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Siberia

Background: Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.



Links: Siberia Travel Blogs (225) | Siberia Travel Photos | Russia Travel Forum | Russia Facts | Map of Russia

Areas in Siberia: Barnaul | Belokurikha | Biysk | Chemal | Chita | Gorno-Altaysk | Irkutsk | Krasnoyarsk | Lake Baikal | Manzherok | Novosibirsk | Olkhon | Omsk | Onguday | Tayshet | Tomsk | Ulan-Ude

July 3rd 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Lake Baikal
Hi All, I can't believe it's been 8 days since my last post. We've done so much in the last week - I'm dreading how long it's going to take to write this blog (it doesn't matter now as its only costs ... [full story]

Beautiful Russia!
2 days ago: moonfish published a blog
Beautiful Russia!
July 4th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk
Am sat in a little cafe in the middle of Irkutsk, which would definately not have found had it not been for our guide Kostya, who has been brilliant. But back to that a bit later. Have done so much ... 28 photos [full story]

Zurück in Irkutsk
2 days ago: Christing published a blog
Zurück in Irkutsk
June 20th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk
Ein paar Eindrücke bevor der Zug Richtung Moskau die Stadt verließ. ... 5 photos [full story]

Listvianka
2 days ago: Christing published a blog
Listvianka
June 19th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Lake Baikal
Oder da, wo der Angara in den Baikalsee mündet. Ein See, für den Worte nicht reichen. 2 Tage in Listvianka. ... 7 photos [full story]

Irkutsk und der Weg dorthin
2 days ago: Christing published a blog
Irkutsk und der Weg dorthin
June 17th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk
Bilder von einer langen Zugfahrt und einem noch viel längerem Aufenthalt an der Grenze (Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk). Nachts um 3 wurden wir von den chinesischen Grenzbeamten mit "Samba die Janeiro" geweckt. ... 18 photos [full story]

2 days ago: mcooper published a blog
Irkutsk to Mongolia
July 3rd 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk
Paul again. Let me start by apologising. There will be no more photos added to the blog or facebook until we get home in about 5 weeks. We seem to have lost some of the photos we have uploaded so th ... [full story]

Rhythm of the Rails
12 days ago: pandnscheuring published a blog
Rhythm of the Rails
June 15th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia
Some years ago the inimitable Kenny Rogers sung of a Train Bound For Nowhere in his opus, "The Gambler". I am searching for this man, this gambler. We are on that train. A few years further back th ... 9 photos [full story]

13 days ago: Danny and Claire published a blog
.....and relax....
June 22nd 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Olkhon
Hi All, I hope this missive finds you all well! We are still alive so the St Petersburg Mafia have not found us after our last e:mail. I fell I should add that everyone else we have met so far who ... [full story]

The Trans-Manchurian Irkutsk to Beijing
24 days ago: Frankiy published a blog
The Trans-Manchurian Irkutsk to Beijing
May 13th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Chita
So I make train 20 - the Trans-Manchurian and I start with a full carriage to myself. There is some confusion when the train arrives as there is no carriage twenty for me to board - but I quickly real ... 40 photos [full story]

Leaving Olkhon and getting back to Irkutsk
May 11th 2008  Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk
My final full day on Olkhon! I will miss it as for me it has been the best of russia - beautiful places and I know I want to come back in the winter and summer to spend time here. But we wander around ... 11 photos [full story]


Siberia Blog Entries

Sur la route
Kirstyn pondering if it really is safe
Door to my home
Building
Detail
Fur and heels
Kirov Square
Kirov Square
Train 5 from Ulan Bator<->Moscow
Sculpture
Olkhon Island
Stolby Nature Reserve
"BAIKAL" EXPRESS FROM MOSCOW TO IRKUTSK
The trekking route
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Wooden architecture

Russia

Russia Location

Russias map
Map of Russia
Russias flag
Russia's Flag


Hostels in Russia



Siberia

Latest Siberia Blog Entries
Siberia Photos


Blogging Siberia




Russia Travel Forum
Moscow and Europe
Advice on Accomodation in Moscow
Trans-Siberian Railway packages/tours
Renting a flat in St Petersburg
russian visa outside your home country
TravelBlog a big hit in Russia!
Flights to Moscow and Hostels
Russia-spring or fall?
which is Europe’s highest mountain - Elbrus (5,642m) in the Caucasus, or Mont Blanc (4,807m) in the Alps?
living in russia for a year- a bad move??
Who has visited St.-Petersburg?
To Russia alone?
Siberian Express??
Russia
Flights to st petersburg
Hostels in Russia








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