of Rostovites who had come to the island to relax were forced to leave it: in the midst of a picnic, they felt a strong vibration emanating from the bowels of the earth, and everyone had a terrible headache. The guys tried to get into the boat as quickly as possible - the sensations immediately went away... Later they recalled how they were looking for the source of the vibration: there were no ships passing by, it was also quiet on the opposite bank.
But the most inexplicable incident happened to an ordinary family of Rostovites who came to Green Island with their six-year-old daughter Anya. The whole family was gathered when the girl suddenly disappeared. The mother remained to guard the tent in case her daughter returned on her own! The father went to comb the woodlands. An hour and a half later, accidentally looking into the tent (where they looked for Anya first!), the parents found her sleeping there. They barely managed to wake up the girl, and then she told how she went for a walk and, having gotten lost, fell asleep on a large black stone in the middle of some clearing... and woke up in a tent. After this incident, the girl began to speak in her sleep in an unknown language.
Green Island is a favorite place not only for fishermen and vacationers, but also for sorcerers and magicians. Various signs of rituals performed have been found there more than once: skulls, knives and other paraphernalia of occult lovers.
“One gets the feeling that some dark forces have come together here, and thanks to constantly emerging phenomena and various rituals held here, these forces began to receive additional powerful fuel from space,” says Andrei Gorodovoy, a Rostov-based researcher of anomalous phenomena. – This explains the periodic hovering over the island of UFOs. And it seems to me that magicians choose this place not only because of its privacy. According to legend, many centuries ago there was a pagan temple with human sacrifices here. Water is a barrier to evil spirits, which is why it is concentrated in this place. And what happened on the eve of the Great Patriotic War was indeed very similar to the crash of an alien ship. This is also indicated by the facts that the NKVD troops secretly transported its debris to Kapustin Yar. But several small fragments still remained in the ground, and they give such strange side effects: will-o’-the-wisps, underground vibrations, loss of memory of the people there.”
Donskoy Stonehenge
A little over ten years ago, 120 kilometers from Rostov-on-Don, near the Kamenny mound near the Kerchik-Savrov farm, huge standing stones were discovered. Their location was very reminiscent of Stonehenge, the ancient Temple of the Sun, located in Great Britain. The only difference is that the stones do not stand like cromlechs (blocks on which transverse giants lie), but look like menhirs - huge stones standing vertically. They are laid out with geometric shapes - squares, circles, parallels. The estimated age of the find is 7 thousand years BC. e., that is, they are even older than the more famous megaliths in the world. It is surprising that these stones are not at all from the rocks familiar to the Don steppes, but from quartzite. It emits ultrasound, and thus is easy to navigate... but for whom?
Local residents speculate that these stone alleys are of alien origin. It was as if they were built for identification purposes: something like an airfield. Moreover, the stones have a certain direction - from east to west. Proof of this is the frequent occurrence of UFOs. One of the farm women said that at dawn, when she was milking a cow, she saw something elongated with luminous windows hovering over the stones. The thing didn’t look like an airplane or helicopter, and it moved silently. This case is far from the only one.
There are other versions - perhaps the stones, arranged in such a bizarre way, simply served as a kind of calendar: from the shadows falling from them, it was possible to calculate the time and date. It is also suggested that the stones could be idols.
Mysteries of ball lightning of the Medveditskaya ridge
Traces of ball lightning
One of the most famous anomalous zones on the planet, the Medveditskaya Ridge, is located on the border of the Volgograd and Saratov regions, not far from the city of Zhirnovsk. The Medveditskaya ridge is stretched across the steppe as a chain of low hills 200–370 m high.
The number of inexplicable things happening here is amazing in its diversity.
Ball lightning has become the hallmark of the geomagnetic zone. The place where they appear most often is called the “slope of crazy lightning.” It sparkles here in any weather and at any time of the year. Ball lightning appears both individually and in large groups and moves in space contrary to all the laws of physics: against the wind, slowly and low above the ground, in intricate trajectories, hovering in one place for a long time. Lightning can circle along one route for hours, burning through trees that get in its way. Many twisted birch trees creeping along the ground are dotted with traces of ball lightning that passed through the trunks. Research has shown that many birch trees are burned from the inside, from the root upward, as if lightning had burned them from the ground. Cases have been recorded when lightning passed through people without hindrance, leaving no damage. There is an assumption that lightning appears from the bowels of the earth, from a network of ancient tunnels, and moves exclusively along the lines of these tunnels. In terms of the number of ball lightning occurrences, the Medveditskaya Ridge ranks second in the world after Malaysia.
Traces of mysterious tunnels can be traced in the history of the Golden Horde, which used them to store countless treasures. During the Civil War, the caves were used as a hideout by White Cossack gangs. However, this does not at all explain the reason for their occurrence.
During the construction of one of the villages, builders excavated an ancient burial with skeletons of people more than two meters tall. Giant skulls are regularly found when plowing fields. And on the other side of the river, a burial place of Lilliputian people, about half a meter tall, was discovered. Scientists have not yet found a reliable explanation.
Volgograd ufological expeditions observed many phenomena of the Medveditskaya ridge. Not far from the slope of crazy lightning there is a low artificial hill. The radiation background of this place is very unstable, it jumps from 6 to 24 microR/hour and seems to “float” along the hill. It is interesting that soil samples show a normal background radiation, that is, the cause of the radiation is not on the surface, but inside the hill.
On the other side of the slope lies a clearing of sound mirages. People here hear their echo from several sides at the same time, all this is accompanied by loud whistles and clicks.
Another mysterious place of the Medveditskaya ridge is the Grove of drunken birches. The sight of trees twisted into knots is striking and depressing at the same time. The condition of people here is rapidly deteriorating: temples ache, general tone drops. Psychics say that the earth here sucks a person’s strength. You can’t spend the night in the Drunken Grove - you might not wake up in the morning.
People regularly disappear on the Medveditskaya Ridge. If they can be found in hot pursuit, they look inhibited, depressed, do not want to return and can hardly remember anything.
Residents of neighboring villages regularly observe UFOs - unidentified objects, mostly triangular in shape, that move along a broken trajectory. The fields are dotted with triangular patches of land devoid of vegetation. It is impossible to plow these places: the equipment stalls.
Numerous expeditions have also witnessed UFOs. Here are just some observations from ufologists:
“A star-shaped object was seen moving from the western side. It moved jerkily, and before its disappearance it hovered in one place. The angular altitude of the object was 80 degrees, magnitude 1. The object was observed for 3 minutes.”
“While observing the sky from the camp, the group leader noticed an unusual star. After some time, it increased significantly in angular size and reached a 2-star magnitude. The object was observed in the northwest. After increasing in size, the UFO moved east, gradually losing brightness. Within 5 seconds of movement, it ceased to be visible at all. The object was observed for 1 minute."
– Numerous studies of Cosmopoisk did not reveal any abnormalities in the Drunken Grove: radiation, electromagnetic fields, even soil pH - everything is normal. Apparently, the reason is genetic disorders or something else very subtle and difficult to research,” comments Andrey Bezrukov, deputy head of the Volgograd branch of Cosmopoisk. – What’s interesting is that the Drunken Grove is very local: it’s a group of trees a hundred meters long, around which there are a lot of quite ordinary, normal trees. At one end of it grow young, normal birch trees. Apparently, the anomalous impact was a one-time event in the past and is no longer valid.
My group and I have more than once observed a black, triangular-shaped UFO flying silently in the area of the village of Novinka (the 4th field camp of Kosmopoisk is located there). Observed in the summer of 2007–2008.
Triangular overgrown areas in fields where equipment stalled are a reality. They could not be opened after triangular-shaped UFOs allegedly landed there. But this was still under the Soviets. When the Cosmopoisk expedition arrived in 2007, the traces had already lost their strange power and did not work at all. And soon they were plowed under.
