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Vladimir

Vladimir (Владимир) is the capital and the largest city of Vladimir Oblast. The city is one of the most visited destinations within the popular Golden Ring circuit, as it preserves several of the finest monuments of white-stone medieval architecture in Russia, along with a number of later buildings from the 16th–20th centuries.

Geography
Vladimir is in the central part of the Eastern-European plain, on a steep hill beside the Klyazma River. The land to the north from the city is known as Vladimir Fields (Владимирское Ополье), while the land to the south is mainly covered by forests.

Orientation
Vladimir is somewhat elongated along the river that forms its southern boundary. From the north, the city is bounded by a "semi-circle" road, formerly a part of the M7 highway. Inside the city, small rivers flow into the Klyazma and form deep valleys that were used as fortifications.

The inner layout of Vladimir is fairly simple. The main street runs roughly from west to east close to the Klyazma River and passes through the historical centre. Different parts of this street have different names: Московское шоссе (entry from Moscow) – проспект Ленина – улица Студёная гора – Дворянская улица – Большая Московская улица – Большая Нижегородская улица – Добросельская улица (entry from Nizhny Novgorod). Several major streets branch off to the north, cross the "semi-circle" road and turn into the roads towards Suzdal and Ivanovo (Суздальское шоссе) or Yuryev-Polsky (улица Горького). A single street (Муромское шоссе) also runs to the south, crosses the river and continues towards Sudogda, Murom, and Gus-Khrustalnyi.

The main sights, along with a number of hotels and restaurants, are found in the historical centre, close to Bolshaya Moskovskaya Ulitsa (Большая Московская улица). If you arrive to Vladimir from Moscow, you enter this part of the city at the Golden Gate. Moving further to the east, one leaves the historical centre after passing the Nativity Monastery and the Hotel Vladimir. The Cathedral Square (Соборная площадь) is in the middle of this way. The train and bus stations are found to the east from the historical centre, at the bottom of the hill.

History
Vladimir was founded in 1108 by Vladimir Monomakh. There is an alternative version that ascribes the foundation of the city to Vladimir the Red Sun in 990. Yet the exact year does not seem to be very important for the average traveler, since the oldest existing monuments date back only to the middle of the 12th century. At that period, the city was rapidly developing due to the activity of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky who established the capital of North-Eastern Russia in Vladimir. The city's period of greatest importance was probably in the late 12th and early 13th century, up to the Mongol invasion. Several of Russia's greatest architectural monuments were built in Vladimir during that time, including Assumption Cathedral and the Golden Gates, both of which are World Heritage Sites.

In 1238, Vladimir was besieged and taken by the Mongol hordes under Batu Khan. The city never recovered fully. Though it remained the pricipality's capital for a century, Vladimir gradually lost its political and cultural significance to Moscow. Until the middle of the 15th century, Vladimir was the capital of North-Eastern Russia, but the actual government worked in Moscow. The transfer of the capital was completed in the 15th century: the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, modeled after one of the oldest cathedrals in Vladimir, became the state church. The holy icon of Our Lady of Vladimir was also moved to Moscow.

Vladimir continued to be a provincial capital. It gradually grew in size due to its advantageous location in the middle of Central Russia. The development of the city was enhanced by the construction of the Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod railroad in the late 19th century.

Vladimir is a partially industrialized city, although the historical centre remains almost untouched since the beginning of the 20th century. In 1992, Vladimir was included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

Get in
Vladimir is halfway between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, so you will be able to get in from both cities. It is also possible to visit Vladimir during a trip around the Golden Ring.

By plane
Vladimir Semyazino airport does not have regular passenger communication. Nearest airports are in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, both receive international flights. From there, you can easily reach Vladimir by train, by bus, or by car.

By train
The main station is next to the central bus station and close to the historic centre.

From Moscow
Four or five suburban trains per day run to Vladimir from Moscow's Kurskaya Station. The journey takes 2½-3 hr. Buy tickets at the regional (short-distance) train ticket counter in the right wing of the Kurskaya station (Poezda Prigorodnogo Napravleniya - Gorkogo). Tickets cost from ₽505 (June 2019) one way. There are several daily departures with the earliest at 08:00. The 18:00 express is the quickest of these local trains but it has limited seats available. It returns from Vladimir at 06:00.

Some super-fast Sapsan trains also call at Vladimir en route between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. The journey takes 1hr 45min and a seat costs ₽1400-3000. The 06:45 departure may appeal to early risers. They use a different section of the same station as the local trains.

Regular long-distance trains also call at Vladimir. They are more frequent than the suburban trains but they are generally not faster. Prices from Moscow range greatly from ₽500 to around ₽1000. They mainly leave from the same station as the Sapsan high-speed trains but many also leave from Moscow's Yaroslavsky rail terminal. One or two depart from Moscow's Kazansky rail terminal.

Heading beyond Moscow, Vladimir is well connected to many cities including Saint Petersburg and Vladivostok.

From Moscow, taking one of the hourly local trains to Petushki is an alternative. Local trains between Vladimir and Petushki run 3 times per day. The overall journey is longer (3½-4 hr) but it may be helpful in case you miss other trains and the buses are overcrowded.

From Nizhny Novgorod
All trains to Vladimir depart from the main railway station. There is a direct express local train, which leaves Nizhny Novgorod at 16:10 and returns from Vladimir at 07:00. The trip takes 3½ hr.

The high-speed Sapsan train takes around 2 hr and costs from ₽1200. Several long-distance trains from all over the country also connect Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod. Price range from ₽400 to ₽1000. The journey takes 3-4 hr.

Ordinary local trains connect in stages the towns along the Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod railway (such as Pokrov, Kovrov, Vyazniki, Gorokhovets) to Vladimir. Unless you are planning to see these towns it is advisable to use buses, as the local trains are slow and the necessary changes will make the journey last all day.

