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Travel Essentials

29 Bon Voyage Gift Ideas That She’ll Actually Want

• Date Updated: June 24, 2021
• By: Alicia Walter

This post may contain affiliate links. We receive a commission on purchases made through links on this page. This is at no additional cost to you & helps support our travels. Read more in our Disclaimer . Thank you!

Whether she is moving out of town, taking a semester abroad, or she’s decided to travel for an extended period of time, you need to find the best Bon Voyage gift ideas that she’ll actually want. This list is for you and we’ll go over some awesome Bon Voyage gift ideas she’ll love!

Bon Voyage parties are a tricky bitter-sweet moment where she is so excited to be trying something new but it is so hard leaving all her loved ones behind. By finding some perfect Bon Voyage gift ideas, you can help send her off with a little bit of both of those emotions.

We’ll go over the best Bon Voyage gift ideas, travel gift ideas for her, gifts for travel lovers, gift ideas for someone moving out of state, and more!

After leaving for school, study abroad, and for  our world travels , I have had my fair share of Bon Voyage parties and gifts. I know what she really wants and what she will really use.

This post is all about the best Bon Voyage Gift Ideas that she'll actually want!

Bon voyage gift ideas for her: , 1. the perfect packable hat.

I love a good hat while traveling but trying to pack them or always having to wear them on the plane is a pain in the butt.. This style is actually super cute, breathable, AND can be rolled and packed! 

2. carry on bag

Since we check bags, we love to have a small carry on bag with us with a few essentials. this bag is small enough to fit under your seat if needed and cute enough to match any travel day outfit!

3. dry pack

If she is planning on some awesome adventure travel that surrounds itself around water or sand, this bag will be a life save. It’s completely waterproof and will protect her phone, camera, wallet and anything else important for those fun adventurous days!

4. chest bag

My absolute favorite travel accessory. I am so happy that these bags are back in style because they are so handy to carry around. They keep everything close to your body and in view so there is a much lower risk of petty theft. It also keeps the essentials easily accessible. Travel days can be crazy and it’s nice to have your wallet, passport, boarding passes, and phone all in an easy-to-reach spot.

5. Luggage Tags

Whether she will be checking her bag on flights or taking buses, anything can happen while traveling. These cute luggage tags help in case your bag is lost or misplaced and can help you distinguish your bag from another’s bag.

6. Passport Covers

Passport covers are an easy travel accessory that not only makes your passport cute and easy to find in a bag but also protects them! Protecting your passport during your international travels can be stressful and having a protective cover over it, helps immensely!

7. sleep mask

I know it’s not just me, but I always want to sleep on planes and I am never comfortable. A sleep mask is a perfect carry-on accessory for those long haul flights. It’s perfect for they turn on the lights randomly at 2 am whether on a plane or in a hostel. 

8. cosmetic bag

Toiletry bags are the most beat-up bags in the suitcase and having a nice one will help keep her organized and stylish! This bag is perfect is perfect for her shampoos and toothbrush or her makeup. It has a nice separate compartment to keep her makeup brushes separate and clean!

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9. Travel journal

One thing I wish I had been better about during our travels was writing down all of our experiences! We do a great job with photos and videos but writing about the feelings sometimes can be so different! This travel journal is the perfect companion for her to keep track of all her crazy new memories!

10. Beach towel

Oddly enough not every hotel will have pool or beach towels. And if she is backpacking or staying in hostels, she may not even have bath towels. Sand Cloud’s towels are a perfect multi-use beach towel that works as a bath towel, cozy blanket, picnic blanket, and seat cushion! It’s small enough for any traveler and comes in so many cute styles!

Don’t forget to get travel insurance for every trip to cover medical emergencies, cancellations, and even lost luggage! Check out SafetyWing for our go-to travel insurance !

11. filtered water bottle

Having a reusable water bottle that not only helps cut down on the use of plastic but keeps her water COLD is so essential. It can be hot and humid all over and having the luxury of some ice water on the top of a mountain is like a little slice of heaven. Plus they have so many cute colors! 

12. Travel Coffee mug

If your girl loves coffee (like me) this Keep A Cup is a perfect travel accessory. It helps keep her coffee hot and cuts down on paper & plastic cups! Plus, see the next gift idea…

13. portable pour over

Okay is this not so cute?! But it’s also a great travel accessory so she can travel with the ability to make coffee ANYWHERE. Hiking, hotel, camping, anywhere. A lot of hotels in Southeast Asia don’t even have coffee makers (only instant coffee, yikes) so this is necessary if you like a good cup of coffee. 

14. travel sunscreen kit

This kit is perfect for travel. Skin care is a must and can be easy to forget about when just out walking for the day. This kit is cute, includes travel sized sunscreen, & is really good quality! 

15. travel jewelry case

If she loves jewelry, this case is a perfect way to bring it with her. It’s thin so will easily fit into a suitcase. It also has a holder for necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. It will keep her jewelry safe and not knotted (the worst).

16. lightweight rain jacket

Even if you’re traveling somewhere sunny and gorgeous, chances are it’s going to rain at some point. This lightweight rain jacket is perfect for the tropics’ hot and rainy weather. And packs down super small. 

17. Suitcase set

A suitcase is the perfect bon voyage gift idea because you know she will actually use it! Good quality suitcases are hard to come by and Samsonite is definitely a brand you can trust!

18. Reusable makeup wipes

Say goodbye to makeup wipes. The ones that leak, are hard to find abroad, and are so wasteful! These are machine washable and just need warm water to melt your makeup right off! Genius!!

19. refillable toiletry bottles

Okay, secret time. We never buy our own shampoo or conditioner. We always use these and refill with all the hotel & Airbnb’s big bottles. It’s way less wasted plastic and makes our lives easier so we always have what we need!

20. First aid kit

Keep her safe with a  travel-friendly first-aid kit . These small kits fit nicely into a day backpack or carry-on so she can bring them with her wherever. Complete with sting kits, burn cream, bug bite relief, bandaids, and antibiotic cream, it has everything she may run across for minor injuries.

21. Oh shit kit

I made my own “Oh Shit Kit” that is in a small bag that I bring everywhere with me! Mine has a collection of medicines (ibuprofen, allergy pills, antacids, and motion sickness pills), Tide To-Go stick, mini tool kit, eyeglasses repair kit, emergency money, emergency contacts, pads, tampons, nail file, and antibacterial wipes. 

22. wanderlust necklace

She loves adventure and travel and this is an accessory she can actually bring with her. This necklace is the perfect accessory that goes with anything and is actually true to her style and sense of adventure. Plus it is small so she can pack or wear it without adding any extra luggage!

23. Instant camera

I am so happy that instant cameras are back in style! I love the idea of having a printed photo the second you take it. It makes you so much more intentional with your photos and they will last forever. This Fujifilm Instax Mini is perfect for her to take photos of people she meets, crazy sights she sees, and all the new foods she’ll try! She can give them to others or make a book for them and you can get a color that matches her style!