There is a secret ravine on the Medveditskaya ridge. Indeed, people disappear here in broad daylight. But its location is classified by Kosmopoisk so as not to attract crowds of onlookers there.
Don Shambhala
The temple of idolaters is surrounded by a giant moat
On the banks of the Don near the village of Trekhostrovskaya, Volgograd region, there is the mysterious Romanian Mountain.
The huge mound has always been considered a “place of power” by local residents. Repeated attempts have been made to conduct archaeological excavations here. At the end of the 19th century, merchant Pyotr Avdeev was looking for gold in the mound. All hopes of getting rich were limited to mining a few cartloads of charcoal. In the 20s of the twentieth century, a serious archaeological expedition again tried to discover the secret of the mound. The expedition was not successful. All the earth dug up during the day mysteriously returned to its place by morning. The horses got loose at night and ran away. Local residents frightened archaeologists with stories about the terrible dark power of the mound, which should not be disturbed.
And only at the end of the twentieth century, archaeological excavations revealed to the world an amazing temple of Indo-Iranian fire worshipers, an ancient cult place comparable in age to the Egyptian pyramids. The ancient Zoroastrians called this place “the navel of the Earth.” According to archaeological research, the age of the temple of the fire god Agni ranges from 2500 to 5000 years. It is not yet possible to establish more precisely the age of the temple. An artificial hill with a diameter of about 200 meters is surrounded by an impressive moat. In the center of the hill there is a huge 40-meter oven of complex architecture, in which fire was maintained for hundreds of years.
It was not in vain that our ancestors chose this place for a fire pit. The temple stands in a bend of the Don at an equal distance from the river: nine kilometers from the north, nine from the east and nine from the south. This place is considered to be filled with high energies. Cell phones go off here, but people experience an extraordinary surge of strength and vigor.
Not far from the fire pit stands Romanian Mountain, which has been attracting the attention of ufologists from all over the world for many years. It is here, according to cosmoenergy experts, that there is one of the few places on the planet where the energy flow from the bowels of the Earth meets the energy flow coming from space. Unlike the fire pit, it is almost impossible to stay on Romanian Mountain for more than 20 minutes: everyone begins to have terrible headaches.
Local residents have repeatedly spotted UFOs of various shapes here, but have not yet been able to capture them on film.
The famous prophetess Vanga believed that one of the most important energy points for the entire planet was located on the Don. Perhaps they were talking specifically about Romanian Mountain and the temple of fire worshipers.
During the Great Patriotic War, fascist troops rushed to this place. Scientists at the Ahnenerbe, a scientific institute created by Hitler that studied the practices of the occult, astrology and alchemy, believed that somewhere in the area of the Romanian Mountain and the Fireplace there was an entrance to the mystical Shambhala, the world of high vibrations. Was it a coincidence that the decline of the Third Reich began precisely at Stalingrad? After all, all the forecasts of German astrologers convinced that the winter of 1941–1942 would be mild. The troops traveled lightly and did not at all expect to freeze out in the Don steppes. Esotericists believe that the zone simply did not allow the Germans here.
Martian Chronicles Devil's Play
Martian species in the Volga steppe
The Devil's Game is one of the mysterious places of the Medveditskaya ridge, which deserves a separate story. In the middle of the green hills lies a real Martian red desert with a funnel in the center, about 400 meters in diameter and about 15 meters deep. Geographically, the Devil's Game is located in the Kotovsky district of the Volgograd region, near the Romanov farm. Travelers are greeted by an amazing unearthly landscape: red sands of dozens of shades, rare dwarf ugly trees, also distinguished by a variety of colors, from green to purple and burgundy.
The sand here is very unusual, multi-colored: red, orange, pink - about 50 shades! Apart from the Devil's Playground, such sands are found only in two places on Earth. They say that if you rub your hands with it, your skin will sparkle for a while, as if sprinkled with shiny powder. And if the sand is taken out of the anomalous zone, after a while it will change its color.
It’s surprising that the sand in the Devil’s Playground is always wet, despite the arid semi-desert climate and low air humidity. The background radiation here is normal, but the compass needle in the crater is literally going crazy. There are no living creatures here, not even the ubiquitous steppe snakes and lizards.
A crater of this size could hardly be the work of human hands, since it was formed many centuries before the era of bulldozers. None of the natural methods of formation of the crater also explains its origin: there are no relief differences necessary for such tectonic shifts, and there have never been reservoirs. Soil studies have shown that there are no traces of the meteorite, even the smallest ones, here either. Although it is very difficult to refuse the space version, the local landscape looks very fantastic. Multi-colored sands, unusual pebbles with a metallic sound (the number of which has greatly decreased with the advent of tourists), and areas of melted sand make one think of a cosmodrome. But if this is a cosmodrome, it is definitely not of earthly origin, because it was formed long before the advent of the first human technologies.
Near the Devil's Playground they have not plowed the land for a long time: it is impossible to make an even furrow here. All attempts to do this fail: the furrow quickly becomes crooked.
They say that if you stay here until dark, then it’s simply impossible to find your way back until the morning.
However, one of the leaders of the Volgograd “Cosmopoisk” Andrei Bezrukov, who visited the Devil’s Game with an expedition, believes that the mystery of this place is somewhat exaggerated:
– The fact that the color of the sand changed was not confirmed. We took a lot of it out of there, but the color remained the same. I believe that this is due to the saturation of the soil with iron, which is included in the sand in different proportions, which is why it is so colorful. The damn game is truly an anomalous zone, but not so much from a ufological as from a geological point of view.
Okunevo
On the banks of the Tara River, local residents sometimes see strange luminous objects
Photo: archive of the magazine “Telesem. Omsk"
The village of Okunevo is a regional center in the north of the Omsk region. Many thousands of years ago there was a site of ancient people here and traces of their presence are still preserved, for example, a stone sacrificial altar. And today, thanks to the light hand of one of the Indian gurus, who in the late eighties decided to find and revive the ancient Hanuman temple, Okunevo is considered the place where it was once located. Since then, this place has been considered the energy center of the Earth through which divine vibrations and energy flow. It is not surprising that Okunevo is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of esotericism, mysticism, and seekers of spiritual enlightenment. The Okunevsky Sanctuary of Omkar is included by the Vatican among the holy places of the world. They say that a variety of unexplained phenomena occur here, from visions to the appearance of UFOs. Residents of the village, numerous pilgrims and Babajists (representatives of this religious movement consider Okunevo a holy place and permanently live here) claim that UFOs are commonplace here, and constantly see luminous balls either in the floodplain of the Tara River (a village is located on its bank) or near their houses, either in the vicinity of the Tarsky Uval, or on Shaitan Lake, which is located 7 km from Okunevo.
Local residents say that they once observed a UFO landing on the surface of Lake Shaitan: the “plate” first hovered over the lake, then floated across its surface and dived into the reservoir. By the way, it is believed that the ancient Hanuman temple is located right under Shaitna Lake, and at night you can see a greenish glow from the water.
Another case of a local resident encountering a UFO in the mid-90s is described as follows: at three o’clock in the morning, going out into the street, a man saw an orange ball hanging over a field, and in the morning, after examining the place, he discovered a failure - a hole with an outer diameter of about a meter and going into the abyss, up to 20 m deep.
Pilgrims and local residents see luminous objects (mostly orange) here quite often. They come in different shapes: sometimes glare, sometimes yellow-orange fog, sometimes white balls. But, as a rule, their shape resembles a spinning top - a traditional configuration for UFOs. Last summer, such a “spinning top,” for example, was observed in a field southwest of Lake Shaitan, at the Bergamak cordon, in the Tara bend and in the ravine that runs immediately beyond Okunevo. And another “spinning top,” which landed under a large tree in the Tara bend, even deceived the photographer: at the moment when he was about to capture it, it flew to another place, then to another, and finally melted.