By bus
Vladimir has two bus stations:
 * Central bus station is next to the railway station, close to the historical centre. This station operates bus routes to every town in Vladimir Oblast as well as many intercity routes (to Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo, Ryazan, etc.) Normally, you have to buy tickets inside the station. The square near the central bus station is a hub of private bus routes that are usually operated by minibuses. Such routes do not have a strict schedule and depart as soon as the minibus is filled up. You should pay directly to the driver or to a special person who collects money near the bus. The private routes serve Moscow, Murom, Gus-Khrustalny, and Ivanovo (via Suzdal). The last bus to Moscow departs at around 20:00.
 * Local bus station is near the Central Market (take trolleybus #10 from the central bus station). This station serves a number of very local bus routes to nearby villages. You are unlikely to use it.

Basic options of travelling to Vladimir by bus are as follows:

 * From Moscow: "official" buses depart from the central (intercity) bus station at Shelkovskaya metro station. There are at least ten buses per day, either running between Moscow and Vladimir or heading for further destinations (Kovrov, Ivanovo, Gus-Khrustalny, Murom, Vyazniki). Basically, it is more convenient to use private buses that depart from the square near Kursky railway station. Such buses leave every 30 minutes or even more often. The trip takes at least 3 hours, the price is about ₽220. Expect a longer trip during the weekdays (especially in the evening due to traffic problems near Moscow) and long queues for the buses during rush hours (like Friday and Sunday evenings).
 * From Nizhny Novgorod: buses to Vladimir depart from Kanavino bus station. There are 8-10 buses per day (either to Moscow or Vladimir), and the trip takes about 5 hours.
 * From other places: you will find at least 2 or 3 daily buses to Vladimir from any town of Vladimir region and from central cities of neighboring regions. The most frequent connections (every 1-1½ hours) run from Suzdal, Murom, Gus-Khrustalny, and Ivanovo (via Suzdal).

By car
Vladimir is easily reachable from Moscow (180 km along the M7 road), Nizhny Novgorod (240 km along the M7 road), Ivanovo (115 km along the A113 road), and Ryazan (230 km along the R123 and R73 roads, via Tuma and Gus-Khrustalny). In the city, you will find a lot of space for free parking on side streets and several parking areas on the main street (Bolshaya Moscovskaya) as well.

Get around
The historical centre is easily explored by foot, so the regular traveller is unlikely to use the public transport in Vladimir. Still, there is an extensive network of trolleybuses, buses, and minibuses (marshrutki), serving the whole city. The most useful option is the trolleybus #5 that connects the train station to the historical centre and runs along Bolshaya Moscovksaya Ulitsa. Normally, you have to pay to the driver or to a special lady who sits in the bus and collects the money.

Must-see list
These monuments are recognized by UNESCO and included in the World Heritage List. They are essential tourist destinations in Vladimir.

Other churches
There are lots of churches in Vladimir, and you're unlikely to visit all of them. Here are representative examples of various styles:

Secular buildings
Since the 18th century, Vladimir has been a provincial city, so its secular buildings are rather small and modest. Do not expect to see any masterpieces. Still, it is possible to find a number of nice buildings from different periods and styles.

Museums
The two important museums of Vladimir are the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of St. Demetrius that exhibit ancient frescos (see the "Must-see list" above). You can also visit other museums:

Souvenirs
Traditional Russian souvenirs can be found right on the street next to the Golden Gate. It is also possible to find icons and other authentic gifts in the nearby St. Demetrius' Cathedral. Don't miss the shop of local crystalware in the church of St. Trinity.

Malls
Vladimir has several shopping centres and lots of smaller shops that offer a great variety of food, drinks, clothes, etc.

Supermarkets

 * SPAR – an international network of supermarkets. The shops are open daily from 09:00 till 21:00 (sometimes, from 10:00 or till 22:00).
 * Мостостроевская ул. 2 (the largest one) – south-western part of the city
 * Большая Московская ул. 19а (inside the Trading Rows)
 * Dobryak (Добряк) – пр. Ленина, 23 (round-the-clock)
 * Magnet (Магнит) – a food supermarket: ул. Усти на Лабе, 1 (daily 09:00–21:00)

Beer
Beer is probably the only local speciality in Vladimir. Vladimir brewery used to be known for a variety of beer sorts, but the diversity has been substantially reduced, because the brewery joined the brand of "live beer" Fifth Ocean (Пятый океан) – a wheat-free unfiltered beer with a special storage technology that allows to keep fresh unfiltered beer for rather long time. This beer is produced in several breweries and distributed all round the country. In Vladimir, it can be found in SPAR supermarkets.

A few filtered lager beers are produced under the general brand Vladimirskoe (Владимирское). They are not very special, but they are local and may be thus expected to be fresh.

Post office
Here are some post offices in the city centre. The full list of the offices can be found here.

Further destinations
From Vladimir, you can easily reach any place in Vladimir Oblast, and the trip should not take more than 3-3.5 hours. Below, the nearest destinations are listed:

 * Bogolyubovo – a village near Vladimir with remarkable white-stone monuments from 12th century. The must-see destination for any traveller coming to Vladimir.
 * Suzdal – the pretty, but quaint, world heritage site. Suzdal supplements Vladimir in the UNESCO list and presents lots of architectural sights from 13th-17th centuries.
 * Yuryev-Polsky – another part of the Golden Ring, a very provincial town with a nice and unusual white-stone cathedral dating back to 13th century.
 * Gus-Khrustalny – the town at the crystal factory. The local crystalware is really remarkable and compares to the international brands. Additionally, the town is a gateway to one of the few active networks of narrow-gauge railways in Central Russia.
 * Vyazniki – a remarkable town with several ancient churches, interesting secular buildings, and a really splendid viewpoint on the hill above the Klyazma river. Vyazniki is close to Mstyora, a famous region of handicrafts, including miniature painting and magnificent emroidery.
 * Sudogda – some people say that this is one of the most typical provincial towns in Central Russia. Sudogda preserves the complex of provincial buildings from 19th century and sufficiently reflects the present state of Russian province.
 * Kovrov – an industrial area and the second largest city of Vladimir region. Kovrov does not have any popular tourist attractions, but a number of buildings from late 19th – early 20th century are remarkable.
 * Lakinsk and Sobinka – small industrial towns to the west from Vladimir with several notable buildings from late 19th – early 20th century.

