Day 6/THURSDAY 17th DECEMBER 2009

I have just crossed another time zone. It is amazing how quickly the landscape and times zones changes in Russia. I will be arriving in Kraysonak in about 5 hours. I found in my compartement a book on the Great Siberian Way and on Russia and here is some essential thing to know:
The Trans-Sib crosses two continent; 20% of its trajectory is in Europe and 80% in Asia), starts in Moscow , passes through the european russia, crosses Urals mountains (which separate Europe and Asia), continues into Siberia's Taiga and steppes (coniferous forest) and finishes in Vladivostok- the Russian far east coast on the Pacific Ocean. The railway's construction cost 1.445 billion Rubles. Russia is of 17,075,400 square kilometers, by far the largest country of the world. Its population is of 142 millions inhabitants and density of 8.3 square kilometers. The climates that are dominant are humid continental and subartic climates. Russia only has two distinct seasons; winter and summer and the coldest month is January. Russia is the home to 266 mammal species and 780 bird species, Russia also has the world's largest forest reserves. I have seen, so far, from my window, a Booted eagle, many red squirrels, a leopard cat and a tiger in the Taiga. This brings me to the physicals features of Russia. The Caspain Sea, largest sea of the world of 371,000 square kilometers, followed by Lake Baikal, second largest lake of the world 31,330 square kilometers (I will talk about this lake later when I will arrive in Irtuk). Russia also has many mountains; Ural Mountains, Central Siberian Plateau, Caucasus Mountains, Tien Shan Mountains and Pamir Mountains. I've arrived at Krasnoyarsk, ran outside, bought some Pelmeni and ran back in. Pelmeni is dough filled with minced meat or mushrooms, turnips or onions.
Picture of my meal: Pelmeni;

Video of the Station of Krasoyarsk;

Here are some pictures of a leopart cat and of a tiger;