Destination: Siberia - The Land of Wonders

Siberia, a vast region comprising the Asian portion of Russia as well as northern Kazakhstan. Siberia is a treasure trove of natural resources, with huge deposits of oil, gas, and minerals and vast stands of timber. Historically, the region was notorious as a bleak place of exile for Russian criminals, and, when the area was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), for those considered opponents of the Communist regime. Siberia is bounded on the west by the Ural Mountains; on the...

For those who travel for the pleasure of the journey, those who believe that getting there is as much fun as being there, Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway has long been an almost mythic experience. It is the longest continuous rail line on earth, each run clattering along in an epic journey of almost six thousand miles (or about ten thousand kilometers) over one third of the globe. For most of its history, the Trans-Siberian journey has been an experience of almost continuous movement, seven days...

A small group of enthusiasts is trying to revive the tradition of dog sledding in the ever-green forests of Siberia, where sometimes husky sledding is the best way to get around. The Khanty-Mansi autonomous region in Western Siberia provides ideal conditions for biathlon – cross-country skiing and shooting – and is the centre of the sport in Russia. However, the freezing temperatures and plentiful supply of snow in the Siberian taiga make the area popular not only with skiers, but with other ...

Russia's third-biggest city, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and also the largest metropolis in the whole Siberia region, Novosibirsk is the cultural, scientific and transportation hub and a great stop during your trans-Siberian trip. Novosibirsk is the place to come if you are looking for vibrant nightlife, a huge choice of restaurants and a seemingly endless selection of Irish pubs. It was founded in 1893 as the future site of the Trans-Siberian Railway bridge crossing the great Siberian R...

Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1996). Situated in the southern steppes of Siberia, the lake is surrounded by mountain chains that form sheer walls thousands of feet high. Indigenous people call Lake Baikal the "Sacred Sea" in admiration of its majestic beauty and size. Blessed with ample biodiversity, the lake itself provides habitat for more than 1,500 plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth. In fact, the wo...