title: Vladimir


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Vladimir Oblast

Vladimir Oblast is a region in Central Russia, which borders Moscow Oblast to the west, Yaroslavl Oblast to the northwest, Ivanovo Oblast to the north, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to the east, and Ryazan Oblast to the south.

Cities

 * — the capital is 900 years old and home to numerous Russian cultural monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which attract hordes of tourists each summer on the Golden Ring circuit
 * — for a short time this small city was the capital of Russia under Tsar Ivan the Terrible
 * — a small village just east of Vladimir, which shares the UNESCO World Heritage site status for it's remarkable 12th century white stone convent and churches
 * — a pretty, small town on the Klyazma River with some old churches
 * — a historic town, home to the 14th century Annunciation Monastery
 * — the second largest city in the region with a major defense industry presence
 * — a large ancient city (9th century) with enormous history and cultural importance to Russia; home to the 11th century Saviour Monastery and several cathedrals
 * — a small town with a "Russian village feel," an extraordinarily high ratio of churches to residents, and very important monasteries
 * — a town notable for its 13th century Cathedral of Saint George and the Monastery of Michael the Archangel

Talk
To be sure, there are multilingual guides around the UNESCO World Heritage sites, but for the most part, residents of Vladimir Oblast just speak Russian.

Get in
Vladimir is a 2.5 hour train ride from Moscow.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Vladimir Oblast


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Vladivostok

Vladivostok (Russian: Владивосто́к, vlah-dee-vah-STOHK) is the eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia's largest port to the Pacific Ocean, and the base for the Pacific Fleet. With 600,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in the Russian Far East, after Khabarovsk.

Understand

The area that is now Vladivostok was historically part of the traditional homeland of the Manchus, who would conquer China in the 17th century and establish the Qing Dynasty. It was ceded to Russia in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun, one of the many unequal treaties that China was forced to signed with Western colonial powers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Surrounded by Amursky Gulf from the west, Ussuriysky Gulf from the east, and Golden Horn Bay along the south, Vladivostok is the home of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The city is separated from its southernmost part, Russkiy Island, by the Eastern Bosphorus strait; there are a couple of smaller sparsely populated islands, Reineke and Popov.

From its foundation in 1860, as a naval base, the city received the status of free port, that boosted international commerce and development. The October Revolution brought Japanese, American, French and Czechoslovak armies who sided with the Whites. From 1958 to 1992, Vladivostok was off-limits to foreigners; it was finally re-opened for tourism after the fall of the Soviet Union. The city centre, at the edge of the water, has sweeping boulevards of ornate, century-old buildings; magnificent, decaying, and in dire need of a scrub. Further out, on the steep hills overlooking the bay, similarly decaying Soviet blocks dotted with new high-rise buildings provide accommodations for most of the city's residents.

There are beautiful oak woods surrounding the city, which along with Nakhodka, could be a starting point for weekend bus-tours to the winter ski-slopes, or waterfalls in summer. A few lotus lakes are an attraction for campers and forest lodgers when the flowers are blossoming in August.

Climate
Vladivostok is at the same latitude with Russian subtropical sea resort of Sochi, but its average annual temperature is nearly 10 degrees lower due to the Siberian High that brings cold winds from Yakutia for much of the winter. Thus the winter is typical for Manchuria: cold, clear and very windy. The snow is scarce and in some years may not fall at all.

January is cold at -14°C (7°F), and August is fairly warm at 24°C (75°F), though these are average temperatures, and hot/cold spells can bring much more extreme conditions. It is not unheard of for temperatures to drop below -30°C in February, and similarly August can be over 30°, but in general August and September bring the most sunny and pleasant temperatures. The end of summer, however, could bring Pacific monsoons that last for a few days in a row.

Get in
See Russia for visa requirements to Russia.

By train

Tickets for the Trans-Siberian Railway sell out and it is best to buy tickets well in advance. Tickets are sold by the operator as well as via agencies and resellers.

The main line of the Trans-Siberian Railway runs between Moscow and Vladivostok. Major stops from Vladivostok include Ulan Ude (2 days), Irkutsk (3 days), Krasnoyarsk (4 days), Novosibirsk (4 days), Omsk (5 days), Yekaterinburg (5 days), Nizhni Novgorod (5 days), and Moscow (6 days).

By boat
If you enter Russia by boat, you can stay for 72 hours without a Russian visa. For more information, see Russia.

The ferry port in Vladivostok is right next to the train station.

To/from Korea and Japan
Business Intour Service is the official booking agent for ferries operated by The Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO) between Vladivostok and the Fushiki port in Takaoka, Japan. The trip costs ¥48,400 including meals (alcohol costs are additional). The ships do not have many working amenities. Ferries both ways leave on Friday evening and arrive two days later on Sunday morning. You'll need to arrive at the port a few hours early for immigration procedures.

