RTDoc features original series and films on the most intriguing cultural, historical, environmental and human interest stories from around the world, as well as exclusive documentaries about Russia, produced in-house by RT.
RTDoc’s creations have won international prizes such as Media Excellence and New York Festivals Awards, and gained a strong following amongst cable providers worldwide.

Добавить в избранное The Circumnavigation. A Trimaran for Two. Part 2 51:34 What's the most crucial aspect for a traveler in a round-the-world voyage? Voyager Evgeny Kovalevsky believes it's patience. For a year now, he and his partner Stanislav Beryozkin have been at sea. They sleep for four hours each, alternating on watch duty, fish for sustenance, and for months on end, witness the same landscape – the boundless ocean. Discover why, despite all the challenges and life-threatening risks, this circumnavigation journey is so significant for Evgeny and Stanislav.

Добавить в избранное The Circumnavigation. A Trimaran for Two. Part 1 51:46 Embarking on a homemade trimaran and tracing Kruzenshtern’s route, Stanislav Beryozkin and Evgeny Kovalevsky commit to a daring three-year circumnavigation.

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Добавить в избранное Crimea's Renaissance 27:36 1 10 years after its reunification with Russia, Crimea has undergone significant transformations. The region now boasts new infrastructure, a modern energy system, scientific centres, renovated museums, advancements in winemaking, and breakthroughs in medicine, all shaping the new reality for its residents. Grandmaster Sergey Karyakin, yacht captain Anatoly Maikov, director of the Balaklava Museum Complex Pavel Plekhanov, and other Crimeans share insights into how their lives have evolved over the past decade. Watch the documentary to witness firsthand the pristine beauty of the peninsula and the breathtaking infrastructure projects aimed at reshaping Crimea's future.

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Добавить в избранное Winter in Yakutia - Russia's coldest region | Erick’s List 26:20 1 The latest episode of Erick's List takes us to Yakutia. RT journalist Erick Zarate didn't shy away from exploring Russia's coldest region, where temperatures often hit -70C. Celebrating the New Year in the winter wonderland while learning more about the cultural heritage of its people – what a glorious idea!

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Добавить в избранное Iceline. Lifeline 27:23 1 In 2022 two brand-new Russian icebreakers will operate on the Northern sea route. These ships can break through ice 118 inches thick, need no refuelling for decades, and travel at sea and along rivers. They opened a new era of Arctic sea economy — now there is a direct path between Northern Europe and Asia, bypassing all European seaports. What new opportunities can it bring?

Добавить в избранное A Bear's Tale 27:30 Can a wild bear be a pet? After an ordinary working day at an airfield, Andrey and his colleagues noticed a very young bear running loose. Poachers had probably killed its mother and left the cub to fend for itself. The furry baby was crying just like a human child and definitely needed a family to survive. Andrey and his friends provided shelter and called him Mansur. Six years later and Mansur is now a huge 300 kg adult. He needs a lot of food, space, and time; how hard can it be to meet his demands?

Добавить в избранное Russia: 85 Adventures 49:46 The Russia Beyond team set themselves a tough challenge — to experience and document unique adventures in Russia. The team visits the birthplace of 29-time UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in Dagestan and climbs Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak. From the cold of Yakutia to sunny Crimean vineyards, they explore many scenic landmarks as part of their Russia: 85 Adventures project.

Добавить в избранное Russian Roots, Mongolian Life 49:09 Elena сame to Mongolia for a short business trip and never left. Her daughter now studies Mongolian and attends local children’s clubs. Like many others who relocate, Elena’s family observe both Russian and Mongolian customs and traditions. What attracts people to this ancient land of nomads, camels and enchanting nature?

Добавить в избранное Cleaning the Arctic 52:22 'Cleaning the Arctic isn’t just words, a bunch of slogans or something. For me, it’s my destiny', says Andrey Nagibin, Office Head of ‘Clean Arctic’ Project. Now he coordinates eco-volunteers whose goal is to restore the Arctic's nature. Back in Soviet times, Andrey was a navigator and ice assistant and participated in many northern deliveries. He knows the bitter truth about the Arctic pollution firsthand. Marines used to load lots of equipment, gear, barrels of fuel and never took them back — 'leaving ballast behind' — as they said at that time. What urgent action to avoid further pollution is needed now?