There was a case when such an orange “spinning top” ended up next to a working geophysicist (scientists were studying the geomagnetic background of the area), and when he tried to reach it with the antenna of a device for measuring the electrical component of the magnetic field, the readings on the device immediately went off scale - so strong was its electromagnetic field.
Sasovo, Ryazan region
The crater from the explosion is now filled with rainwater and has become a lake
Photo by Vladimir Frolov
On April 12, 1991, exactly 30 years after the first manned space flight, a powerful explosion occurred in the fields near Sasovo. Local residents said that before this they saw luminous balls in the sky and heard a growing strong rumble, but experts were in no hurry to lean towards the version with an unidentified flying object and discussed different versions. For example, one of the reasons considered was bags of fertilizer - ammonium nitrate - left in the field, but significant traces of this substance could not be found.
The mystery was that at the site of the explosion a huge crater was formed with a diameter of about 30 meters and a depth of about 4, and at the bottom there was a hill 1.4 meters high. An interesting fact is that there was a tree growing not far from the explosion site, but no damage from the blast wave was found on it. But there was evidence that for two nights in a row the crater glowed from the outside, and the earth from the explosion site was scattered in a cross shape.
The power of the explosion was also surprising: windows were blown out in houses located within a radius of 500 meters from the crater. Moreover, they poured both in and out.
The Sasovo explosion is still of interest to ufologists, but there is no exact information about what it was yet. Although local residents, perhaps, are inclined to believe that the explosion is of an anomalous nature, and there are eyewitnesses of unidentified flying objects.
Dalnegorsk, height 611
Limestone Mountain, also known as height 611
On January 29, 1986, at 19:55, an unidentified flying object about half a meter in diameter crashed near the seaside town of Dalnegorsk, at the foot of a hill called Height 611. The object, according to eyewitnesses, had a hard spherical shell the color of stainless steel. Some took it for a meteorite, others for an alien ship.
The main witnesses to the incident were schoolchildren. One of them, at that time a fifth grade student, and now a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, Evgeniy Serebrov, recalled:
“The ball flew parallel to the ground, rising and falling several times before our eyes. There was no tail or train. There was no explosion, only a strong blow. Scientists who came to Dalnegorsk from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, using a chronometer, calculated that the falling speed was 15 m/s, which in no way corresponded to the speed of falling meteorites. Pundits then told us boys that we were mistaken: neither a meteorite nor a rocket fragment could have flown like that..."
According to eyewitnesses, the reddish-orange ball was “the size of half the moon or the size of a soccer ball.” There were no sounds. The brightness of the red color changed - the ball either flared up or dimmed. Having flown up to the hill (aka “height 611”, or Limestone Mountain), the ball made a “peck” and sharply went down. After the fall, the ground caught fire, and the fire was of some strange hue.
Soon, several schoolchildren organized a foray to the site where the object fell. They saw a burnt stump, a shallow recess, and branches cut off by splinters, but they could not find any large parts.
At the crash site, only melted drops of some substance were found; in appearance, they resembled soft metal. However, they did not lend themselves to processing with tool steel; only a diamond cutter “took” them. As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that for the formation of metals with such resistance, the combustion temperature had to be above 3000 degrees. Other parts of the found substance turned out to be pure molybdenum, which, due to its poor physical and chemical properties, is not used as a structural material on Earth.
Two weeks later, two more appeared above the place where the first ball fell - they made four circles above the height of 611 and disappeared with a flash. A year later, a whole flotilla of UFOs visited this area, both in the form of a silver disk and in the form of balls. Only officially registered eyewitnesses of UFOs in 1987 were more than 150 people. In total, 32 flights of unidentified objects were recorded in the north of Primorye, including 14 over Dalnegorsk. When they appeared, the picture on TV screens disappeared, telephones and radios did not work. One of the balls hovered over Dalnegorsk, and a violet-blue beam, dim, about 50 cm in diameter, came out of it. The beam turned out to be not so harmless - one man was standing at a bus stop, and when the beam touched him, he lost consciousness and fell. When he came to his senses, his face was very swollen...
In general, acquaintance with the anomalous zone in the area of height 611 had and continues to have an adverse effect on people - visitors to the hill complain of poor health, the manifestation of inexplicable fear.
Since then, UFOs have begun to visit the crash site of their fellow UFO less frequently - the latest reports that “something incomprehensible was flying again” in the Dalnegorsk area date back to 2004.
Samara onion
Samara onion
Residents of local villages and surrounding towns have repeatedly observed luminous balls, circles, pillars in the sky, and shared cases of disorientation in space. Some people who got lost in the adits of the Zhiguli Mountains spoke about caves with ice crystals and strange creatures frozen in them. And a real sensation was caused by concentric circles of unknown origin in a buckwheat field, which 10 years ago were discovered one July morning by residents of the new quarters of Tolyatti.
Ice crystals
Internet publications claim that the Samara State Archive preserves the memoirs of Volgostroy employee Viktor Ageev. In the early 30s, he was studying the Shiryaevsky adits in the Zhiguli Mountains and one day he was caught in a landslide. I wandered around the dungeon for five days and saw inexplicable things: “After long wanderings underground, I finally came out into a vast hall, some corners of which were filled with ice. In the darkness, this ice glowed with a faint bluish glow. The core of each of these huge columns was occupied by a certain creature, as if frozen into ice. Apparently there were a lot of such ice crystals here, and unprecedented, fantastic monsters hung motionless inside each of them. It is extremely difficult to describe these creatures. I remember the large head hanging over the body, huge bulging compound eyes, a large supra-brow bump, small hands with three fingers pressed to the stomach. The body is something like a soft cocoon, rolled into a tube and pressed to the stomach.”
There have been no similar reports since then. Perhaps because collapses regularly occur in the adits and this room with crystals has not been preserved.
This photo was taken on a cell phone near the intersection of Gorky and K. Marx streets in Tolyatti. It depicts a triangular UFO, which is quite common in these places. The reliability index is as high as possible.
Glowing objects
But most often those living on the Samara Luka have to observe luminous balls, rays, groups of points.
“The luminous object was observed, for example, on the night of May 1, 2006, by two groups - from the Stone Bowl (tourists, students of VUiT) and from Lake Elgushi,” a senior researcher at the Togliatti University shared at the scientific and cultural forum “Samara Luka: Legends and Reality” Museum of Local Lore, journalist Lydia Lyuboslavova. – Around midnight (23:40) it appeared at a high altitude and moved from south to north, towards Kurumoch airport, without sounds. It was not possible to determine the flight altitude and size of the object due to darkness, but visually it resembled a very large star. At that time, a plane was taking off from Kurumoch across from him. The object stopped (!) in the air and smoothly turned to the side, described a curve and disappeared, as if it had melted. The observation process took quite a long time, about 10 minutes, so it is very doubtful that we were dealing with ball lightning.
Another fairly common occurrence is clumps of fog. Here's what Lydia Lyuboslavova says about it:
– In June 2005, our group walked along the southern bank of the Samara Luka from Shelekhmeti to Osinovka. We moved along the top, along the rocks, along a heavily overgrown path. In the area of the Visly Kamen rock, one of the participants, who walked ahead of everyone, noticed a shrouded figure (he assured that it was a man) to the left of the path, that is, above the very cliff. An elderly man allegedly crossed the path and merged with the rock. It is curious that the participant did not know about publications in the press where similar episodes were cited: meetings with an old man disappearing into the rocks. Another example. On the evening of April 30, 2006, in the Elgushi tract, for about half an hour I watched a procession of tourists moving through the wasteland (approximately 100 meters from me), who then took on the shape of animals and quietly disappeared. (I’ll draw a parallel again: the works of cultural researchers cite stories of local residents about similar phenomena: for example, people see haystacks moving across a meadow. They attribute this to the machinations of goblin).