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24. film camera

Film is all the rage. And I am here for it. This is a super lightweight, reusable 35mm film camera. Perfect for travel. It’s also super affordable and she won’t have to worry if something happens to it! 

25. power adapter

I stand behind this BESTEK Universal Power Adapter fully. It has been such a great travel accessory for us throughout Asia and North and South America. The adapter has 3 3-prong outlets and 4 USB outlets so she can charge everything at once. It also is a surge protector so she doesn’t need to worry about blowing a fuse. And lastly, it comes with all the outlet options around the world so she can always use it!

26. portable charger

The number of times this has saved my butt while traveling or even just while out for a really long date, is unbelievable. This Anker charger is small enough to fit in a purse and is something she will 100% carry with her everywhere. Plus, it’s MagSafe which means she doesn’t even need a cord! Seriously, life-saver.

• Get a full list of all of our top Travel Recommendations!

27. bluetooth connection for airplanes

Okay, this is the newest and best travel accessory. This plugs into the headphone jack on a plane and connects to your bluetooth headphones so you can use your headphones on a plane ie NOISE-CANCELLING headphones! Genius. 

28. Bluetooth speaker

This comes in so handy so often whether you are just at home or out and about. This speaker is waterproof, shockproof, and portable. The charge lasts forever and it comes in a few cute colors. This is the perfect gift for anyone whether she is a huge music junkie or just likes to listen while she’s laying out.

29. Crochet bag

These crochet bags pack up super small but can be used for so many things on the road. It’s a perfect beach bag since it doesn’t hold the sand. It’s also great for carrying to the gym or for groceries. Also, it’s so cute. 

This post was all about the best Bon Voyage gift ideas for her! I hope these were helpful for you, let us know if you have any suggestions to add to the list!

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• Date: June 24, 2021

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Bon Voyage Travel Toiletry Bag

A washable, weirdly-roomy wash bag with 14 pockets that helps keep your bottles upright. No grimy plastic windows.

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Is it unreasonable to get frustrated at a toiletry bag? It's what instigated this design! Weirdly-roomy, mid-sized wash bag that helps keep bottles upright, washable, no grimy plastic windows. Coffee-coloured lining that looks better for longer, 14 (!!!!) pockets for all the organisation.

★★★★★ Elizabeth C says, "Holds as much as my previous 3 part fold out toiletries bag! Generous amount of pockets. Really easy to find items. Well worth the search to find it!"

Your annoyance —toiletry bags that make you lie everything down. Plastic windows that rip and get grimy. Cardboard reinforced walls so you can't wash them! That make you throw everything in then can't find anything! That don't fit anything that's not travel sized! And why do they always  look so dirty, so quickly?

Our solution —keep your kit together with our mid-sized Travel Toiletry Bag.

• Fully-washable bag, no plastic windows
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• Coffee-coloured interior minimises the appearance of mess
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20cm H x 22cm W x 10cm gusset base

Hanging height: 39cm including hook

Water-resistant Oxford cotton/polyster external

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Bon voyage! How to choose the perfect weekender bag, according to travel experts

Hey there, jetsetter! Are you planning to embark on a weekend getaway, but struggling with the type of bag to take with you? Packing for a trip can certainly be frustrating, but choosing the right travel gear can help alleviate any unwanted stress.

When it comes to finding the perfect duffel, tote or backpack for your next excursion, you’ll first want to consider the size, style and material, according to experts. Whether you’re traveling by plane , car or train , we’ve got several great weekender bags that fit their rigorous criteria that'll help make your next adventure the best one yet!

Don’t forget to download the  Shop TODAY Savings  coupon finder where you can score great savings at over 40,000 retailers!

Size | Style | Materials | Award winning weekender | Best duffel bags | Best tote bags | Best backpacks | How we chose | Meet the experts

Shop TODAY Snapshot

What size weekender bag is best?

Are you planning on attending a beach wedding or going on a yoga retreat? Either way, it's imperative that you have your destination top of mind when choosing which bag to bring on your trip.  

“Determine how much space you need. Consider the length, width and depth to ensure it can accommodate your clothing, toiletries and other essentials for a weekend trip,” suggests Ulliyada Bopanna, vice president of design and innovation for Samsonite North America. “Airlines also have carry-on size restrictions, so check those if you plan to use it for air travel."

Travel blogger Ali Garland prefers using a small backpack (20-25L) that can service multiple purposes for shorter trips and is less likely to get gate checked.

“I’ve been on so many flights where the gate agents say the flight is full and they need to check people’s carry-on luggage and they always take the suitcases,” says Garland. “Even when I’m traveling with my 40L backpack, they tend to ignore me and gate check the roller bags instead. So for a weekend, you can easily pack a few outfits , bathroom items and whatever other necessities in a small backpack."

What weekend bag style is best?

When choosing a style for your weekender bag, Bopanna urges travelers to find one that matches their personal taste.

“ You know better than [carrying] a gym duffel if you’re not going to the gym,” she says. “Weekenders are a great alternative to rolling luggage or carry-ons as they convey a distinct sense of style and nonchalance. Opt for a weekender bag with comfortable handles and adjustable shoulder straps. This provides versatility in how you carry it, especially if you need to walk long distances with the bag. If you’re carrying it with a rolling luggage, make sure it has a sleeve that allows you to carry it securely with your suitcase."

For Misty Belles, Virtuoso VP of Global Public Relations, she prefers weekender bags that "mix fashion and function. I know myself well enough to know that if it doesn’t fit my “look,” I’m not going to carry it, no matter how convenient. I like bags that can either be carried on my shoulder or in hand, and that are comfortable either way.”  

Also, stitching is extremely important when it comes to shopping for a durable weekender bag. “Pay attention to the stitching and seams,” Bopanna recommends. “Reinforced stitching and strong seams are important for longevity. Check the quality of hardware like zippers, buckles and D-rings. Be willing to invest a bit more for higher quality.”

What materials are good for a weekender bag?

It’s no secret that the material of your bag is just as important as the contents inside it. Bopanna recommends looking for these three materials for weekender bags:

• Leather: To start, leather offers durability and a stylish, timeless look. Note: It may require more maintenance and tends to be heavier.
• Canvas: Known for being lightweight and durable, canvas bags are easier to clean and maintain.
• Nylon: This material delivers water resistance and is lighter than canvas or leather. It’s a good choice for outdoor trips.

If you’re bringing your bag on an airplane, Belles recommends investing in a material that is malleable. “If you’re flying with your weekender, it should be able to scrunch under the seat in front of you, especially if you’re also bringing a rollaboard. Something soft-sided and unstructured is best,” she advises.  

Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award winner

Vera bradley weekender travel bag.