The Eastern Dream boat of the DBS Ferry Company operates service to/from Donghae, South Korea (US$180+) and Sakai Minato, Japan (US$220+). From March to November the ferry leaves Sakai Minato on Saturdays, briefly stops in Donghae on Sundays and arrives in Vladivostok on Mondays. In the winter, the ferry lays over in Donghae until Monday and arrives in Vladivostok on Tuesday. The nearest major city to Sakai Minato is Kyoto, 3 hours by train. (Update: DBS got bought by a Korean company, here's the website with the prices: http://dwship.co.kr/en/passenger/passenger.asp)

There is also a ferry service connecting Vladivostok and Sokcho, South Korea. It costs about US$200 and takes two days. One ship leaves Sokcho each week, on Thursday, although they become more frequent in the summer months (June-August).

By cargo boat
It is also possible to travel to/from anywhere in the world by booking a berth on a cargo boat. Usual caveats of freighter travel apply, though (it's definitely not for a casual tourist), and one need to keep in mind that Russian border and customs officials aren't used to people traveling this way.

By plane

To travel between the airport and the city:
 * Bus 107 operates between the airport and the Vladivostok bus station (just in front of the Vladivostok train station), with departures at: 08:25, 09:40, 10:45, 12:07, 13:00, 14:00, 15:50, 16:50, 17:45, and 20:00. It costs ₽220 plus ₽100 per luggage. On the way back to the airport, bus 107 leaves from the Vladivostok bus station at 06:40, 07:10, 08:20, 09:00, 10:20, 11:20, 12:20, 13:20, 14:30, 15:30, 16:20, and 17:20. See up-to-date schedule at https://www.vl.ru/transport/bus/vladivostok/airport. It takes about 50 minutes in low traffic.
 * Trains operate between the airport and the city, although service is not very frequent. Tickets to the city center cost ₽70-350.
 * Primavtolayn is the official taxi company operating from the airport. There're also many private taxis which you can hail. Negotiate a price in advance; you should usually get to the city center for around ₽1500.
 * Yandex.taxi between the airport and the city usually costs around ₽1200.

By bus
Bus tickets can be bought at the bus station in Vladivostok or from ticket agencies. Buses operate to/from most suburban locations and nearby towns. International routes link Vladivostok to cities in Northeastern China such as Suifenhe (₽3500) and Yanji ₽2800, terminating in the Vtoraya Rechka neighborhood in the evening.

It takes about 5 hours to get to Vladivostok from the Chinese border, and the road goes through one of the most picturesque areas of the Russian Far East.

By car
Vladivostok is not only the eastern end of the Trans-Siberian railway, but of the Trans-Siberian Highway as well. The ferry from the South Korea and Japan seem to carry cars and motorcycles, although they are not roll on-roll off ships, like ferries in Europe, and there is some bureaucracy involved transporting cars from one country to another. You can get in from China by road as well, for example via the Suifenhe border crossing.

By public transport
Vladivostok has a wide range of transportation, from streetcars to a funicular railway. The trams and trolleybuses, unfortunately, are mostly gone in an effort to improve traffic: this hasn't worked, mainly because at least two lanes on most streets are still taken for unregulated parking. However there is talk of reinstating at least some trolleybus routes, and lengthening the network to include some suburban destinations. While the mayor pays some lip service to reinstating trams, too, his actions prove otherwise.

By far the most common is the bus, both large route buses (mainly used Korean ones, some could be seen still carrying Seoul or Busan route plaques) and marshrutka shared taxis (which generally follow bus routes). Buses are extremely crowded but frequent; the fares are flat ₽28 for the downtown routes, but go up to ₽120 for suburban ones. Hop on bus in the back and then pay the driver as you exit from the front. Many buses leave from outside the "Clever House" (Cløver House) Department store or the city's train station. Another major bus hubs are the Lugovaya square at the mouth of the Golden Horn bay and the intercity bus station ("Автовокзал") in the Vtoraya Rechka neighborhood. On the down note, the bus companies are constantly criticized for neglecting the state of their fleets, running the buses well past their service lives, unduly economizing on cleaning and personnel (they tend to hire recent immigrants, who can be paid as little as possible), and creating the competition for the passengers' fare among the drivers, which leads to long delays on stops and reckless driving.

The city has reinstated the municipal bus company with newer buses and better controlled drivers. All municipal buses are equipped with electronic payment system and trackers, as the city also pushes to equip all the buses with the tracking hardware. The positions and waiting time for the equipped buses could be seen at the Bus 125 website, and major stops are gradually being equipped with electronic timetables.

Access to the outlying areas is generally best done by bus or suburban commuter train elektrichka. The train station is accessible and a great way to see neighbouring cities such as Khabarovsk. The Russian Far East is an enormous and rather sparsely populated territory, so if the closer towns like Ussuriysk and Nakhodka may be just a couple of hours away, Khabarovsk is in a different province altogether, about 700 km from Vladivostok, and takes almost a whole day to reach, so plan accordingly: this is definitely not a quick day trip.

Also pay the close attention to the elektrichka timetables. The train companies have radically revised their networks and frequencies, removing a lot of the unprofitable commuter trains (these are supposed to be subsidised by the local authorities, but those are chronically lacking the funds) from schedules, so if you get to some out-of-the-way location by the commuter train, you may get stranded for several hours until the next one.

By taxi
There are a number of taxi companies, and hailing one is easy. There is no meter because most companies and freelance drivers charge a flat rate of ₽300 for one hour. The rate is usually negotiable but not below ₽150 per hour. Expect to pay at least this much for a single journey over a short distance. The advent of app-based taxis has driven the prices even lower, so you can expect ~₽100 per kilometer, unless there's a high demand, in which case the cost may rise about twofold.

By car
Although it is the main port of used Japanese car imports in Russia, the century-old streets of Vladivostok are ill suited to heavy traffic. They are usually filled to capacity and traffic jams are common, especially in rush hours. The local driving style is also rather aggressive; and speeding, cutting off, tailgating and ignoring recently changed traffic lights are widespread. Despite this, car horns are rarely heard, largely because the undue leaning on the horn is an actual traffic offence in Russia, and can lead to the pretty hefty fines.

