My Russia #14 - White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

Suzdal, Vladimir region.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal.

Sent by Maria from Yekaterinburg in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.

Suzdal (Russian: Суздаль, IPA: [ˈsuzdəlʲ]) is a town that serves as the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which is located along the Kamenka tributary of the Nerl River, 26 km (16 mi) north of the city of Vladimir. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 9,286.

In the 12th century, Suzdal became the capital of the principality. Currently, Suzdal is the smallest of the Russian Golden Ring towns. It has several sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The town's history dates back to 999 and 1024. In 1125 Yury Dolgoruky made Suzdal the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality. In 1157, Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital from Suzdal to Vladimir, from which time the principality was known as Vladimir-Suzdal. Suzdal was burned and plundered in 1237 during the Mongol-led invasions; however, it remained a trade center afterward due to its location in a fertile wheat-growing area. In 1341, it united with Nizhny Novgorod until both were annexed by Moscow in 1392 (read more).

Russia - Siberia - Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoir

Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, Russia.

Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoir

Sent by Tanya from Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam (Russian: Сая́но-Шу́шенская гидроэлектроста́нция, Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelektrostantsiya) is located on the Yenisei River, near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia, Russia. It is the largest power plant in Russia and the 12th-largest hydroelectric plant in the world, by average power generation. The full legal name of the power plant, OJSC [Open Joint-Stock Society] P. S. Neporozhny Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP [hydro power plant], refers to the Soviet era Minister of Energy and Electrification Pyotr Neporozhny. As of 2009 the head of the power plant was Valery Kyari.

The plant is operated by RusHydro. As of 2009, it was the largest power plant in Russia and the world's sixth-largest hydroelectric plant by average power generation. It provides more than a quarter of RusHydro's generation capacity. The plant operated ten type РО-230/833-0-677 hydro turbines manufactured at the Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod, each with a capacity of 640 MW at 194-metre (636 ft) head. The total installed capacity of the plant is 6,400 MW; its average annual production is 23.5 TWh, which peaked in 2021 at 29.4 TWh.

The station's constructions include the dam, a power plant building located near the dam, and an additional spillway which is under construction. The arch-gravity dam is 242 metres (794 ft) high. It has a crest length of 1,066 metres (3,497 ft), crest width of 25 metres (82 ft), base width of 105.7 metres (347 ft) and maximum head of 220 metres (720 ft). It consists of a solid left-bank dam 246.1 metres (807 ft) long, a power dam 331.8 metres (1,089 ft) long, a spillway dam 189.6 metres (622 ft) long and a solid right-bank dam 298.5 metres (979 ft) long. It is by far the larger of only two gravity-arch dams in Russia. Water pressure for the dam is approximately 30 million tons, of which 60% is neutralized by the dam's own weight and 40% is carried to rock on the bank

The dam is constructed to "safely" withstand earthquakes up to 8 on the Richter scale, and was recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records for the strongest construction of its type (read more).

My Russia #13 - Polar Night in Murmansk

Polar night in Murmansk.

Sent by Elena from Surgut in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia.

Every year, from December 2nd to January 11th, polar night sets in at Murmansk's latitude for 40 days. On the first day after the polar night, the sun rises over the city for only 19 minutes.

In winter, you can observe the Northern Lights—a stunningly beautiful natural phenomenon. That's why the Northern Lights are depicted on the city's coat of arms.

In summer, Murmansk experiences the polar day, which lasts 62 calendar days. For two months starting on May 20th, the sun doesn't set, and starting on July 24th, the sun barely touches the horizon for about a week before rising again. Throughout this period—until mid-August—nights in Murmansk are bright every year. This is why Murmansk is known as the city of white nights (read more).

Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Canberra is the "Capital of Australia'. The Australian Commonwealth Government has been based in Canberra since 9th May, 1927.

Sent by Palmer from Canberra, Australia.

Canberra (/ˈkænbrə/ KAN-brə; Ngunawal: Kanbarra) is the capital city of Australia and the only substantial settlement of the Australian Capital Territory. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, a compromise between Melbourne and Sydney, it is Australia's largest inland city, and the eighth-largest Australian city by population. The city is located at the northern tip of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of June 2024, Canberra's estimated population was 473,855.

