We spent two nights and a day on the train, covering hundreds of miles through Siberian stretches of rugged flat lands, birch forests, and more little settlements. We passed through Novosibirsk last night at dusk. This morning we arrived at our next stop, the industrial city of Krasnoyarsk.
Like most Siberian cities it was founded as a fort on a river, in this case the confluence of two rivers, to pull tribute out of the Turkic natives in the form of “soft gold,” otherwise known as furs.
He is saying, “ We will settle here.”
The city is named for the red granite (without quartz) that lines the river banks and keeps it very clear and un-silted, and the Turkic word for high bank.
The original church of the fortress was torn down by the communists, but where this cross is will be built a new one.
Now the city is home to mining and manufacturing from the immense mineral deposits here, especially aluminum, but also oil, and gold and much more.
The city is proud of having three of its notable sites on the ten ruble note, which worth about 15 cents.
Russia is divided into 85 various federal regions of different types, from semi autonomous Republics, to territories, to Federal cities like Moscow, and so forth. This territory is the second largest, stretching north and south from almost the southern border up into the Arctic circle, about 4000 kilometers.
On a hill overlooking the city is a park-in-progress and a chapel and far vistas. And some strategically placed cannon. And a motocross track.
This is an orthodox church in the city
And a Polish church, appropriated by the neighboring music school for its organ, which the Poles are protesting.
Now, let’s see if this posts. It has been a major nuisance to write, going black every few minutes.
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