Russian alcoholism: myths and reality. Western stereotypes about Russians

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Almost always, when I tell people that I was in Russia, they ask me why I went there in the first place. What they imagine about Russia is the grandmothers in the line for bread in fur hats, covered with snow. It is clear that grandmothers, fur hats and snow have not gone away, but, because. trips or just trips to Russia are not yet widespread, the minds of foreigners are simply crammed with stereotypes about Russians of the 50s of the last century, or even the year before. Much has changed in the past 60 years.

On the other hand... These stereotypes are not unfounded, and sometimes turn out to be true. And by the way, after my super-short stay in Russia, I realized that some of the stereotypes are incredibly true. This country is, of course, more than ingrained stereotypes, but if you still want to know if Russians love vodka, or is it true that entire cities are covered with snow in winter, well ... let's find out!

1. They love vodka.

And so, all Russians are alcoholics, and they are 2 steps away from alcohol poisoning, right?

Not really. Yes, vodka is still queen holiday table, but back in the early 2000s, the boom in retail produced beer due to its low price and choice of strength. Beer was not even considered as an alcoholic drink until recently, and was considered a light refreshing drink. Cola type. Although, I think so, it even reinforces this stereotype to some extent, in the sense that Russians do not even consider beer alcoholic drink, perishing such it weak for them.

The point is that things change. Yes, Russians love their national drink, but they also love beer and wine, and the bars and clubs are packed with popular Western brands.

They drink a lot. I mean really a lot. In whatever Russian family I was invited to dinner, they always took vodka out of the refrigerator and drank it. They drank as if it were their last night on Earth. Do you have any idea what 9 glasses are for half an hour of dinner? I am yes.

Moreover, mother and daughter drank champagne. In the same quantities.

Plus, although the Russians are not the biggest alcoholics on the planet, they are close to it. Alcoholism has been declared national problem, and when you assume that the majority of drinkers are men (whose lives are substantially shorter as a result), then you realize that the lower percentage of women who drink is a kind of compensation. Therefore, such a picture as a drunken uncle with a deafening burp at a wedding is becoming more and more true.

2. They have stone evil faces.

I will indeed be happy to say that this is the most misinterpretation of the fact. Unfortunately, most visitors (tourists) see Russians in such places as: ticket offices, hotels, bureaucratic offices, passport control - which is natural, we reinforce the prevailing opinion that Russians do not look polite and friendly.

But as soon as you have a net at a common table with them, they will feed you until your stomach bursts and pour vodka until your liver shatters. What's the point?

This can be compared to a glass barrier. While they are behind him, they will not see any interest in meeting your needs, as soon as the barrier disappears, they will tell you all the ins and outs over a glass of tea in the kitchen.

Well, in order for you to really be able to say “I learned something new today”, you need to point out, perhaps, the most important thing: Russians do not smile to seem friendly. They only smile when they actually see/hear something funny and see a real friend in front of them. And you understand that it is normal to live with a stone face, because. they are great at getting things done without having to smile all over the place. Sometimes, in the US, I was jealous of this feature Russian society.

3. Bureaucratic nightmare.

I will be the first to say this is 100% true. Any attempt to deal with bureaucracy or some kind of red tape is a heartbreaking procedure that will test your faith in humanity to the very core. high level. Trying to get out of this situation as an optimist is the same as staying sober at dinner with Russians.

Everything from visas to train tickets and permits will take you 43% longer than you expect, 28% less successful, and 34% more expensive. In general, be prepared. And then get ready for something else. Get a stash to wash down all the sorrows and disappointments later.

One exception is trains. The more "modern" European railway system, compared to Russian Railways, looks like a wagon ride on a muddy road in a rickety sidecar.

A friend of mine knows how to solve these hassles and red tape with fees. "Speed ​​tax" (bribe) - works very effectively. But if you do not plan to give a bribe, then endure all these "pleasures".

By the way, speaking of bribes…

4. All police officers are bribe takers.

This is partly true.

The police, the authorities and all of them have a terrible reputation in Russia, hinder development and encourage cruelty. And this is true in a sense. The first day in Russia was remembered as a terrible passport check, or “give a bribe”, which, by the way, is common throughout the post-Soviet space. This is very annoying! But, I'm lucky. I am very polite and smart that all attempts to extort money from me have failed. I got caught only in Moldova.

