In late July I took a day trip to the mountain range Nurali. It is located in Uchalinsky region of Bashkortostan but very close to Miass town of Chelyabinsk region. The relief of the ridge Nurali differs somewhat from the rest of the Southern Urals. The mountains are bare and brown, as in Tajikistan. They are pretty low, just about 800 meters high, but the impression is as if you climb high mountains. On the top you can see all the beauty of this mountainous country: no people, no empty bottles. This place looks very rough and even scary to climb up the ridge.
On the one of the pictures is the lake Aushkul. Lake water seems green because of the mineral bottom. Actually it’s not so far from a large deposit of copper ore in Uchalinsky region of Bashkortostan. Click picture to see photo album:
Chelyabinsk is surrounded by several lakes. One of them – Smolino lake – is a favorite vacation spot of townpeople at any time of year.
In the middle of the lake there is a floating sauna which is used from early spring to late autumn. You can go out of the sauna and immediately start swimming in the lake.
In winter time sauna is pulled closer to the beach and next to it the big ice-holes are cut. In the Russian sauna (‘banya’) it is normal first to use birch twigs and then jump into the cold water. When the pictures were took, the temperature was -28C, so instead of jumping into the ice-hole we prefered to take cold bucket shower. Wonderful!
Forests in Germany don’t look like the forests in Russia. German forest is nearly the park, well maintained and clean. In this forest you will not find any dry twig or a fallen tree. Dried parts of trees are neatly stacked in piles covered with polyethylene. Such an exemplary state of forests is directly linked to issues of ownership: the majority of forest lands is private property. Wood does not bring much revenue, but brings a lot of work and hassle. But being an owner of forest in Germany is prestigious, that is why the forests look as cozy as a lawn in front of a warm house.
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What I like about the Veluwe? Sometimes when I walk I feel like walking in the Sahara, beautiful woods in California or the Russian taiga. But after half our walking I can see we live in Holland: houses with antenna’s or just the motorway. The end of a nice day dream.
Information about the Veluwe national park:
Last summer we went to Ardennes mountains in Belgium, we stayed in hotel nearby Herbeumont town. The area is very enjoyable because of the beautiful nature, in one of the evenings we took a walk in the forest and made these pictures.
Kyshtym is a small Ural town in Chelyabinsk region of Russia. It is historical and picturesque place. The town is surrounded by the mountains and numerous lakes and rivers. The history of Kyshtym is related to the history of the first russian metallurgical plants. Kyshtymsky works was set up in 1757 with the purpose to produce cast iron. In the middle of the town there is a large church with the capacity up to 5000 people. This is typical Russian Orthodox church with the onion domes and bell towers. People are very hospitable and friendly.
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