The Unknown Russia: The Russian South
All people know Russia is a Northern country with snow, frost, cold winter. All keep in mind pictures of taiga, Siberia, polar bears and vodka. Well, it’s all true, we all know now that 65% of Russia is covered with permafrost, but there is one fact than less people know. Russia has a territory that is located more to South than Milano, Nice, Monte Carlo and other places of European South. And this territory occupies more square than France or Germany. Meet Sochi, the Winter Olympics 2014 host. This Russia doesn’t look like Russia at all, maybe the next place for your vacation?
| Tags: olympics-2014, russian-south, sochi |
Tip: To get daily entertaiment news like this one, bookmark englishrussia.com or get 
if it's more convinient for you.
if it's more convinient for you.
Our friends write:Bloggers, send your links! |
Back to English Russia Main Page for more articles like this
4:07 am
Loading ...
Looks great!
很同意
Mind blowing images and I thought Australia was the luck country.
nothing agasint australians, but the nation has worst sun protection ever, so damn hot and so easy t get sunburnt
Looks like the last resort of humankind.. i mean its like hawaii without americans and global warming, but with fresh air and silent mountains and a nice sea view.
bwahaha, how true.
its probably a great place to holiday.
True, but the problem is when the tourist industry starts sending the holiday-makers there then it won’t be so peaceful for long.
Everyone wants to go somewhere peaceful, problem is - the more people that do the less peaceful it becomes.
It’s the upsetting part.
So go go go! While you can still enjoy it!
Enjoy WHAT??? That ******* language around you? Enjoy misunderstanding everywhere because noone speaks English in russia? Enjoy being robbed? What else?
You are an idiot
Is it so difficult and impossible for you to study Russian?
What fucking language are you talking about? The Russian is a very nice language and almost everybody speak English in Russia. Specially in tourist places. Russian´s are very well educated, much better then most of the world. And you can get robed anywhere in the world. Maybe even 1 block from your house. There no more crime there then there is in other places. Stop believing in Hollywood movie, its just movies or sometimes simply US propaganda.
Holly shit, necroposters %-/
I guess you’re from russia. Because what you wrote is a lie.
First of all, you gotta know that russian is a ridiculous language (mainly because of it’s history). Talk to any respectable linguist in the world. Secondly - “almost everybody speak English in Russia”??? WTF? You gotta be kiddin me LOL. Afew people in “tourist places” speaking Russish? Yeah, that’s fun.
Now, russians well educated?.. Yeah, maybe, a few decades ago. And they are gone - they’re in Germany, Spain, USA, Canada, not giving a shit about russia.
I won’t argue concerning the crime and robbery because it depends on how stupid a person being robbed is. But I’ve found that money is all russian care about.
And yeah, it’s not Hollywood or propaganda - I’ve been there B-)
JP, you are an ignorant arse. Any self-respecting linguist will confirm that Russian is one of the closest languages to Sanskrit, the root of all indo-european languages, including English :).
Russians are much more educated than your media brainwashes you into thinking, at least our university professors don’t think Bosnia is near Afghanistan or mix up between Iraq and Iran like yours do (trust me, I speak of experience, I study at an American university in the middle east ;)).
What else? Ah! Russians only caring about money, that’s bullcrap since most Russian doctors actually work for minimal wage and remain enthusiastic about what they’re doing. Russian people are very generous, you can tell that by looking at our culture. By the way, it would do you well to look at the way the US’s economy is based on ripping it’s own people off.
And getting robbed? LOL, well if you’re one of those dumb tourists that end up walking through a crimminal part of a town (which exist in the US, UK, and France), you’re practically an early birthday present for a mugger.
Now if we could just get all the damn non-americans out of Hawaii, it might be fun to visit again.
You mean the natives? Ask them how they feel about the late invasion of Californians or they having to fight your wars.
