Some of the world's only freshwater seals live in one very special lake in Russia.

Intricate wood carvings on an island in Siberia.

A self-taught Siberian craftsman creates a fantastical and personal design for his 19th century village house.

This cuddly rodent has a place of honor at a Russian institute for genetic research.

What once claimed to be the world's tallest single-family wooden structure house.

Former prison camp dedicated to the victims of political repression.

Replica of mosque destroyed by Russia in the 16th century.

This Russian religious complex is a Frankenstein's chapel that includes influence from almost all the major faiths.

A smug-looking cat representing an humorous Russian expletive.

Thousands of biblical and pagan images are carved into this small 12th-century church.

Abandoned castle was once a grand example of Russian privilege, built exclusively to win a frivolous bet between noblemen.

The largest art park on the European continent.

A curated museum of wooden sculptures inhabits this Russian home.

A Russian museum dedicated to the household staple, the samovar.

A Marxist summer camp full of fantastical statues lies tucked away and forgotten in the forests of Moscow.

The composer did some of his finest work in this country home, including "The Nutcracker."

A dormant lightning machine equal to all the power in Russia.

You'll find rocket launchers, not rollercoasters, at Russia's “military Disneyland.”

A solemn, monumental, kitschy palace of worship honoring victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Secret Soviet city once home to Russian cosmonauts and space training facilities.

Moscow's other, lesser known kremlin is a fairytale-like cultural complex modeled after Old Russia.

This iconic Russian space museum sits on a landmark space production facility and houses the Vostok 1, the first manned spacecraft, that was also built here.

An iconic Soviet statue of working-class people.

Moscow's imposing monument to the Space Age.