5. Bride by mail.

One correction: brides by Internet correspondence. And they are mostly distributed in Ukraine.

I was very skeptical about this, admitting that there are only isolated cases. But when I was in Odessa, I saw a huge advertisement where a luxurious Ukrainian girl wants to marry EXACTLY FOR YOU.

But, this concerns another opinion that all Russians and Ukrainian girls incredibly beautiful. I used to think it was stupid, because. people all over the world are different, and most of them look great, simply because they are thin, know how to dress and take care of themselves. There is some flair here.

Of course it could be a genetic predisposition, but I heard another explanation while I was there. During World War II, Russia lost 20 million people. When the war ended, whom did people choose for themselves as narrowed? Of course, beautiful.

I can't tell if this is a real reason or not, but looking at the girls, you think that this is partly true.

6. It's really terribly cold there.

Something like that. If anything, then the Earth has its own axis, guys. Without going into details, I will say that the oceans maintain a moderate temperature, while all the temperature diversity is present on the continents.

So, if we are talking about Russia, then in places so far from the ocean, for example, Southern Siberia, ocean heat simply does not reach (well, maybe some meager percentage). Although the weather there can be very pleasant, and sometimes hot.

However, it is very cold there. Colder, probably, only Antarctica. The record for the lowest temperature in a populated area is shared between Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk - -67.7˚ C.

7. They love bears.

And who doesn't love?

It's stupid, but Russia has long been associated with bears. So I thought it would be helpful to tell you why.

Everything is very simple. A lot of bears live in their forests. They are large and strong and are a symbol of intimidation and ferocity. For a while, the bear was an element of the coat of arms, but, in the end, they replaced it with a double-headed eagle, apparently preferring anatomical accuracy.

Western countries made fun of Russia, associating it with a clumsy beast. Probably, these people simply did not have the opportunity to try to run away from the bear.

And yes, you can take a picture with a bear cub in almost every city. This is already more kitsch and tradition, so I can't imagine modern Russians who would say what kind of "bear fans" they are.

8. They love nesting dolls.

Yes, they are indeed widespread among souvenir shops in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In this sense, they are already becoming more of a tourist commodity than just traditional toys. But, given that after all, the majority of tourists are Russians themselves, then matryoshka dolls are not just toys that are stuffed into foreigners.

One of the popular styles for matryoshka dolls was images of Soviet leaders, which is a bit strange. Times passed, new leaders came, which means a new figure was added. This series has become the largest. Stalin became smaller and prettier with each new leader.

9. They love their writers.

Yes it is. Russians are VERY proud of their writers. Poets, composers and others talented people. And this is understandable. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are considered all over the world best writers. And not only them.

They put chic monuments on the graves; on the former houses hang honorary plaques; and Russians can even quote something from books.

But as far as modern cultural achievements are concerned... If you have ever heard Russian pop music in the last 2 decades, I am 100% sure you would immediately turn it off. Russia, turn to the classics. You did well.

10. They still love the USSR.

Mm... In a sense, yes. For many Russians, the era of the USSR is the time when great scientific discoveries, was the economic growth etc. They even made their own version winnie the pooh! By the way, many critics consider it the best in the world.

And all this happened after the Second World War, the most destructive war in all human history. It's like rising from the ashes.

When the USSR collapsed, Russia's GDP halved, lawlessness and depression reigned in the country; it has lost half of its territory, millions of Russians are stuck on the other side of the borders of several newly independent countries; part of the nuclear weapons allegedly went missing, and the oligarchs seized the most profitable industries. And that's just short review everything that went. Soviet history as a symbol of the rise and fall of the Russian people.

However, for non-Russian citizens, the story is not so rosy. Of course, it was obvious that the Baltic countries were suffocating from repressions and the Soviet regime. As soon as they joined the EU, their economy began to develop rapidly, although they faced some problems as former republics of the Soviet Union. And I'm not talking about the Gulag.

It is easy to see why the opinions are diametrically opposed to each other. The Soviet Union, of course, was not a paradise, especially for foreigners. But, I think one can understand why the USSR, despite the horrors of Stalinism and the ubiquitous labor camps, still evokes fond memories and feelings. I am not saying that I agree with such a policy, but I am saying that this is understandable, and I think that all these atrocities should be really ignored, that those times should be proud of.