The head of the Togliatti UFO Commission, Tatyana Makarova, says that over the 15 years of the commission’s work, more than a thousand reports of UFOs and anomalous phenomena in Tolyatti and its immediate surroundings have been accumulated. And this database of messages is constantly updated.
What's the matter, explain!
When witnesses of anomalous phenomena turn to scientists with a request to explain what they experienced, they, as a rule, brush it off or talk about the subjective characteristics of a person’s psycho-emotional and physiological perception.
Indeed, for a long time there was no clear explanation of why concentric circles appeared in a buckwheat field, for example, in July 2005. The townspeople have already forgotten that story or remember it with laughter, agreeing that this was the work of some prankster-hooligan.
– The fallouts in the buckwheat field do not have a single sign that would indicate their anomalous origin. It is also known who did it. But for obvious reasons, I can’t name the names,” says Tatyana Makarova, head of the Tolyatti UFO Commission.
Photo website of the Togliatti UFO Commission
The photo was taken in the Avtozavodsky district of Tolyatti on October 13, 2011 with a cell phone camera. The object that is depicted on it being (flying) in the sky has no analogues among known technical devices.
However, some scientists still undertake to explain what is happening. But so far, apart from the conclusion that the Zhiguli Mountains are the strongest anomalous zone, the matter is not moving forward. One of the most fantastic versions belongs to the Samara search group “Avesta”: in the thickness of the Zhiguli Mountains at great depths, a certain technical device, at one time created by an ancient supercivilization, has been working for many millions of years. This device creates a force field around itself that prevents water flows through the mountain range. That is why the Volga, throughout all these millions of years, has been forced to go around the Zhiguli Mountains, making a strange bend in its middle course. This hypothetical geomachine is a kind of cluster of force fields - electromagnetic, gravitational, biological or others not yet known to us. It is these fields that have been helping the Zhiguli limestones (which, as is known, are very susceptible to erosion by water) for more than ten million years, keep the ancient river bed in a stable position, preventing even a slight displacement. According to the Avesta group, extraterrestrial civilization needs this underground energy complex to fuel the extra-spatial channel connecting their world with the earth’s surface. Such a channel can play the role of a kind of television camera through which a distant civilization sees everything that happens on our planet. Proof of this is the strange mirages that are regularly observed in the sky over the Samara Luka, as well as over some other points on our planet.
“Versions like those of Igor Pavlovich from the Avesta group should be treated with particular caution, because, excuse me, this is a fantasy, and nothing more,” says Tatyana Makarova, head of the Togliatti UFO Commission. And he continues: “Scientists do not explain what is happening in any way.” Firstly, such phenomena occur not only on the Samara Luka, but also on a fairly large adjacent territory. Secondly, factual data is still being accumulated, and in order to understand the mechanisms of what is happening, serious field studies are needed, which no one has yet carried out, both due to inaction and imperfect technical support. Therefore, there cannot yet be any more or less objective explanations.
“As a researcher, journalist and materialist, I am confident that any phenomenon can be given a scientific explanation,” says Lydia Lyuboslavova. – The question is whether modern science is ready to give it. Everything has its time. Maybe it’s good that there are no clear, intelligible explanations yet? The unknown attracts. Including tourists.
Photo website of the Togliatti UFO Commission
The most striking photograph of several similar ones, taken by different photographers at different times in different places of Zhiguli. This photo was taken in the area of the Rachey Alps natural monument (near Syzran). During the shooting, the photographer and his companions did not see (did not have time to notice?) any foreign objects in front of the digital camera lens. The object (and other similar objects) differs significantly from possible natural objects that fell into the lens (birds, flies, airplanes, etc.). The reliability index is as high as possible. Translated by L.N. Lyuboslavova.
1965 Local residents watched with delight and fear at the same time a strange elongated object flying without a single sound, the size of which was about 300 meters. When the UFO flew over the tops of the Khamar-Daban ridge, three white balls separated from it and flew away at high speed in the other direction. This case was officially recorded by the UFO Commission.
1967 A UFO landed not far from one of the Baikal villages. According to local residents, tall, almost two-meter tall creatures, very similar to people, dressed in silver overalls, emerged from the space object.
Same year 1967. The Il-14 plane was preparing to land at Irkutsk airport. The airliner was already approaching the runway when a mysterious huge object appeared next to it. The UFO first illuminated the plane with a bright beam, then flew after it for some time, repeating all its movements. And then he disappeared as imperceptibly as he appeared.
By the way, about the Irkutsk airport. UFO experts have long been saying that it was built in an anomalous zone. During its existence (began to function in 1925), 11 (!) disasters occurred here, and only one managed to avoid casualties.
1971 Leningrad engineer Georgy Filippov with his wife and son were vacationing on Lake Baikal. Somehow, on an inflatable sailing raft, they moved away from the shore to a distance of no more than a kilometer. The sun set, and the man, wanting to return to the shore, tried to start the engine - to no avail; he wanted to set the sail - the wind changed direction. It got dark. And suddenly the man looked around and saw three luminous columns rising up from the water, which, having connected, formed a pyramid. A black triangular platform appeared under the columns. After a few seconds, the columns broke away from the surface of the water and began to rise upward, and then seemed to be drawn into the platform and turned into bright white lights. A few moments later, the platform moved in the opposite direction from the shore and disappeared.
1982 Military swimmers conducted training sessions on Lake Baikal and dived to a depth of 50 meters. There, in the water column, they once noticed strange creatures almost 3 meters tall, who swam in helmets, but without scuba gear and were dressed in silver wetsuits. Military submariners decided to catch one giant. They plunged into the water, stretched out a thin strong net there and tried to throw it on one of the unknown people. But something strange happened: it was as if someone had pushed them to the surface. As a result, three of the seven swimmers died from decompression sickness, and four remained disabled. After this incident, ufologists began to talk about the fact that at the bottom of Lake Baikal there could be an underwater base of aliens from outer space.
2006 Above Baikal, near the village of Bolshie Koty, UFOs staged a real light show for vacationers: more than ten balls hovered over the lake and disappeared only a few minutes later.
Regularly shaped circles with a diameter of 25–40 meters have existed on Olkhon Island for a very, very long time. Historian scientists tried to explain the origin of the circles by saying that they were supposedly traces of the construction of Buryat yurts, but if compared, the diameter of the circle is 20–30 times larger than a traditional yurt. Biological scientists claim that the circles are nothing more than mycelium, consisting of growing intertwined threads. The local population believes that these are traces of the Tengris - mystical creatures who descend to earth every full moon and dance in a circle. Ufologists believe that the circles are evidence of aliens visiting the earth.
As proof of the unearthly version of the origin of circles, one can cite the stories of people who traveled in circles. Those who tried to enter the center of the circle said that they had the feeling of some kind of obstacle that needed to be pushed through (it's like pushing through a film). Moving along the border of the circle resembles immersion in water. And some lovers of the mystical and mysterious claim that if you stand in the very center of the circle, a slight change in consciousness occurs.
“In general, the entire Urals is an anomalous region,” says Alexey Martin, coordinator of the Russian ufological station for the Urals. “We have a lot of minerals being mined, there are developments going on, there are a lot of resources. All this attracts the attention of cosmic creatures who draw energy for their activities in such zones. We also have many military and industrial facilities - in this case we can say that they are interested in man-made human activity. But it is difficult for us to judge why the Sverdlovsk triangle became anomalous - there is nothing here except a thermal power plant and a quarry, other creatures cannot be interested in this. But we assume that there is a natural anomalous zone here that feeds them at the energy level.
