Sochi

Name: Lesya Polyakova

Age: 30

Profession: Photographer

City: Sochi and Krasnodar region

How long have you been doing photography? What style or genre most interests you? I have been doing photography for 12 years. Photojournalism and street photography most interest me.

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for?

Sochi is Russia's only subtropical resort city, and is located in Krasnodar region, on the northeast coast of the Black Sea. The length of the city on the Black Sea coastline is about 145 km. The urban area is located mainly along the coast, sometimes expanding into the mountain valleys. In 2014, Sochi hosted the Winter Olympics.

What is something about your city that only locals would know? 

Locals usually don't really like spending time near the sea. They swim perhaps 2-3 times a season and traditionally prefer to spend their leisure time in the Caucasus mountains, with its cold rivers and forests. 

In the center of Olympic park there is an Old Believers' cemetry, hidden by tall trees. 

The distance from center of Sochi to the Olympic Park is 40 km.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city?

It's all about nature or the Olympics. Olympic Park, Rosa Khutor in Krasnaya Polyana, Arboretum Botanical Garden, the observation tower on Akhun Mountain, Agura and Orekhovsky Waterfalls.