Добавить в избранное Akhal-Teke Horses: Heavenly Creatures 47:18 The Akhal-Teke breed, often referred to as the closest living link to wild horses, is renowned as the world's most expensive and esteemed breed. Prices for these horses can soar up to $100,000, reflecting their remarkable speed, endurance over long distances and rapid recovery. What else makes this breed special, particularly for the Turkmens?

Добавить в избранное Russian Alaska: Orthodoxy and Independence 1:41:33 The state of Alaska has been under cultural pressure from various countries throughout its history. Life in Alaska: its religious traditions, way of life, crafts, celebrations, cuisine and values - are unlike the life in the rest of America. Locals fish, carve wood, believe in mythical creatures and profess Orthodoxy. How do Alaskans manage to preserve their unique traditions?

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Добавить в избранное Oymyakon - the Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth 34:29 13 RT’s Konstantin Rozhkov takes a trip to one of the coldest places on our planet – the rural town of Oymyakon and documents all the remarkable discoveries he makes on the way. They meet people so tough that they go ice-swimming when it's minus 50 degrees Celsius or minus 58 Fahrenheit. It’s so cold here; batteries die almost instantly, smartphones get covered in frost even inside your pocket, a carrot freezes so hard you can hammer in nails with it. Yet, one of the world’s coldest places is quickly becoming a hot spot for international travellers.

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Добавить в избранное Molyobka Russia’s anomalous zone 16:28 8 Molyobka is one of Russia’s most mysterious places, where people regularly report encounters with extraterrestrials. The quiet village in the Ural taiga is also listed among the eight best places for an alien hunt. In the 1980s, a Soviet geologist allegedly discovered a large circular impression in snow, which he believed was a UFO landing site. Soviet tabloids picked up the story, turning Molyobka into a magnet for UFO enthusiasts. RT correspondent Konstantin Rozhkov spent a fun weekend in Molyobka with a group of ufologists. Join him on a quest for an ‘out of this world’ experience, including touching healing pines, standing in a portal between two worlds and catching shining balls in the darkness.

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Добавить в избранное Pandemic Odyssey 48:11 4 In 2019, a team of Russian sailors set out on a trip around the world in a steel yacht. Unfortunately, when they got to Chile, the COVID pandemic interfered, and they had to delay their trip for eight months. Once they got together to complete their journey, COVID caught them again — in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and their voyage ended not as they expected. What happened?

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Добавить в избранное North Pole: Inside a Russian Atomic Icebreaker 15:14 11 RT brings you an exclusive report from onboard “50 Years of Victory”, the world’s second-largest nuclear icebreaker. Our crew went on a dangerous but exciting expedition to the North Pole to explore one of our beautiful planet’s most mysterious and the least accessible parts.

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Добавить в избранное Me and My Lions 25:44 1 Aleksey has been a lion fan his entire life. So when an opportunity presented itself, he relocated to South Africa and sold his Moscow apartment to rescue 8 lions about to be put down. But now he is fighting another battle: in an attempt to put a stop to canned hunting — chasing lions in enclosures — the South African authorities threaten to close all farms, killing lions in the process. So Aleksey has to come up with a plan to save his pets for the second time. Will he be able to do it?

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Добавить в избранное Never Furget 26:00 1 In the Never Furget documentary, scientists, travellers and nature enthusiasts explore the fate of the harp seal population of the White Sea in the Arctic. Years of hunting, global warming, and food shortages has put the harp seal population on the brink of extinction. So what future awaits the cute seal pups, and if they have one? Find out in our film.

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Добавить в избранное Aurora Hunters 14:00 1 Best observed in high latitudes, the Northern Lights have been fascinating people for centuries. A group of enthusiasts from St. Petersburg, known as the Aurora Hunters, has mastered the art of chasing and predicting them. Natalya, the group’s leader and mastermind, has created a website packed with statistics and forecasts invaluable for everyone who fancies spending a chilly night in the middle of nowhere staring at the sky.

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Добавить в избранное Black Holes of Yamal 00:00 1 When giant holes began appearing in the Arctic tundra, Nenets reindeer herders said evil spirits were to blame. Meanwhile, scientists have been investigating other possible causes, with climate change and gases trapped in the permafrost among the chief suspects. Now they’re closer than ever to explaining this geological mystery.