Weekender Travel Bag

• Lots of pockets for storage
• Not much structure

Colorways: 36 | Dimensions: 18.5" x 12.5” x 7.5” | Material: Cotton | Special features: Removable strap | Capacity: 30L

If the world is your oyster, this carry-on bag from Vera Bradley will make the best travel companion. Not only was it a Shop TODAY Travel Gear Awards w inner for Best Splurge Carry-on, but it also has 2,000+ verified five-star ratings on Amazon. Featuring a front zip pocket, a side pocket, and two back slip pockets, this weekender tote will store all your favorite items from cowboy boots to fleece leggings .

Best weekender duffel bags

Hyc00 travel duffel bag.

Travel Duffel Bag

• Separates wet and dry clothes
• Can't handle overstuffing

Colorways: 58 | Dimensions: 10.63” x 21.65” x 7.09” | Material: Water-resistant nylon | Special features: Trolley sleeve | Capacity: 30L | Warranty: Lifetime

This Amazon's Choice bag has six internal and two external pockets, so there’s no excuse for overpacking! This practical duffel is made of a high-density, water-resistant material to help separate your dry items from your dripping wet towels. Satisfied customers speak to the performance, value and the spacious interior of the bag.

ETRONIK Travel Duffel Bag

• Separate compartment for shoes
• Not overly spacious

Colorways: 43 | Dimensions: 18" x 13.5" x8.7" | Material: Waterproof nylon fabric | Special features: USB charging port | Capacity: 37L

This trendy duffel bag is a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon and is also a favorite of Shop TODAY associate editor Kamari Stewart . This waterproof bag features a luggage trolley strap, detachable shoulder strap and side pockets. Its best feature? There’s a separate compartment for shoes on the bottom of the bag, which is why it’s Stewart’s travel solemate! 

Samsonite Mobile Solution Classic Duffel Bag

Mobile Solution Classic Duffel Bag

• Fits over most luggage
• No pad on shoulder strap

Colorways: 2 | Dimensions: 23.3” x 16.3” x 7.5” | Material: Nylon fabric with vinyl trim | Special features: Smart sleeve | Warranty: 3-year limited

This classic Samsonite bag has a removable/adjustable strap so it can be worn as a crossbody or over the shoulder, depending on your preference. With various pockets, this duffel is designed to carry all the essential items you’ll require for a weekend away. Shoppers like how easy it is to wipe clean and its sturdy structure that holds its shape while packing.

Calpak Stevyn Duffel Bag

Stevyn Duffel Bag

• Separate shoe compartment

Colorways: 9 | Dimensions: 19.5” x 10.5” x 9” | Material: Polyester | Special features: Shoe compartment | Capacity: 47L | Warranty: one-year limited

You won’t want to hit the road without this chic duffel from Calpak. If you’re a lover of shoes and can’t travel without multiple options, this is the bag for you! In addition to its large bottom compartment for sneakers and heels , this lovely tote also features a roomy main compartment with interior pockets for all your remaining essentials. 

The North Face Never Stop Weekender Duffel

Never Stop Weekender Duffel

• Durable and lightweight
• Shoe compartment is small

Colorways: 3 | Dimensions: 27.2’’ x 15’’ x 10.2’’ | Material: Recycled Nylon & Polyester | Special features: Top handles snap together | Capacity: 42L | Warranty: Limited lifetime

This sporty duffel is great for a family camping trip or weekend at the lake. Featuring a branded internal liner, large central compartment and easy-to-use zippers, this athletic tote will safely store all your travel gear. 

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

Black Hole Duffel

• Super durable
• Water-resistant
• No load lifters on straps

Colorways: 8 | Dimensions: 19.7” x 12.5” x 8.5” ‎ | Material: Recycled polyester ripstop | Special features: Removable ergonomic shoulder straps | Capacity: 40L

Production coordinator Camryn Privette loves this Patagonia duffel for its durability. “I’ve used this bag for 5+ years now and it never has failed me. I’ve [dragged] it through airports, campground dirt and everything in-between,” she says.

This sporty duffel features zipper side pocket, an interior mesh lid pocket and a padded base to help protect all the items inside. If you’re going away for longer than a few days, this bag also comes in three larger sizes: 55L, 70L and 100L.

The best part about this bag is that it's eco-friendly as it is made of 100% recycled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU is a laminate applied to the material and is a crucial part of what makes the Black Hole Duffel so durable and weather-resistant, according to the brand.

Best weekender tote bags

Baggallini carryall tote bag.

Carryall Tote Bag

• Tons of pockets
• No hard structure

Colorways: 22 | Dimensions: 18”x 12” h x 5.5” | Material: Nylon | Special features: Quick access phone pocket | Warranty: One-year

Production coordinator Bella Druckman turns to this Baggallini tote for fulfilling all her weekend packing needs.

“The bag has a luggage sleeve, so I can slip it onto my rolling luggage bag during a longer trip. For shorter trips, I love that it has two types of straps — a longer crossbody strap and two shorter straps to hold it as a tote bag. This allows me to carry it differently depending on how heavy the bag is (and how tired I am)," Druckman says.

Béis The Weekender

The Weekender

• Bottom can be hard to open

Colorways: 9 | Dimensions: 19" x 15.7" x 9.8" | Material: Jute canvas, vegan leather and polyester | Special features: Removable shoulder strap with shoulder pad | Capacity: 49L

Commerce writer Danielle Murphy no longer leaves home for the weekend without this trendy bag. "My favorite part is the separate shoe compartment at the bottom. I use it to keep my dirty footwear separate from my clothes, but it’s also great for storing clunky toiletry bags!"

This stylish tote has nearly 11,000 perfect five-star ratings on the brand's website and features a key leash, trolley pass-through and organizational pockets.

"I’ve used it on multiple trips now and have enjoyed it because it has enough space to pack for a weeklong trip (if you pack right), but also works as a carry-on and is easy to pack thanks to the many compartments it has. I also love how the handles are long enough that you can just put it on your shoulder if you wanted to carry it that way," adds editor Vivien Moon.

Dagne Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Bag

Landon Neoprene Carryall Bag

• Easy to carry
• Straps can seem short

Colorways: 6 | Dimensions: 9” x 6.25” x 4.75” | Material: Premium neoprene | Special features: Detachable adjustable crossbody strap and key leash | Capacity: 5L

You won’t regret splurging on this classy Dagne Dover carryall bag for a second! This 100% vegan option includes a detachable crossbody strap and exterior phone pocket, so you’ll never miss an important call from your bestie again. This chic tote comes in sizes XS to XL, depending on your desired preference... and the amount of clothes you pack.

“This is my second Dagne Dover purchase and I love it! This bag has more than enough space to pack for a weekend and I love all the pockets/compartments. It’s stylish and practical at the same time,” said one verified buyer.

Away The Everywhere Bag

The Everywhere Bag

• Very spacious
• No lock for laptop compartment

Colorways: 5 | Dimensions: 16.3” x 10.2” x 7.3” | Material: Nylon, leather | Special Features: Trolley sleeve | Capacity: 20L

…. and Away we go! Featuring a trolley sleeve, interior & exterior pockets and 15” laptop pocket, this bag has everything to deem it the ultimate travel accessory. Satisfied buyers speak to the great quality and design of the bag. 

