On June 30th, 1908, something happened deep in the forests of Siberia, near the Tunguska River. A powerful explosion, one large enough to have completely wiped a city the size of London or New York off the map, shook the forest, leaving scarcely a tree standing. (h/t NileGuide)
Nobody is entirely sure what happened-despite evidence that the blast was as powerful as 185 Hiroshimas, it didn’t leave a crater. According to the NASA website, the local people believed that the god Ogdy had cursed the area. Here’s how one of them described the blast to researchers many years later:
Suddenly in the north sky… the sky was split in two, and high above the forest the whole northern part of the sky appeared covered with fire… At that moment there was a bang in the sky and a mighty crash… The crash was followed by a noise like stones falling from the sky, or of guns firing. The earth trembled.
Scientists believe that the blast was caused by a large meteorite that entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded in the sky above Tunguska. Of course, others believe it was actually aliens. Or perhaps a black hole. Or maybe some many-tentacled Lovecraftian beings from beyond space and time. (Okay, I made that last bit up-but who knows? )
Wanna visit for yourself and decide? Some Siberian tour operators do offers trips to the impact site. For example, Sibtourguide.com promises the chance to visit the impact site and see mutated trees, as well as “the chance to catch a reptile, which is not identified yet in any catalogue in the world.” Maybe the reptile is from another planet?
Before you jet off to Siberia to play X-Files, you will need to obtain a Russian visa. This is more difficult than it sounds. Russia’s visa system is shining example of complicated bureaucracy in action. Here’s a list of what you need to get a Russian tourist visa:
- Your US passport.
- A completed Russian visa application form
- 1 passport photo
- A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
- A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency must be registered with the Russian government.
- A hotel voucher from your hotel.
When applying for a Russian visa, it’s advisable to use a private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa. We’ll research your itinerary to make sure you have all of the documents you need to travel, plus you’ll benefit from the assistance of a trained, professional visa specialist who knows how the Russian visa system works.
We’ll assist you with your application, and deliver your paperwork to the appropriate visa or consulate for the fastest possible processing.
The truth is out there…do you need a Russian visa to find it? Apply with us today!
