Letters to the Editor

Corrections and Caveats

To the Editors:

Many thanks for your excellent magazine. I write to correct an identification you made in the August/September 1999 issue at page 45. 

The cartoon attacking Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech identifies the figures formed by Churchill’s shadow as “Hitler and Hirohito.” Actually, the skull-faced little man on Hitler’s left is the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Josef Goebbels.

Good luck to your work

Dick Eney

by email

Mr. Eney:

Thank you for your letter, and you are of course correct. 

– The Editors

To the Editors:

Regarding the article “Karelia: Russia’s Northern Jewel,” please note that areas like Paanajarvi have Finnish names because “Russia’s Northern Jewel” was stolen from Finland.

Lynn R. Pettit

Minneapolis, MN

To the Editors:

I’d like to tell you that I really enjoy Russian Life. But I can’t.

Recently I passed along a copy to a friend who used to get Soviet Life. His judgement was that Soviet Life was a more informative and entertaining publication.

Most of what you include in your magazine can be found in any good library. Some of your articles are too long – take too many pages.

Can’t you give us a feel for what is vital in the various spheres in Russia? Tell us what is going on in the various spheres such as home construction, athletics, intellectual life, politics, cultural pursuits, religion, industry, farming, space research, arts, music, auto design, publishing, entertainment, etc. etc.

I known it takes a lot of effort. But your readers deserve better.

Sincerely,

Alex Gordeuk

Westfield, NJ

Salmonphilia

To the Editors:

Ladies and Gentlemen! Or should I say, Dammee ee Gospozhee: I noticed that in your article on Karelia [Aug/Sep 1999], there was a reference to salmon fishing. I found this most interesting, as I have worked extensively since 1990 in sportfishing programs on the Kola Peninsula, which has the best Atlantic salmon fishing in the world, but I have never heard of such in Karelia.

In order for this sort of fishing to exist, there has to be ocean access via rivers, which in turn offer suitable spawning conditions. The White Sea holds Atlantic salmon, which spawn in the rivers of the south slope of the Kola. Umba, Varzuga and Strelna are three of note. Does Karelia have rivers that flow into the White Sea?

I’d be very interested in any further information that you might have ...

Dick Talleur

Manchester, NH

Mr. Talleur:

Of course, Russia’s best and most notable salmon fishing is on the Kola or (for Pacific Salmon) the Kamchatka Peninsulas. Karelia does have several rivers that flow into the White Sea. We contacted Excursion Bureau Kizhi (ph. 8142-765-030); they indicate that there are salmon in the Lososinka (“Little Salmon”) river near Petrozavodsk during spawning season, and they organize fishing trips to the Kivi-Koyvu “rest center” on the Kem river, which flows into the White Sea. There are also salmon in Lake Onega, we are told.

— The Editors

Cut the Tape

To the Editors:

Russia is a fascinating country that many Americans would like to visit, but it comes as no surprise to me that tourism has dropped off. Consider the case of a young American woman who wants to travel abroad and must choose between Europe and Russia. Europe wins on bureaucratic factors alone! The traveler can come to Europe without a visa and travel to virtually every country visa free. The traveler can stay where she wants, when she wants, and can change her plans at the last minute. And she never, ever has to bother with registering in the city where she is staying! 

If she chooses Russia, she will have to pay a nice sum for a visa, and that visa will most likely confine her to visiting only Moscow and St. Petersburg. She will have to stay in overpriced hotels. If she does not, she will have to find out how to register her stay in the city. She will probably fail in this venture, and face a stiff fine when she leaves the country. Think she will come back? Would you?

Abolish the red tape and the Russian tourist industry will boom!

Regards,

Les Beard

Norway