By foot
The city centre is only a short walk from the train station, and most of the sights can be reached easily on foot. Aleutskaya St runs north/south, passing the train station; head north to Svetlanskaya St, which is the main east/west road for the city.

As much of Vladivostok is situated on steep hills, walking can be physically demanding. The ice and wind in winter and the conditions of the pavements mostly preclude bicycle use.

However, MTB and weekend bike tours are very popular among the people for there is quite a lot of scenic places hard-to-reach by vehicles but still worth the effort. The most attractive destinations range the closest islands and the coastline even when the ice covers the bays.

See

If you've arrived in Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian, at the end of a trip that began in Moscow, head straight for Sportivnaya Harbor. The still waters of the sea will likely provide sweet relief after several days on the train. However, if you're fresh off a ferry from Japan or Korea, head up to Svetlanskaya and Ploschad Bortsov Revolutsy for a stroll to get your land legs back. (Both destinations usually have food and drink vendors.)

Civil engineering buffs can gawk at the numerous construction marvels peppering the city streets since the 2012 APEC Summit, including the two enormous bridges across the Golden Horn Bay and Eastern Bosporus strait (the Russian Navy officers first exploring the area were big fans of Istanbul harbour), the latter of which is the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Locals are more ambivalent about all that construction, but the bridges and hotels nevertheless already have become a frequent visitor attractions, and the Golden Horn one is greatly praised by the locals, as it radically relieved the permanently congested Lugovaya square, taking about half of its traffic.

Public spaces
Russia's Pacific Fleet (not all of it, just its destroyer squadron) is moored in Golden Horn Bay. A walk along the waterfront on Korabelnaya Embankment offers the closest views; to get any closer, you will have to enlist. Photographs with an average-sized camera shouldn't attract any problems, but be mindful of your surroundings or an enterprising police officer might invent a fine for you to pay.

 * Dynamo stadium, the home arena of the city's eternally struggling Luch-Energia football outfit, as well as Olympiets sports center, a base of Spartak-Primorye basketball team and a popular venue for martial arts tournaments, are also situated there, as is the old city aquarium. The new, much larger and fancier one, is under construction on Russkiy island. In the winter the frozen waters of the bay become a home for hundreds, if not thousands, ice fishers (or "penguins" in local parlance), some of which even drive their cars to the ice.
 * Dynamo stadium, the home arena of the city's eternally struggling Luch-Energia football outfit, as well as Olympiets sports center, a base of Spartak-Primorye basketball team and a popular venue for martial arts tournaments, are also situated there, as is the old city aquarium. The new, much larger and fancier one, is under construction on Russkiy island. In the winter the frozen waters of the bay become a home for hundreds, if not thousands, ice fishers (or "penguins" in local parlance), some of which even drive their cars to the ice.
 * Dynamo stadium, the home arena of the city's eternally struggling Luch-Energia football outfit, as well as Olympiets sports center, a base of Spartak-Primorye basketball team and a popular venue for martial arts tournaments, are also situated there, as is the old city aquarium. The new, much larger and fancier one, is under construction on Russkiy island. In the winter the frozen waters of the bay become a home for hundreds, if not thousands, ice fishers (or "penguins" in local parlance), some of which even drive their cars to the ice.
 * Dynamo stadium, the home arena of the city's eternally struggling Luch-Energia football outfit, as well as Olympiets sports center, a base of Spartak-Primorye basketball team and a popular venue for martial arts tournaments, are also situated there, as is the old city aquarium. The new, much larger and fancier one, is under construction on Russkiy island. In the winter the frozen waters of the bay become a home for hundreds, if not thousands, ice fishers (or "penguins" in local parlance), some of which even drive their cars to the ice.

Museums and memorials

For connoisseurs of Lenin statues, don't miss the one overlooking the train station from the west, next to the post office (the popular joke goes that the World Proletariat Leader says "You're going the right way, comrades", while pointing at Japan). There are also some interesting statues heading east on Svetlanskaya, both Soviet-era and abstract.

Do
If you'd like to swim, the beach at Sportivnaya Harbor is the place to do it (not Golden Horn Bay, where the Pacific Fleet is parked). Be sure to salute the half-submerged mermaid statue out in the water - when they finally fish it out of the water, that is, the statue was driven off its foundation by the shifting ice and sunk several years ago. Alternately, in the winter, locals aren't shy about strolling out on ice.

Events

 * Every September, golden season by balneological standards, the city holds the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival and welcomes Russian cinematographic beau monde and often first stars from the West like Gérard Depardieu.
 * International Jazz Festival — Vladivostok, organized by Vladivostok Philharmonic.
 * Every last Sunday of September - Tiger's day

Learn

 * The Far Eastern Federal University is one of the top five Russian universities and has over 35,000 students. In addition to Russian courses, there are also Japanese, Korean, German, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian centers in the university.

 * The Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service also offers Russian courses for foreigners at decent prices. Both universities can set you up in their dorms as well as do the necessary paperwork for you to study in Russia.
 * Japanese center in Vladivostok offers Japanese language course and business seminars.

Buy
There's a GUM (former Kunst&Albers) department store on Svetlanskaya, across from Ploschad Bortsov Revolutsii, and electronic stores further east that can help with power converters and the like.

Local markets are spread throughout Vladivostok and provide the basic groceries for a neighborhood. Some even have a butcher but most all provide sausages and frozen meat. Larger markets sell clothing, shoes, and everything else imaginable in addition to food.

Budget
Small kiosks sell samosas and other local snacks for ₽100 or so.

