Taiga weather and climate

Winters reminiscent of a survival test, enormous distances between centers of population, bears stalking the streets ready to attack dogs and, sometimes, people. So why do so many Russians still live in Siberia and even move there to live? "They say that in Siberia bears roam the roads… What nonsense! In Siberia there are no roads!" Locals call this old ironic joke about Siberia a "prejudice" (because there are roads in Siberia), while tourists take it at face value. Many people, including people in Russia, do indeed believe it is impossible to want to live in Siberia of one's own free will. If you have heard anything at all about Siberia, most likely it was about bears in city streets, severe winters and the endless taiga (or you may even have no idea where Siberia is situated in the first place - this, too, is a popular question). Still, 36 million people live there, and all on an area bigger than the United States! There were times when gold prospectors headed to Siberia … [Read more...] about Why on earth do Russians live in Siberia?!