In the 1980s and 1990s, this is where the largest number of documented UFOs were recorded. Moreover, their flights took place along the same trajectory and at the same altitude, which makes us think about some kind of “route”. There were simply balls flying by, from which luminous rays emanated, and there were also luminous points that moved along broken lines, which no human aircraft is capable of. They hovered in the air, there were jumps and accelerations.
Photo personal archive of Alexey Martin
In these same places, people often wander, and for hours they cannot find a way out of the forest, although no matter which way you go there, you can quickly reach civilization. Moreover, they wander not over a vast territory, but over an area of 2 by 2 kilometers. The travelers walk in circles and return to the starting point again and again. Others, on the contrary, can cover 10 km at a leisurely pace in an hour.
In the Sverdlovsk triangle, one often encounters footprints - seemingly human - that go to some open area and end abruptly. If this is a person, then his disappearance is absolutely inexplicable!
In 2008, a film crew from one federal channel came to the anomalous zone to film a program. They wanted to interview fishermen who were sitting on the small shores of the lake inside the zone. They set up a camera and there were colored flashes on the screen. We decided to move to another place - the same thing happened there. The TV crews were afraid for their equipment and fled to film in safer places. And they said that this happened to them only once, when they were filming at a factory near open-hearth furnaces.
There was no urban development in this area for a long time. Now the buildings of the Ural Federal University are being built there, and ufologists are afraid that something will happen to those who will study and work there.
Moscow is multifaceted and grandiose; every time it turns to the traveler with thousands of different sides. Here, the multi-colored domes of Orthodox churches coexist with monumental high-rise buildings in the “Stalinist Empire” style. Rich estates of the aristocratic families of the Russian Empire stand next to fashionable restaurants and clubs, the spiers of glass high-rise business districts sparkle against the backdrop of picturesque Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
Moscow has a huge number of cultural sites - more than 400 museums, about a thousand monuments, 130 theaters and dozens of concert halls. Most of the events in the country's social life, from premieres to international exhibitions, take place in the capital. You need to come to Moscow for a long time to feel the spirit and energy of this dynamic city.
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What to see and where to go in Moscow?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
The most recognizable and visited places in the Russian capital. The red towers of the Kremlin, crowned with stars, are an established brand, a symbol of Moscow. Since the 12th century, the Kremlin served as a defensive structure; over the centuries it was repeatedly burned and rebuilt. Red Square has more than once become the site of important state events. It hosted public meetings, fairs, parades, and various cultural events.
The cathedral was founded by order of Ivan the Terrible as gratitude to the Lord for his help in the capture of Kazan. The building originally had golden domes and red and white walls. After a fire in the 18th century, as a result of restoration, the temple was decorated in bright colors and now it towers over Red Square like a multi-colored gingerbread. The name was given in honor of the holy fool Vasily the Blessed, who collected part of the money for the construction of the temple and gave it to Ivan the Terrible.
Public space in the historical district of the capital of the same name. Construction took place in 2014-2017, after the demolition of the Rossiya Hotel located on this site. The park presents 4 landscape zones of Russia. The total number of trees planted is 752, and shrubs are about 7 thousand. In different parts of Zaryadye there are zones with an artificial microclimate. In 2018, a concert hall opened in the park.
The business district of the capital, consisting of modern skyscrapers of futuristic design. The project is unique both for Russia and for the whole of Eastern Europe. The tallest tower of the Federation complex reaches a height of 235 meters; other buildings also have their own names. Moscow City was nicknamed “Moscow Manhattan”; the quarter was conceived as a Russian analogue of the London and New York business districts.
Moscow Cathedral, where the Patriarch holds services. The temple was built in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 according to the design of Konstantin Ton; the work lasted more than forty years. During the Soviet era, the building was blown up, and in its place appeared the Palace of Soviets, and later the Moscow swimming pool. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1994-1997. and now has maximum external resemblance to the original.
The oldest convent in the capital. According to legend, it stands on the spot where, during the rule of the Golden Horde, girls were selected to be sent into slavery. The monastery was founded in 1524 by Vasily III. Subsequently, many royal persons, as well as girls from princely and boyar families, received tonsure at the monastery. Many came here not of their own free will. Architecturally, the monastery is a real fortress with powerful walls.
A 16th-century temple on the banks of the Moscow River on the territory of a park complex in Kolomenskoye. Presumably, the Italian architect Petrok Maly took part in the construction of the building. The church is one of the first examples of stone tented churches on the territory of Rus'. The structure was built in the form of an equal-ended cross with a 62-meter bell tower. The architecture of the temple is considered unique.
The main Catholic cathedral of Moscow, built in the neo-Gothic style at the expense of the Polish community. The main buildings were erected at the beginning of the 20th century according to the design of F. O. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky. The cathedral is a typical example of the architecture of Catholic churches - pointed arches, soaring figured towers, colored stained glass windows. The temple regularly hosts organ music concerts and other cultural events.
The palace and park ensemble, covering an area of more than 100 hectares, is located in the south of the capital. All buildings were created in the 18th century in the “pseudogothic” or “Russian Gothic” architectural style. Previously, the ensemble served as a royal residence. Nowadays, the park houses exhibitions, museums, concert halls, and greenhouses. Thanks to the beautiful landscape, the Tsaritsino ensemble has become a popular place for wedding photo shoots.
Wooden palace in Kolomenskoye Park, which belonged to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. It opened to visitors in 2010. The building was founded in the 17th century, its appearance was designed to emphasize the power of the Russian state and the greatness of the Tsar. The interior decoration was distinguished by pomp and luxury. Under Catherine II, the palace was dismantled, but detailed drawings of it were first made. Based on these drawings, the complex was completely restored later.
A landmark of the New Age in the spirit of Russian architecture of the 17th century, the stylized residence of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The ensemble was built according to ancient sketches and drawings. The Kremlin appeared in 2007 near the Partizanskaya metro station. There are handicraft shops, museums, taverns, and a church on the territory. The Kremlin was created according to the project of A.F. Ushakov as an attraction to attract tourists.
An 18th-century mansion that belonged to the count family of Sheremetyev. The magnificent estate, surrounded by a landscaped park, was used for lavish receptions, balls, celebrations and theatrical performances. The museum on site exhibits one of the world's largest collections of ceramics. Exhibitions, concerts, and celebrations in old Russian traditions are constantly held in Kuskovo.
An architectural monument of the 17th century in the Tagansky district of the capital. Since 1991 it has served as a patriarchal courtyard. The Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church is also located here. The history of the place began in the 13th century. At first there was a monastery here, and then the residence of senior clergy. The Krutitsky courtyard is a place where you can imagine what Moscow looked like in past centuries.
The country's main opera stage and one of the best theaters in the world. The theater was built in 1825, but in 1853 the building burned down. Three years later, the Bolshoi was rebuilt. Large-scale reconstructions were carried out in 1886-1893, in 1958 and in 2005-2011. The monumental theater building is decorated with massive columns; the interior decoration is striking in luxury. The crystal chandelier in the main auditorium deserves special attention.
An art museum with a rich collection, founded by the Tretyakov merchant family. In 1861, in his will, Pavel Tretyakov transferred the family gallery to the city and determined sums of money for its maintenance. In 1893, the museum officially opened to the public. The Tretyakov Gallery is the largest (more than 180 thousand exhibits) collection of Russian paintings, engravings, and icon paintings.