Best weekender backpacks

Matein carry on backpack.

Carry on Backpack

• Very durable
• No separate laptop compartment

Colorways: 9 | Dimensions: ‎19.5" x 13.5" x 6" | Material: Water-resistant polyester | Special features: Expandable | Capacity: 40L

If you’re planning to hit a few hiking trails this weekend and in need of an oversized backpack, look no further. This airplane-approved backpack has 5,800+ verified five-star ratings and comes in three different sizes. Its adjustable shoulder straps are designed to make the bag feel lighter and easier to carry.

“It was more than what I thought it was going to be. I was able to fit a lot more items than expected and the convenience of front pockets/storage made it easier going through TSA. Will buy more for my family,” said one verified buyer.

Athleta Excursion Backpack

Excursion Backpack

• Easy-access cell phone pocket
• Straps can be loose

Colorways: 2 | Dimensions: 9” x 3” x 15” | Material: recycled nylon | Special features: Mesh back panel and adjustable strap

Going on an adventure? Made from recycled polyester, this Athleta excursion backpack is exactly what you need to maximize your fun. If you’re planning to spend the weekend outdoors, you’ll be extra thankful for this bag’s side pockets so you can quickly access your water bottle for an ice-cold drink.  

“Perfect size. Very cute! Sits well on back. Using for hiking and around town. Quality is great,” said one verified five-star customer.

Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack

Allpa Travel Pack

• Super spacious
• Can be bulky

Colorways: 5 | Dimensions: 22” x 12” x 10” | Material: TPU-coated 1000D polyester | Special features: Security anti-theft YKK zippers | Capacity: 35L | Warranty: Lifetime

Get ready to explore the wonders of the world with this lightweight backpack from Cotopaxi. This rugged backpack is ideal for both short getaways and longer excursions as it features a weight-distributing, low-profile harness system for added comfort.

“I love love love this pack!” raves editorial assistant Sierra Hoeger . “I got it for my birthday, and it has been my go-to for weekend trips, weeklong trips back home and everything in between. I like how durable it is, and looks are deceiving, because I’ve managed to fit way more than I think when packing.”

Frequently asked questions

"Our weekender bags can be cleaned by using mild soap and warm water. Simply spot clean when needed," says Samsonite product manager Chanel Garcia.

For leather specifically, it is suggested to avoid using heavy detergents or chemicals that can harm the leather. Simply clean with a damp cloth and a reputable leather cleaner.

Nylon material is designed to be easy to clean and stain-resistant, so warm water and soap should do the trick.

For canvas bags, it is recommended to wash by hand with a mild detergent or cornstarch. Allow the bag to air-dry after you clean it before using.

"It’s very much dependent on what kind of travel you are taking, but it’s best to invest in quality pieces that will hold up to the rigors of travel. Avoid bags that do not have reinforced stitching and strong seams. And ensure the bag is made with quality hardware, nobody wants a broken zipper in the midst of traveling," Garcia says.

How we chose

These weekender bag recommendations were based on expert insights, market research and Shop TODAY editor picks. We selected the best totes, duffels and backpacks based on the overall size of the bag, the style and the material.

Meet the experts

• Ulliyada Bopanna is the vice president of design and innovation for Samsonite North America.
• Ali Garland is a travel blogger living in Berlin and runs  Travel Made Simple and  Berlin Travel Tips .
• Misty Belles is the vice president of global public relations for luxury travel company Virtuoso . She previously spoke to Shop TODAY about travel pillows .
• Chanel Garcia is the product manager at Samsonite .

Allie Wise is an associate editor for Shop TODAY.

• Places - European, Western and Northern Russia

YEKATERINBURG: FACTORIES, URAL SIGHTS, YELTSIN AND THE WHERE NICHOLAS II WAS KILLED

Sverdlovsk oblast.

Sverdlovsk Oblast is the largest region in the Urals; it lies in the foothills of mountains and contains a monument indicating the border between Europe and Asia. The region covers 194,800 square kilometers (75,200 square miles), is home to about 4.3 million people and has a population density of 22 people per square kilometer. About 83 percent of the population live in urban areas. Yekaterinburg is the capital and largest city, with 1.5 million people. For Russians, the Ural Mountains are closely associated with Pavel Bazhov's tales and known for folk crafts such as Kasli iron sculpture, Tagil painting, and copper embossing. Yekaterinburg is the birthplace of Russia’s iron and steel industry, taking advantage of the large iron deposits in the Ural mountains. The popular Silver Ring of the Urals tourist route starts here.

In the summer you can follow in the tracks of Yermak, climb relatively low Ural mountain peaks and look for boulders seemingly with human faces on them. You can head to the Gemstone Belt of the Ural mountains, which used to house emerald, amethyst and topaz mines. In the winter you can go ice fishing, ski and cross-country ski.

Sverdlovsk Oblast and Yekaterinburg are located near the center of Russia, at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and also the southern and northern parts of Russia. Winters are longer and colder than in western section of European Russia. Snowfalls can be heavy. Winter temperatures occasionally drop as low as - 40 degrees C (-40 degrees F) and the first snow usually falls in October. A heavy winter coat, long underwear and good boots are essential. Snow and ice make the sidewalks very slippery, so footwear with a good grip is important. Since the climate is very dry during the winter months, skin moisturizer plus lip balm are recommended. Be alert for mud on street surfaces when snow cover is melting (April-May). Patches of mud create slippery road conditions.

Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg (kilometer 1818 on the Trans-Siberian Railway) is the fourth largest city in Russia, with of 1.5 million and growth rate of about 12 percent, high for Russia. Located in the southern Ural mountains, it was founded by Peter the Great and named after his wife Catherine, it was used by the tsars as a summer retreat and is where tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed and President Boris Yeltsin lived most of his life and began his political career. The city is near the border between Europe and Asia.

Yekaterinburg (also spelled Ekaterinburg) is located on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains in the headwaters of the Iset and Pyshma Rivers. The Iset runs through the city center. Three ponds — Verkh-Isetsky, Gorodskoy and Nizhne-Isetsky — were created on it. Yekaterinburg has traditionally been a city of mining and was once the center of the mining industry of the Urals and Siberia. Yekaterinburg remains a major center of the Russian armaments industry and is sometimes called the "Pittsburgh of Russia.". A few ornate, pastel mansions and wide boulevards are reminders of the tsarist era. The city is large enough that it has its own Metro system but is characterized mostly by blocky Soviet-era apartment buildings. The city has advanced under President Vladimir Putin and is now one of the fastest growing places in Russia, a country otherwise characterized by population declines

Yekaterinburg is technically an Asian city as it lies 32 kilometers east of the continental divide between Europe and Asia. The unofficial capital of the Urals, a key region in the Russian heartland, it is second only to Moscow in terms of industrial production and capital of Sverdlovsk oblast. Among the important industries are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, machine building and metalworking, chemical and petrochemicals, construction materials and medical, light and food industries. On top of being home of numerous heavy industries and mining concerns, Yekaterinburg is also a major center for industrial research and development and power engineering as well as home to numerous institutes of higher education, technical training, and scientific research. In addition, Yekaterinburg is the largest railway junction in Russia: the Trans-Siberian Railway passes through it, the southern, northern, western and eastern routes merge in the city.

