Little Wonder

In response to Europe’s “Seven Wonders of the World” list, which didn’t include Russia, the former Soviet Republic has compiled its own list of “wonders.” The list includes the Baikal Lake, the deepest fresh water lake in the world at 1,637 meters; the Valley of the Geysers, a six kilometre basin and the only geyser field in all of Eurasia; the Mother Motherland monument, the Mamayev Kurgan hill overlooking the city of Yolgograd, region which saw fierce fighting during the second world war; and Elbrus, the mountain which marks the highest point in Russia at 5,600 meters. The sights mentioned, and an additional three, were chosen after an online poll in which 26 million voted.