July 26, 2021

Locating Lotuses


Locating Lotuses
Not only is the lotus beautiful, but it is said to have medicinal properties as well.  Photo by Parul Gupta via Unsplash

Specialists from the Russian Ministry of Culture and Tourism have developed an interactive map of blossoming lotus flowers in the Astrakhan region

The digital map is available on Yandex.Maps, so it is possible to not only zoom in on each tagged location and see pictures, but you can also create travel routes between the different points to plan your lotus-viewing journey. Some of the tagged locations just give descriptions of villages or parks where it is possible to see lotuses in general, while others have more specific instructions as to where the flowers can be found specifically. 

The specific variety of lotus that grows in Astrakhan is called the Caspian lotus, and it is the northernmost growing lotus flower in the world. It begins to blossom every year in late July and continues through mid-September. 

A word of warning: if you do decide to go and search for the lotuses in Astrakhan, keep away from the camels

You Might Also Like

Precious Water
  • July 01, 2019

Precious Water

A shortage of clean drinking water threatens to become the main ecological problem of our time.
Astrakhan
  • July 05, 2016

Astrakhan

Let's go south with Liailia Gimadeeva, who acquaints us with the beauty and wonders of Astrakhan!
Criminal Camels
  • August 09, 2020

Criminal Camels

A herd of camels, released by an 83-year-old pensioner, is wreaking havoc in Astrakhan region.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Russia Rules

Russia Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955