Accommodation: There are two good and affordable hotels — the 3-star Emerald and Parus hotels — located close to the city's most popular landmarks and main transport interchanges in the center of Yekaterinburg. Room prices start at RUB 1,800 per night.

History of Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great and named after his wife Catherine I. It was used by the tsars as a summer retreat but was mainly developed as metalworking and manufacturing center to take advantage of the large deposits of iron and other minerals in the Ural mountains. It is best known to Americans as the place where the last Tsar and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918 and near where American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Gary Powers, was shot down in 1960.

Peter the Great recognized the importance of the iron and copper-rich Urals region for Imperial Russia's industrial and military development. In November 1723, he ordered the construction of a fortress factory and an ironworks in the Iset River Valley, which required a dam for its operation. In its early years Yekaterinburg grew rich from gold and other minerals and later coal. The Yekaterinburg gold rush of 1745 created such a huge amount of wealth that one rich baron of that time hosted a wedding party that lasted a year. By the mid-18th century, metallurgical plants had sprung up across the Urals to cast cannons, swords, guns and other weapons to arm Russia’s expansionist ambitions. The Yekaterinburg mint produced most of Russia's coins. Explorations of the Trans-Baikal and Altai regions began here in the 18th century.

Iron, cast iron and copper were the main products. Even though Iron from the region went into the Eiffel Tower, the main plant in Yekaterinburg itself was shut down in 1808. The city still kept going through a mountain factory control system of the Urals. The first railway in the Urals was built here: in 1878, the Yekaterinburg-Perm railway branch connected the province's capital with the factories of the Middle Urals.

In the Soviet era the city was called Sverdlovsk (named after Yakov Sverdlov, the man who organized Nicholas II's execution). During the first five-year plans the city became industrial — old plants were reconstructed, new ones were built. The center of Yekaterinburg was formed to conform to the historical general plan of 1829 but was the layout was adjusted around plants and factories. In the Stalin era the city was a major gulag transhipment center. In World War II, many defense-related industries were moved here. It and the surrounding area were a center of the Soviet Union's military industrial complex. Soviet tanks, missiles and aircraft engines were made in the Urals. During the Cold War era, Yekaterinburg was a center of weapons-grade uranium enrichment and processing, warhead assembly and dismantlement. In 1979, 64 people died when anthrax leaked from a biological weapons facility. Yekaterinburg was a “Closed City” for 40 years during the Cold Soviet era and was not open to foreigners until 1991

In the early post-Soviet era, much like Pittsburgh in the 1970s, Yekaterinburg had a hard struggle d to cope with dramatic economic changes that have made its heavy industries uncompetitive on the world market. Huge defense plants struggled to survive and the city was notorious as an organized crime center in the 1990s, when its hometown boy Boris Yeltsin was President of Russia. By the 2000s, Yekaterinburg’s retail and service was taking off, the defense industry was reviving and it was attracting tech industries and investments related to the Urals’ natural resources. By the 2010s it was vying to host a world exhibition in 2020 (it lost, Dubai won) and it had McDonald’s, Subway, sushi restaurants, and Gucci, Chanel and Armani. There were Bentley and Ferrari dealerships but they closed down

Transportation in Yekaterinburg

Getting There: By Plane: Yekaterinburg is a three-hour flight from Moscow with prices starting at RUB 8,000, or a 3-hour flight from Saint Petersburg starting from RUB 9,422 (direct round-trip flight tickets for one adult passenger). There are also flights from Frankfurt, Istanbul, China and major cities in the former Soviet Union.

By Train: Yekaterinburg is a major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Daily train service is available to Moscow and many other Russian cities.Yekaterinburg is a 32-hour train ride from Moscow (tickets RUB 8,380 and above) or a 36-hour train ride from Saint Petersburg (RUB 10,300 and above). The ticket prices are round trip for a berth in a sleeper compartment for one adult passenger). By Car: a car trip from Moscow to Yekateringburg is 1,787 kilometers long and takes about 18 hours. The road from Saint Petersburg is 2,294 kilometers and takes about 28 hours.

Regional Transport: The region's public transport includes buses and suburban electric trains. Regional trains provide transport to larger cities in the Ural region. Buses depart from Yekaterinburg’s two bus stations: the Southern Bus Station and the Northern Bus Station.

Regional Transport: According the to Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT): “Public transportation is well developed. Overcrowding is common. Fares are low. Service is efficient. Buses are the main form of public transport. Tram network is extensive. Fares are reasonable; service is regular. Trams are heavily used by residents, overcrowding is common. Purchase ticket after boarding. Metro runs from city center to Uralmash, an industrial area south of the city. Metro ends near the main railway station. Fares are inexpensive.

“Traffic is congested in city center. Getting around by car can be difficult. Route taxis (minivans) provide the fastest transport. They generally run on specific routes, but do not have specific stops. Drivers stop where passengers request. Route taxis can be hailed. Travel by bus or trolleybuses may be slow in rush hour. Trams are less affected by traffic jams. Trolley buses (electric buses) cannot run when temperatures drop below freezing.”

Entertainment, Sports and Recreation in Yekaterinburg

The performing arts in Yekaterinburg are first rate. The city has an excellent symphony orchestra, opera and ballet theater, and many other performing arts venues. Tickets are inexpensive. The Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theater is lavishly designed and richly decorated building in the city center of Yekaterinburg. The theater was established in 1912 and building was designed by architect Vladimir Semyonov and inspired by the Vienna Opera House and the Theater of Opera and Ballet in Odessa.

Vaynera Street is a pedestrian only shopping street in city center with restaurants, cafes and some bars. But otherwise Yekaterinburg's nightlife options are limited. There are a handful of expensive Western-style restaurants and bars, none of them that great. Nightclubs serve the city's nouveau riche clientele. Its casinos have closed down. Some of them had links with organized crime. New dance clubs have sprung up that are popular with Yekaterinburg's more affluent youth.

Yekaterinburg's most popular spectator sports are hockey, basketball, and soccer. There are stadiums and arenas that host all three that have fairly cheap tickets. There is an indoor water park and lots of parks and green spaces. The Urals have many lakes, forests and mountains are great for hiking, boating, berry and mushroom hunting, swimming and fishing. Winter sports include cross-country skiing and ice skating. Winter lasts about six months and there’s usually plenty of snow. The nearby Ural Mountains however are not very high and the downhill skiing opportunities are limited..