This post was meant to be more educational, I hope this information not only strengthened Russian stereotypes, but, of course, gave perspective. There is much more behind these stories than just stereotypes. I certainly had a great time in Russia and people were very interested in what I thought about Russia and what it was like to live in another country. Life is life, wherever you are. I mean, who doesn't like to pop a glass during dinner? Idiots only. It seems that I have been infected by this tradition from the Russians...

Copyright website © - Ksenia Shramko

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Stereotypes about Russia July 12th, 2017

As we discussed, it may be controversial, but it is even more useful to know how foreigners imagine us and Russia in general. Firstly, this will explain many little things in the behavior of foreigners in relation to Russians, and secondly, there will be an occasion to help, if necessary, in creating a more correct idea of ​​Russia.

Here's what foreigners say different countries About Russia:

India, Jaipur

Emotions. In India, they believe that people from Russia are very sad. Everyone who came to Soviet time to India, huddled together and stuck together. When they went to the Indian markets, they kept repeating: "Perfume, perfume, perfume." In Hindi, "spirits" means "sad". What this word actually means in Russian, I learned much later.

Architecture. Everyone thinks that St. Basil's Cathedral is some kind of fairy-tale castle. Nobody knows that this is a temple. By the way, I thought so too.

Ruddy women. Since childhood, it seemed that Russian girls dress very brightly, draw round rosy cheeks and walk around in sundresses and scarves. When I was little, a magazine was published in our country “ Soviet woman» in Hindi and English. It was huge, like everything else in Russia, with colorful pictures on good paper. I loved taking it from my mom and looking at it. But it turned out that in Moscow everyone dresses mostly in black. The girls here are very thin, just very! I don't understand how this works?!

Sports men. It is widely believed in Indian society that men in Russia are very smart and athletic. Everyone plays chess, fly into space and do gymnastics. Those Russians who came during the Soviet era went in for sports. The men were very fit, it seemed that everyone could squat with a “pistol” or stand on their hands.

Alcohol. Nobody thinks they drink here. In India, there is no such representation, unlike other countries.

Germany Berlin

Education. Russians are considered very educated. People here really read and know the classics. When I was at university, everyone discussed classic literature. Many times my friends mentioned Bulgakov in conversation. That's why I started reading it too. We also read Goethe, but rarely does anyone mention this in everyday conversations.

Frosts. The Russian winter is considered too long and cold. But actually I like winter more in Russia than in Germany. Russian winters are snowy, frosty, and often sunny days. And a lot depends on the quality of public services. When I lived in Yekaterinburg, the roads in the city were covered with a centimeter-long ice crust, it was insanely slippery everywhere. Luckily, I had trekking boots with me at the time. They saved me. In Moscow, of course, everything is different.

Poor knowledge of languages. Russians don't speak English language. In St. Petersburg and Moscow, people know a second language, but in the regions it is already more difficult. We often advise companies that are going to cooperate with Russian enterprises to take an interpreter or look for someone on the spot. Sometimes even in Moscow companies there are no people who know the language well enough to negotiate.

Crime. There is an opinion that no business can be developed in Russia without bribes. I cannot confirm this. I very often work with German companies that are building a great business here without corruption. The situation has changed a lot since the 1990s. Now in Russia you can conduct a "white" business, if you want it.

The same goes for personal security. Remembering the 90s, foreigners coming here were afraid of robberies. So did I - at first I carried all my documents in a special bag around my neck. I even have a photo where I stand with this package on a hike in the wilderness, and there are not even people around. Now I understand that it all looked very funny.

USA, New York

Bears on the streets. I have been asked ten thousand times if Americans believe that bears walk around Moscow. Of course not. By the way, I can show you a couple of videos that show bears walking around New Jersey.

Problems with alcohol. A common myth is that everyone here is an alcoholic. Maybe in regions where the economy is underdeveloped, there are people who drink. But there are places like that in America too, like Detroit, for example. There is terrible unemployment, so people lead a marginal lifestyle. In addition, we also have those who use drugs, and there are many more of them than here.