They are located in the same building on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. The Armory Chamber has been functioning as a museum since 1806. It houses art and artifacts, both made in local workshops and donated by embassies of other countries. The Diamond Fund is an impressive exhibition of masterpieces of jewelry art. The best examples of the collection date from the 18th-20th centuries. In addition, the exhibition features precious stones and nuggets with a rich history.
It is located on Red Square and is one of the main capital museums. Collections covering all eras in Russian history from ancient times to the 20th century are exhibited in countless halls. There are also extensive exhibitions on the history of other states. The museum was founded by decree of Alexander II in 1872. In 1990, the building was included in the UNESCO heritage list along with Red Square.
The circus was built in 1880 with the money of the merchant Danilov. From the very opening, the administration tried to invite only the best groups and attract more visitors to the performances. In 1996, in honor of the 75th artist Yu. Nikulin, the circus was given the name “Moscow Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard.” The auditorium can accommodate 2,000 people, and modern equipment is used during performances.
The museum gallery was opened in 1913; the collection was based on exhibits from the collection of the Cabinet of Fine Arts and Antiquities of Moscow University. Later, original samples of the culture of Ancient Egypt were acquired. During the 20th century, the museum developed and expanded, and now it contains about 700 exhibits. The halls constantly host various exhibitions of world-famous authors.
Cold War Museum, located 65 meters underground. The bunker was built in the middle of the 20th century; it was conceived as a completely autonomous shelter in case of a sudden nuclear strike. A supply of water and food was stored here for a long time. The entrance to the museum is a one and a half ton door, behind which a long staircase begins. Visitors can explore the bunker's interiors on a guided tour and watch a film about the Cold War.
A park complex with memorials dedicated to the Victory in the Second World War of 1941-1945. Before construction began in 1987, the hill on Poklonnaya Hill was partially demolished. The park officially opened in 1995. The central monument is an obelisk topped with a statue of the goddess Nike, 141.8 meters in height. In 2009-2010 The Eternal Flame burned here, moved during the reconstruction period from the Alexander Garden.
Vorobyovy Gory is considered the main observation deck in Moscow, offering views of the Moskva River valley, Luzhniki, Stalinist skyscrapers and Moscow City skyscrapers. The Moscow State University building is located nearby. The Sparrow Hills park area is a great place for walking, cycling, rollerblading, and jogging. Moscow bikers have been gathering near the observation deck for many years.
Opened in the 50s of the last century, it was rebuilt many times. The area exceeds 180 hectares. Hosted some events of the 1980 Olympics. In the 90s it turned into a huge clothing market, which was liquidated by 2003. Now the complex consists of dozens of facilities, including a sports arena with 78 thousand seats, football fields, tennis courts, swimming pools and a golf academy. The final match of the 2018 World Cup was played at Luzhniki.
The largest metro in the former USSR. The first line was launched in 1935, it connected Sokolniki and Park Kultury. Currently, 15 lines with a length of almost 400 km have been laid. Of the 230 active stations, 48 are recognized as Russian cultural heritage sites. The design of some metro halls resembles museums; excursions, including night ones, are held here.
One of the oldest in Europe, it has been welcoming visitors since 1864. Currently, the zoo contains about 6 thousand individuals. They represent more than a thousand species of animals. The territory is divided by topic. There are both open and closed exhibitions and enclosures. Anyone can register for guardianship of an animal they like, finance its maintenance and receive a number of privileges. The living symbol of the zoo is the giraffe Samson.
A large park area in the North-East of the capital with numerous exhibition pavilions, well-groomed alleys, fountains, cafes, and concert venues. VDNKh is one of the most popular places for city residents to relax on weekends. Here you can visit an aquarium, a historical pavilion, innovative exhibitions, farmers' markets, a theater and even a “port” with a swimming pool and beach. There are many cyclists, roller skaters and other athletes at VDNKh.
The television tower is another important symbol of the capital. The tower provides television broadcast throughout Russia; television studios and offices of the main channels are located here. The height of the building reaches 540 meters. The Ostankino Tower was built in the period 1963-1967; at that time it was considered the tallest building in Europe. For visitors there are special excursions to the tower with a visit to the observation deck.
Arched gate on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, erected in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The structure was built according to the design of the architect Bove in 1829-1834, later in 1936 the arch was dismantled. The reconstructed gate reappeared on the avenue only in 1968. The inscription on the top of the old structure glorified the deeds of Alexander I in Russian and Latin, the new inscription immortalized the feat of Russian soldiers in 1812.
Seven high-rise buildings built in the pompous “Stalinist Empire” style in the mid-20th century. These unique structures, as conceived by the leader, were supposed to symbolize the power and greatness of Moscow and the entire USSR. The buildings house the Moscow State University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hotels, and residential apartments. In Soviet times, housing in these elite houses was allocated only to prominent scientists and government officials.
It is located on Red Square and is one of its main attractions. The history of the building began in the 19th century with the opening of shopping arcades. During the 20th century, GUM gradually became the main and most coveted store in the country - all business travelers strive to get into it to purchase scarce goods. Nowadays, GUM is the territory of expensive boutiques, historical shops and designer showrooms.
The capital's famous promenade, where street performers perform and artists paint portraits, surrounded by charming Moscow mansions from previous centuries. Arbat has a large number of souvenir shops, restaurants and small interesting museums. The street is included in the mandatory visiting program for foreign tourists, so you can see them here in considerable numbers.
A small park in the city center, a popular place for walking among locals. The garden was founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ya. Shchukin at the end of the 19th century. The last serious reconstruction was carried out in the late 90s. XX century. On the territory of the park there are three theaters and an open stage for summer concerts. During the warmer months, festivals and various events are often held here, attracting many visitors.
A large art area located on the Crimean embankment. The art area includes open-air exhibitions, landscaped gardens, fountains, modern art installations and numerous walking paths. The Crimean embankment itself is a picturesque pedestrian area on the banks of the Moscow River, a cozy and romantic place that quickly gained popularity among tourists and Muscovites themselves.
Numerous art workshops, galleries, design studios, exhibition halls occupying the former building of the Red October confectionery factory. This is a kind of bohemian center of the capital, where events constantly take place with the participation of the fashionable public and famous people. The red brick factory building itself is a classic example of industrial architecture of the early 20th century.
The park is located on the embankment of the Moscow River. In recent years, the place has been transformed and has become a point of attraction for the sophisticated public. Events dedicated to environmental protection, vegetarian festivals, skateboarding competitions and other events are constantly organized here. The park often becomes the venue for large-scale city festivals; in winter, an ice skating rink has been operating on the territory for several years.
Northern lights hunters – there is something desperate and romantic about it. If you love to travel, you are not afraid of difficulties, and you want to see the most fascinating natural phenomenon with your own eyes, this guide article will help make your dream come true. Let's figure out where you can see the northern lights, and what expert advice you need to follow to witness a unique spectacle.
General information about the natural phenomenon
From a scientific point of view, this is a glow that appears at an altitude of 80 to 100 km as a result of the interaction of molecules in the atmosphere with charged particles of energy penetrating into the atmospheric shell from space. In other words, streams of sunlight, reaching the layers of the atmosphere, cause a bright glow of nitrogen and oxygen atoms.
The natural phenomenon can be observed near the magnetic poles, namely in the zone limited by 67 and 70 degrees latitude.
It is difficult to see the northern lights near the magnetic pole in the southern hemisphere due to the fact that in these latitudes there are no places suitable for human habitation. In the northern part of the planet you can find a dozen places with ideal conditions for observing a unique phenomenon.
Be prepared for the fact that this is an all too rare occurrence. To see it, you will need to put many circumstances together into a single puzzle. It is likely that you will have to go north to no avail. However, by following simple recommendations, you will increase your chances of success.
