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World Tourism Day 2017: Bucket List of Must-See Destinations in Russia

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What places first come to mind when you think about visiting Russia? While travel enthusiasts around the globe are celebrating World Tourism Day, take a sneak peek at some of Russia’s gems that are off the beaten trail.

World Tourism Day is observed annually on September 27. It was established in 1980 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. In honor of the occasions, Sputnik presents some of Russia's most spectacular sights, from the world-famous Lake Baikal and Mount Elbrus to the less popular Arkaim and Dombay.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Smirnov  / Go to the mediabankLake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, is known for being the world’s largest freshwater lake.
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Lake Baikal, located in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, is known for being the world’s largest freshwater lake.
© Sputnik / Ilya Timin / Go to the mediabankKizhi Island, located in the Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia, is a national open-air museum with about 87 centuries-old wooden structures. The most famous of those constructions is the Kizhi Pogost, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Photo: A windmill at the Kizhi Pogost.
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Kizhi Island, located in the Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia, is a national open-air museum with about 87 centuries-old wooden structures. The most famous of those constructions is the Kizhi Pogost, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Photo: A windmill at the Kizhi Pogost.
© Sputnik / Igor PodgornyiRuskeala stone quarries were mined in Karelia for almost for three centuries; now, this picturesque site has become Ruskeala Mountain Park with a stunning marble grotto and a crystal clear lake. Photo: Marble Canyon in Ruskeala Park.
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Ruskeala stone quarries were mined in Karelia for almost for three centuries; now, this picturesque site has become Ruskeala Mountain Park with a stunning marble grotto and a crystal clear lake. Photo: Marble Canyon in Ruskeala Park.
© Sputnik / Pavel Lisitsyn / Go to the mediabankArkaim, an archaeological site situated in the steppe of the Southern Ural in Chelyabinsk Region, just north of the border with Kazakhstan, is a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age and one of the strongest anomaly zones in Russia. Photo: Ritual spirals of stones in Arkaim.
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Arkaim, an archaeological site situated in the steppe of the Southern Ural in Chelyabinsk Region, just north of the border with Kazakhstan, is a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age and one of the strongest anomaly zones in Russia. Photo: Ritual spirals of stones in Arkaim.
© Sputnik / Alexandr Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankArkaim, an archaeological site situated in the steppe of the Southern Ural in Chelyabinsk Region, just north of the border with Kazakhstan, is a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age and one of the strongest anomaly zones in Russia. Photo: Ritual spirals of stones in Arkaim.
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Arkaim, an archaeological site situated in the steppe of the Southern Ural in Chelyabinsk Region, just north of the border with Kazakhstan, is a unique historical monument of the Middle Bronze Age and one of the strongest anomaly zones in Russia. Photo: Ritual spirals of stones in Arkaim.
© Sputnik / Denis Abramov / Go to the mediabankDombay, a resort settlement located in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, is surrounded with snow-capped mountains and glaciers all year round. Even if you are not into skiing or hiking, the natural beauty of the Caucasus Mountains in Dombay will definitely win your heart.
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Dombay, a resort settlement located in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, is surrounded with snow-capped mountains and glaciers all year round. Even if you are not into skiing or hiking, the natural beauty of the Caucasus Mountains in Dombay will definitely win your heart.
© Sputnik / Igor Zarembo / Go to the mediabankThe Dancing Forest on the Curonian Spit in Kaliningrad Region is known for its unusual trees twisted into different patterns, such as rings, hearts and spirals. The exact cause of the trees' distortion is unknown.
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The Dancing Forest on the Curonian Spit in Kaliningrad Region is known for its unusual trees twisted into different patterns, such as rings, hearts and spirals. The exact cause of the trees' distortion is unknown.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Smirnov / Go to the mediabankOlkhon Island is the largest island in Lake Baikal and the fourth-largest lake-bound island in the world. It is one of the most scenic locations in eastern Siberia, as well as an important spiritual place to the indigenous Buryat people.
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Olkhon Island is the largest island in Lake Baikal and the fourth-largest lake-bound island in the world. It is one of the most scenic locations in eastern Siberia, as well as an important spiritual place to the indigenous Buryat people.
© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev / Go to the mediabankIvolginsky datsan is the Buddhist Temple located near Verkhnyaya Ivolga village in Buryatia. It is the first and the most important Buddhist spiritual center in Russia. It is also home to a phenomenon that continues to intrigue scientists and attract thousands of believers – the preserved body of the Khambo Lama, the leader of all Russian Lamas who died in 1927 and is still sitting upright in the lotus position. Photo: Residence of Pandido Khambo Lama at Ivolginsky datsan.
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Ivolginsky datsan is the Buddhist Temple located near Verkhnyaya Ivolga village in Buryatia. It is the first and the most important Buddhist spiritual center in Russia. It is also home to a phenomenon that continues to intrigue scientists and attract thousands of believers – the preserved body of the Khambo Lama, the leader of all Russian Lamas who died in 1927 and is still sitting upright in the lotus position. Photo: Residence of Pandido Khambo Lama at Ivolginsky datsan.
© Sputnik / Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankNikola-Lenivets is the largest art park in Europe situated a couple of hundred kilometers from Moscow. The park was developed since 2012 on 600 hectares of fields and forests surrounding a tiny village of Nikola-Lenivets in Kaluga region. Photo: Art installation at Nikola-Lenivets.
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Nikola-Lenivets is the largest art park in Europe situated a couple of hundred kilometers from Moscow. The park was developed since 2012 on 600 hectares of fields and forests surrounding a tiny village of Nikola-Lenivets in Kaluga region. Photo: Art installation at Nikola-Lenivets.