From Wikipedia:
“”Despite some opposition in the islands, the Newlands Resolution was passed by the House June 15, 1898, by a vote of 209 to 91, and by the Senate on July 6, 1898, by a vote of 42 to 21, ANNEXING HAWAII AS A US TERRITORY. Its legality continues to be questioned because it was a United States Government resolution, not a treaty of cession or conquest as is required by international law.”"
Damn non-Americans indeed…
Have you been to Hawaii, most tourists are NOT Americans. Oh yeah, the natives ARE AMERICANS!
I AM a native Hawaiian and we are not Americans; they illegally stole our lands and forced their citizenship down our throats.
Iraq isn’t the only country occupied by the Americans!
Before anyone makes any crazy statements, we’ve heard them all:
1. You’d be talking German if it weren’t for the American military during WW2
- Sorry buddy, we already do talk a foreign language - English. The American occupiers outlawed our language and forced our children into schools to learn English and forbid the teachings our culture. Thankfully in recent times we are trying to bring our language back.
2. You’re lucky the USA military is there
- Why? They use us as a shield for the west coast of America. I don’t feel any safer being occupied by America, we’re a huge target for terrorism because of the occupation.
3. If the Americans leave, Hawaii will be in economic ruins
-Our tourism industry thrives on non-American tourists. They spend more and stay longer than the Americans.
- All the fiber optic cables that link Asia to the US are hubbed in Hawaii; we already have a thriving tech industry.
- The absence of the American military will make it easier for foreign investment by countries such in the middle east and Russia.
BTW, American commenters, don’t speak for me or my people. We’ve suffered under your rule for far too long. My people have the highest rate of imprisonment, heart disease, substance abuse, poor education and various other deficiencies compared to the non-Hawaiian population. We’ve had none of these problmes under our own self governance. Yes, we had our own constitution and form of DEMOCRATIC government similar to modern day England. Don’t try and make wild claims of us being subjects under a monarchy, that really isn’t very accurate.
We also are the smallest ethnic group in Hawaii and it’s projected that our race will become extinct sometime in the next 20 years. What a great benefit forcefully being American!
I’m native Hawaiian too and the Japanese OWN Hawaii… The more haoles (whites) the better. At least they teach our kids and aren’t too good like the Japanese! Sure some are rich a holes but most are cool, and good people.
99% if not 100% of native “Hawaiians” are mixed, that means part white, etc. In 2000 89% of native hawaiians voluntarily reported being mixed, so get over the racial demands because there are no 100% Hawaiians left, alcoholism and disease wiped them out- most of the disease came from Asian colonists! If the US left, the Chinese or russians would take over and treat us worse. Also “Native Hawaiians” lived under brutal Alii dictatorships, where the royalty owned everything and anyone could be killed for crossing the kings shadow- Kamehameha only took over the islands because he had British GUNS! Hawaii was never 1 united peoples, and they weren’t even the first. National Geographic is studying in Kaua’i, and they believe the Hawaiians killed off the Manehune (Hobbit People) who built the fish ponds, The Tahitians (Hawaiians) did this 800 years ago when they arrived as a raiding party- ”
SO THEY HAD IT COMING!!!
Lol why do you think it’s called “GLOBAL Warming”, because it’s isolated to Hawaii? Hawaii has some of the freshest air on the planet, and that is why they use the Hawaiian Islands for Climate Measurements and Air Quality Standards. Besides, Global Warming is an entire Farce. No doubt, this Russian Territory is stunningly beautiful, but keep your comments to subject matters upon which you retain the proper knowledge.
TPL,if you are just going to post comments like that, then maybe you could do the rest of us a favor and just stop posting until you get off your high horse and have removed the blinders.
Kova maybe that how it is where you live, either agree like a sheep or shut up, but there are some places (even in America) where people still express their opinions. And “Global” warming is still just an opinion. Read something you ignorant facist.
Эх Россия,ты такая разная.
