↪️ Andrey Matveev is a talented Russian artist known for his deep emotional expressiveness and mastery in conveying mood through his paintings. He was born and raised in Russia, and his work largely reflects the richness of Russian culture and nature.↩️

➿ Matveev works in various genres, but he is especially distinguished by his ability to create atmospheric landscapes and portraits. His works often convey a sense of harmony and tranquility, as well as a deep respect for nature and human feelings. He uses bright colors and skillfully employs light and shadow techniques to capture the atmosphere and mood of his paintings.

🌸 A special place in his creative output is occupied by his love for his homeland and its beauty. His paintings can often be seen in museums and galleries, as well as in private collections. Andrey Matveev is one of those artists who can inspire and communicate important ideas about nature, the soul and culture through his art.

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📎 Onezh Petroglyphs - are ancient stone drawings made about 4-5 thousand years ago. They are located on the shores of Lake Onega in Karelia. People carved these images into the stones using sharp pebbles or bones, and they have been well preserved to this day because stone is very durable. These drawings are even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

📎 The drawings are spread over a stretch of shoreline about 20.5 km long and include around 24 groups, totaling approximately 1100 figures and symbols. Most of the images depict swans, forest animals, people, and boats. Some figures are as large as 4 meters!

📎 The carvings are etched into the rocks near the water, at depths of 1 to 4 mm, and are positioned up to 2.5 meters above water level.

📎 There are also mysterious figures — for example, on Cape Besov Nos, there's a famous triad: a demon, a nelma (a type of fish) and an otter (or a lizard). There are also various geometric shapes that are hard to interpret. According to legend, in the 15th century, monks from the Murom Monastery carved a Christian cross over these images to ward off evil spirits.

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💔. Tiny Khavroshechka
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Story: An orphan girl is enslaved by a cruel stepmother and her three daughters. They give her impossible tasks.
She does not complain or try to run away. Her only friend is a magic cow. She cries her sorrows to the cow, and the cow tells her what to do: "Climb into my ear and out the other." She obeys, and magically, the work is done.

📝 When the cow is killed out of suspicion, Khavroshechka🤗 obeys its last wish to bury its bones. From the bones grows a magical apple tree. People from all around come to admire it. One of these people is a young handsome nobleman who ultimately falls in love with Khavroshechka and asks her to marry him.

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💔 Alyonushka
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This story, "Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka", is less about chores and more about familial love, temptation and profound tragedy. It has a much darker, more Brothers Grimm-like tone.
The Story in a Nutshell:
After their parents die, the beautiful and responsible older sister, Alyonushka, is left to care for her young brother, Ivanushka. They set out to find a new life. On the journey, they come across hoof prints filled with water.
Ivanushka is desperately thirsty. Three times he tries to drink from a hoof print, and three times Alyonushka warns him: "Don't drink, little brother, or you will turn into a kid goat."

📎 He disobeys the third time and drinks from a cow's hoof print, instantly turning into a little kid goat. The heartbroken Alyonushka continues her journey, leading her brother on a leash.
They find a new life, and Alyonushka is so beautiful that a rich merchant falls in love with her and marries her. They live happily for a time. But a wicked witch becomes envious. She casts a spell, drowning Alyonushka in a river and using magic to take her place, pretending to be the wife.
The little kid goat, Ivanushka, is the only one who knows the truth. He goes to the riverbank and cries out for his sister. The witch convinces the merchant to kill and cook the kid goat.

📎 As the merchant's servants prepare to slaughter the kid goat, his plaintive cries reach Alyonushka at the bottom of the river. In the climactic moment, the merchant hears her response from the water. He realizes the deception, rescues Alyonushka, and the spell is broken. The witch is punished and when Alyonushka is restored to life, Ivanushka turns back into a boy.

📎 In essence, for a story where kindness is rewarded by magical helpers, turn to Khavroshechka. For a feat of endurance and sisterly devotion, turn to Alyonushka. Together, they form the core of the classic Russian passive heroine—a figure defined by resilience in meekness and triumph through patience.

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📝The Golden Mountains of Altai are often called the heart of this stunning region. Picture lush green slopes beneath brilliant peaks that shine like gold—this is the image that inspired their name.

⭐️ Part of the larger Altai Range, which spans Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia, the landscape here is a tapestry of vibrant colors: deep green forests, bright blue skies, and silvery rivers winding below. The mountains themselves are ancient, with peaks that formed hundreds of millions of years ago.

🩷 But the beauty is more than just visual. These mountains are steeped in legend, with stories of hidden treasures and ancient secrets waiting to be discovered. The area is also home to rare wildlife, and the environment is known for its pure, healing qualities.

⚫️Visitors can explore breathtaking landscapes, hike along mountain trails, and breathe in the crisp, fresh air—immersing themselves completely in nature. It’s a place that never fails to inspire and amaze. I hope you someday have the chance to visit the Golden Mountains of Altai and experience their magic for yourself.

⭐️ The site has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

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