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Urals

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: Urals Travel Blogs (100) | Urals Travel Photos | Map of Urals | Russia Travel Forum | Hotels in Urals | Hostels in Urals | Cheap flights to Urals | Russia Facts | Map of Russia

Areas in : Chelyabinsk (59) | Surgut | Yekaterinburg (54)

84 days ago: SamandLaura published a blog
We're in Asia!
September 6th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
(written by Sam whilst Laura snoozes after spending all night being disturbed by some Slovakians) Good morning everybody Today we awoke in Asia, in a very small hostel that doesn't look as if it ... [full story]

Trans-siberian stage 2: Vladimir to Yekaterinburg
June 15th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
This was our first taste of overnight Russian train travel. We travelled "Kupe" i.e. 2nd class and again were pleasantly surprised to have services included, despite having a bag full of instant n ... 6 photos [full story]

Back To Civilisation
167 days ago: RTW adventure 09 to 13 published a blog
Back To Civilisation
June 7th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
…And doesn’t the name say it all. In fact, how the hell do you say the name!!! This city surprised me because it’s foundation is in industry such as forestry and mining, and ... 61 photos [full story]

Trans Siberian through Yekaterinburg and Tobolsk
June 13th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
It was with both excitement and trepidation that I left my hostel in Moscow to board my first Trans Siberian train. 29hours travelling pleskart (3rd class like a big dorm) to my first town of Yekateri ... 23 photos [full story]

Yekaterinburg 11 May - 13 May / Day 17 to 19
May 14th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
We arrived around 8 PM in this city of 1.5 million inhabitants and considered the third capital of Russia. Ural mountains are rich in minerals, no wonder that Yekaterinburg is an industrial city wit ... 33 photos [full story]

May 24th 2009  Europe » Russia » Urals » Yekaterinburg
In retrospect, I kinda forget what attracted me to Ekat, A city famous for the brutal murder of the Romanov family, the last Tsar and co, and a gang war in the early 1990's. And rocks if you're into ... [full story]


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St Basil's 2
Das Buero

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Blog about Russia (Trans-Siberia), China, and Mongolia
To St. Petersburg, Russia in august or september
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