The Eight Magnificent and Historic Russian Kremlins

Some of the most prolific forts in the world can be found in Russia. In Russia, fort or citadel is known as Kremlin. Here are the 8 most magnificent forts in this huge country. These Kremlins are popular Russian tourist attractions.

1.) Peter and Paul Fortress

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The Peter and Paul Fortress is a grandiose structure located in St Petersburg, Russia. It is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and from 1706-1740. The fortress contains many remarkable buildings clustered around the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a 123.2 m bell-tower - the tallest in the downtown.

2.) Moscow Kremlin

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The Moscow Kremlin is a notable and historic fortified complex in Moscow, the capital of Russia. It is situated at the center of the city and overlooks the River Moskva, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and Alexander Garden. Moscow Kremlin is the best known of Kremlins or Russian citadels. It includes 4 palaces, 4 cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of Russia..

3.) Ivangorod Fortress

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Ivangorod Fortress is a remarkable fortification building located in the town of Ivangorod, Russia. This Russian medieval castle was established in 1492 and overlooks the Narva River Narva City, Estonia. This quadrilateral castle measures 150 m² with walls 14 meters tall.

4.) Shlisselburg Fortress

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Shlisselburg Fortress is magnificent-looking located in Shlisseburg, a town in Leningrad Oblas, Russia. It was constructed at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga. The town and the fortress are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

5.) Suzdal Kremlin

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The Suzdal Kremlin is a beautiful fort and is the oldest part of the City of Suzdal. It dates back from the 10^th century. Like other Russian Kremlins, it was originally a fortress or citadel and was the religious and administrative center of the city. It is most notably the site of the Cathedral of the Nativity. This fortress, which was constructed in the 11^th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with several structures in the neighboring city of Valdimir.

6.) Kazan Kremlin

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The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in Kazan City. It was built during the time of Ivan the Terrible and was declared in 2000 a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

7.) Novgorod Kremlin

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Novgorod Kremlin is also known as “The Detinets”, the ancient name for the Kremlin or fortress. It stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The fort was constructed from 1484 to 1490 with a length of 545 meters and a width of 240 meters with 9 surviving towers. The tallest tower, the Kokui tower is capped by a silver dome. The walls are 1,487 meters in circumference. Today, it is possible to enter this tower and climb to the top.

8.) Brest Fortress

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Brest Fortress is a 19^th century Russian fortress in Brest, Belarus. It is one of the most important Soviet World War II war monuments commemorating the Soviet resistance against the German invasion on June 22, 1941. This fort is originally the largest 19^th century fortress of the Russian Empire. It has a total area of 4 km² with a fortified area 30 km in circumference. It is formerly known as Brest-Litovsk Fortress.

See also 

• Remarkable Forts for Tourist Destinations in France
• Historically Notable Forts From Around the World
• Historically Remarkable Forts Built by the Portuguese

The Most Amazing and Wonderful Plateaus in the World

Definition, types of plateau, importance and notable examples

A plateau is an area of highland usually consisting relatively flat terrain. It is also called a tableland or high plain. Some types of plateau include dissected plateau and volcanic plateau. The former is formed by erosion processes of glaciers on mountain ranges and the latter by volcanic activities.

Trivia:

The largest and highest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau.

The second-largest current plateau in the world is the Antarctic Plateau.

The third-largest plateau in the world is the Andean Plateau in South America.

Here are 14 notable examples of plateau from around the world.

1.) Kukenan Tepui – Venezuela

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Kukenan Tepuy is a fine example and remarkable plateau in the Gran Sabana National Park, Venezuela. This landform has a height of 2,680 meters.

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It is also known as Matawi Tepui and is the source of the Kukenán River. It is considered the "place of the dead" by the local Pemon Indians. It is located next to Mount Roraima in Venezuela.

2.) Island in the Sky – USA

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The beautiful Island in the Sky is a very fine example of plateau. It is part of the popular Canyonland’s National Park in Utah, United States.

3.) Bogota Plateau – Colombia

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The city of Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is situated in a high plateau which is more than 2,600 meters high above sea level.

4.) Columbia Plateau – USA

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This plateau was built up by lava that spread outwards from cracks and weak areas in the crust. It is located in the northwestern part of the United States.