Фотки классные,сам бывал в Сочи в начале 90-ых.Был в Абхазии на озере Рица.Помню на границе первый раз увидел БТР,интересно было,очень.Мамка говорит что в то время ещё стреляли,по ночам были слышны выстрелы.Я не помню,малой был,тут главное что я живой.Я выжил в 90-ые=)
amazing photos!
I wanna live there!
I am 100% that after the Sochi 2014, this place will become the new Monte Carlo for the new Rich of Western Europe. It is beautiful, I find better than Saint Tropé, or Monaco. But pictures can deceive. So I think it is worth a trip, to see it with my own eyes.
So? have u already been to Sotchi?
People, beware of staying is cheap hotels and NEVER eat on the beach in cafees.
this is one of the places where the KGB heads spent their holidays. I was there already (though I wasn’t a KGB). It is a WONDERFUL place. There is sth about what you say, KBR.
KGB ? What a stupid bitch suck my dick
OMG! You are don’t know what are you talking about
wow, i didn’t know russia has that beautiful places… one picture really looks like taken from an island in te carribean sea… mindblowing and making me speeckless! thanks english russia for showing me one of my next destinations for vacation
shopped.
With territory like this, why in Gods name did they make Moscow the capital?
well its occupied territory. Just like all that region. So they cant make it the capitol can they
SHITHOLE!!! DON’T GO THERE!!! THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY THERE!!
With that criteria, your vacation options are limited.
I wonder who pays these monkeys to make their incoherent “DEMOCRACY” comments all over the web?
THERE IS DEMOCARCY here, TOO, IN CASE YOU DIDN’T NOTICE
that upper comment was meant to be
THERE IS NO DEMOCARCY here, TOO
The moron?
so, go to IRAQ. it’s already rather democratically
So, do you mean we should stay out of florida too?
Fascinating and lovely. I’m seeing an incredible number of species here, reminding me slightly of areas in South Carolina or Northern California. I do wonder how many of these species are native and how many are imported… one doesn’t generally see stands of palm trees in temperate zones marked by the large evergreen forests seen here. Nonetheless, this is a truly lovely looking resort, and I’m now quite anxious to visit someday
A few of those images are from the arboretum, so that explains some of the diversity. Good eye though.
More appropraitely titled the russian west
Looks better than California.
Screw vacations, I’m taking the Rosetta Stone CD’s, brushing up on my Russian and MOVING there.
well when it becomes a touristy spot, there will be no need for Russian, it’ll be like a lot of the places in Mexico,almost all English speaking and a full urban development and then you’ll have wasted your time.
What a beautiful place. It makes me wonder why more travel companies and travel books don’t promote this area of Russia.
Looks like the resort from “The Prisoner” TV show.
Sochi is crowded, beaches are rocky, dirty and mostly private and the black sea is often cold. I prefer polish baltic sea. There is no something like private beach in Poland, you have acces everywwhere because they mustn’t enclose beaches, sand is beautiful, and there is also cheap in poland. The only disadvantage it that the weather isn’t as good as in southern europe, but some people (like me) think that 25 degrees is quite enaugh.
Why exactly Polish Baltic coast? Are you Polish?
I’m german, but i have family in poland. It’s cheaper than german shore, people (especially older) wear thier bath suits :), everything is a little bit more… wild. The main reason is what I said before - the shore (except the ports and military bases) is open and free, you can walk through dozens of kilometers, not like in Italy or Crimea or Sochi. I wasn’t in Sweden, Danmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuana or Russia so I can’t tell - maybe is better there.
you totaly exaggerate. especially the part with the private beaches, nearly all of them are either wild or public. its not dirty atleast not more then anywhere else. colder then the baltic sea that must be a joke. but its true that it is crowded and unfortunately only a few sandy beaches along the coast.
i was in sochi, btw a town not far away from there, and at the baltic sea but not in poland but in germany, so i know the differences between the diffrent seas personally.
i dont see how you can prefer it when you havent been there.