Sights in Yekaterinburg

Sights in Yekaterinburg include the Museum of City Architecture and Ural Industry, with an old water tower and mineral collection with emeralds. malachite, tourmaline, jasper and other precious stone; Geological Alley, a small park with labeled samples of minerals found in the Urals region; the Ural Geology Museum, which houses an extensive collection of stones, gold and gems from the Urals; a monument marking the border between Europe and Asia; a memorial for gulag victims; and a graveyard with outlandish memorials for slain mafia members.

The Military History Museum houses the remains of the U-2 spy plane shot down in 1960 and locally made tanks and rocket launchers. The fine arts museum contains paintings by some of Russia's 19th-century masters. Also worth a look are the History an Local Studies Museum; the Political History and Youth Museum; and the University and Arboretum. Old wooden houses can be seen around Zatoutstovsya ulitsa and ulitsa Belinskogo. Around the city are wooded parks, lakes and quarries used to harvest a variety of minerals. Weiner Street is the main street of Yekaterinburg. Along it are lovely sculptures and 19th century architecture. Take a walk around the unique Literary Quarter

Plotinka is a local meeting spot, where you will often find street musicians performing. Plotinka can be described as the center of the city's center. This is where Yekaterinburg holds its biggest events: festivals, seasonal fairs, regional holiday celebrations, carnivals and musical fountain shows. There are many museums and open-air exhibitions on Plotinka. Plotinka is named after an actual dam of the city pond located nearby (“plotinka” means “a small dam” in Russian).In November 1723, Peter the Great ordered the construction of an ironworks in the Iset River Valley, which required a dam for its operation. “Iset” can be translated from Finnish as “abundant with fish”. This name was given to the river by the Mansi — the Finno-Ugric people dwelling on the eastern slope of the Northern Urals.

Vysotsky and Iset are skyscrapers that are 188.3 meters and 209 meters high, respectively. Fifty-story-high Iset has been described by locals as the world’s northernmost skyscraper. Before the construction of Iset, Vysotsky was the tallest building of Yekaterinburg and Russia (excluding Moscow). A popular vote has decided to name the skyscraper after the famous Soviet songwriter, singer and actor Vladimir Vysotsky. and the building was opened on November 25, 2011. There is a lookout at the top of the building, and the Vysotsky museum on its second floor. The annual “Vysotsky climb” (1137 steps) is held there, with a prize of RUB 100,000. While Vysotsky serves as an office building, Iset, owned by the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, houses 225 premium residential apartments ranging from 80 to 490 square meters in size.

Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center

The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center (in the city center: ul. Yeltsina, 3) is a non-governmental organization named after the first president of the Russian Federation. The Museum of the First President of Russia as well as his archives are located in the Center. There is also a library, educational and children's centers, and exposition halls. Yeltsin lived most of his life and began his political career in Yekaterinburg. He was born in Butka about 200 kilometers east of Yekaterinburg.

The core of the Center is the Museum. Modern multimedia technologies help animate the documents, photos from the archives, and artifacts. The Yeltsin Museum holds collections of: propaganda posters, leaflets, and photos of the first years of the Soviet regime; portraits and portrait sculptures of members of Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of various years; U.S.S.R. government bonds and other items of the Soviet era; a copy of “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, published in the “Novy Mir” magazine (#11, 1962); perestroika-era editions of books by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Vasily Grossman, and other authors; theater, concert, and cinema posters, programs, and tickets — in short, all of the artifacts of the perestroika era.

The Yeltsin Center opened in 2012. Inside you will also find an art gallery, a bookstore, a gift shop, a food court, concert stages and a theater. There are regular screenings of unique films that you will not find anywhere else. Also operating inside the center, is a scientific exploritorium for children. The center was designed by Boris Bernaskoni. Almost from the its very opening, the Yeltsin Center has been accused by members of different political entities of various ideological crimes. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00am to 9:00pm.

Where Nicholas II was Executed

On July, 17, 1918, during this reign of terror of the Russian Civil War, former-tsar Nicholas II, his wife, five children (the 13-year-old Alexis, 22-year-old Olga, 19-year-old Maria and 17-year-old Anastasia)the family physician, the cook, maid, and valet were shot to death by a Red Army firing squad in the cellar of the house they were staying at in Yekaterinburg.

Ipatiev House (near Church on the Blood, Ulitsa Libknekhta) was a merchant's house where Nicholas II and his family were executed. The house was demolished in 1977, on the orders of an up and coming communist politician named Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin later said that the destruction of the house was an "act of barbarism" and he had no choice because he had been ordered to do it by the Politburo,

The site is marked with s cross with the photos of the family members and cross bearing their names. A small wooden church was built at the site. It contains paintings of the family. For a while there were seven traditional wooden churches. Mass is given ay noon everyday in an open-air museum. The Church on the Blood — constructed to honor Nicholas II and his family — was built on the part of the site in 1991 and is now a major place of pilgrimage.

Nicholas and his family where killed during the Russian civil war. It is thought the Bolsheviks figured that Nicholas and his family gave the Whites figureheads to rally around and they were better of dead. Even though the death orders were signed Yakov Sverdlov, the assassination was personally ordered by Lenin, who wanted to get them out of sight and out of mind. Trotsky suggested a trial. Lenin nixed the idea, deciding something had to be done about the Romanovs before White troops approached Yekaterinburg. Trotsky later wrote: "The decision was not only expedient but necessary. The severity of he punishment showed everyone that we would continue to fight on mercilessly, stopping at nothing."

Ian Frazier wrote in The New Yorker: “Having read a lot about the end of Tsar Nicholas II and his family and servants, I wanted to see the place in Yekaterinburg where that event occurred. The gloomy quality of this quest depressed Sergei’s spirits, but he drove all over Yekaterinburg searching for the site nonetheless. Whenever he stopped and asked a pedestrian how to get to the house where Nicholas II was murdered, the reaction was a wince. Several people simply walked away. But eventually, after a lot of asking, Sergei found the location. It was on a low ridge near the edge of town, above railroad tracks and the Iset River. The house, known as the Ipatiev House, was no longer standing, and the basement where the actual killings happened had been filled in. I found the blankness of the place sinister and dizzying. It reminded me of an erasure done so determinedly that it had worn a hole through the page. [Source: Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, August 3, 2009, Frazier is author of “Travels in Siberia” (2010)]

“The street next to the site is called Karl Liebknecht Street. A building near where the house used to be had a large green advertisement that said, in English, “LG—Digitally Yours.” On an adjoining lot, a small chapel kept the memory of the Tsar and his family; beneath a pedestal holding an Orthodox cross, peonies and pansies grew. The inscription on the pedestal read, “We go down on our knees, Russia, at the foot of the tsarist cross.”

Books: The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie (Random House, 1995); The Fall of the Romanovs by Mark D. Steinberg and Vladimir Khrustalëv (Yale, 1995);

See Separate Article END OF NICHOLAS II factsanddetails.com

Execution of Nicholas II

According to Robert Massie K. Massie, author of Nicholas and Alexandra, Nicholas II and his family were awakened from their bedrooms around midnight and taken to the basement. They were told they were to going to take some photographs of them and were told to stand behind a row of chairs.

