Siberian
Situated in the central part of this enormous country, the Siberian Federal District is the second-largest administrative division in Russia. It occupies about half of the geographical region whose name it bears. The landscape is monotonous, except for the southernmost areas around the border with Mongolia, which abound in spectacular mountain scenery, turbulent creeks and clear lakes. This spot is one of the least known parts of the district, but great for nature-lovers. The rest lies within the limits of vast Siberia and its endless pinewoods, called Taiga, and the Tundra further northwards. The northernmost part of the Siberian district is represented by the islands in the Arctic Ocean. All of its bigger cities, led by the administrative centre Novosibirsk, are new and extremely heavily industrialized centres that saw their zenith during the Communist era. They offer some attractions, such as imposing cathedrals and noteworthy architectural examples, and state universities with thousands of students can be found in each of them. However, the most remarkable spot is the extraordinary Lake Baikal, the largest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. Due to its immense amount of endemic species, it's listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The famous Trans-Siberian Railway offers unique one-week journeys between Moscow and the Pacific Coast.