Climate. Snowdrifts you can scare a person from the southern states - Florida, California, but in Buffalo we have the same weather. If we compare Moscow and New York, then here they prepare better for frosts. When it snowed in New York a few years ago, it paralyzed the entire city. In Moscow, many grumble about snow removal, but local utilities are still better at handling such situations.

Corruption. There is a lot of talk about corruption. I live here for a long time. I can’t say that this phenomenon is absent here, but now it has become much better. In Russia, corruption is present at the household level, while in America people face it when they try to open their own business.

Expensive things. It is believed that women from Russia love expensive things. It really is. But in general, in America they are very positive about Russian women, they believe that they are more correct and feminine. Do not recklessly copy Western feminism. I want to say on my own that Russian women take very good care of the family and their men.

Colombia, Barranquilla

They smile a little. I used to hear that people in Russia do not smile, they are cold and closed, they look too serious. But as soon as I began to live here, I realized that Russians are very friendly, they just begin to show their emotions only after they meet. In the circle of friends, people often smile, laugh and hug.

Russian Mafia. A stereotype born from films. Hollywood shoots so that Russian is always villain. We watch these films, so everyone believes that there is a mafia in Russia.

Cold and little sun. What is cold, we cannot imagine, because we don’t even have snow. I had a very hard time with my first winter. It was difficult to breathe in the cold, so I moved around the city in small dashes, constantly sitting in some rooms. I got very sick then. But the hardest thing is not the cold, but the fact that there is no sun and the sky is always gray. For me, it was a shock, since we always have summer and an abundance of sunlight.

Beautiful women. My male friends think that Russian women are very, very beautiful, and they are. When I show photos of my friends from here, everyone shouts: “Introduce me!”

sources

Generalized representations are characteristic of our perception of the world around us. During our lives, we absorb and spread many stereotypes, the essence and origin of which we do not even think about. It's in to a large extent refers to the perception of people of other nationalities and themselves in comparison with them. We will talk about what are the main stereotypes about Russia among representatives of other nations, where they came from and why they are exactly like that.

The concept of stereotypes

We all constantly find ourselves in typical, similar situations and we behave in them in approximately the same way. On the basis of this, stereotypes are formed, i.e., general group ideas about a particular object, phenomenon, person, ethnic group. Many people think that they are original in their manifestations, and they are not controlled by stereotypes, but this is absolutely not the case. Scientists prove that up to two-thirds of our behavior is due to these generalized ideas.

A stereotype is a simplified, typical model of behavior in a repetitive situation. This model is the result of the experience of a group of people. There are national, professional, family stereotypes. They are reproduced by us completely unconsciously, and it is often very difficult to recognize their leading role in our lives. The peculiarity of stereotypes lies in their persistence, they are not beliefs or attitudes that can be changed by getting new experience. These models contain representations of several generations of people, they are fixed in the folklore and speech of a people or group. However, they still lend themselves to correction and management, and we will see who does it and how. Stereotypes cover all spheres of our life: everyday life, relationships between people and various groups, attitude towards things, work, oneself. Therefore, stereotypes about Russia, which are carried by foreign citizens, are a multi-level idea of ​​the conditions of existence, national character, organization of life in our country. But at the same time, stereotypes are always just a scheme, a simplified view of a phenomenon. They are often associated with certain symbols, so it is easier to remember and reproduce them.

Stereotype functions

There is nothing random or inappropriate in the human psyche. Stereotypes perform whole line functions, and we absolutely need them. The origin of this phenomenon is associated with the desire of the body to save resources. Our thinking is a high-cost process, so the psyche develops ways to save resources. Stereotypes allow you to run behavioral programs in typical situations without connecting analysis and thinking. We do not need to think every time about which category to attribute this or that phenomenon to. We already have a ready answer and a plan of action. Therefore, stereotypes about Russia are just a model of how people of other nations think about us. At the same time, the stereotype, like any model, simplifies and schematizes the phenomenon.

Stereotypes also perform such functions as socialization and integration into a group. Need to share general ideas so that the social community accepts a person as “one of their own”. Stereotypes perform social function intergroup separation, help people to recognize members of their group and strangers. They are also a kind of ideology for the group, supporting its values. Stereotypes help to select social information and simplify the course of the cognitive process. This is how stereotypes about Russia work in the West, they help a foreigner quickly understand what is the difference between them and us. Since ancient times, stereotypes have been a means of social regulation; they help to unite people, for example, within the state, opposing their ideas to the values ​​of strangers.