Suddenly, a group of 11 Russians and Latvians, each with a revolver, burst into the room with orders to kill a specific person. Yakob Yurovsky, a member of the Soviet executive committee, reportedly shouted "your relatives are continuing to attack the Soviet Union.” After firing, bullets bouncing off gemstones hidden in the corsets of Alexandra and her daughters ricocheted around the room like "a shower of hail," the soldiers said. Those that were still breathing were killed with point black shots to the head.

The three sisters and the maid survived the first round thanks to their gems. They were pressed up against a wall and killed with a second round of bullets. The maid was the only one that survived. She was pursued by the executioners who stabbed her more than 30 times with their bayonets. The still writhing body of Alexis was made still by a kick to the head and two bullets in the ear delivered by Yurovsky himself.

Yurovsky wrote: "When the party entered I told the Romanovs that in view of the fact their relatives continued their offensive against Soviet Russia, the Executive Committee of the Urals Soviet had decided to shoot them. Nicholas turned his back to the detachment and faced his family. Then, as if collecting himself, he turned around, asking, 'What? What?'"

"[I] ordered the detachment to prepare. Its members had been previously instructed whom to shoot and to am directly at the heart to avoid much blood and to end more quickly. Nicholas said no more. he turned again to his family. The others shouted some incoherent exclamations. All this lasted a few seconds. Then commenced the shooting, which went on for two or three minutes. [I] killed Nicholas on the spot."

Nicholas II’s Initial Burial Site in Yekaterinburg

Ganina Yama Monastery (near the village of Koptyaki, 15 kilometers northwest of Yekaterinburg) stands near the three-meter-deep pit where some the remains of Nicholas II and his family were initially buried. The second burial site — where most of the remains were — is in a field known as Porosyonkov (56.9113628°N 60.4954326°E), seven kilometers from Ganina Yama.

On visiting Ganina Yama Monastery, one person posted in Trip Advisor: “We visited this set of churches in a pretty park with Konstantin from Ekaterinburg Guide Centre. He really brought it to life with his extensive knowledge of the history of the events surrounding their terrible end. The story is so moving so unless you speak Russian, it is best to come here with a guide or else you will have no idea of what is what.”

In 1991, the acid-burned remains of Nicholas II and his family were exhumed from a shallow roadside mass grave in a swampy area 12 miles northwest of Yekaterinburg. The remains had been found in 1979 by geologist and amateur archeologist Alexander Avdonin, who kept the location secret out of fear that they would be destroyed by Soviet authorities. The location was disclosed to a magazine by one his fellow discovers.

The original plan was to throw the Romanovs down a mine shaft and disposes of their remains with acid. They were thrown in a mine with some grenades but the mine didn't collapse. They were then carried by horse cart. The vats of acid fell off and broke. When the carriage carrying the bodies broke down it was decided the bury the bodies then and there. The remaining acid was poured on the bones, but most of it was soaked up the ground and the bones largely survived.

After this their pulses were then checked, their faces were crushed to make them unrecognizable and the bodies were wrapped in bed sheets loaded onto a truck. The "whole procedure," Yurovsky said took 20 minutes. One soldiers later bragged than he could "die in peace because he had squeezed the Empress's -------."

The bodies were taken to a forest and stripped, burned with acid and gasoline, and thrown into abandoned mine shafts and buried under railroad ties near a country road near the village of Koptyaki. "The bodies were put in the hole," Yurovsky wrote, "and the faces and all the bodies, generally doused with sulfuric acid, both so they couldn't be recognized and prevent a stink from them rotting...We scattered it with branches and lime, put boards on top and drove over it several times—no traces of the hole remained.

Shortly afterwards, the government in Moscow announced that Nicholas II had been shot because of "a counterrevolutionary conspiracy." There was no immediate word on the other members of the family which gave rise to rumors that other members of the family had escaped. Yekaterinburg was renamed Sverdlov in honor of the man who signed the death orders.

For seven years the remains of Nicholas II, Alexandra, three of their daughters and four servants were stored in polyethylene bags on shelves in the old criminal morgue in Yekaterunburg. On July 17, 1998, Nicholas II and his family and servants who were murdered with him were buried Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg along with the other Romanov tsars, who have been buried there starting with Peter the Great. Nicholas II had a side chapel built for himself at the fortress in 1913 but was buried in a new crypt.

Near Yekaterinburg

Factory-Museum of Iron and Steel Metallurgy (in Niznhy Tagil 80 kilometers north of Yekaterinburg) a museum with old mining equipment made at the site of huge abandoned iron and steel factory. Officially known as the Factory-Museum of the History of the Development of Iron and Steel Metallurgy, it covers an area of 30 hectares and contains a factory founded by the Demidov family in 1725 that specialized mainly in the production of high-quality cast iron and steel. Later, the foundry was renamed after Valerian Kuybyshev, a prominent figure of the Communist Party.

The first Russian factory museum, the unusual museum demonstrates all stages of metallurgy and metal working. There is even a blast furnace and an open-hearth furnace. The display of factory equipment includes bridge crane from 1892) and rolling stock equipment from the 19th-20th centuries. In Niznhy Tagil contains some huge blocks of malachite and

Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha (180 kilometers east-northeast of Yekaterinburg) has an open air architecture museum with log buildings, a stone church and other pre-revolutionary architecture. The village is the creation of Ivan Samoilov, a local activist who loved his village so much he dedicated 40 years of his life to recreating it as the open-air museum of wooden architecture.

The stone Savior Church, a good example of Siberian baroque architecture. The interior and exterior of the church are exhibition spaces of design. The houses are very colorful. In tsarist times, rich villagers hired serfs to paint the walls of their wooden izbas (houses) bright colors. Old neglected buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries have been brought to Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha from all over the Urals. You will see the interior design of the houses and hear stories about traditions and customs of the Ural farmers.

Verkhoturye (330 kilometers road from Yekaterinburg) is the home a 400-year-old monastery that served as 16th century capital of the Urals. Verkhoturye is a small town on the Tura River knows as the Jerusalem of the Urals for its many holy places, churches and monasteries. The town's main landmark is its Kremlin — the smallest in Russia. Pilgrims visit the St. Nicholas Monastery to see the remains of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, the patron saint of fishermen.

Ural Mountains

Ural Mountains are the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia and have been a crossroads of Russian history. Stretching from Kazakhstan to the fringes of the Arctic Kara Sea, the Urals lie almost exactly along the 60 degree meridian of longitude and extend for about 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) from north to south and varies in width from about 50 kilometers (30 miles) in the north and 160 kilometers (100 miles) the south. At kilometers 1777 on the Trans-Siberian Railway there is white obelisk with "Europe" carved in Russian on one side and "Asia" carved on the other.

