Cinematic Siberia | Lake Baikal short film | Trans-Siberian Railway
Every now and again you come across a hidden gem. Somewhere that is ‘undiscovered’. Lake Baikal is one of these places.
The deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal is over two kilometers deep. It has enough fresh water to cover the surface of the earth. It’s truly a hidden gem in Siberia.
There are countless things to do and see as you explore the largest island on the lake; Olkhon Island. The worlds deepest lake has sacred caves, beautiful beaches, sand dunes, and lush forests. You’ll not be stuck for things to do during your stay on the island.
In this episode, we take out the drone (DJI Mavic Pro) and show you some epic shots of the incredible Olkon Island. We stayed here for three days as part of our stop along the Trans-Siberian railway. Our train stopped in the city of Irkutsk. Olkhon Island is a 6hr drive and a short ferry, but you can visit the lake on a day trip from Irkutsk if you wish.
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Norilsk in Russia's Siberia is The Coldest City in The World with - 55°C Temperatures
In Norilsk, Siberia, which is situated 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the average annual temperature is -10C. The cold period extends for about 280 days per year, with more than 130 days featuring snowstorms. The extreme weather conditions result in anxiety, nervousness, drowsiness and depression for many residents. Isolated, polluted and – above all – cold, it is a city built on misery and blood. It is also a city of surprising wealth – the reason for its unlikely existence. Norilsk, squatting 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, has the largest deposits of nickel, copper and palladium on earth and its hellish mines are thriving. Gulag prisoners began expanding the Siberian settlement in 1935 and over the next 20 years, 500,000 slaves took part in its construction. Thousands lost their lives. Today, Norilsk is the northernmost city on earth and still a place of extremes. The average temperature is -10C, reaching -55C in the endless winter. There are two whole months of polar night, when people endure near total darkness, and Norilsk is encased in snow for eight to nine months a year. Despite this, the city now has 170,000 residents. Russian photographer Elena Chernyshova spent several weeks there for her project: Days Of Night- Nights Of Day and her pictures show a normal life of sunbathing, picnics and parties existing alongside a desperate battle to keep warm during bitterly cold spells. It is, for obvious reasons, an indoor place of sports and shopping centres and social gatherings in apartments. Children are often forced to spend several months indoors so the city has large buildings where they can enjoy outdoor activities like cycling and running, even during the winter. During cold spells, a convoy of 15 to 20 buses transport workers around. If one bus breaks down, the passengers can be evacuated to another bus. This column circulates three times a day. Norilsk was first settled in the early 1900s after the discovery of rich mineral deposits, formed 250million years ago, at the foot of the Putorana Mountains. In 1935, the USSR started constructing a metallurgical complex to extract the materials and with this came the wretched columns of prisoners, condemned to a living death in the Arctic wasteland. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 but the city thrived and Norilsk Nickel is now the world leader in production of nickel and palladium. It brings in two per cent of the Russian GDP. But working condition for miners are still bad. The compensation is long holidays – 90 days a year – and retirement at 45. Norilsk is consistently in the top 10 of most polluted cities on Earth. Every year, more than 2 million tons of gas (mainly sulphur dioxide , but also nitrogen oxides, carbon and phenols) are expelled into the atmosphere. Life expectancy is 10 years less than in other regions of Russia, the risk of cancer is two time higher and respiratory diseases are widespread. Some studies show that the air quality is responsible for 37 percent of deaths of child deaths and 21.6 per cent of adult deaths. The polar days and nights cycle also has a strong influence on the human body, which struggles to adapt to such extreme conditions. Darkness causes a reduction in the release of the hormone melatonin, which regulates many functions of the body. This leads to sleep and nervous system problems, constant fatigue, psychological discomfort and depression. A lack of melatonin also aids premature aging of the body and promotes the development of cancer.
Hotel Khakasia, Abakan, Russia HD review
Located in the city centre of Abakan, the Hotel Khakasia is nearby all the major city attractions and offers guests free Wi-Fi in all areas and free private parking.
Each bright, classically decorated room at the hotel features a TV with cable channels, a refrigerator, a desk, and a private bathroom.
The Khakasia Hotel offers a restaurant on the ground floor which serves Russian cuisine, and a café which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast at the café is complimentary. There is a conference hall on the property with capacity for 40 people.
The Respublikanskii Theatre is 657 feet away, the Skazka Theatre is 700 meters, and the Museum Kraevedcheskij is 0.6 miles from the hotel. Abakan International Airport is 2.5 miles away, and the Abakan Train Station is 0.9 miles from the hotel.