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Добавить в избранное Chukotka: Unconquered. The making of Freed to be Wild 23:09 3 Getting to film indigenous people patrolling the coastline of Chukotka during the bear and walrus migrations took lots of time, several failed attempts, and various means of transportation. An RTD crew shot a documentary about their adventures in this remote land and fantastic wildlife.

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Добавить в избранное On Deck, Offline 50:04 3 All aboard! The legendary Kruzenshtern sets sail to take cadets from the Baltic State Fishing Fleet Academy on their first significant voyage. The group of boys and one girl gain hands-on training under sail and real life-lessons while they work as a team and overcome their fears. RTD follows the cadets on a passage that puts the young mariners through their paces.

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Добавить в избранное When an Elephant Smiles 26:35 2 Every day, dozens of elephants are killed by poachers seeking for their ivory, meat and other body parts. Elephant calves left without their mothers are sure to die as they lack survival skills and source of food. In Zimbabwe, there is a place where orphaned baby elephants can have a second chance at life. The Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery founded by Roxy Danckwerts on her family farm rescues helpless infants, providing them with care and love 24/7 in a bid to reintegrate mighty animals back to the wild.

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Добавить в избранное Ivan and the Wolf 27:17 6 When Ivan was offered a wolf cub, he immediately agreed, partly out of curiosity but also to save an animal that would otherwise have been put down. The wolf has lived with Ivan, his daughter and two dogs ever since, and soon became a part of the family, as well as regularly attracting media attention. As Ivan’s primaeval pet grows ever bigger, it demands more time, care and space. An RTD crew visits Ivan’s ‘pack’ to find out more about living with a wild predator. As we tag along, we ask if it’s possible to turn a wolf into a pet or whether the call of the wild is too strong.

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Добавить в избранное Going with the Floe 27:30 4 There's not much life on the 80th parallel north, close to the northernmost point in the world. It's a vast icy desert with the occasional polar bear or walrus seen in the distance. Russian researchers are making their way there aboard the Akademik Tryoshnikov to wedge into an ice floe and simply, 'go with it'. Drifting polar stations were first set up in the 1930s, but became too risky when rising temperatures started causing the ice caps to melt. RTD joins the experimental Transarktika-2019 expedition on a month-long voyage to revive the drifting polar missions.

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Добавить в избранное Argentinian DNA 27:043 Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Argentina with the RTD series, Argentinian DNA. Each episode explores the most distinctive features of the South American country: the love of football, tango, the gaucho culture, cumbia music, or European immigration. Argentinian DNA also takes a look at football violence and the political split between left and right.

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Добавить в избранное Hot Race, Cold Dogs 1:05:57 4 2,100 kilometres across Kamchatka’s vast, snowy wilderness in a month! It’s the annual Beringia dog sled race that pits 15 teams against each other on grueling terrain in subzero temperatures and ferocious winds. The mushers and dogs are nevertheless ready to face off and fight for a prize of nearly $50,000. Ready, steady, mush mush!

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Добавить в избранное Mexican Boom Town 27:46 3 Life in Tultepec revolves around pyrotechnics. Producing hand-made fireworks is a passion, an art form, and a source of livelihood for most residents of this Mexican town. But it’s also an extremely dangerous and unpredictable occupation, as those orphaned or widowed by fiery accidents will attest. Meet those willing to risk their lives for their explosive craft as RTD visits Tultepec’s annual pyrotechnics festival.

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Добавить в избранное It's A Pandaful Life! 24:44 4 The Giant Panda has been a symbol of wildlife protection for more than 50 years. It has survived in just one country; China, and its future is constantly threatened by human activity and climate change. In September 2016, the adorable and placid bamboo eating bear was taken of the endangered species list, a huge victory for conservationists and the Chinese Government; offering hope that other animals on the brink of extinction can also be saved.

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Добавить в избранное Baikal Blues 27:17 4 Lake Baikal in Russian Siberia is the oldest and deepest lake on the planet and is famous for containing 20% of the world’s fresh water. Its incredibly clear and clean water is home to hundreds of unique animal and plant species. Biologists, however, are increasingly concerned about the region’s ecology. James Brown goes back to Baikal seven years after his last visit to look into how the lake has changed.

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Добавить в избранное Beauties Save the World 27:46 5 14 women on a sail boat, but this is no pleasure cruise. The Sea Dragon is taking them on a scientific expedition to the Caribbean. On a mission to explore the extent of plastic pollution in the Atlantic Ocean, their main focus is the proliferation of micro-plastic that poisons fish and can harm humans. They also hope to educate children about how to reduce the use of plastic.