The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years, by groups including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri. European settlement commenced in the first half of the 19th century, evidenced by surviving landmarks such as St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies of Australia was achieved. The capital city was founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. Unusual among Australian cities, it is an entirely planned city, grounded in a design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins' plan was influenced by garden city movement and featured geometric motifs aligned with significant topographical landmarks such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. Its design can be viewed from its highest point at the Telstra Tower and the summit of Mount Ainslie. Other notable features include the National Arboretum and Lake Burley Griffin.

As the seat of the Government of Australia, Canberra is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums. These include Parliament House, Government House, the High Court building and the headquarters of numerous government agencies. Social and cultural institutions of national significance include the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Library. The city is home to many important institutions of the Australian Defence Force including the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. It hosts all foreign embassies in Australia as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations (read more).

Netherlands - South Holland - Veerhaven in Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The historic Veerhaven port area, contrasting old architecture with the modern city skyline.

Sent by Pixie from Ridderkerk, Netherlands.

Once in a while the city life overwhelms me. At those moments I tend to visit the Veerhaven, a place of beauty and silence just a short-distance walk from the Erasmusbrug. The Veerhaven is situated in the Scheepskwartier, a historic neighbourhood barely touched by the war and hence full of old and beautiful buildings. They began digging the Veerhaven in 1852 and completed it in 1854. Since then it is a spot for primarily sailing and other types of historical ships (like schooners and barks).

This history is still honoured today by the many restored (sailing)ships that moor the harbour. Ship-owners put in a lot of effort to maintain the ships in their perfect condition so you can enjoy them on a sunny afternoon. In the nineties the harbour was fully restored and brought back to its former glory. If you want to visit Rotterdam by boat the Veerhaven is a great place to moor for a couple of days.

Sit on a bench surrounded by silence and have a look at the magnificent ships, buy an ice-cream in the nearby ice-cream parlour or feast your eyes on the Maas, the lifeblood of the city. The Veerhaven has a lot to offer and is therefore one of my favourite spots in this wonderful city (read more).

Remarkable Women #10 - Anna Politkovskaya

Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian investigative journalist.

Sent by Laura from Krefeld in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya (née Mazepa; 30 August 1958 – 7 October 2006) was a Russian investigative journalist who reported on political and social events in Russia, in particular, the Second Chechen War (1999–2005). She was found murdered in the elevator of her apartment block in Moscow on 7 October 2006, Vladimir Putin's birthday.

It was her reporting from Chechnya that made her national and international reputation. For seven years, she refused to give up reporting on the war despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence. Politkovskaya was arrested by Russian military forces in Chechnya and subjected to a mock execution. She was poisoned while flying from Moscow via Rostov-on-Don to help resolve the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, and had to turn back, requiring careful medical treatment in Moscow to restore her health.

Her post-1999 articles about conditions in Chechnya were turned into books several times; Russian readers' main access to her investigations and publications was through Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper that featured critical investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs. From 2000 onwards, she received numerous international awards for her work. In 2004, she published Putin's Russia, a personal account of Russia for a Western readership.

On 7 October 2006 (the 54th birthday of Russian president Vladimir Putin), she was murdered in the elevator of her block of apartments, an assassination that attracted international attention. In 2014, five men were sentenced to prison for the murder, but it is still unclear who ordered or paid for the contract killing (read more).

USA - Oklahoma - The Arcadia Round Barn

The Arcadia Round Barn, located in Arcadia, Oklahoma, was built by a local farmer, William Harrison Odor, in 1898. Using native bur oak wood, the boards were soaked while still green, and then forced into cyurves to create the unique walls and roof rafters.

Sent by Sarah from Oklahoma, USA.

The Arcadia Round Barn is a landmark and tourist attraction on historic U.S. Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma, United States. It was built by local farmer William Harrison Odor in 1898 using native bur oak boards soaked while green and forced into the curves needed for the walls and roof rafters. A second level was incorporated for use as a community gathering place. The town of Arcadia developed and prospered with the arrival of the railroad and in the 1920s the newly commissioned Route 66 was aligned through the town, passing next to the Round Barn.