I wasn’t at the russian baltic coast, but I was in sochi. Black Sea WAS cold, even when the air temperature was about 25*C, but maybe beacause it was september.
WOW WOW WOW…i think you russians have kept that part a secret so no one else shows up.
WOW i think im moving there NOW!
you people are crazy. this is nothing special. i am russian and i rather go to indonesia or thailand or hawaii. blah not worth visiting
Wait! Where’s the obligatory anti-American troll? Oh, there you are, delusr. You had me worried.
Wait till you’re up to your ears in Chinese. At least we haven’t murdered 100 million of our own. Some of yours, maybe.
We got this territory fully in our possession only in 19-th century
And it was pretty swampy AFAIK - it started to look like real paradize only after extensive bog reclamation works in the first half of 20-th century.
Sochi isn’t really that pretty, but now it is changing fast, we will see what it will be like in 2014.
As for the nature… yes, it is as good, as on the photos.
I don’t like the Black sea because there are jellyfishes near the beaches (unlike Mideterennian sea, where they don’t show up near the coastline for some reason), but that’s my own silly issue.
Sorry, I don’t think I’d be vacationing in Russia! How about North Korea? Or if you want some really nice areas with major gang violence how about Mexico? Thanks for the 2 pops too!
so they chose the warmest russian place for winter olympics?
Aca, that’s what I was going to write! LOL
The coast is a hot place, but the mountains in the background are very high and thus cold enough for the winter games. The choice was wisely made.
I wonder if there are any world class golf courses there… Do Russians like to golf?
Красиво, но я Крым обратно хочу
Jake your an idiot, there is no gang violence in Sochi, and not even so much in Russia, thats just western ignorance. if u want to get shot you should just go to new york and walk there for 5 min at night
No gang violence in Sochi.
What a joke. Your whole governement is gang related
Ahaha, screw you. Youre probably a gangster youreself
I wish that you would provide some indication of where in southern Russia these pics were taken.
Like where exactly is that river valley with the thickly-forested steep hills, about a third of the way down the page?
Inquiring minds need to know!
OK,
Now we are attacking…Oh no wait I am dead
Richard Nixon
Its like a cross between socal and norcal. :p
Why didn’t Napoleon invade there? Nice weather, babes, fine art? Nice place.
Interesting.
I never would have guessed Russia had anything like this.
You would think that it was the Bahamas or a tropical island
Never mother Russia
That’s weird, my anti-spam Word is “Stalin”.
It looks really beautiful. My only concern is regarding to the Police and their dealings with non Russian tourists. I am Spanish and visited three years ago Crimea (part of Ukraine) spending two weeks in a balnearium and the place was also very beautiful, very Mediterranean in temperature, lots of palaces… The tourists spots I visited, the city of Yalta included were safe, walked at night and even took several times taxies. I really liked the place, although the food was not that special (although liked the local wines and kind of champagne). However, I felt safe and repeat I look very Spanish (they though I was Italian)and however, I was not ever stopped by the police… And I really don´t know about visiting Sochi (I am sure during the Olympics it will be fine though), don´t like being stopped and asked for my papers and a little money… Anybody visited the place and who is not Russian?
ey tronko,yo soy de España.etava en Sochi y en Abjazia tam vien,al lago Rica(Ritsa?),en año 1991 o 1992.4 dias en tren desde Moscu,dispues 4 dias para volber,pero he pasava buenos dias.dispues de Norte al Sochi,con palmeras,mar,sol…..ehhhh joder macho.y ahora estoy en España con Mediaterraneo,chokolate y climat de puta madre.toros tam bien.
Sochi truly is an interesting place. My sister has been to Sochi. Russia is such a massively huge place. There are so many different kinds of land, climate, and environments!
Hooray for Russia! Hooray for Sochi!
Za vas!