Formation of stereotypes

Historically, stereotypes are stable patterns of behavior in repetitive situations. They are formed in human practice, fixed in behavior and memory. Effective models become simpler over time and are easily passed on to offspring. So, for example, the stereotype that a woman keeps the house clean has evolved over the centuries in the life of people and today no one causes reflection. The quality of a woman as a hostess is judged by the cleanliness in her house, but no one will apply the same criteria to a man. In the same way, ethnic ideas about one's own and other peoples are formed. Stereotypes about Russians were formed as a result of the centuries-old neighborhood of Europeans with them. And since the Europeans often sought to conquer Russia, and the local population resisted this, they began to endow the inhabitants of the country with various qualities, including negative ones, in order to warn their descendants from the danger allegedly coming from the Russians.

From the moment the funds mass communication the matter of formation and maintenance was put on stream. First of all, they had to serve state ideologies European countries and later the USA. You can see that stereotypes about Russia in foreign media were filled with negative values in times of conflict between Russia and other states. The media creates an "enemy image" to enlist the support of their people in countering the Russians.

Typical stereotypes of foreigners about Russia

It can be seen that it was in the 20th century that the idea of ​​Russians in Western ideology was formed as a rude, drunken, unfriendly nation. To make these stereotypes plausible, the images are supported by original pictures of Russia as a country with snow, bears, etc. For a long time, travelers coming to Russia formed ideas about this country among their compatriots. Since they were very impressed by the cold, the dangers, the Russian character, then, returning to their homeland, they talked about it in an embellished form. The main stereotypes about Russians are widely replicated by the Western media and popular culture. In them, our country appears as a land full of bears, snow, vodka and people with nesting dolls and balalaikas. Also, Westerners are accustomed to consider Russians an unpredictable nation, which is not characterized by smiles and friendliness. Thanks to Russian literature, they talk about the “mysterious Russian soul”, which “cannot be understood with the mind”. Because most of Europeans, let alone Americans, have never been to Russia; they easily trust simplistic ideas, especially since some of them are willingly supported by the Russian people themselves.

Bear

The image of Russia as a country where bears walk the streets was formed a long time ago. Even historians of the 19th century conducted research on its origins and came to the conclusion that this image has a real background. On the territory of our country there has long been a cult of the bear, it really was the embodiment of the spirit for the Russians. This animal was a totem for the inhabitants of our country, the bear has always been a subject folklore works. With the advent of Orthodoxy, the church supported this stereotype national identity. Once upon a time, almost every fair had a tradition of showing men fighting bears as a way to demonstrate their prowess. Also, these animals performed for the amusement of the public. This is how a bear with a balalaika appeared, as an image of Russian fun.

For foreigners who came to our country, meeting with a bear was a real shock, so upon their return they spoke with horror about the undertakings of these “strange Russians”. It should be noted that the Russians are happy to support this stereotype, they joke a lot on this topic.

Drunkenness

Many stereotypes about Russia are associated with vodka. Russians really accompanied any meal for the reception of foreign guests with the use of this drink. In addition, visitors could observe noisy fights, songs and dances of drunken men in taverns, and, as is usually the case with stereotypes, they spread these impressions throughout the nation. This image was actively supported by the Western media during the periods of formation of a negative attitude towards our country. The fact that Russians who traveled abroad often allowed themselves to drink too much and did not control their behavior also served to reinforce the stereotype.

For Western ideology, the behavior of President B. Yeltsin, who liked to drink, was a real gift. Propaganda based on his example strengthened existing ideas about Russians as drunkards.

Cold

Russian winter for foreigners, especially those living in warm countries, is an extremely vivid impression. Since stereotypes tend to fix and intensify emotions, the experience of feeling the frost becomes a kind of symbol of Russia. It is easier for the inhabitants of warm Europe to imagine our country as a snow-covered endless land, where cold always reigns. The snow is getting key symbol states. And the people who can live in such conditions are endowed with special characteristics. He simply cannot be the same as, for example, Italians or Greeks. This stereotype has been formed since ancient times, when the first contacts of the inhabitants began. Southern Europe with Russia.