With the reduction of traffic along Route 66 following the arrival of the Interstate, Arcadia and the barn likewise declined. In 1988 the 60 foot diameter roof collapsed. A team of volunteers led by Luther Robison worked to rebuild the structure, and restoration work was completed in 1992. Today the old barn is a tourist attraction and visitors admire the architectural and engineering details of America's only truly round (as opposed to hexagonal or octagonal) barn (read more).

Kyrgyzstan - Issyk-Kul Lake

A vintage-style poster featuring Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan.

Sent by Gala from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Issyk-Kul (Russian: Иссык-Куль) or Ysyk-Köl (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл [ɯsɯ́q kʰɵl]; lit. 'Hot Lake') is an endorheic saline lake in the western Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan—just south of a dividing range separating Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. It is the eighth-deepest lake in the world, the eleventh-largest lake in the world by volume, and the second-largest saline lake. It is located at an elevation of 1,607 metres (5,272 ft), making it the deepest lake whose deepest point is above sea level at 939 metres (3,081 ft). Despite the elevation and low temperatures during winter, it rarely freezes due to its high salinity.

The lake is a Ramsar site of globally significant biodiversity and forms part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve.

Issyk-Kul Lake is 182 kilometres (113 mi) long, up to 60 kilometres (37 mi) wide and its surface area is 6,236 square kilometres (2,408 sq mi). It is the second-largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. It is at an altitude of 1,607 metres (5,272 ft) and reaches 668 metres (2,192 ft) in depth.

About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest are the Jyrgalang and Tüp. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs and snow melt. The lake has no current outlet, but some hydrologists hypothesize that the lake's water filters deep underground into the Chu River. The bottom of the lake contains the mineral monohydrocalcite: one of the few known lacustrine deposits (read more).

Kenya - Maasai Mara National Reserve

A lioness and her cub sharing a tender moment in Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Sent by Margaret from Nairobi, Kenya.

Maasai Mara, sometimes also spelt Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honour of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin. Their description of the area when looked at from afar: "Mara" means "spotted" in the Maa language because of the short bushy trees which dot the landscape.

Maasai Mara is one of the wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, with its populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African bush elephants. It also hosts the Great Migration, which secured it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten Wonders of the World.

The Great Migration usually happens in July depending on weather as the wildebeest moves in large numbers crossing the Mara River from Tanzania.

The Greater Mara ecosystem encompasses areas known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, several Maasai group ranches, and Maasai Mara conservancies (read more).

USA - Utah - Beehive State

Utah - Beehive State

Sent by Cynthia Marie from Ogden in Utah, USA.

Utah’s moniker of the “Beehive State” comes from the reputation bees have for industriousness, a value that is an intrinsic part of the the the state’s history and culture. The beehive symbol is derived from the sacred Book of Mormon, where “Deseret” means “honeybee.” This term was used by the early Mormon settlers who wanted statehood for the region they called Deseret. The beehive represents the industrious nature of the people, reflecting their dedication to building a thriving community despite harsh condition.

When Utah became a state in 1896, the beehive was incorporated into the state seal and flag, reinforcing its significance as a symbol of unity and perseverance. The symbol is so strongly associated with the state that when the flag was redesigned in the 2020s, the beehive remained its dominant feature. The beehive’s presence on the state flag and seal serves as a reminder of the settlers’ efforts to create a prosperous society through hard work and collaboration. With Mormons making up a significant portion of Utah’s population, the values associated with the beehive continue to play a vital role in shaping the state’s cultural landscape (read more).

Mexico - Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry

A Mexican international bridge, specifically for the Laredo #1 International Bridge (Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry) located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Sent by Hermann Munoz from Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry is located at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge (sometimes referred to as "Bridge I" or "Old Bridge" or "Convent Avenue Bridge"). Since 1889, a bridge connected Laredo, Texas with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas at this location. For many years, this was the only crossing for vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the two cities.