When does the shine happen
The season of celestial glows is the period from the third ten days of September to the end of March. The peak of activity occurs in the cold season - from November to February. In winter, the northern latitudes experience the longest nights - 18-20 hours each, so the slightest glow in the sky will be clearly visible and you can take a mesmerizing, magical photo of the northern lights.
Monitor activity on the surface of the Sun
This is the main condition for the appearance of a natural phenomenon in the sky. After solar activity, 2 to 5 days must pass - during this time the flow of energy reaches the surface of the Earth. The more powerful the release, the greater the chances of success. There are sites on the Internet that display up-to-date information.
It is important! The magnetic activity of the Sun is indicated by the K-index, which ranges from 1 to 9. A favorable condition for the appearance of a glow is considered to be a K-index value of at least 4.
Cities have a large number of electric lights, which disrupt the contrast of the night sky and interfere with observation. In large cities, the probability of seeing the lights tends to zero; in this case, you will need to travel from the city to a distance of 50 to 70 km. If you are in a small village, it is enough to drive 5-10 km.
Only clear weather.
The northern lights appear at an altitude of 80-100 km, the cloudy zone is lower, so the clouds completely hide the glow. In frosty weather, as a rule, cloudiness is minimal, and therefore the chances of success are greater.
Head due north
Moving towards the north, you inevitably get closer to your dream.
What you will need on your trip
- Automobile. This can be your own car or rented transport. Considering the difficult climatic conditions of the area where you will be, the car will not only provide comfortable movement, but will keep you warm.
- Stock up on gasoline. Fill the tank and take a few cans, since the car will have to be left on to keep it at a comfortable temperature.
- Hot drinks in a thermos. Do not take alcohol under any circumstances, as it warms you up for a short time. Better save an alcoholic drink for when you get home to celebrate your success.
- Shoes. Pay special attention to the choice of shoes, because you will have to stand in the snow for a long time.
- Tripod. If you want to take high-quality photos and videos of the northern lights, you cannot do without a tripod.
- Spare batteries. In the cold, batteries discharge too quickly; stock up on the necessary number of spare sets so that, if necessary, you can replace them in a flashlight, phone, camera, or video camera. Store them in a warm place.
- Professional camera. Theoretically, an ordinary point-and-shoot camera will do, but is it really worth going through such a long and difficult journey to take a few fuzzy, blurry photos? You are traveling to capture a real natural wonder, so the best choice is professional photo and video equipment.
Where are the Northern Lights visible?
We’ve come to the most interesting part – where you can see the northern lights.
Where can you see the northern lights in Russia
In Russia, endless opportunities open up for hunters of the polar glow, because almost half of the country crosses the Arctic Circle. However, it is almost impossible to get to some places in winter and the weather conditions become too harsh (temperatures below -45 degrees are not a test for weak-willed travelers).
The best choice is to fly from Moscow or St. Petersburg to the Arkhangelsk or Murmansk regions. Such a trip is not only convenient in terms of climatic conditions, but will cost less than a trip to Taimyr or Chukotka.
Murmansk
This is the closest place to the capital of Russia. The journey by train will take from 30 to 35 hours, and by plane you will arrive in 2 hours. You can stay here in any small town, as long as there is transport connectivity in cold weather. Remember that you will have to travel by car.
Pay attention to the village of Teriberka, the village of Vidyaevo, and the urban-type settlement of Pechenga. A plane ticket to Murmansk will cost an average of 7-8 thousand rubles if you fly from Moscow. Then you will need a car.
Do not be afraid of the harsh temperatures; in the Murmansk region you can observe a wonderful phenomenon as early as September at temperatures just below +10 degrees.
At first glance, you can turn a scientific trip into entertainment and visit the Khibiny Mountains. This is a great place for mountain skiing. Pay attention to the Kuelporr recreation center, you can get to it from Kirovsk on snowmobiles.
Arhangelsk region
The main advantage of Arkhangelsk and surrounding settlements is the mostly clear weather, the northern lights here are clear and bright. Travelers come here from September to April.
Many experts claim that even in the city itself you can see a glow in the sky, but in terms of intensity and color saturation it is significantly inferior to the glow in the Murmansk region.
It is better to route through Moscow or St. Petersburg. The flight will cost 6-7 thousand rubles. Your holiday will be diversified by a visit to the open-air sculpture museum. The best photographs are taken on the coast of the Northern Dvina.
People who are resistant to extremely low temperatures come here, since here is the epicenter of the coldest climate not only in Russia, but on the entire planet.
While waiting for the northern lights, you can go skiing, river rafting, and climb mountain peaks. Lovers of comfort will certainly be interested in a cruise on the Lena River.
Taimyr Peninsula
One of the proven places in Russia where the northern lights often occur is the Taimyr Nature Reserve. There are almost no traces of human activity here. In the immediate vicinity of the protected area, infrastructure is developed - river rafting, walking and snowmobiling are available. If you have enough time and finances, be sure to go to the administrative center of the reserve - Khatanga.
Northern Lights in Norway
The optimal period to visit Norway is from December to February. In addition to the glow in the sky, there is another natural phenomenon here - a blue glow in the daytime.
The best way to go on a cruise is to travel on a ship along the coast of Norway. Choose a route from Tromsø to Trondheim. A four-day tour costs on average 500 euros.
You can visit the polar center, located in Norway on the island of Eustvogeya in the small village of Laukvik. Here you will enjoy the heavenly glow, visit exhibitions and presentations dedicated to the natural phenomenon.
Directly from Moscow you can take a boat trip to the Spitsbergen archipelago, located just an hour and a half drive from the North Pole. Similar expeditions are organized in Norway. Regular flights depart from Oslo to the capital of the archipelago – Longyearbyen.
If you don't want to leave mainland Norway, visit the cities of Tromsø and Alta.
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Northern Lights in Iceland
Until recently, Iceland was considered exotic and unattainable for the average traveler. However, this is where you can most often see the northern lights.
Start your journey from a town in the south of Iceland – Stokseyri, which is located just 60 km from the city of Reykjavik.
Here you can visit the Icelandic Wonderland Center, listen to fascinating stories about fabulous creatures and try a drink made from the ice of a real glacier. After a portion of miracles, travelers go to the Ghost Center. Now you can begin the hunt for a wonderful natural phenomenon.
Iceland's most adventurous visitors head to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Here you will find picturesque nature and many wonders - waterfalls, geysers, thermal springs.
Aurora in Finland
Finland is called a strange country of lakes and forests, but within the framework of our topic another interesting fact is that in the northern part of the country the air is so clean that a glow in the sky appears here up to 200 times a year. It is better to come to Finland in February-March or September-October.
It is better to start your trip in the city of Rovaniemi - this is the administrative center of Lapland. Here excursion groups are formed, which travel on comfortable buses to their destination. You can also take a trip on skis or reindeer sleds. Tourists are offered an exciting night safari on a snowmobile, its cost on average is 60 euros per person.
In the province of Lapland is Sodankylä, where the observatory and the House of the Northern Lights are located. Tourists are welcomed here all year round, excursions and fascinating exhibitions are held.
Oulanka Park is a picturesque place where you can not only see the polar glow, but also enjoy beautiful landscapes and picturesque nature. There is a hotel with a Finnish sauna on the territory of the park.
Now you know exactly where you can see the northern lights, and may you be lucky. Feel free to pursue your dreams, because emotions and impressions will surely become some of the most vivid in your life.
Watch the video to see what the polar glow looks like in dynamics.
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Our planet is a unique organism that can endlessly surprise people with its beauty and unusual phenomena. What is the mystical fiery dance of heaven worth! This is what the indigenous inhabitants of Chukotka called the northern lights, who treated this phenomenon with great trepidation and respect. Those who were lucky enough to see this heavenly carnival with their own eyes were never the same. forever captivates human souls with its beauty. But don’t think that in order to enjoy this amazing spectacle, you need to go abroad. Anyone with some patience can watch the northern lights in Russia.