For fast food, Hesburger, Cinnabon, Royal Burger, Bubo, Bite Burger, RestoGrad (РестоГрад), Country Fried Chicken, restaurant network Republic (Республика) can be easily found in the centre. Burger King is among the representatives of the world fast-food networks.

Mid-range
Sunday morning brunch at the Vlad Inn (below) is a tradition for the handful of ex-pats living in the city.

Dorms
Russian dorm rooms in Vladivostok range from awful to OK. Generally, foreigners are dormed in reasonable accommodations, but you should know exactly what you are getting into before arriving. Important things you might take for granted include: private or communal kitchen and bathrooms, number of roommates, number of clothing washers and dryers.

The Far Eastern National University (above) offers reasonable dorm rooms but foreigners are separated from Russian students, so if you are looking for more Russian immersion, ask them about arranging a home stay.

Hotels
The hotels in the city center are targets for huge tour groups, who block out availability for weeks on end, so reserve in advance if possible.

Stay safe
A few roads can only be crossed by poorly-lit underground passageways, which can be a bit nerve-wracking at night. Beggars tend to congregate near the doors, including children with very quick hands, so cover your pockets as you pass.

Although you'll see plenty of locals stripping down for a swim on the boardwalks off Naberezhnaya, take care; there is plenty of rusted metal about. Stick to the beach unless you're very confident in your tetanus shots.

Connect
The main post office is on the other side of Aleutskaya from the train station. Internet access is available on the first floor of the post office. There are a few Internet cafes in the town center.

ATMs are easy to find, and most are connected to international bank networks. Otherwise, many hotels have exchange desks, although some have exchange rates decidedly skewed in their favor. Banks are the most obvious choice for currency exchange. There will also be dodgy money-changers near Sportivnyaya Harbor.

Phones
Mobile operators are the same as anywhere in Russia: MTS (МТС) and Megaphon (Мегафон). Local NTK (НТК) will automatically switch your Beeline (Билайн) phone to roaming service. Buying a SIM card needs a passport in Russia. Refilling locations are QIWI terminals or salons of mobiles: Evroset (Евросеть), Svyaznoy (Связной) and Sotoviy mir (Сотовый мир).

Free wi-fi locations in the city center
The number of wi-fi spots is over 130 which are available in most of cafes in the downtown.

 * Cafe "Fint ushami" (Финт ушами), 9 Svetlanskaya St
 * Cafe "Cafetoria", 61 Svetlanskaya St
 * Cafe "Anticafe", 5 Svetlanskaya St
 * Cafe "Montmartre" (Монмартр), 9/6 Svetlanskaya St
 * Cafe "Rock's Cocktail Bar", 7 Svetlanskaya St
 * Eatery №1, KofeYka (Столовая №1, КофеЙка), 1 Svetlanskaya St
 * Cafe "Pustota (Пустота)", 3 Fokina St
 * Cafe "Paparazzi", 3 Fokina St
 * Cafe-club "Infinity", 12 Fokina St
 * Semyonovskaya bus-stop (Семёновская)
 * Coffee-house "Oahaka" (Оахака),21 Semyonovskaya St
 * Cafe "3T", 32 Semyonovskaya St
 * Cafe "Wasabi", 30 Semyonovskaya St
 * Cafe "Myatniy Truffel" (Мятный Трюфель),11 Aleutskaya St
 * Hotel "Moryak", 38 Pos'yetskaya St
 * Cafe "Pizza M", 20 Pos'yetskaya St
 * Beer restaurant "Gutov", 23 Pos'yetskaya St
 * Cafe "Belle Bazar", 6/25, 1st Morskaya St
 * Cafe "Moloko&Med (Молоко и Мёд)", 6a Suhanova St

Consulates

 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * Vietnam

Go next

 * The Trans-Siberian Railway will be the means of exit by most, either heading west towards Moscow or into China. The next major stop is the Russian city of Khabarovsk, some 700 km (435 mi) off. Smaller Ussuriysk may be an interesting city for eager traveller as well as a connection point to China. As a side trip visit Nakhodka.
 * North Korea's airline Air Koryo offers flights to Pyongyang.

title: Vladivostok


text:
Vlieland

Vlieland is one of the West Frisian Islands in the Netherlands.

Understand
Vlieland is neighbored by the islands of Texel and Terschelling. It is wonderfully peaceful and natural, as it is car-free, except for a few permitted vehicles of locals.

The island measures 4,052 hectare, of which the largest part is a desert-like area in the west, the Vliehors. There is one village on the island, Oost-Vlieland. On the empty plain on the west used to be another village, West-Vlieland, but it was taken by the sea in 1736. The plain is now used for military exercises. The island has a population of approximately 1100 people and is well known for the beautiful landscape, the large and various bird population and the peacefulness. In summer, many tourists come to visit the island.

Vlieland was divided from the mainland of Friesland in a flood in 1287, which formed the Waddenzee. It used to count two villages, West- and Oost-Vlieland, but the former was evacuated after repeatedly being flooded.

Vlieland is an island of dunes. It has the North Sea to the north and the Waddenzee to the south. The north coast has beautiful, peaceful beaches.

Get in
To get into Vlieland, you'll have to take the ferry from Harlingen. The average travel time for this route is 1½ hr for the normal ferry or 45 min for the fast service. Both are operated by rederij Doeksen, which has times and prices are available on their website. Usually, there are at least 3 daily regular ferries and an additional 1 to 3 fast ferries, but always check shortly before as the schedule can change subject to season, weather and number of passengers. A one way ticket (adult) will cost around €25, with an additional €7 for the fast service. Vlieland is in principle car-free, so although the ferries can transport cars (from €140 single trip), usually only residents will get the special permit.

There is a train to Harlingen Harbour from Leeuwarden, and also by car, this is easy to reach: see the Harlingen article for details.