In 1889, eight years after the first railroad bridge was constructed connecting two cities, the "Foot and Wagon Bridge" was built, enabling pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages to cross the border. This bridge was destroyed by a tornado and subsequent flood in 1905, and again by a mysterious fire in 1920. It was destroyed again by floods in 1932 and 1954. During each reconstruction, temporary pontoon bridges were built to accommodate traffic. The current bridge was completed in 1955. The construction of the Amistad Dam in 1969 has mitigated the effect of subsequent flooding conditions. It wasn't until 1976 that a second bridge was built to further connect the two cities.

The U.S. Inspection Station building that was built in 1943 was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992 (read more).

Mexico - Silao, Guanajuato

The Centro Cultural Silao (Silao Cultural Centre), located in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Sent by Hermann Munoz from Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Silao, city, west-central Guanajuato estado (state), north-central Mexico. Founded in 1537, Silao lies along the Silao River at 5,830 feet (1,777 metres) above sea level. By virtue of its location in the Bajío region, known as the granary of Mexico, Silao is an important agricultural centre. A wide variety of crops, including corn (maize), beans, wheat, chickpeas, avocados, peaches, and strawberries, thrive in the temperate climate. Livestock are also raised in the vicinity. The city’s principal industry is the weaving of serapes. Silao is a transportation hub, and the main rail line and highway between Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez pass through the city. A branch railroad and road lead 15 miles (24 km) east-northeast to Guanajuato city, the state capital. Pop. (2000) 61,661; (2010) 74,242 (read more).

USA - Indiana - Hoosier State

Indiana - Hoosier State.

Sent by Patti from Indiana, USA.

For well over a century and a half the people of Indiana have been called Hoosiers. It is one of the oldest of state nicknames and has had a wider acceptance than most. True, there are Buckeyes of Ohio, the Suckers of Illinois and the Tarheels of North Carolina -- but none of these has had the popular usage accorded Hoosier.

The only comparable term in American experience is Yankee. And that started out as a synonym for New Englander. In the Civil War era Southerners applied it indiscriminately to all Northerners. In the world wars, many a boy from Dixie doubtless felt a sense of shock when he discovered that in the eyes of our British (Limey) allies that all Americans were Yanks!

But where did Hoosier come from? What is its origin? We know that it came into general usage in the 1830s. John Finley of Richmond wrote a poem, "The Hoosier's Nest," which was used as the "Carrier's Address" of the Indianapolis Journal, Jan. 1, 1833. It was widely copied throughout the country and even abroad. Finley originally wrote Hoosier as "Hoosher." Apparently the poet felt that it was sufficiently familiar to be understandable to his readers. A few days later, on January 8, 1833, at the Jackson Day dinner at Indianapolis, John W. Davis offered "The Hoosher State of Indiana" as a toast. And in August, former Indiana governor James B. Ray announced that he intended to publish a newspaper, The Hoosier, at Greencastle, Indiana (read more).

Japan - Kyoto Prefecture - Yasaka Pagoda

Kyoto / Yasaka Street

At the end of the cobbled street, one can see "The Pagoda of Yasaka", the symbol of Higashiyama. The town which has been conserved for years is one of the scenaries which represents Kyoto, stirs one's imagination about the ancient capital.

Sent by Aoi from Okayama City, Japan.

The Yasaka Pagoda (Japanese: 八坂の塔, romanized: Yasaka-no-to), also known as the Tower of Yasaka, is a Buddhist pagoda located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The 5-story tall pagoda is the last remaining structure of a 6th-century temple complex known as Hōkan-ji (法観寺). It was founded by the Goguryeo clan that established in Japan, and is the oldest temple in Kyoto. The pagoda is now a tourist attraction.

Archaeological evidence dates the foundation of the Yasaka Pagoda to the 7th Century. The founding date is disputed between the reign of Prince Shotoku and the sixth year of the Tenmu period (678 CE). The pagoda and the associated temple were destroyed and reconstructed several times up to 1440, of which the current pagoda stands to this day.

Control of the pagoda was historically disputed between the nearby Shinto Gion Shrine and the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu-dera, to the point the pagoda was burnt down in May 1179. It was later rebuilt in 1191 with funding from Kawachi Genji noble Minamoto no Yoritomo. In 1240, the head priest of the nearby Buddhist temple of Kennin-ji affiliated the pagoda with Zen Buddhism, which remains the official designation of the Yasaka Pagoda to the present day (read more).