5.) Monte Roraima – South America

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Mount Roraima is a notable plateau in South America. It is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in the continent. Its 31 km² summit area is defended by 400-meter-tall cliffs on all sides. The mountain includes the triple border point ofBrazil, Guyana and Venezuela. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth. It is also known as Roraima Tepui or Cerro Roraima.

6.) Altiplano Plateau – South America

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The Altiplano is a plateau in west-central South America. The name is Spanish for high plain. It is where the Andes are at their widest where the most extensive area of high plateau on Earth can be found outside of Tibet. Lake Titicaca is the plateau’s best known geographical feature.

7.) Tibetan Plateau – Tibet

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Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world and is called the “roof of the world”. It has an area of 2.5 million km² and is located about 5,000 meters above sea level.

8.) Antarctic Plateau – Antarctica

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The Antarctic Plateau is a large area of Central Antarctica, which extends over a diameter of about 1,000 kilometres and which includes the region of the South Pole. This plateau is at an average elevation of about 3,000 meters. It is sometimes referred to as the Polar Plateau.

9.) Colorado Plateau – USA

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The Colorado Plateau is the largest plateau in the North American continent. It covers an area of about 337,000 km² and is located in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. It is also called the Colorado Plateau Province.

10.) Table Mountain – South Africa

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One of the most popular tourist spots in South Africa is the Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. This significant tourist attraction used cableway to get to the top. Hiking is another alternative to get to the top.

11.) Auyantepui – Venezuela

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Auyantepui, which means “Devil’s Mountain”, is a popular table-top mountain in Venezuela. It is one of the largest tepuis with an area of 700 km² and Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, drops from a cleft near the summit. Auyantepui is a giant among the large plateaus. It encompasses 650 km² and its peak is 2,535 meters high.

12.) Table Mountains – California

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The Table Mountains is consists of the North Table Mountain and South Table Mountain, two plateaus located outside the city of Oroville, California. They are named for their flat surface, like a table top.

13.) Table Mountains – Poland

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The Table Mountains are a 42 km long mountain range located in the Czech Republic and Poland. This plateau, which is shared by two countries, is a popular tourist attraction.

14.) Cerro Negro – Argentina

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Cerro Negro is a notable plateau in South America. It is one of a few mesas located near Zapala, Argentina. Zapala is near the Laguna Blanca National Park.

See also 

• The World’s Most Beautiful Heathland
• The Most Remarkable and CaptivatingTundras in the World
• The World’s Most Beautiful and Important Savannas
• The Most Beautiful and SignificantMeadows in the World
• World’s Most Beautiful and Unique Valleys
• The World’s Most Attractive Atolls
• The World’s Most Captivating Oases: Most Beautiful Paradises in the Midst of the Most Barren Landscapes
• World’s Most Spectacular Sand Dunes(Blow Wind Blow: Build Me a Castle of My Dream)
• World’s Most Amazing Cliffs and Fascinating Dunes

Interesting Facts and Former Names of Countries of the World

Here’s a list of the former names and meaning of the names of selected countries of the world plus some interesting facts.

1.      The former name of Thailand is Siam, named after a 19^th century king. Thailand means “land of the free”. It is the only Southeast Asian country to have never been colonized.

2.      Iraq is formerly known as Mesopotamia.

3.      The former name of Sri Lanka is Ceylon. It was under European rule for about 450 years. In 1972 the name was change to Sri Lanka.

4.      San Marino was named after Marinus, a Christian stonemason who founded the place in 301 CE.

5.      Malawi means “flaming water” and is named for the sun setting on Lake Malawi, Africa’s 3^rd largest lake.

6.      The Philippines was named after Philip II of Spain. Two of its oldest names were Ma-I and Maniola.

7.      Jamaica’s name comes from the Arawak Indian word “Xaymaca” which means “land of springs”.

8.      Costa Rica which means “rich coast” is the world’s greenest country.

9.      Myanmar in Southeast Asia is formerly known as Burma.

10.  Gaul is the old name of France and Helle is the old name of Greece.

11.  China’s ancient name is Cathay. China was taken from Chin dynasty.

12.  Bolivia was named after Simon Bolivar, the liberator of many South American countries.

13.  Asia Minor is the present day Turkey while Malaysia is formerly known as Malaya.

14. Czechoslovakia got its name from the agglomeration of the Czech and Slovak peoples in 1918.  This country dissolved into the Czeck and Slovak Republics in 1993.