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Добавить в избранное Arctic Prospects 24:45 1 “Keldysh” is Russia’s famous research vessel. She’s heading towards the Arctic Circle on a mission to collect important underwater samples. One of the scientists aboard helped draft Russia’s Arctic shelf claim, submitted to the UN. He explains the science behind it.

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Добавить в избранное The Keepers of Leopard Land Series 23:574 Far Eastern Leopards are a rare species found only in Russia’s Primorye area and small parts of nearby China. There are very few of them left, the best estimates suggest around 50, putting these majestic animals on the very brink of extinction. Even so, poachers still hunt them for their fur and that’s why the Leopard Land Rangers fight a daily battle to protect the big cats and ensure the survival of the species.

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Добавить в избранное Bear with Me 26:35 5 The Orphan Bear Rescue Centre (OBRC) in Russia saves abandoned bear cubs and later releases them back into the wild. However, for bears to have a chance to resume their life in the forest, they must not become accustomed to people. With that in mind, the bear rescuers have worked out a special method of looking after their fluffy fosterlings.

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Добавить в избранное The Permafrost Mystery 26:23 8 The appearance of giant craters in Siberia sparked dozens of wild theories about their origins, from meteorites to UFOs. An RT Doc crew travelled to the region to try to find explanations for thegeological mystery. Mysterious giant craters have started to appear in Siberia, some say they're a new phenomenon others that they have existed since the dawn of time. This riddle of nature attracted RT Doc to the land of the nomadic Nenets. Our team met visiting scientists and locals, in search of answers either from research data or ancient legends.

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Добавить в избранное Back to Sleepy Hollow, Kazakhstan 24:50 2 Deep in the countryside of Kazakhstan lies a sleepy, little rural village called, Kalachi. In this case though, the word, “sleepy” is much more than a quaint, idyllic description, it’s literal! The settlement made international headlines because of an inexplicable “sleeping sickness” that has affected its residents for over three years and prompted RTD’s first visit, six months ago. The search for a cause revealed nothing, so several villagers seized the opportunity to relocate but others could not bring themselves to leave their birthplace, despite the health risks. RTD pays a second visit to discover that medical science may now be on the verge of unravelling the slumbering mystery.

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Добавить в избранное Arctic United 26:17 2 For one whole month each year, the “Barneo” Arctic camp is set up by Russian polar explorers. It serves as a research facility that hosts international scientists, who study various aspects of Arctic environment, as well as thrill seeking tourists looking for extreme holiday experiences. RTD spent five days on the moving ice float to see how “Barneo” operates, while meeting the people who visit it and discovering what life is like at the North Pole.

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Добавить в избранное Maasai: From Sand to Snow 25:59 3 From the sun scorched Kenyan savannah to the snow-covered concrete jungle of Moscow – Russian traveller and photographer, Olga Michi, takes members of the Maasai tribe on the adventure of a lifetime. They have never even left their country before, let alone the continent. Braving an intercontinental flight and Russia’s sub-zero winter, the African adventurers never miss an opportunity to try something new and take every challenge they meet in their stride.

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Добавить в избранное Sleepy Hollow, Kazakhstan 26:51 5 They call it Sleepy Hollow. A small village in Kazakhstan which has succumbed to a mysterious ailment – its dwellers keep falling asleep for no apparent reason. Anyone can be affected without warning. Some blame ghosts, others – closed uranium mines located nearby. RTD investigates.

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Добавить в избранное Kilimanjaro Challenge 25:57 3 Hoping to inspire disabled children to aim high, three men with physical disabilities take on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. At a towering 5895 m above sea level, the Tanzanian peak is the highest mountain in Africa.

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Добавить в избранное (Atlantic) Ocean's Eighteen 26:09 2 In 2014, 18 people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on 18th-century tall ship, The Shtandart. In this film, those on board tell their stories of how they joined the crew, reveal what fascinates them about life at sea, and explain why it takes an ocean to quench their thirst for adventure.

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Добавить в избранное Antarctica: Ready for Winter 51:55 2 The Akademik Fyodorov, a diesel-electric ice ship, travels to several Russian research stations in Antarctica, braving the threat of icebergs as it journeys across hundreds of miles of open sea. Molodyozhnaya Station only operates during the continent's brief summer, and researchers there will board the Fyodorov for the long trip home. However, the adventure has only begun for the skeleton crews at Progress Station and Novolazerevskaya Station, which will have the responsibility of maintaining everything without additional supplies being delivered during the long, dark winter.