Thank you for your comment! Real well educated Russians always respect and welcome people from other countries to come to Russia and check it’s most beautiful places! Intelligent part of Russia respects other nationalities and thinks that more people from West should come to us!
Screw the States, I am moving back to mother Russia!
Mayan’s stopped writing the calender on 2012.
There will be no 2014.
Hope they were just interrupted !!
LOL
this pictures reminded me to american south … houses look the same …
you idiot, Russia is not Korea, I would not have any wish to visit your damn Harlem-Ghetto.
guess this place belongs already to the mafia,
Ты осёл
WOW!!! I want to go there. That place is absolutely beautiful. I love to travel. I wish I spoke something besides English.
LAST !!
Nope
Russia has a huge touristical potential. Top notch destinations like St Petersburg and Moscow, old and interesting cities in the Golden and Silver rings around these two cities, huge areas with the wildest nature one can imagine with forests, mountains plains and even deserts. Coastal areas in the south (like you can see here) and in the north (the Finnish Gulf is really beautiful and would be a nice place to visit - if better developped), the area around Lake Baikal. And yet, a smal country like Belgium attracts two times more tourists than Russia. The day when Russia starts building some tourist infrastructure, gets rid of all the administrative hurdles one needs to take before even entering the country, and, especially, the day Russians stop freaking out when they even think about the possibility that foreigners would be visiting their country, tourism would be a really booming industry. But as far as Russia remains the most xenophobic country in the world, don’t get your hopes up too high.
sochi would make a really nice resort if it weren’t located in such a fucked up country.
Now now, i am sure you have been in Russia and not been listning to bullshit propoganda, which youre tiny fachist brain thinks is truth…
looks dull and unexciting
Probably the most beautiful place one can find in Russia!
Looks like a corner of the world where I can forget about western life
I’ve been there.
Its quite gorgeous!
Loved it there when I was little.
Gotta find my pix
It doesn’t exactly look like this in real life. It’s dirty and air conditioned places are scarce. Not the same comfort either: A 3-star hotel here looks and feels like a hostel in Europe or America.
in summer it’s fuckin overcrowded, very dirty, nasty armenian and georgian people everywhere. prices are higher than in any resort in europe. i recommend visiting it only if you are looking for some exotic
That is very cool. I had no idea Russia had such a tropic location. I always pictured it as the land of snow and ice. Thanks for the beautiful pics!
That’s funny - foreigners still beleive that Russia is bears, vodka, snow and furs-worn people in the streets
I live in Sochi. It’s so nice.
But Sochi have got some problems.
1 Prices
2 Traffic (in summer)
3 Pollution (many tourist are very stupid, they make a lot of rubbish and so on)
Sorry for my English I’m only 15
you know it`s not so good to LIVE in olympic city. Vlad is my classmate. i can agree with him but there are also many other problems
1 ecology is seriously damaged by olympic buildings
2 the sea is very dirty in summer
3 STUPID TOURISTS FROM MOSCOW (ребят без обид но эт действительно так серьёзно я говорю то шо врижу каждый день)
4 trafffick is the main problem. also : bad roads
5 city administration takes care only about olympic games but not about citizens
6 many historical places are destroyed fr stupid reasons
so i can say my native city is VERY beautiful but it`s not good prepared for tourism
P.S. hey, Americans! i use theoppurtunity to say to you
THERE IS NO COMMUNISM IN SOCHI AND IN RUSSIA AT ALL!
WE ARE NOT STUPID BEARS WHO DRINK ONLY VODKA AND SLEEP WITH MATRYOSHKA. WE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AS YOU ARE AND WE LIVE HERE WELL. SO COME TO SOCHI OR KGB WILL FIND YOU=)))))
P.P.S EXCUSE ME FOR MY ENGLISH, I`M ONLY 15
Yes, Sochi looks great. I hope they do not overdevelop it!
Yes, we are much the same, The U.S. and Russia, keep the good attitude brother!