© Sputnik / Maria VashukThe Valley of Geysers, located on Kamchatka Peninsula, is the world’s second largest geyser concentration. It is part of the magnificent Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which occupies an area of 10,990 square kilometers.
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The Valley of Geysers, located on Kamchatka Peninsula, is the world’s second largest geyser concentration. It is part of the magnificent Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which occupies an area of 10,990 square kilometers.
© Sputnik / Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankKamchatka is also known for its multitude of volcanoes, numbering amongst the hundreds, but only 28 to 36 of them are considered active or potentially active. Photo: stratovolcano Maly Semyachik.
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Kamchatka is also known for its multitude of volcanoes, numbering amongst the hundreds, but only 28 to 36 of them are considered active or potentially active. Photo: stratovolcano Maly Semyachik.
© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev / Go to the mediabankAvacha Bay, a Pacific Ocean bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, is considered one of the largest bays in the world, which is able to fit ships of any size.
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Avacha Bay, a Pacific Ocean bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, is considered one of the largest bays in the world, which is able to fit ships of any size.
© Sputnik / Ruslan Vahaev / Go to the mediabankNot far from Dargavs, a settlement in Prigorodny District of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, tourists can explore the “City of the dead” – a necropolis comprised of 99 different tombs and crypts. According to some sources, the oldest crypts date back to the 12th century.
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Not far from Dargavs, a settlement in Prigorodny District of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, tourists can explore the “City of the dead” – a necropolis comprised of 99 different tombs and crypts. According to some sources, the oldest crypts date back to the 12th century.
© Sputnik / Vera Kostamo / Go to the mediabankFranz Josef Land, the world’s northernmost archipelago, is located about 900 kilometers from the North Pole. Made up of 192 islands comprising more than 16,000 square kilometers, the uninhabited island chain has until recently been locked beneath ice for much of the year.
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Franz Josef Land, the world’s northernmost archipelago, is located about 900 kilometers from the North Pole. Made up of 192 islands comprising more than 16,000 square kilometers, the uninhabited island chain has until recently been locked beneath ice for much of the year.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Yepanchintsev / Go to the mediabankIf you can’t handle the severe cold, you might be interested in visiting the Chara Sands. This miniature desert lost in the taiga near the Kodar and Udokan mountain ranges is called one of the seven natural wonders of Siberia.
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If you can’t handle the severe cold, you might be interested in visiting the Chara Sands. This miniature desert lost in the taiga near the Kodar and Udokan mountain ranges is called one of the seven natural wonders of Siberia.
© Sputnik / Said TsarnaevLake Kezenoy-am is the deepest lake in the Caucasus Mountains, situated at an altitude of 1870 m above sea level.
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Lake Kezenoy-am is the deepest lake in the Caucasus Mountains, situated at an altitude of 1870 m above sea level.
© Sputnik / Anton DenisovLena Pillars is a natural rock formation on the territory of the Lena Pillars Nature Park, spread along the banks of the Lena River in far eastern Siberia. The pillars are 150-300 meters high and were formed in the Cambrian period (560-540 million years ago).
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Lena Pillars is a natural rock formation on the territory of the Lena Pillars Nature Park, spread along the banks of the Lena River in far eastern Siberia. The pillars are 150-300 meters high and were formed in the Cambrian period (560-540 million years ago).
© Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankLake Elton, a salt lake in Volgograd Region, near the border with Kazakhstan, boasts a spa resort.
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Lake Elton, a salt lake in Volgograd Region, near the border with Kazakhstan, boasts a spa resort.
© Sputnik / Yuriy Lashov / Go to the mediabankAmong a rich variety of sights available to visitors to Crimea, there is one very interesting spot – White Rock, or Ak-Kaya, a cliff made of limestone and sandstone. In the Middle Ages, Ak-Kaya was where prisoners were executed.
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Among a rich variety of sights available to visitors to Crimea, there is one very interesting spot – White Rock, or Ak-Kaya, a cliff made of limestone and sandstone. In the Middle Ages, Ak-Kaya was where prisoners were executed.
© Sputnik / Roman KruchininMount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and in Europe, is the tenth most prominent peak in the world. A dormant volcano, Elbrus is located in the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia, near the border with Georgia. It has two summits, which are 5,642 meters and 5,621 meters high.
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Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and in Europe, is the tenth most prominent peak in the world. A dormant volcano, Elbrus is located in the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia, near the border with Georgia. It has two summits, which are 5,642 meters and 5,621 meters high.
© Sputnik / Maksim Bogodvid / Go to the mediabankSviyazhsk, a town in the Republic of Tatarstan located at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers, is often referred to as an island.
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Sviyazhsk, a town in the Republic of Tatarstan located at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers, is often referred to as an island.
© Sputnik / Pavel Lisitsyn / Go to the mediabankKungur Ice Cave, located in the Urals, near the town of Kungur in Perm Region, is a popular tourist landmark famous for its ice formations.
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Kungur Ice Cave, located in the Urals, near the town of Kungur in Perm Region, is a popular tourist landmark famous for its ice formations.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankLake Seliger in Ostashkovsky District of Tver Region is actually a large system of lakes linked by effluents. It is one of the biggest natural lakes of Central Russia, situated within a picturesque landscape of pine forests and hills.
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Lake Seliger in Ostashkovsky District of Tver Region is actually a large system of lakes linked by effluents. It is one of the biggest natural lakes of Central Russia, situated within a picturesque landscape of pine forests and hills.
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