Russian Information Guide | Travel Russia | Siberia

 Discover Siberia

Siberia...For many people in the world, it is still mysterious, unknown, and therefore, frightening land. There are a lot of stories and legends in Siberia, and this concept is only associated with severe frosts, oil and the Russian man in Ushanka. In fact, the Siberian territory is not only tundra and taiga, but also a large city with a million people, a modern enterprise, and attractions, very friendly and helpful people who love this harsh land with all their heart. 

Siberia is a large and important territory of our country. Unfortunately, even some Russians have a false understanding of this area. You may probably think that it is always cold in Siberia, people use bears as a transport and warm themselves with vodka. However, it is not like this!

Climate

Perhaps one of the most common associations with the name of Siberia is harsh climate and extremely cold weather. Of course, the climate here is not as soft as the Volga region and middle Asia, but at the same time, not be as severe as many people think. 

Yes, it is actually pretty cold in Siberia, but not always. The temperature gets to +35 during summer in Southern regions and -35 in winter. People have managed to survive in the harsh Siberian conditions, and they really like to live there.-20 degree is a comfortable temperature for the Siberians because they know how to warm themselves and dress properly. Siberia is really interesting because of its nature, culture, history, and amazing people. 

Facts about Siberia
The coldest city on Earth is located in Siberia, and it is called Oymyakon.

The area of Siberia is 50 times more than the UK. However, the population of Siberia is almost twice less than in the UK.

Lake Baikal is the deepest in the world. Moreover, its area is almost equal to the area of the Netherlands. People from all over the world come to Siberia to see it. 

Siberian drivers are one of the best in Russia. Some roads in Siberia are covered with ice and snow during winter. 

The famous Husky breed comes from Siberia.

Novosibirsk is the major town in Siberia and the 3rd largest in Russia (After Moscow and St. Petersburg).

Some people call Siberia “the land that feeds Russia”because we get most of the coil, wood and other natural resources from there.The development of transport, mining, and processing industry of Siberia became really important to Russia. The history of the XX century showed that the Soviet Union could not assert their independence and gain international influence without reliance on the resources of Siberia.

Discovery of Siberia

Russians began to settle in Siberia in the XV century. When many independent territories united, tsars of Russia decided to concur the Siberian Khanate. Ermak held the first major military expedition to there. In 1581, October, Yermak took the capital city of the khanate Isker.The anniversary of this event was then celebrated as the day of Siberia. 

The Russian movement to the East continued in the XVII century. All the indigenous people of Siberia have agreed to become tributaries of the Russian Tsar. Only in the last quarter of the XVII century, the pioneers met the resistance of well-organized armies on the borders of China. In 1689 the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk with the Qing Empire finished the story large-scale expansion of Russian possessions in Siberia, and the era of its development began.

Jokes that come from tourists

Siberian distance — only Siberians can visit friends for a weekend who are 250-600 kilometers away, just to drink beer: "Yes, it is not far", they say.

Russians who are not from Siberia: Guys, I just got back from Siberia. Think about it: We measure distances in kilometers and Siberians measure it in days. "Yes, it is not far, you will reach the destination in two days."

A resident of Germany: «1,000 km from the lake Baikal? Do you actually think that it is close?»

Hobbies of Siberians

Every year people from different regions come to Siberia for active holidays. We have got many forests and rivers and, therefore, tourists come for fishing, hunting, and camping. Siberian taiga is a popular destination for hunters: Bears, foxes, and wolves are in high demand because of their furs and moose is attractive because of its meet. Siberians also make pelmeni with moose. Moreover, people enjoy fishing, as there are many clean and rich rivers, surrounded by beautiful nature where they can settle for camp. We like to say that if someone wants to see traditional Russia he must go to Siberia because they respect the traditions and keep them unchanged throughout the centuries. 

Siberian Valenki
It is a must-have accessory that comes together with Ushanka! Valenki are boots that are made of fleece and protects feet from cold. They are ideal for walking on a surface that is covered in snow. They come in many colors and designs, but classic valenki are gray. If you are planning to visit Siberia in winter, valenki are exactly what you need! However, be careful with using this word. Apart from boots, “valenok” means “a silly person.”

Nature 
Siberia is a unique place because there are still many placed that stay untouched by a human. 

Nature of Siberia is really diverse. Vegetation varies mainly in the direction from North to South. There are the Arctic desert, tundra, forest tundra, forest, taiga, forest-steppe, and steppe.In the tundra and forest-tundra zone, the main vegetations are mosses and lichens, shrubs (low-growing) and, of course, perennial grasses. 
Taiga is considered to be the main landscape of Siberia. The width of the forest reaches to 2 thousand kilometers in some areas! Taiga formed vast forests of spruce and fir, as well as the legendary Siberian cedar. 

However, the real treasure of Siberia is the Lake Baikal. It is the largest and the purest lake in the Earth. Moreover, people drink water from Baikal, believing that it cures the diseases. There are also many legends about the lake. For example, only near Baikal, you can see the mysterious icy hills. Many scientists all over the world still cannot discover the nature of this phenomenon. 

Cuisine
Particular preference is given to dishes with mushrooms, game, and fish. Now people follow a healthy diet, so dishes of Siberian cuisine are becoming popular. Meals are prepared only from environmentally friendly products, preserving all its useful properties. Fishing and hunting are very developed in Siberia. Therefore, Siberian fish and game have an amazing taste.

Dishes of Siberian cuisine have many nuances, such as the seasons. After all, the season of hunting or catching of a certain fish is carried out at different times. One of the most distinguishing features of Siberian cuisine is a lack of beef, as this meat in Northern areas is considered a delicacy. For the inhabitants of Siberia, daily meat is the venison.

By Anna Ryzhenkova