People planning a return tour by train from Leeuwarden can buy a "Waddenretour" (€28 in 2011) ticket that is inclusive of the train ticket (Leeuwarden - Harlingen Haven trajectory) and the ferry ticket. This is a cheaper option than the normal ticket.

If you happen to be on Terschelling, there are a few daily ferries between the two islands, operated by the same company.

Get around

 * Vlieland is a small island, you can if you choose walk from one end of the island and back in a day.
 * You can choose to rent a bicycle. Three major rental shops on the island provide a selection of bicycles from city bikes, mountain bikes to "bakfiets".
 * There is a bus service on the island and it touches almost all the major landmarks on the island. You can catch the bus from the ferry drop off point.

See

 * The Vlieland lighthouse. €2.50 to visit inside, timings restricted.

Eat
The village has a bunch of restaurants, varying from romantic restaurants to snack bars.

Sleep
There are plenty of places to stay. Apart from a few hotels and camp sites, there's a wide range of holiday houses available, many of them privately owned but rented out via the Tourist Information Office, which can be of great help when finding a place to stay. Some of them are right on the beaches.

Go next
Hop on the ferry to Terschelling, or make your way to one of the other West Frisian Islands. Texel is the largest one, with most attractions. Alternatively, head back to charming Franeker and explore the often overlooked destinations in the Northern Netherlands, including Leeuwarden and Groningen.

title: Vlieland


text:
Vlorë

Vlorë is a city in Coastal Albania. Vlorë has the largest port in the country after Durrës and it is mainly important as a naval port.

Understand
Vlore lies in the southwestern coastal region of Albania, at the southern end of the Adriatic Sea and the northern part the Ionian Sea. The Vlore coastline accounts for about 30% of the entire coast of Albania. The Albanian Riviera is nearby. It is 135 km from the capital city, Tirana, separated by only 72 km from Italy (Channel of Otranto) and 123 km from Greece (the island of Corfu).

The surface area of Vlore is 1,609 km² and includes 4 cities; Vlore, Selenica, Himara and Orikum.

It has a climate typical of Mediterranean Sea, with mild winters that are generally wet, and summers that are dry. The Vlore region has three basic climatic zones:
 * The coast has moderate temperatures, as the other countries of the Mediterranean, and does not suffer the cold winds like the western side of Albania.
 * The inland, hilly areas in the region have a cool climate with rains and similar to that of Central Europe with a relatively mild climate.
 * The mountainous region, such as Llogara, possesses a dry continental climate. In winter it can be quite cold (though snow is relatively uncommon) and has fresh, cool air all summer long.

Vlore receives more hours of sunshine per year than any other region of Albania - averaging over 2,000 "sunny" hours annually.

Vlore has the only peninsula in Albania, which is named Karaburun. It is roughly 16 km by 4 km in size, and an area of 62 km². The peninsula of Karaburun is rich in natural resources (famous for marble), woodlands, and archeological remains. It is also home to a reserve for wild pigs.

The only island in Albania, named Sazan, is 17 km from the port of Vlore and 9 km from Triport (Three Gates) in the Vlore region. The highest point of the island is 342 m. Sazan has a surface area of 5.7 km² and 12 km of coast. A rocky cliff breaks the beach.

Vlore, long known for its olive production, at last count had approximately 280,000 olive trees. The olive trademark "Vlonjak" is one of the oldest in Europe and is known for its great oil production.

The territory around Vlore comes from thriving ancient cities such as Amantia-Ploce, Olympe-Mavrova, Orikos-Orikum, Himera-Himare, Kionina-Kanine, Nymfeum-Selenica and Aulona-Vlora.

Vlore is also known for being the headquarters of the 1997 revolution in Albania. Zani Caushi was one of the local leaders, although he later started to deal in drugs. If possible, do not get in a discussion about 1997 while in Vlore.

Talk
The dialect of Vlore is difficult to learn, as it includes a special kind of speaking (slower than the rest of Albania), difficult "r" and "l" ("r", especially when the first letter of a word, is severe, while "l" is something between "l" and "ll", similar to the Greek "l") and a lot of special phrases. Vlore people almost always use "motra" and "vlla" (sister and brother) when addressing at each other, even if its the first time you meet with them. A famous funny phrase in Vlore is "me ler rehat o vlla se i thash vllait" ("Get off brother, or I'll tell my brother", when a girl grows tired of a boy's flirting).

By bus

Destinations:
 * Sarandë – As of September 2014, mini-buses left from Sarandë at 05:30, 11:30, 16:30, 18:00.
 * Athens, Greece – Daily two buses—over night bus and day long bus. €30.
 * Ohrid, North Macedonia – Euro Linia depart at 14:00 from Vlorë.

By plane
The nearest airports are in Tirana, or Corfu, via the Sarandë ferry.

As of 2023, a new airport is being built in Vlorë.

By car
If you are in Tirana, follow the way: Tirana-Durres-Kavaje-Rrogozhine-Lushnje-Fier-Vlore. The roadway is pretty good.

From North Macedonia, you can follow: Qafe Thane-Librazhd-Elbasan-Rrogozhine-Lushnje-Fier-Vlore

From Greece, you can take three ways: (i) Kakavi-Gjirokaster-Tepelene-Vlore; or (ii) Kakavi-Gjirokaster-Qafe e Muzines-Sarande-Vlore; or (iii) Qafe Bote-Sarande-Dhermi-Vlore. The last itinerary is the shortest

Get around
There are three areas you might visit in Vlore:
 * Beaches – They stretch several Km to the south/east of the port, and there are numerous hotels and apartments in this stretch. There are also good beaches north/west of the port, but these are less easily accessible.
 * Port area – Numerous hotels and restaurants in this area, though the town beach and the sea here are rather dirty
 * Town centre – Lies inland, about 2 km north of the port. A long boulevard lined with palm trees joins the two. There are many bars, shops and restaurants along this boulevard. The town centre (around Flag Square) has a few 'tourist attractions', though unless you are in Vlore for the beaches there is not much to detain you more than half a day. The main reason for staying in this area is its convenience as a bus/furgon 'hub' serving nearby towns.

