russia

Comparing the True Size of Every Country

size comparison of countries

Most representations of the world do not accurately project their true size, this visualization does. The Mercator projection is a cylindrical projection of the world that was created for nautical navigation. This projection, while the most common projection, has a large flaw–it distorts the size of most countries. Related: Map Created Overlaying Modern Countries on Pangea The largest problem with projecting […]
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Alex Camerino |
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NASA: Satellite Image Shows Kamchatka, Russia, Buried by 19 Feet of Snow

Kamchatka, Russia, buried in snow. | Image: NASA Observatory

This post first appeared on NASA Observatory and was written by Adam Voiland. It has been an eventful few months for the Northern Hemisphere atmosphere. An unusually early sudden stratospheric warming episode in late November appears to have factored into a weakened and distorted polar vortex at times in December, likely causing extra waviness in the polar jet stream. This helped […]
Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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FIS Confirms First Group of Russian and Belarusian Athletes Granted AIN Status After CAS Ruling

A small group of Russian and Belarusian winter-sport athletes have become the first to receive Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status from the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), marking a significant—though extremely limited—shift in their ability to return to international competition amid ongoing sanctions linked to the Russia–Ukraine war. The list includes competitors across alpine, cross-country, freestyle, and Nordic combined, […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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CAS Ruling Reopens Olympic Hope for Some Russian and Belarusian Skiers

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has partially overturned a blanket exclusion on Russian and Belarusian athletes seeking neutral status, potentially allowing a number of them to return to competition ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, Italy. The ruling only affects individual athletes that can meet the requirement of neutrality while Russian and Belarusian national teams remain […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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[VIDEOS] 3 Dead, 9 Injured After Chairlift Cable Derailment on Europe’s Highest Mountain

Tragic chairlift accident on Mt. Elbrus in Russia. | Photos: Ian Collins on X

This post was updated at 3:30 a.m. PST on Saturday, September 20, to correct early reports that the cable snapped when, in fact, it derailed. Three people died, and nine others sustained injuries on September 12 when a cable supporting a Soviet-era chairlift slipped from its rollers on the slopes of Mount Elbrus, Russia, Europe’s highest peak in Kabardino-Balkaria. Investigators […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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IOC Reaffirms Ban on Russian Teams for 2026 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed this week that Russian national teams will remain barred from participating at the next Winter Games, continuing sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That means teams in iconic winter sports—including Russia’s powerhouse men’s ice hockey program—are excluded from Olympic contention. However, Russian athletes may technically be eligible to […]
Julia Schneemann |
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American Guiding Companies Call Off All Mt. Elbrus, Russia Climbing Expeditions for 2022

The U.S. Embassy in Russia has issued a Level 4 – Do Not Travel advisory for the Mt. Elbrus region in Russia, discouraging Americans from climbing or visiting Europe’s tallest peak. American guiding companies, such as Alpenglow Expeditions which frequents Mt. Elbrus, have canceled all expeditions for 2022 because of the current geopolitical climate regarding Russia and its invasion of Ukraine. […]
Martin Kuprianowicz |
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Norwegian Ski Federation Bans Russian Athletes From Competing in Upcoming Events

Marit Bjoergen (3) of Norway leads the pack, including Jessie Diggins (4), during the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships mass start 30K on Saturday March 4, in Lahti, Finland. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Giovanni Auletta)

Norway’s ski federation said Saturday that Russian skiers are not welcome to compete in their country due to “violations of international law and attacks on the Ukrainian people.” The decision directly contradicts International Ski Federation (FIS) policy announced late Friday. Related: FIS Cancels All Forthcoming 2022 World Cup Events in Russia, Including Ski Cross and Aerial Events On Friday, the FIS […]
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FIS Cancels All Forthcoming 2022 World Cup Events in Russia, Including Ski Cross and Aerial Events

After some confusion during the Qualifying for the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup in Sunny Valley, Russia, the international governing body of Ski and Snowboard racing has canceled all World Cup events that were to be hosted in Russia. This action comes amid a Russian military operation in Ukraine, and most notably affected the Ski Cross World Cup scheduled […]
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Phil Tremblay |
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[OLYMPICS] 15-Year-Old Russian Skater Cleared to Compete Despite Positive Drug Test

Russian teenage skater Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, despite testing positive for a banned substance. In a controversial decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of the 15-year-old figure skater after she tested positive for a banned heart medication. Related: [OLYMPICS] Medal Ceremony Postponed as 15-Year-Old Russian Skater Caught […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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5 Climbers Froze to Death in Snowstorm on Europe’s Highest Mountain This Weekend

Mount Elbrus, russia, rescuers

Five mountain climbers have died after getting caught in a snowstorm on Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus in Russia. Fourteen others were rescued from the summit, during high winds, low visibility, and temperatures of -4ºF. Eleven of those rescued were taken to hospital. The ‘non-professional’ group sent out an SOS call at around 5 pm local time on Thursday at an […]
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CragBrains |
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Microplastics Found in Snow in Siberia, Russia

microplastics

Researchers recently found microplastic pollution in Siberia, one of the world’s most remote areas. These recent findings are another example of human pollution permeating the environment. Related: USGS Report: “It’s Raining Plastic”: Microplastics in the Mountains? At Tomsk State University, researchers found airborne plastic fibers in snow samples taken from twenty different Siberian regions. Snow sampled from the Altai Mountains, […]
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Alex Mangels |
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