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Travel Pictures - SIBERIA - 2001
All images © Ron Miller

The following series of photos were taken during a late summer of 2001 journey on the trans-Siberian railroad from Moscow in western Russia to Beijing in northern China. The trip included a flight from Moscow to Novosibirsk (after missing the train!) and continuing by rail from Novosibirsk in central Siberia through Mongolia and eventually to Beijing. We visited several locations including Moscow, Novosibirsk, Akademgorodok, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulaan Baatar, and Beijing.



Viewing the fortifications of the Kremlin from the Kamenny Bridge over the Moscow River - Moscow, Russia


Close-up of the Great Kremlin Palace and the bell towers and onion domes of several cathedrals; the generic term, kremlin, is defined as a town's fortified stronghold; however, Moscow is home to the Kremlin - Moscow, Russia


Close-up of the onion domes of the Annunciation Cathedral (left), the Archangel Cathedral (right), and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (upper right) - Moscow, Russia


Ivan the Great Bell Tower, constructed in the mid 1500's, rises mightily within the Kremlin - Moscow, Russia


This busy street in Moscow's city center sports many more billboards than during my previous visit in 1991 - Moscow, Russia


When advertising, I guess you must know your market; the text at the bottom is actually a health warning - Moscow, Russia


The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was completed in 1997. The original structure was built in the 1800's (to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon) only to be completely destroyed by Stalin's regime! - Moscow, Russia


This elderly woman collects handouts on the grounds of the cathedral - Moscow, Russia


Sunset at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - Moscow, Russia


One of Moscow's Seven Sisters; the seven towering gothic structures were built during the 1950's and are scattered throughout the city - Moscow, Russia


The pastel colors commonly adorning Slavic structures give the appearance of a wedding cake; this tasty architectural masterpiece was completed in 1845 - Epiphany Cathedral at Elokhovo; Moscow, Russia


Gypsies, common throughout Moscow, were the greatest surprise during my first visit to Russia in 1991. It is not easy to capture their photo because, if they see your camera, you will most assuredly be harassed by accomplished, professional beggars - Moscow, Russia


The country estate of Kolomenskoye, containing a hilltop on the banks of the Moscow River, was developed as a retreat for Moscow's royalty - Moscow, Russia


Although the first mention of Kolomenskoye goes back to 1339, the oldest existing structure dates to 1532 - Moscow, Russia


A street market and apartments in the heart of Siberia - Novosibirsk, Russia


Overhead view of one of Russia's many recent entries into the free market - Novosibirsk, Russia


Colorful vendors' stalls just outside of the train station - Novosibirsk, Russia


Grilled chicken is available for Rubles - Novosibirsk, Russia


Atop Ferris wheel with the lovely Yekaterina, a Siberian ballet dancer - Novosibirsk, Russia


As you can see for yourself, the billboard advertising (in combination with copious amounts of nicotine) works! - Novosibirsk, Russia


Vladimir Lenin standing over the peasant, the soldier, and the worker at the entrance to the Opera and Ballet Theater - Lenin Square; Novosibirsk, Russia


Siberians celebrating the pleasant summer temperatures with ice cream - Novosibirsk, Russia


Many folks move about on foot - at least during the summer - Novosibirsk, Russia


Located 20 km. south of Novosibirsk, Akademgorodok was founded in the 1950's as an elite city for cold war scientists; the Budker Institute of Nuclear Sciences is one of the many institutes set amid the lush Siberian forest - Akademgorodok, Russia


The Siberian forest contains a surprisingly colorful blend of flora including both deciduous trees (white birch, aspen) and coniferous trees (cedar, spruce, pine, and larch); all of the buildings are carved right out of the mature forest - Akademgorodok, Russia


This apartment complex is set amid a forest of birch/aspen trees. Today, the city is affectionately referred to as the "Silicon Forest" - Akademgorodok, Russia


A lovely footpath in the forests that envelop the city - Akademgorodok, Russia


Enjoying some borscht on the long ride across Siberia - Siberia, Russia


One of many quaint villages as seen from the trans-Siberian railroad - east of Novosibirsk, Russia


Another village with gardens and picket fences along the trans-Siberian Railroad - east of Novosibirsk, Russia