15. Yugoslavia means "Land of the South Slavs". It was originally Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, created by joining Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. It became Yugoslavia in 1929. It subsequently split into its constituent states in the years 1992-2006.

16. Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to become what is now known as Tanzania.

17. Egypt and Syria were briefly joined as the United Arab Republic.

18.  Malaya merged with Singapore and the northern Borneo territories of Sabah and Sarawak to become Malaysia in 1963.

19.  Bangladesh in South Asia is formerly known as East Pakistan from 1955 to 1971. It was also known as East Bengal.

20.  The name of Belarus is Byelorussia until 1991. It is also called White Russia.

21.  The name of Belize until 1973 is British Honduras.

22.  Benin is known as Dahomey until 1975.

23.  Botswana in Africa is formerly known as Bechuanaland.

24.  The former name of Burkina Faso is Upper Volta. Its present name was adopted in 1984. Burkina Faso means “land of honest men”.

25.  Cambodia is known as Khmer Republic from 1971 to1975 and Kampuchea from 1975 to 1991.

26.  Colombia was known as New Granada until 1819.

27.  The former name of the Republic of the Congo is Middle Congo.

28.  Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly known as Zaire between 1971 and 1997. It was previously called Belgian Republic.

29.  Until 1977, Djibouti is formerly known as French Somaliland.

30.  East Timor, which is known as Timor-Leste since its independence in 2002, is known as Portuguese Timor until 1975.

31.  Until 1968, Equatorial Guinea is called Spanish Guinea

32.  Ethiopia in Africa is historically known as Abyssinia.

33.  Ghana, an African country, is called Gold Coast until 1957.

34.  Until 1958, Guinea in Africa is called French Guinea.

35.  Guinea-Bissau is known as Portuguese Guinea until 1974.

36.  Until 1966, Guyana is called British Guiana.

37.  Indonesia, until 1945, is called Netherlands East Indies

38.  Although Iran is locally known as Iran since before the Sassanids (3rd to 7th centuries AD), it also called Persia until officially named Iran in 1935.

39.  Until 1948, Israel is part of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was previously renamed by the Romans to Palestine from Kingdom of Israel and Judea.

40.  Before 1937, Ireland is known as Irish Free State and was at one time referred to in English as Eire.

41.  The former name of Jordan is Transjordan.

42.  Kiribati is known as the Gilbert Island before independence in 1979.

43.  Lesotho, an African country, is previously called Basutoland.

44.  Until 1964, Malawi is called Nyasaland.

45.  Mali, in Africa  is known until 1960 as French Sudan.

46.  Mexico, in North America, is known until 1821 as New Spain.

47.  Moldova is known until 1991 as Moldovia.

48.  The former name of Namibia is South-West Africa.

49.  Until 1997, Samoa in Oceania is called Western Samoa.

50.  Serbia and Montenegro is from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2003. Split into two nations, Serbia and Montenegro, in 2006.

51.  The former name of Singapore, a Southeast Asian country, is Temasik.

52.  Until 1972, Sri Lanka in South Asia is called Ceylon.

53.  Before 1956, Sudan is called Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.

54.  Suriname, in South America, is formerly known as Dutch Guiana.

55.  Taiwan or Republic of Taiwan is known historically as Formosa, Tungning, and by other names.

56.  The Republic of Tajikistan is known as Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic until 1991.

57.  Thailand, in Southeast Asia, is known as Siam until 1949.

58.  The former name of Togo before 1960 is French Togoland.

59.  Tuvalu is known as the Ellice Islands before independence in 1978.

60.  Vanuatu became independent from New Hebrides in 1980.

61.  Ukraine is previously known as Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic until 1991.

62.  The Republic of Uzbekistan is known as Uzbek Socialist Republic until 1991.

63.  Western Sahara, in Africa, is formerly known as Spanish Sahara.

64.  Zambia, in Africa,  is formerly known as Northern Rhodesia until 1964

65.  Zimbabwe is formerly known as Southern Rhodesia. It assumed the current name in 1980.

See also

• CountriesWith Unusual and Unique and Interesting Capitals
• Amazing Facts About Places in the World
• 50 Interesting Facts About Countries of the World
• 99Interesting and Random Facts About Places in the World