Lake Baikal in the southern part of Eastern Siberia is a unique natural site that is 25 million years old. It's the oldest freshwater body on Earth and the deepest lake in the world. Baikal is the biggest lake in Russia. It contains 20% of the world's fresh water. The water in Baikal is completely transparent, and some objects can be seen at depths of up to 40 meters. Its flora and fauna consist of thousands of species and varieties of plants and animals, three quarters of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The incredible beauty of the lake and its surroundings with numerous picturesque bays and amazing cliffs attracts tourists from all over Russia and every corner of the world. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Russia. The lake has been under UNESCO protection since 1996.

Altai is a region in the southeastern part of Western Siberia that boasts a landscape rich in contrasts, including steppes, taiga, alpine tundra, and glaciers. Altai hosts four nature reserves, all under UNESCO protection. The Altai Nature Reserve is home to 1,500 species of higher plants and is famous for Lake Teletskoye (second only to Lake Baikal in terms of volume of fresh water) and the unique taiga landscape around the lake. The main sight of interest in the Belukha Nature Reserve is the two-peak Belukha mountain (4,506 m), which is permanently covered with snow and glaciers. The summit of this mountain was not reached until the twentieth century. The Katun Nature Reserve has a predominantly glacial landscape, as glaciers occupy up to 50% of its area. The largest glacier (the Katun Glacier) feeds the Katun River, which is very popular among rafters. There is also a beautiful cascade of glacier lakes here. Finally, the area is home to the Ukok Plateau, a so called "no-take" zone, where ancient cave drawings and ancient burials have been found. Golden Mountains of Altai are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.

This is a sand-covered peninsula in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea, one of the largest aeolian (created by the wind) formations in the world. People have been reinforcing the structures destroyed by the sea and the wind since the Middle Ages. By the late 17th and 18th centuries, the forested area of the Spit had dropped to 10%. Settlements, roads, and trees were buried under the sand. In the mid-19th century, intensive forest restoration work was started. Today, two-thirds of the Curonian Spit is covered with forest. The unique landscape has been under UNESCO protection since 2000.

Kamchatka Peninsula, located in Russia’s Far East is a huge natural volcanology museum that is home to over 300 active and dormant volcanos along with dozens of geysers. There are 26 volcanos (including 12 active ones), alpine glaciers and lakes within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, established in 1934. This Valley of Geysers is unique in Eurasia and is a truly global phenomenon. Over 20 large geysers, dozens of thermal springs, and gas-vapor spurts are located on a 6-km stretch of land. Volcanoes of Kamchatka are protected by UNESCO since 1996.

The Solovetsky Archipelago includes six islands with a total area of 300 sq. km and is located in the White Sea, 250 km from Arkhangelsk. This area is rich in archaeological monuments, the oldest of which date back to the 2nd and 3rd millennia BC. One of the main sights here is the Solovetsky Monastery, which was established in the first half of the 15th century. In the early 20th century, this centuries-old citadel of Orthodoxy was converted into a camp for political prisoners that existed until 1939. It was only in the nineties that monastic life resumed here. The Solovetsky Archipelago, which is now a historical and cultural reserve, is fascinating not only because of its dramatic history, but also because of its unusual landscape, including hills, lakes, and gullies. The Solovetsky Archipelago has been under UNESCO protection since 1992.

The Lena Pillars are vertical rock formations that stretch 40 kilometres along the banks of the Lena River in Yakutia. They date back to the early Cambrian period (530 million years ago). From afar they appear to form a solid wall that descends into the river. Harsh yet magnificent, their incredible beauty is truly mesmerising. They have been under UNESCO protection since 2012.

The Russian brown bear is the national environmental symbol of Russia. It was nearly adopted for the coat of arms, instead of the double-headed eagle. The Russian bear is native to Eurasia and has brown fur which ranges from a yellowish-brown to a dark, red-brown. In some cases it’s almost black and there have also been reports of albinism. The bear is a carnivorous animal with 80% of its diet consisting of animal matter and symbolizes strength, power and endurance. The bear, although cute, attractive and seemingly friendly is a dangerous beast with astounding strength, large claws, scary teeth and a terrifying roar. Today, it’s regarded as a symbol of Russian might (political and military) and is revered by the native people.

Chamomile is one of the few plants known to any Russian. It also has many medicinal properties. This flower is most often associated with Russian nature. Russia’s national flower, the chamomile, is an adorable little bloom with highly recognizable snow white petals and bright yellow center. Russia made its official declaration about the flower in 1998. Its name comes from Greek and means “earth apple.” However, it was first cultivated in Russia and some parts of Asia. Found almost everywhere on the vast territory of the country, the flower is deeply rooted in the Russian culture.

One of the main symbols of our great country is a birch. We, the Russian people can't to imagine a field or a forest, where there would not be this white beauty. Today, birch is probably the most common tree in Russia. It is considered a symbol of purity and rebirth, but at the same time ancient slavs believed that evil spirits and mermaids can live in it. However, the birch is still often associated with good beliefs. For example, in the russian translation the tree’s name means “keep". In addition, the plant is originally associated with health, fertility, femininity and beauty.

The falcon has appeared in Russian folklore for centuries, including a popular fairytale called “The Feather of Finist the Falcon.” Perhaps even more notably, the falcon rose like a bird of choice for the Soviet Union while the former gold-plated and black eagle motifs of the Czars were largely locked away or destroyed. By then regarded as a symbol of unabashed bravery, the falcon appeared on stamps and other simpler emblems of the time. Members of the Soviet air force were even described as “Stalin’s falcons” by Soviet media (which was state-controlled at the time) and as “Red falcons” by those in other nations. Along with Russia’s folklore and political history, falcons have long been culturally important thanks to the sport of falconry. Dating back to the early days of the empire, falconry has become a popular tourist attraction and activity in Russia today.