The typical Siberian home has an active garden surrounded by an unpainted picket fence - west of Irkutsk, Russia


Our train creates a minor traffic jam at a rail crossing - west of Irkutsk, Russia


Colorful fields of grain in the heart of Siberia - west of Irkutsk, Russia


Typical, hardy Russian man relaxing during the rail journey - near Irkutsk, Russia


Is this a stickup by the Russian mafia? The children bring life and energy (and guns?) to the train - Siberia, Russia


Vendors sell a wide variety of goods on the tarmac of the rail platform - Siberia, Russia


Ice cream and other desserts can be purchased for a modest price - Siberia, Russia


Founded in 1651, Irkutsk is a sophisticated and colorful city sometimes referred to as the "Paris of Siberia" - Irkutsk, Siberia


The Angara River, which is the natural outlet for Lake Baikal, flows clearly and swiftly through the city - Irkutsk, Russia


Politically and psychologically insightful graffiti on the shores of the Angara River - Irkutsk, Russia


The Okhlopkov Drama Theatre adds more color to the Paris of Siberia - Irkutsk, Russia


This ancient, wooden home was constructed by the Decembrists who were exiled to Siberia after their failed revolution in 1825 - Irkutsk, Russia


Another view of the resilient homes constructed by the Decembrists - Irkutsk, Russia


Not all of the monuments to Lenin have been toppled (unfortunately) and, contrary to the above image, I am not a supporter of Lenin - Irkutsk, Russia


We spent several hours in this railway station because we showed up 5 hours too early. We did not realize that train schedules in Russia completely disregard local time and adhere only to Moscow time! - Irkutsk, Russia


Finally, our train approaches the station on time (Moscow time, that is) - Irkutsk, Russia


I never realized just how large my backpack was until viewing this photo - Irkutsk, Russia


A Siberian cowboy busily looking after his cattle - near Irkutsk, Russia


The welcoming curator at the Baikal Road & Museum of Wooden Architecture; the Baikal Road connects Irkutsk with the shore of Lake Baikal - near Listvyanka, Russia


One of the hardy women of Siberia - near Listvyanka, Russia


The Baikal Museum of Wooden Architecture preserves a collection of restored Siberian buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries - near Listvyanka, Russia


Chapel and bright blue skies on a pleasant summer day - near Listvyanka, Russia


Side view of another wooden chapel - near Listvyanka, Russia


A basic log cabin formerly used to shelter pioneers from Siberia's brutal winters - near Listvyanka, Russia


A retired yacht at the natural outlet of Lake Baikal; Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake (by volume) although its surface area is less than half that of Lake Victoria in Africa as well as Lake Superior in the Great Lakes (the world's largest lake by area) - near Listvyanka, Russia


The first glimpse of Lake Baikal when traveling easterly on the train; Lake Baikal is 395 miles long and 49 miles wide - near Listvyanka, Russia


The south shore of Lake Baikal as seen from the train - near Listvyanka, Russia


The mountainous west coast of Lake Baikal, which is the world's deepest lake (5,371 feet deep!) - near Listvyanka, Russia


The evening light highlights this old ship on the shore of Lake Baikal - Listvyanka, Russia


Vendors selling freshly smoked omul (member of the salmon family) at the harbor - Listvyanka, Russia


A gorgeous view across "the Pearl of Siberia" from the mountainous west shore; Lake Baikal was formed by the earth's deepest rift, the Baikal Rift, where the earth is pulling apart. The rift's total depth is more than five miles including 22,000 feet of sediment beneath the waters of the lake - near Listvyanka, Russia


A small homestead on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal - near Ulan Ude, Russia


The lovely peaks of the Ardaban Mountains on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal - near Ulan Ude, Russia


Indulging in fresh omul purchased at a train stop - near Ulan Ude, Russia


This Siberian pensioner offered me a gift - a pocket knife made in China! - near Ulan Ude, Russia


Brian with our compartment-mate, a lovely young lady from Ulan Ude, a city with many Buryat peoples - near Ulan Ude, Russia


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All images © Ron Miller For authorized use of these photos, please contact Ron Miller at TheHappyCannibal@gmail.com