Mariinsk

Mariinsk (Russian: Мари'инск, mah-reeh-EENSK) is a city in Kemerovo Oblast founded in 1698. It bears the name of the last Emperor's wife.

Understand
A nice city with historic atmosphere. Former village it turned into the city after Golden rush came here. In Soviet times the city hold administration of Siblag, the Siberian gulag.

Get in
Mariinsk is at the Trans-Siberian. By train from Novosibirsk it takes 5 hours; from Tomsk 3 hours.

See

 * Museum of regional studies.
 * Museum of beresta (birch bark).
 * Monument to Empress Maria.
 * Traditional wooden and stone architecture.

Do

 * Kiya river rafting. A three-day flowing inside the rocky landscape.
 * Trekking through the biologic reseve Archekas to the ancient campsites.

Buy
Beresta is artwork here!