The Russian taiga is a distinct ecoregion location located between frozen tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the south. It is essentially a boreal forest in which only coniferous trees such as pines, spruces, and larches grow.
Taiga covers parts of Alaska and Canada as well, but the Russian taiga has an isolated beauty that you won’t find anywhere else. Temperatures can drop to -20°C here, though the Siberian taiga can easily see nights of -50°C during the coldest months. The taiga in the country’s north experiences midnight sun in summer and polar night in winter.
The heart of the taiga is located north of Irkutsk city, where you can enjoy dogsledding, snowshoeing, and the northern lights. Visitors to the area are taken on extreme tour operations to spend days outdoors before warming up in a steam bath inside a wooden cabin, a local tradition.
The Vodlozersky National Park is located in the Russian taiga. It has an area of over 4,000 square kilometres and is a popular spot for whitewater rafting and bird watching. The park is only accessible by a country road from the town of Pudozh, 352 kilometres away. Once inside the park, your only connection to civilization is the 500-person-strong village of Kuganavolok.