Lake Baikal, in the south eastern corner of Siberia is one of Russia’s hidden treasures and it is surprising to learn that little is known about it beyond its native shores. Quite simply, Lake Baikal is the oldest and...
Archive - September 2011
AndyArgentina vs Georgia preview – Rugby World Cup 2011
Having overcome early pressure to record an emphatic win over Romania in Palmerston North, Richie Dixon’s Georgian side will be approaching their last game of the 2011 World Cup with renewed optimism and the feeling...
Ivan Pavlov Biography
Ivan Pavlov was a celebrated Russian physiologist and Nobel Prize winner who discovered the Conditioned Reflex but like many famous names from the country’s history, we seem to know very little about him. Of course we...
Siberian Prison Camps
While we are all doubtless aware of the network of Gulags that ran through Siberia in the early years of the Soviet Union, how much do we really know about these Siberian prison camps? Why were they there and what was...
Georgia vs Romania match report – Rugby World Cup 2011
This was always destined to be a physical encounter and not the most attractive game of rugby you’ll ever see but you can’t blame Georgia for playing to their strengths as they powered to a 25 points to 9 victory in...
Australia vs Russia preview – Rugby World Cup 2011
As Russia head towards their final game of this 2011 World Cup campaign, supporters will definitely argue that they have been a worthy addition to the tournament. While detractors will suggest that the so called minnows...
Valentina Tereshkova Facts
The space race was a fascinating era for those who like to study recent Russian history and there are many notable achievements that can be claimed by the former USSR. While the Soviet Union may have missed out on the...
Stalin’s Purges
The cruel reign of Josef Stalin as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was probably the bleakest period in Russia’s history. During this time, millions of ordinary Russian Citizens died in exile...
Is Moscow in Europe or Asia
While it may seem like an obvious query, it can at times be difficult to find a definitive answer to this question. While Russia is such a massive country it spans both continents but where does its capital city fit in...
Ireland vs Russia match report – Rugby World Cup 2011
Although the final margin of defeat may have seemed heavy, Russia only capitulated in the last ten minutes of each half and conceded the majority of their tries in these periods. Stamina may therefore have been an issue...