Matryoshka

Despite the fact that the Russian nesting doll is a symbol that is recognizable all over the world, this toy was not invented in our country, it came to us from China. But this figurine is very organic to the Russian character with its catholicity and collectivism. In addition, it turned out to be an ideal souvenir, and during the time of mass tourism, matryoshka dolls became the most common gift from Russia. This was greatly facilitated by the Russians themselves, who brought such figurines abroad and gave them to visitors. Brightness and a unique form carry an expressive, emotional image that is easy to remember and therefore simply stereotyped.

Balalaika

The inhabitants of Russia had few of their own musical instruments, and one of them is the balalaika. It arose on the basis of a modification of Asian goodness and became widespread in the 17th century. The instrument is organic to the Russian character: it is easy to master, gives great opportunities for improvisation. In the 18th century, every fair had a bear with a balalaika as a way of entertaining people who came to shop. Since many of the first foreigners who came to Russia were merchants, they drew conclusions about the country precisely from the fairs. This is where many stereotypes arise: drunkenness, unrestrained fun, balalaika and a bear. This stereotype, like the matryoshka doll, does not have a negative connotation; it is a typical symbol of the country in the eyes of foreigners.

Mysterious Russian soul

Russian literature has done a lot to form ideas about our country. Let's take a look at the most famous domestic writers People: Pushkin, Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy. They all, without exception, tried to unravel the riddle of the Russian soul. Therefore, the usual stereotypes about Russia have been enriched by these ideas. By the way, our nation with great pleasure supports this myth and spreads it. It is easier for foreigners to attribute everything to a strange Russian character than to comprehend our behavior and look for some explanation for it.

The Ininsky rock garden is located in the Barguzinskaya valley. Huge stones as if someone deliberately scattered or placed on purpose. And in places where megaliths are placed, something mysterious always happens.

One of the attractions of Buryatia is the Ininsky rock garden in the Barguzin valley. It makes an amazing impression - huge stones scattered in disorder on a completely flat surface. As if someone deliberately either scattered them, or placed them on purpose. And in places where megaliths are placed, something mysterious always happens.

Power of nature

In general, the “rock garden” is the Japanese name for an artificial landscape in which stones, arranged according to strict rules, play a key role. "Karesansui" (dry landscape) has been cultivated in Japan since the 14th century, and it appeared for a reason. It was believed that gods lived in places with a large accumulation of stones, as a result of which the stones themselves began to be given divine significance. Of course, now the Japanese use rock gardens as a place for meditation, where it is convenient to indulge in philosophical reflections.

And philosophy is here. Chaotic, at first glance, the arrangement of stones, in fact, is strictly subject to certain laws. First, the asymmetry and size difference of the stones must be respected. There are certain points of observation in the garden - depending on the time when you are going to contemplate the structure of your microcosm. And the main trick is that from any point of observation there should always be one stone that ... is not visible.

The most famous rock garden in Japan is located in Kyoto, the ancient capital of the samurai country, in the Ryoanji Temple. This is the home of Buddhist monks. And here in Buryatia, the "rock garden" appeared without the efforts of man - its author is Nature itself.

In the southwestern part of the Barguzinskaya Valley, 15 kilometers from the village of Suvo, where the Ina River emerges from the Ikat Range, this place is located with an area of ​​more than 10 square kilometers. Significantly more than any Japanese rock garden - in the same proportion as the Japanese bonsai is smaller than the Buryat cedar. Here, large blocks of stone, reaching 4-5 meters in diameter, protrude from the flat ground, and these boulders go up to 10 meters deep!

The removal of these megaliths from the mountain range reaches 5 kilometers or more. What kind of force could scatter these huge stones at such distances? The fact that this was not done by a person became clear from recent history: a 3-kilometer canal was dug here for irrigation purposes. And in the channel channel here and there lie huge boulders, going to a depth of up to 10 meters. They fought, of course, but to no avail. As a result, all work on the channel was stopped.

Scientists put forward different versions origin of the Ininsky rock garden. Many consider these blocks to be moraine boulders, that is, glacial deposits. Scientists call the age different (E. I. Muravsky believes that they are 40-50 thousand years old, and V. V. Lamakin - more than 100 thousand years!), Depending on which glaciation to count.

