Russian Far East Ц nature, cities, and people

Russian Far East Ц nature, cities, and people

Blagoveschensk Ц city on a border

Unique location on a country border Ц you can see China from the central square, and some Blagoveschensk streets have backgrounds of buildings from Chinese city of Heihe.

In the city of Blagoveschensk you can see interesting contrasts of old and modern times in architecture, traditions and lifestyle.

There is unique Dinosaur Museum at the city, where you can see natural bones and skeleton of dinosaur-predator.а

Blagoveshchensk city is situated on two big rivers Ц Amur and Zeya, on the border between Russia and China. Population is 220.000 people. The neighboring Chinese city Heihe situated on the other Amur-river bank opposite Blagoveshchensk, just 0,5 mile from our city. From the eastern side twin cities look like one. Blagoveshchensk city had been closed for tourists even from Russia during a long time, and from 1988 it opened. Heihe was very small town before Blagoveshchensk opening, now the tourist business between two cities is developing, and Heihe is growing up very quickly.

Blagoveshchensk is one of educational and cultural centers of the Russian Far East and one of the oldest cities in this area (founded in 2 June 1856). Here are four Universities Ц Amursky State University, Pedagogical State University, Medicine Academy and Far East Agricultural University. A very old theater works in our city: artists playing different comedies and drama during 120 seasons. In the beautiful old building The Natural and Historical Museum is situated in beautiful and old building of 19^th century. You can see there some nature objects from different part of Amurskaya region, historical things like flags, weapons, house things, cloth, unique photos and documents. Two other symbolic and old historical buildings are situated very close to Museum. You can walk on beautiful embankment of Amur River and on a river by big and small ships (ships accessible from 1 June to 25 August), visit Russian and Chinese restaurants, lots of historical monuments, and dinosaur museum.

Studying and working in Blagoveschensk, you also have some special opportunities, such as visiting annual cinema festival УAmur FallФ (Amurskaya OsenТФ, Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival on central square (December-January), archaeological and entomology labs, concert of fairy dance kids ensemble УRovesnikiФ, which known widely around Asia and Europe, Russian schools and Universities. If you would like to know more about Russian culture, we can organize visiting Russian apartments and small farm-and-gardens (dachas), where you can meet interesting people, such as masters of traditional handicrafts making, members of health club of winter swimming and others. а

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Mukhinka natural site а

The most visited natural site in our region

Unique vegetation in valleys with Red Data Book endemic plants of the Russian Far East

Mukhinka boundary is a natural site with exotic valleys and relic lake between large hill chains. Visit to Mukhinka usually includes hiking on a highest hill chain, covering by pine and mixed forests, excursions on trails to valleys with rare flowers (irises, lady-slippers, lilies, Chinese rose and other), citric-berry (Schizandra chinensis) and Amur grape lianas, rare trees (Amur velvet-tree, MaakТs blackberry-tree, elms etc.), observation of forest birds and mammals (woodpeckers, kestrels, squirrels) observation of streams and unusual relief forms, such as natural and human erosion, watching beautiful landscapes around. Also we can organize an excursion to the relic lake with some rest and lunch. аMukhinka is especially beautiful in fall and winter. If we would make a reservation in two months before, there is an opportunity to live for few days in luxury tourist base and go for winter hiking and skiing. Also there is an excursion on streams with ice sliding and warm mineral waters, sauna, observing winter landscapes, taking pictures, and winter fun activities. It would be great to enjoy ideal silence of nature, very possibly to observe jays, magpies, woodpeckers, squirrels and other animals and their tracks.а

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Peschanoe Lake Ц amazing silence of natureаа

Peschanoe Lake is located between ancient hills of sands of big Zeya River.

Sunrise from the highest hill with panoramic view of the lake and Zeya River with wetlands and wet meadows is amazing.

Summer campfire nights with guitar songs in a special place (see photo gallery) is very traditional for this natural site.ааа

Peschanoe lake boundary Ц nature monument with beautiful lake between hills chains. There are mixed forests with rare flowers and forest birds and mammals. During excursion to the highest hill chain and the lake surroundings, covering by pine forest, it is very possible to watch erosion and other relief forming processes, birds and rare plants (such as irises, northern orchids (lady-slippers), Amur velvet-tree, tracks of different animals, beautiful landscapes of lake and Zeya-river basin around. On a banks of lake Peschanoe there is a mixed forest (oaks, pines, elms, alders, birches and other trees), near the lake Ц wetlands with the water lilies and irises. It is optional for cooking in this site, - on a campfire or gas cooker, and we can plan one-day trip to this lake.

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Mikhaelovskie Stolby Natural Monument

Mikhaelovskie Stolby is a rock complex situated on the bank of Amur River. аWalking on the edge of terrace, you can observe unique rock forms, wide valley of the river with panoramic landscapes, large diversity of vegetation. There is a Thumb Rock on the photo from left, which is impossible to see from the road. Many rocks of the edge hiding in vegetation of slopes, so hiking in there could be with extreme elements, but very impressive. You can see Twin Rocks, Amphitheatre Rock, Wall Rock and other. This natural monument is not really visiting often, so some directions are without visible roads or trails. а

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