You probably know that Alaska was bought from Russia well over 100 years ago. But do you know why Russia claimed the territory in the first place? Hint: who doesn't love a fur coat?

One hundred years ago, in 1917, Russia was wracked by revolution, famine, foreign war, and domestic unrest. And yet, throughout 1917, babies were born, lives were started. 

How it was that in the eighteenth century Russian mythology was trumped-up in the Western manner? Who wanted it? And where did we get Lel, Yarilo and Zimtserla? We explain everything you'd want to know about Russian fakelore.

Vladimir Dudarev takes us to Siberia's wooden architecture and university capital, Tomsk.

Elena Kotova takes us to the streets, beaches, yoga studios and parks of Saratov, a city on the Volga.

Take the Political Compass of the Revolution test and find out who you would have been 100 years ago – an Anarchist, a Cadet, a Right SR, a Bolshevik or a member of the Black Hundreds.

In which we continue our year-long look at the events as they unfolded during the year of revolutions, 1917. Coverage is divided into Politicians, Artists and The Military

A decade before the fall of tsarism, a little-known auction was held to sell off some of the crown jewels. Was it rigged?

Alexander Podgorchuk takes us to Russia's westernmost city, Kaliningrad.

On February 23, 1917 the Revolution came to Petrograd. The Tsar abdicated and a long year of turmoil and political upheaval lie ahead...

Accomplished photographer Dmitry Markov takes us on a tour of Pskov, "Where Russia Begins."

Teacher Ilona Isayeva shares with us some of the charms of Kandalaksha, a small industrial town on the White Sea.