According to geologists, in ancient times the Barguzin basin was a shallow freshwater lake, which was separated from Lake Baikal by a narrow and low mountain bridge connecting the Barguzin and Ikat ridges. As the water level rose, a runoff formed, which turned into a river bed, which cut deeper and deeper into solid crystalline rocks. It is known how storm water flows in spring or after heavy rain wash away steep slopes, leaving deep furrows of gullies and ravines. Over time, the water level dropped, and the area of ​​the lake, due to the abundance of suspended material brought into it by rivers, decreased. As a result, the lake disappeared, and in its place there was a wide valley with boulders, which were later attributed to natural monuments.

But recently, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences G.F. Ufimtsev offered very original idea which has nothing to do with glaciation. In his opinion, the Ininsky rock garden was formed as a result of a relatively recent, catastrophic, gigantic ejection of large-block material.

According to his observations, glacial activity on the Ikat Range manifested itself only in a small area in the upper reaches of the Turokcha and Bogunda rivers, while in the middle part of these rivers there are no traces of glaciation. Thus, according to the scientist, there was a breakthrough of the dam of the dammed lake in the course of the Ina River and its tributaries. As a result of a breakthrough from the upper reaches of the Ina, a mudflow or ground avalanche threw a large amount of blocky material into the Barguzin valley. This version is supported by the fact of severe destruction of the bedrock sides of the Ina River valley at the confluence with the Turokcha, which may indicate the demolition of a large volume of rocks by mudflows.

In the same section of the Ina River, Ufimtsev noted two large “amphitheatres” (resembling a huge funnel) measuring 2.0 by 1.3 kilometers and 1.2 by 0.8 kilometers, which could probably be the bed of large dammed lakes. The break of the dam and the release of water, according to Ufimtsev, could have occurred as a result of manifestations of seismic processes, since both slope "amphitheaters" are confined to the zone of a young fault with outcrops of thermal waters.

Here the gods were naughty

An amazing place has long interested local residents. And for the "rock garden" people came up with a legend rooted in hoary antiquity. The start is simple. Somehow, two rivers, Ina and Barguzin, argued, which of them would be the first (first) to reach Baikal. Barguzin cheated and set off on the road that same evening, and in the morning the angry Ina rushed after her, in anger throwing huge boulders out of her way. So they still lie on both banks of the river. Isn't it just a poetic description of a powerful mudflow proposed for explanation by Dr. Ufimtsev?

The stones still keep the secret of their formation. They are not only different size and colors, they are generally from different breeds. That is, they were not broken out from one place. And the depth of occurrence speaks of many thousands of years, during which meters of soil have grown around the boulders.

For those who have seen the Avatar movie, on a foggy morning, Ina's stones will remind you of hanging mountains around which winged dragons fly. The peaks of the mountains jut out of the clouds of mist like individual fortresses or the heads of giants in helmets. The impressions from the contemplation of the rock garden are amazing, and it is not by chance that people endowed the stones magic power: it is believed that if you touch the boulders with your hands, they will take away negative energy, instead bestowing positive energy.

In these amazing places there is another place where the gods were naughty. This place was nicknamed "Suva Saxon Castle". This natural formation is located near the group of salty Alga lakes near the village of Suvo, on the steppe slopes of a hill at the foot of the Ikat Range. The picturesque rocks are very reminiscent of the ruins of an ancient castle. These places served as a particularly revered and sacred place for Evenki shamans. In the Evenk language, "suvoya" or "suvo" means "whirlwind".

It was believed that it was here that spirits lived - the owners of local winds. The main and most famous of which was the legendary wind of Baikal "Barguzin". According to legend, an evil ruler lived in these places. He was distinguished by a ferocious disposition, he took pleasure in bringing misfortune to the poor and indigent people.

He had an only and beloved son, who was bewitched by spirits as punishment for a cruel father. After realizing his cruel and unfair treatment the ruler fell on his knees to the people, began to beg and tearfully ask to restore his son's health and make him happy. And he distributed all his wealth to people.

And the spirits freed the son of the ruler from the power of the disease! It is believed that for this reason the rocks are divided into several parts. There is a belief among the Buryats that the owners of Suvo, Tumurzhi-Noyon and his wife, Tutuzhig-Khatan, live in the rocks. Burkhans were erected in honor of the Suva rulers. AT special days rituals are performed in these places.