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Добавить в избранное Sahara: a desert winter 26:21 3 Although most people think of the Sahara as a vast, sandy open expanse, it offers many surprises to those intrepid enough to visit. The Sahara has its own winter season: the parched lands and cisterns of local residents are nourished when it rains, and it even occasionally snows. The event of the season for many is Tunisia's annual desert festival, which attracts leading camel racers from Algeria, Libya, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Witness people who live in fully modernized cave dwellings, in remote oases, and in tents as desert nomads.

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Добавить в избранное Seven seas of ice 26:18 2 From the big red ships that seamen call their "knights" to the smaller white ships that can enter frozen river estuaries, Russia's icebreakers pave the way through the frozen arctic for commercial vessels and military convoys, allowing passage between Russia's European ports and the Pacific. They are a reliable and indispensable addition to any trans-Arctic ocean voyage. Join RT as we team up with the crew of one of these amazing nuclear-powered vessels as it traverses the top of the world.

Добавить в избранное Spitsbergen: The long dark night 26:17 On the icy island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean, people are outnumbered by polar bears and snowmobiles are used rather than cars. Its long Arctic night starts in November, and the sun doesn't return for months. In addition to the Norwegians who maintain nominal control of Spitsbergen, the island is home to the Russian mining community of Barentsburg, a "company town" that is run by Arktikugol, a Russian state coal mining company. Its hardy employees and their spouses and children brave the elements to maintain the small community of less than 500 people.

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Добавить в избранное The spirit of Baikal 24:29 3 Lake Baikal is the world's biggest, oldest and deepest lake, and many are entranced by the mysteries that surround it, including richly-dressed shamans, laconic Buddhist monks and Orthodox 'Old Believers'. It also attracts leading international scientists who explore the region's ecology and hope to explore the origins of the universe by detecting neutrinos beneath its surface. RTDoc explores some of the ancient beliefs of the Buryat people that have lived alongside the lake for countless generations, and joins the researchers that study Baikal using scuba equipment and ultra-light aircraft. Is there something supernatural about the placid lake and its serene surroundings, or is this simply, as physicist Nikolay Budnev puts it, "an intricate combination of exceptional natural factors"?

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Добавить в избранное Diaries of the island 26:01 2 To those that live there, Spasso-Kamenny Island, which is home to a monastery that was built in the 13th century, is a sacred place.

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Добавить в избранное Russia's holy wood 26:14 5 What secrets to the old churches keep? Researches from all around the world are searching for the key to the mysterious Russian soul. Could it be that the answer to that puzzle lies on the road to the cathedral?

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Добавить в избранное Mistress of the cave 25:56 7 Her beauty and impregnability lure in divers from all around the world. Ordinskaya Cave is an Ice Lake and an Ice Fortress. Almost 5 kilometers of underwater silence. Only the most courageous can traverse is from beginning to end.

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Добавить в избранное Tyva: The Sounds of Nature 22:30 2 Sean Quirk came to Tyva to study the local phenomenon of throat singing 8 years ago and stayed in Kyzyl. He fell in love with a local woman and got used to a shabby Russian car. Elizabeth Gordon came to Tyva from Australia, to collect material for her thesis on womens' throat singing in Tyva. Let's find out what attracts people from around the globe to Tyva and what makes them stay in this ancient land of music, nomads and austere nature.

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Добавить в избранное All Roads Lead to Khatystyr 25:51 1 The Evenks are a small people, who live in a few villages scattered across Yakutia's endless snowy plains and whose existence largely depends on reindeer breeding. Their community is based on mutual aid: if they see a car stuck in the snow they help pull it out, if a sick reindeer needs medicine, they go hundreds of miles through the impassable virgin land to save them and the beautiful creatures pay the people back with their vital services.

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Добавить в избранное Mysterious Sands of Russia 26:03 3 The village of Shoina is situated beyond the Arctic Circle, 1,400 kilometers north of Moscow. This tiny settlement is known for its sands, which appeared here over 50 years ago and have been waging a relentless offensive against humans ever since, depriving them of living space. How did they appear, and where else in Russia can you find unusual places like this? Solve the mystery, on RTDoc.