Komi

Komi deserves the title of the most mysterious and unique place in the north-west part of Russia. Northern nature, customs and crafts of the local peoples (Komi, Izhma, Nenets) – it all makes a visit to this place very alluring for tourists.

The Komi Republic is situated north-east of the European Russia’s part. Its natural boundary is the Urals mountain uplifts. It is a region of bogs and forests, caves, crystal clear rivers where a kingfish – salmon – affects.
Komi is the land where “air is born”: 15 per cent of its territories are protected natural reserves, where oxygen is produced that the whole Europe breathes. It is the object of the World Natural Heritage – a national park “Yugyd Va” (Bright water) and “a pearl” of the upper Pechora river – Pechoo-Ilychsky biospheric reserve. List a Virgin Komi Forests, being the largest and the last virgin natural forestland in Europe. UNESKO put this inmost pert of Komi Republic on a par with such world relics as The Niagara Falls, The Kilimanjaro, The Yellowstone. The hypnotic beauty of the virgin forests attract thousand of enthusiasts to the parks.

In 2006 in Syktyvkar the Winter Sports Center has opened. It is one of the largest sport centers in north-west of Russia. On its ski-track The World Cup laps, the Russian and international competitions are spent on a regular basis. The Winter Sports Center invites all interested to have a rest and to go skiing, to take part in cultural and excursion programs on the basis of the Center.

Arts and crafts produced in Komi have always been very colorful and diverse. They practice leather stamping, as well as jeweler’s art and wood engraving. Komi traditional costumers are very bright and unique as well.
One of the most picturesque places in Komi is Udorskiy Region. It is the venue for the annual Komi Book festival. Each June Usinsk traditionally holds national celebrations of Tatars and Bashkirs. Festive programs include concerts of national bands, traditional dexterity and braveness competitions, outdoor fetes, sacrifice of a ram, games and sports.

Each year in March Inta gathers deer-breeders for Bistriy Olyen (Fast Deer) republic festival. The program of the festival includes deer sledge races and national traditional games (catching a deer, jumping over a sledge, axe throwing and other games).

Komi is a place of marvelous beauty which offers excellent and fascinating travel! The Komi Republic invites all lovers of ecotourism to its endless lands. The true admires of wild nature and travelers may fully enjoy fishing, horse-riding, rafting, mountain-climbing, photo and movie shooting and ornithology. All the tours include sightseeing and recreational programs.

The following kinds of tourism have a wide distribution in Komi: Culture and history tours, culture events, winter products, outdoor adventures and nature activities, nature-based products in national parks, Snowmobile and ski tours to historical and cultural heritage sites.