What exactly is the celestial glow?
Before we deal with the question of where you can see the northern lights in Russia, let's find out the nature of this mysterious phenomenon. In ancient times, the unusual glow was attributed to magical origin. Some peoples thought that these were the lights of the divine palace. Others were wary of him and hid their children during this phenomenon, believing that the gods were angry with the inhabitants of the Earth and could punish their family members with death. In any case, the northern lights were considered mystical mysteries, the secrets of which were not worth delving into for the uninitiated.
In fact, a natural phenomenon can be given a very simple definition. Scientists have proven that the celestial glow occurs due to the reaction of solar wind particles that reached the upper layers of our planet's atmosphere with nitrogen and oxygen. The interaction of these particles causes a glow of extraordinary beauty.
Who was the first to study the phenomenon of the northern lights?
Scientists all over the world tried to unravel the mystery of the amazing glow, but only Mikhail Lomonosov actively studied the northern lights in Russia. He conducted a lot of experiments and proved that the glow is electrical in nature. His followers continued the work of the teacher, step by step revealing the essence of the unusual phenomenon.
Ultimately, it was proven that the powerful ones are always followed by the northern lights. Moreover, the brightness and duration of the glow depend on the power of the solar emission.
Where do the Northern Lights occur?
The Sun ejects charged particles constantly, but in most cases this solar wind is insignificant and does not cause a glow in the upper atmosphere. But a particularly powerful charge will definitely be attracted. Therefore, the northern lights can only be seen in the area of the magnetic poles of our planet. Since there are two of them, the lights are northern and southern. At the South Pole, where there are practically no human settlements, seeing the celestial carnival is very problematic. But the North Pole is quite hospitable, and people can enjoy this amazing natural phenomenon if they try to get there at the right time. However, in order to see the magical heavenly lights, you don’t have to go on a long trip. The Northern Lights can also be observed in Russian cities; the list of similar places in our country is quite extensive.
Such a different northern lights
Scientists studying the northern lights have identified two types. The palest glow is diffuse. It is usually barely visible even on a dark night and does not differ in colors. The pinpoint northern lights are the complete opposite of the previous type. It emits a surprisingly bright glow, which is very visible at night. Some eyewitnesses claim that under such light you can read printed text without straining your eyes.
Is it easy to see the Northern Lights?
If you are sure that it is very easy to catch celestial lights through your camera lens, and you are only concerned about the question of where you can see the northern lights in Russia, then we have to disappoint you. Take your time to pack your bags and buy tickets - the northern lights are very difficult to see. Even powerful emissions of solar particles do not guarantee colored streaks in the sky. Experts consider the opportunity to photograph the northern lights a rare success, because for this to happen many factors must coincide. The absence of one of them will already change the situation, and magic lights will not appear in the sky. And the journey to the ends of the earth will be in vain.
Best Time to Hunt for Heavenly Light
The Northern Lights, as surprising as it may sound, are a seasonal phenomenon. It is most often seen during the winter months. Those who want to know when to see the northern lights in Russia can start planning their vacation from November to February. This period is considered the most successful for observing a rare natural phenomenon. In addition, the northern nights during these months last up to twenty hours, which is very convenient for recording a natural phenomenon.
The brightest multi-colored glow manifests itself until three o’clock in the morning. In the following hours it becomes paler and gradually disappears.
How to see the northern lights?
Most celestial glow hunters are concerned about the question of where to see the northern lights in Russia. But it is equally important to find out exactly how and when to observe this magical natural phenomenon. Experts know that before purchasing tickets to the northern regions, you need to carefully monitor solar flares. A powerful ejection on the Sun guarantees the presence of the northern lights. Around the world, several observatories monitor the activity of our star, their data is available to every Internet user. If you notice a big one, you can safely choose a northern city and buy tickets. You will have about five days left - this time is necessary for the solar wind to reach our planet.
When choosing a place where you plan to see the northern lights, follow a few simple rules:
- it is necessary to leave for the most remote northern cities;
- clear weather will be ideal for observing a natural phenomenon, but clouds will immediately hide all the beauty;
- The point from which you will observe the celestial glow must be a small village, otherwise the light from the city will block the northern lights.
Seasoned travelers have their own list of cities around the world that are ideal for photographing the Northern Lights.
What will you need along the way?
The North does not forgive mistakes and nonsense. Both polar explorers and residents know this. Therefore, prepare well for hunting for the northern lights, otherwise you will waste your money on your trip. Take care of your car first. You can rent it in the city where you are going. The machine will help you out in many cases:
- you will always be mobile and will be able to choose the best angle for shooting;
- You can always warm up inside the car;
- special equipment in the car will be safe and sound, not exposed to low temperatures.
The main thing is to make sure that the car's tank is full and there are a couple of spare cans of gasoline in the trunk.
Pay special attention to your clothes - they should be warm and comfortable. And you need to choose your shoes especially carefully; during the shooting you will have to spend several hours in the snow. Please note that batteries lose their charge very quickly in cold weather. Therefore, take with you several spare units for equipment.
It wouldn’t hurt to take a thermos of tea and a lot of sandwiches with you on the road. After all, the hunt for the northern lights can drag on for the whole night, and hunger will force you to return to the city and lose precious time.
Northern Lights in Russia: where can you see them?
Russia is a huge country. Its population can observe a beautiful celestial glow in many hidden corners of the Russian outback. Where in Russia are the northern lights brightest? Scientists believe that in Chukotka and Karelia. Residents of these areas enjoy the beautiful spectacle more often than others during the winter months. But don’t rush to go to these parts. In winter it is very difficult to get here; many settlements do not even have roads. And severe frosts almost completely exclude the possibility of traveling to observe the northern lights. Therefore, it is worth looking for other places where this amazing natural phenomenon also often occurs.
First of all, you should go to those cities and regions of the country where the northern lights are visible. In Russia, these territories include the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. It’s quite easy to get here from here, and the frosts won’t stop you from spending nights outside, watching the glow of the sky.
Where you can see the northern lights in Russia: list of cities
If you are going in pursuit of the northern lights from Moscow, then pay attention to the cities of the Murmansk region. Choose small towns with good access roads. The best cities are:
- Polar.
- Vidyaevo.
- Pecheneg.
There are all the necessary infrastructure facilities, such as hotels and cafes. That is, travelers will be quite comfortable and convenient in these towns.
If you are looking for real extreme sports, we advise you to go to the Khibiny Mountains. They are located just south of Murmansk and offer simply amazing views of the night sky. There is no need to worry about light pollution here, since the nearest city is several thousand kilometers away. The only drawback in Khibiny is the lack of a large selection of hotels. In winter, only a few recreation centers remain open.
In the Komi Republic, the northern lights are visible from almost any populated area. Local residents can even observe such a rare phenomenon as the August northern lights. But it’s best to go to Vorkuta - there is the least light pollution and quite decent infrastructure.
A trip to Taimyr is a real adventure. Northern lights hunters usually go to the village of Khatanga. It is considered the northernmost settlement in Russia. The most beautiful and long-lasting celestial glows in the world are observed here. Even Norway and Iceland cannot boast of such colorful northern lights, which are usually observed by local residents of Khatanga.
The Northern Lights are an amazing phenomenon. Even those who have watched it more than once cannot refuse the opportunity to enjoy this spectacle again. No camera or video camera can capture the essence of this magical light. It is not for nothing that the northern peoples gave this natural phenomenon poetic names, the most beautiful of which is “the light that is heard.”