First part is published in #83 3. Chara Sands (Photo credit: Anton Petrov for RBTH) Where: Zabaykal Territory (sometimes known as Transbaikal) Why you should see it: This is an authentic large sandy desert surrounded by taiga, fast-flowing rivers and inaccessible mountains: welcome to the Chara Sands, perhaps the most ”non-conformist” desert in the world.

((first part was published in #82) In 1938, the clock chimes fell silent. Instead it only struck each hour and a quarter-hour. During a renovation in 1974, the mechanism was fully dismantled and repaired, but a special commission concluded that it was not appropriate for the Spasskaya Tower bells to play the anthem of the