The eastern side of the Urals contains a lot of granite and igneous rock. The western side is primarily sandstone and limestones. A number of precious stones can be found in the southern part of the Urals, including emeralds. malachite, tourmaline, jasper and aquamarines. The highest peaks are in the north. Mount Narodnaya is the highest of all but is only 1884 meters (6,184 feet) high. The northern Urals are covered in thick forests and home to relatively few people.

Like the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, the Urals are very old mountains — with rocks and sediments that are hundreds of millions years old — that were one much taller than they are now and have been steadily eroded down over millions of years by weather and other natural processes to their current size. According to Encyclopedia Britannica: “The rock composition helps shape the topography: the high ranges and low, broad-topped ridges consist of quartzites, schists, and gabbro, all weather-resistant. Buttes are frequent, and there are north–south troughs of limestone, nearly all containing river valleys. Karst topography is highly developed on the western slopes of the Urals, with many caves, basins, and underground streams. The eastern slopes, on the other hand, have fewer karst formations; instead, rocky outliers rise above the flattened surfaces. Broad foothills, reduced to peneplain, adjoin the Central and Southern Urals on the east.

“The Urals date from the structural upheavals of the Hercynian orogeny (about 250 million years ago). About 280 million years ago there arose a high mountainous region, which was eroded to a peneplain. Alpine folding resulted in new mountains, the most marked upheaval being that of the Nether-Polar Urals...The western slope of the Urals is composed of middle Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (sandstones and limestones) that are about 350 million years old. In many places it descends in terraces to the Cis-Ural depression (west of the Urals), to which much of the eroded matter was carried during the late Paleozoic (about 300 million years ago). Found there are widespread karst (a starkly eroded limestone region) and gypsum, with large caverns and subterranean streams. On the eastern slope, volcanic layers alternate with sedimentary strata, all dating from middle Paleozoic times.”

Southern Urals

The southern Urals are characterized by grassy slopes and fertile valleys. The middle Urals are a rolling platform that barely rises above 300 meters (1,000 feet). This region is rich in minerals and has been heavily industrialized. This is where you can find Yekaterinburg (formally Sverdlovsk), the largest city in the Urals.

Most of the Southern Urals are is covered with forests, with 50 percent of that pine-woods, 44 percent birch woods, and the rest are deciduous aspen and alder forests. In the north, typical taiga forests are the norm. There are patches of herbal-poaceous steppes, northem sphagnous marshes and bushy steppes, light birch forests and shady riparian forests, tall-grass mountainous meadows, lowland ling marshes and stony placers with lichen stains. In some places there are no large areas of homogeneous forests, rather they are forests with numerous glades and meadows of different size.

In the Ilmensky Mountains Reserve in the Southern Urals, scientists counted 927 vascular plants (50 relicts, 23 endemic species), about 140 moss species, 483 algae species and 566 mushroom species. Among the species included into the Red Book of Russia are feather grass, downy-leaved feather grass, Zalessky feather grass, moccasin flower, ladies'-slipper, neottianthe cucullata, Baltic orchis, fen orchis, helmeted orchis, dark-winged orchis, Gelma sandwart, Krasheninnikov sandwart, Clare astragalus.

The fauna of the vertebrate animals in the Reserve includes 19 fish, 5 amphibian and 5 reptile. Among the 48 mammal species are elks, roe deer, boars, foxes, wolves, lynxes, badgers, common weasels, least weasels, forest ferrets, Siberian striped weasel, common marten, American mink. Squirrels, beavers, muskrats, hares, dibblers, moles, hedgehogs, voles are quite common, as well as chiropterans: pond bat, water bat, Brandt's bat, whiskered bat, northern bat, long-eared bat, parti-coloured bat, Nathusius' pipistrelle. The 174 bird bird species include white-tailed eagles, honey hawks, boreal owls, gnome owls, hawk owls, tawny owls, common scoters, cuckoos, wookcocks, common grouses, wood grouses, hazel grouses, common partridges, shrikes, goldenmountain thrushes, black- throated loons and others.

Activities and Places in the Ural Mountains

The Urals possess beautiful natural scenery that can be accessed from Yekaterinburg with a rent-a-car, hired taxi and tour. Travel agencies arrange rafting, kayaking and hiking trips. Hikes are available in the taiga forest and the Urals. Trips often include walks through the taiga to small lakes and hikes into the mountains and excursions to collect mushrooms and berries and climb in underground caves. Mellow rafting is offered in a relatively calm six kilometer section of the River Serga. In the winter visitor can enjoy cross-mountains skiing, downhill skiing, ice fishing, dog sledding, snow-shoeing and winter hiking through the forest to a cave covered with ice crystals.

Lake Shartash (10 kilometers from Yekaterinburg) is where the first Ural gold was found, setting in motion the Yekaterinburg gold rush of 1745, which created so much wealth one rich baron of that time hosted a wedding party that lasted a year. The area around Shartash Lake is a favorite picnic and barbecue spot of the locals. Getting There: by bus route No. 50, 054 or 54, with a transfer to suburban commuter bus route No. 112, 120 or 121 (the whole trip takes about an hour), or by car (10 kilometers drive from the city center, 40 minutes).

Revun Rapids (90 kilometers road from Yekaterinburg near Beklenishcheva village) is a popular white water rafting places On the nearby cliffs you can see the remains of a mysterious petroglyph from the Paleolithic period. Along the steep banks, you may notice the dark entrance of Smolinskaya Cave. There are legends of a sorceress who lived in there. The rocks at the riverside are suited for competitive rock climbers and beginners. Climbing hooks and rings are hammered into rocks. The most fun rafting is generally in May and June.

Olenii Ruchii National Park (100 kilometers west of Yekaterinburg) is the most popular nature park in Sverdlovsk Oblast and popular weekend getaway for Yekaterinburg residents. Visitors are attracted by the beautiful forests, the crystal clear Serga River and picturesque rocks caves. There are some easy hiking routes: the six-kilometer Lesser Ring and the 15-kilometer Greater Ring. Another route extends for 18 km and passes by the Mitkinsky Mine, which operated in the 18th-19th centuries. It's a kind of an open-air museum — you can still view mining an enrichment equipment here. There is also a genuine beaver dam nearby.

Among the other attractions at Olenii Ruchii are Druzhba (Friendship) Cave, with passages that extend for about 500 meters; Dyrovaty Kamen (Holed Stone), created over time by water of Serga River eroding rock; and Utoplennik (Drowned Man), where you can see “The Angel of Sole Hope”., created by the Swedish artist Lehna Edwall, who has placed seven angels figures in different parts of the world to “embrace the planet, protecting it from fear, despair, and disasters.”

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation (official Russia tourism website russiatourism.ru ), Russian government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Yomiuri Shimbun and various books and other publications.

Updated in September 2020

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Tourist information and maps

You can either buy a street map from one of the many newsstands and shops in the train stations, print out a street map of Yekaterinburg, or pick up a free detailed street map from the Ekaterinburg Tourist Information Service [ dead link ] at 8 Marta St. #21, office #2, in the city centre.

Embankment of the City Pond

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