Novosibirsk

One of the youngest cities in Russia, Novosibirsk owes its existence to the railway. Built in 1893 on the Ob river to house the workers who were building the railway bridge over the river, it soon developed a reputation for water borne trade and became a favourite starting point for hunters in pursuit of fox, mink etc. As far as tourism goes, there are few points of historical interest for tourists. 

The city of Novosibirsk is on the bank of the Ob River that sweeps along the West-Siberian lowland. The Novosibirsk region is a prominent rural area in Siberia where varieties of wheat, rye, barley, and flax are grown. The city itself is one of the large industrial centers of Russia. Located in Novosibirsk are many factories engaged in the production of metals and rolled stock, heavy-duty machines and high precision instruments, as well as assorted chemical products. Novosibirsk is the seat of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, concentrating around it a respected education facility and research foundation.  Having developed into a research center, the city of  Novosibirsk has naturally become a dominant influence with regard to the regions cultural identity. The Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Temple - a museum of Local Lore, the Picture Gallery, Philharmonic Society and a famous Circus are all located here. Every year, 6 theatres open their doors to the city inhabitants, the most popular events being the Opera and Ballet.

There are so many possible itineraries - a visit to Novosibirsk would not be complete without seeing Akademgorodok, the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the city Museum or the Geological Institute. Other activities include boating on the Ob Sea, fishing, or try your hand at windsurfing. It is even possible to raft the local rivers. Whatever way you decide to travel a trip down a river can provide an excellent view of the mountains and countryside in this unique area of the Altai.

Local Birch Forest	Novosibirsk Aerial View	Snocross Championships

Winter Festivals make that stopover even more interesting!

As the snow deepens and the ice thickens the Siberian Festival of Snow Sculpture opens its doors to the world. It is available between 07 January and 12 January and compliments the celebration of both Russian Orthodox Christmas and the ‘Old New Year’. This event is made even more memorable by the fact that the ice artists are some of the best the craft has to offer who come from all over the world to compete and show off their skills. The event takes place in the City Park.