"We all think that the Americans hate us" - Russian Vadim Sovitsky, who lives in the States, revealed the 8 most common stereotypes of Americans about Russian people in his opinion:

The first stereotype is the inhibition of Russian people. Surely you all watched American films about Russian people, and there our heroes are usually presented as very slow. Indeed, the Americans think that we are not slow-witted, but the Russians speak very slowly, very calmly, very measuredly. Therefore, when I came and started chattering, they were surprised and said: “Are you sure you are Russian? Did you come from Russia? Maybe you're still not quite Russian? And when I said that I am completely Russian and have lived there since birth, they were very surprised, because they think that all Russians speak very slowly!

The second stereotype is that all Russian communists. This stereotype comes from Soviet Union and it was absolutely logical that such a stereotype existed in the 20th century, but in the second decade of the 21st century, I was very surprised to encounter this stereotype. Ordinary Americans are absolutely convinced that there are still no people with other political views in Russia. They expected me to come in all red, that I would defend the ideology of Engels and Marx. And when I told them that I generally had rather liberal views, it was a shock, I can’t even express how amazed they were. I told them that my family is not communist and even my grandparents who were born in the Soviet Union are not communist.

The Americans did not believe me and said that this was some kind of nonsense! I had to Skype with my family, and they confirmed that they were not communists, the Americans were simply shocked.

The third stereotype is that Russians don't know how to joke and never smile. This is common in American films and I was expected to behave the same way. In their opinion, if they tell me some kind of joke, then I should take it with a straight face. And I myself joked and laughed, because I like to joke and listen to a good joke (which I did not meet so many in America). Another surprise was among the Americans, how is this Russian joking and laughing ?!

The fourth stereotype is that Russian people are very brave, brave and valiant. By the way, I have not met a single Russian coward in American films, so they are sure that we are very courageous. And even despite their attitude to the history of the Second World War (they believe that they won the war), the stereotype about courage, valor and bravery, about the heroism of the Russian people still exists. And brutality was expected from me, they constantly said that I must be a very brave and brave person, since I am Russian. I even somehow wanted to comply, they said it so seriously, it was very pleasant and catchy.

Fifth stereotype - Russia is a very, very poor and undeveloped country. This stereotype was very often manifested in relation to me. When I arrived, they started showing me iPhones, a computer, telling me that it has the Internet, for some reason explaining how they work, and they expected a huge surprise from me. And when I told them that, in fact, in Russia there is both the Internet and telephones, they simply fell into shock. They represent Russia as some kind of fifth world country, where people live in tents made of rags and wood, all people are very dirty and poor. An unpleasant stereotype that means that we are losing in our information war against America. If they have such an idea of ​​Russia, then it is unlikely that any American will want to move to us, they do not even know that we live in general on European level when it comes to big cities.

The sixth stereotype is that Russians are very smart. Everyone expected me to sit all day on some blueprints. nuclear bomb, and when it turned out that I can also relax, spend time not very intellectually, they were very surprised. The simplest solution quadratic equation became an indicator for the Americans that I was very clever man, and if something is more complicated, then it is already possible and Nobel Prize give.

The seventh stereotype is that Russians have no idea how people live abroad. This stereotype is connected with the fact that in the Soviet Union there was iron curtain and people then really did not see life outside the USSR. I said that I traveled and was in huge number countries in Europe, that when I arrived in America, I did not escape from Russia, that I was not dragged out of Russia with American fur seals, and I quite calmly and legally left Russia and will just as calmly return back. The Americans were simply in shock, they thought that until now Russia is an insanely closed country from which it is impossible to get out and the iron curtain exists.

The eighth stereotype - in Russia, almost every person brilliantly owns weapons, especially small arms. As you know, in our schools in Russia they teach how to assemble and disassemble a Kalashnikov assault rifle, and I can do it too. It so happened that in America, at a circle where American schoolchildren are being prepared for military service, I came across a model of a Kalashnikov assault rifle and I showed the Americans how I disassemble and assemble the machine (4 times faster than they do). Of course, they looked at me with fear and thought that if it had been loaded, I would have grabbed it and shot everyone. In general, they were convinced and decided that every baby in our country understands any machine gun and plays with it in childhood instead of dolls and cars. Well, let them be afraid!