When he was just a fledgling birdwatcher, Jonathan C. Slaght had a chance encounter with one of the most mysterious birds on Earth. Bigger than any owl he knew, it looked like a small bear with decorative feathers. He snapped a quick photo and shared it with experts. Soon he was on a five-year journey, searching for this enormous, enigmatic creature in the lush, remote forests of eastern Russia. That first sighting set his calling as a scientist....

"Siberia's story is traditionally one of exiles, penal colonies, and unmarked graves. Yet there is another tale to tell. Dotted throughout this remote land are pianos--grand instruments created during the boom years of the nineteenth century, as well as humble, Soviet-made uprights that found their way into equally modest homes. They tell the story of how, ever since entering Russian culture under the westernizing influence of Catherine the Great,...

"Dagestan is technically part of Russia, but it has a culture all its own. Readers discover the unique culture of Dagestan and how it differs from Russia in this informative look at a part of the world most people know little about. Essential information about religion in the region and the history and political structure of this part of the world are coupled with fun facts about holidays, the arts, and food. In fact, easy-to-follow recipes are even...

"What would it be like to live in Russia? How is Russia's culture unique? Explore the sights, traditions, and daily lives of Russians!"--

"After plans were announced for multiple dams in Mongolia's Selenge River basin, award-winning author and veteran flyfishing guide Peter W. Fong was spurred to learn more about this remarkable watershed. On a first-ever scientific expedition from the headwaters of the Selenge to Russia's Lake Baikal, he and an international team traveled more than 1,500 kilometers by horse, camel, kayak, and rowboat through one of the world's most rugged regions and...

"After returning to the United States, Kennan set out to generate public outrage over the plight of the exiles, writing the renowned Siberia and the Exile System. He then went on a nine-year lecture tour to describe the suffering of the Siberian exiles, intensifying the newly emerging diplomatic conflicts between the two countries which last to this day. In a book that ranks with the greatest adventure stories, Gregory Wallance's Into Siberia is a...

Early in 1815, Louisa Catherine Adams and her young son left St. Petersburg in a heavy Russian carriage and set out on a difficult journey to meet her husband, John Quincy Adams, in Paris. She traveled through the snows of eastern Europe, down the Baltic coast to Prussia, across the battlefields of Germany, and into a France then experiencing the tumultuous events of Napoleon's return from Elba. Along the way, she learned what the long years of Napoleon's...

"Thie journey takes us from the palaces of St. Petersburg and the busy streets of Moscow to the vastness of Siberia with its jewel, Lake Baikal. Along our route we explore Russia's varied landscapes and the ethnic diversity of its peoples."

"Describes a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, including the Russian Railway Museum, the Hermitage, Theater Square, and various other historical and cultural attractions"--

Built on the whim of a czar to rival the great capitals of Europe, St. Petersburg is unlike any other city in Russia. Bring the champagne and caviar as you explore this city of canals aboard a private water taxi. Marvel at the opulence of the Winter Palace and the treasures of the Hermitage and Russian Museums.