I’m a white 16 year old looking to go to college in Russia… I will go to M.I.T. first, Then look at Russian schools, which are best for engineering? And yes I hope that Barack Obama is not a figurehead for the oligrachs and Fed Reserve bankers, but I don’t believe it. We are stuck until we take on the bankers who destroy our economy so we have to borrow our way out of the recessions/Depressions they create… WATCH THE MOVIE ZIETGIEST!!!
AND Yes, I am learning Russian!
Guys, the photo shows some very provincial part of Russia, these awful “buddies” are from some little poor russian town. Normal intelligent well-educated people just laugh at people like them.If you will come to the center, to Moscow and St’Petes, you will see quite an opposite picture.European part of Russia is very prosperous.
There is a very serious social difference between province and center of Russia. Moscow clubs are nearly the best in Europe. Many foreigners love Moscow and have good fun and life here.Russian girls are mostly very good-figured and pleasant-looking. our new society still has got a lot of problems to decide, but we are trying, do not forget that only 15 years passed by after USSR collapsed. This is history and we have to admit that. Russian literature, history, poets, ballet, scientists are the greatest in the world. I think States do have also bad and good sides in their society. But thanks to states for entertainment industry and Hollywood! This is amazing! You can not deny the fact that american films are the most popular and best technically done in the world. The only one possible way for us to live: is to be friends, to be closer, to exchange knowledge and experience between each other, to create international families, which helps to improve genes a lot, to support each other if any threat will come both on US or Russia! lets not be so f……g stupid and put rubbish on our heads! American, or Russian???? it does not matter, we are both great nations!!!!!!
It’s great place! My mom was there many years ago =) She was on Michaels Jacksons Sister concert =))) I don’t remamber her name - probably Jannet ^^
That greatest thing is that now there is something about +10+15 but when u climbe up to place where will be the Olympic games in 2014th there is a snow mountains etc =))) U can have some fun in the snow and then come down to +15 and palms =)))
wow, here’s I see not only pics of Sotchi but KISLOVODSK as well! Pics # 20-24 are not Sotchi. These are Kislovodsk, Mineralnye Vody. Even Putin and Medvedev have their own apartment there.
Moreover - the climate in Kislovodsk is unique and reminds Switzerland.
Welcome to Kislovodsk - the resort centre on Russia
I love my Motherland.
I like ski resort of Krasnaya Polyana that located 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the center of Sochi. The Caucases Mountains are absolutly beatuful and Krasnaya Polyana offers many chalets, hotels, and restaurants.
Some pictures of Krasnaya Polyana: http://www.krasnayapolyana.se/?page_id=28/
You remember old Russia. Today there are a lot of changes. I lived near Sochi 10 years ago but when I vizited it in 2008 I was very surprased! Today Sochi is the most worm beautiful plase in Russia!
[...] de asa ceva il rog sa posteze si poate ne informam reciproc. Cateva poze (zic eu relevante), aici: English Russia __________________ „ Fără Dumnezeu omul rămâne un biet animal raţional şi vorbitor, care [...]
This Russia doesn’t look like Russia at all because it was Georgian territory before dumb georgian Orjonikidze gave it to russians…
That is NOT true…
BTW Do You know that Georgia was a part of Russian Empire 100 years ago? Now Georgia is independent contry.I want to ask one more thing. Is it true that Texas was Mexican state?
USA was against Maxico? It is hard to belive!:) How can peace and democracy maker country do such horrible things like war?!
[...] Sochi, Russia. Yes, this is Russia! This is the site that will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It is situated at about the same latitude as Northern California (and Toronto, but yet has palm trees). http://englishrussia.com/?p=1873 [...]
This is a peace of paradise.
There is a strong mafia in Sochi.One part of sochi is held by Armenians, another by Georgians and everyone lives like brothers.All the most important people in Sochi, the mayor, police chief, know and get paid and everyone works together.