There is a small tourist information kiosk in Flag Square, next to the Independence Monument.

See

Town centre:

Port area:

Do

 * Enjoy the vivid night life of the city and suburbs.

Eat
Vlore's sea products are some of the best in Albania. The Paradisa Beach Restaurant offers great seafood and is 5-10 minutes (depending on traffic) with a car from the center of Vlore. Ask for the right direction. Another great restaurant is "Makareshi", which is less than 5 minutes from the center of the city (with a car). But the most important thing to eat there is the Vlore traditional food. Vlore (together with Kurvelesh) is the center of Laberia—the most famous and patriotic region of Albania. "Lab" people tend to be very proud of themselves, but also of their food. Try kukurec, qumeshtor and harapash. "Mish ne hell", which is rotisserie lamb, is well-known. Try this around Karaburuni.

Vlore area cuisine is typical of coastal and mountainous areas. The products are taken from dairy animals which are raised in the mountains by the sea.

Here are some examples of traditional Albanian dishes:

 * Byrek is a flaky pastry that is preferred by the people of Vlore to be filled with either field greens or just as a milky pie. The most important ingredients are fresh milk, flour, and field greens.
 * Grilled meat is characteristic of Vlore, and is found in every restaurant. The nearness of the sea and the quality of pastures give the meat in this area an incomparable taste. Lamb from Karaburun cooked over an open fire is particularly delicious.
 * Yogurt in Vlore is produced traditionally and is different than the yogurt produced in most of Europe.
 * Harapash is similar to porridge and is cooked with corn flour, the intestines of lamb, cheese and butter.
 * Raki is the traditional alcoholic drink of Albania. The drink is typically grape-based, but you can also find raki made from blackberries and plums.
 * Another typical dish for Vlore cuisine are plates with seafood, fish, mussels, shrimp, and lobster.

Drink
By the main beach where the Adriatic meets the Ionian sea, there is a natural mineral water spring that leads into the ocean. Locals fill up empty bottles to take with them to the beach, and larger containers to take home. You can have an aperitif always near the seaside or in the mountain of Llogora, a natural park (protected).

Sleep
Accommodation on offer ranges from luxurious to basic with a good choice of hotels in between. Friendly service and good hospitality is usually encountered. Also available are private apartments and homes for longer stays of 10-15 days, B&Bs and hostels. You can camp in some areas.

Town centre:

Go next
From north to south:
 * Tirana (N ) – The capital—trees and mountains surround the city. Mt. Dajt is a popular tourist site for a great view of the city.
 * Durres (N ) – One of the oldest cities in Albania. Flooded three times during its history. The current city is built on the ruins of two previous ones. It has the largest amphitheater in the Balkans. It is the largest port of Albania and has the longest shoreline.
 * Fier (N) – A lively city, and only about 8 km (5 mi) away from the ruins of the ancient Illyrian city of Apollonia. Much of this ancient city still remains buried under the hills.
 * Dhërmi (S) – One of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road, also perfect for camping.
 * Vuno (S) – A small village a few kilometres north to the town of Himarë, beaches and feeling on the Albanian riviera.
 * Himarë (S ) – A Greek/Albanian town on the seaside of the Albanian Riveria with beautiful beaches and an ancient old town.
 * Lukove (S ) – Part of the Albanian Riviera, here is Kakome, one of the most beautiful Albanian beaches.
 * Sarandë (S ) – A city known for its unforgettable beaches and colorful spring blooms.

title: Vlorë


text:
Vogtland

Vogtland is a region in southwestern Saxony, bordering Thuringia, Upper Franconia and West Bohemia (Czech Republic). It is characterised by idyllic rolling hills cut through by river valleys and known for its handicraft traditions like lace-making and musical instrument making.

Cities

 * , the region's "capital", known for its laces
 * , old town with half-timbered houses
 * , health resort with mineral spring, surrounded by wooded mountains
 * , town of musical instrument makers, especially known for accordions
 * , centre of the "Musical corner", known for its instrument makers
 * , former centre of textile industries
 * , trade town and seat of a philharmonic orchestra, near the landmark Göltzschtal bridge

Understand
The Vogtland is a historical region that actually stretches over modern political borders including parts of the German states of Saxony, Thuringia and Bavaria as well as the westernmost bit of the Czech Republic. During medieval times, it was ruled by the Reeves (Vögte in German, hence the name) of Weida, Gera and Plauen. In the widest sense, parts of Western Thuringia (Gera), Upper Franconia (Hof) and Western Bohemia (Cheb) are part of the historical Vogtland, too. This article however focuses on the Southwestern part of Saxony.

Most of the Vogtland is hilly, its southern tip is covered by a low mountain range—the Elstergebirge (Elster mountains), named after the eponymous river that rises here—with heights of up to 759 metres. This is probably the most interesting part for tourists, offering several spas, winter sports and hiking trails.

In the late 19th and beginning 20th centuries, Vogtland was by far Germany's prime producer of musical instruments. At that time, about 50 % of the world's string instruments and accordions were produced here. Aspiring instrument makers from the whole country went to Markneukirchen or Klingenthal to apprentice to renowned masters and whole orchestras were equipped by workshops in Vogtland. During the German partition, the Vogtland still was East Germany's leading supplier of musical instruments, now also including synthesizers, but traditional handicraft was mostly replaced by industrial-scale production. Under capitalism and globalisation, most of the larger manufactories declined, but small and medium-sized traditional workshops have experienced a revival and are appraised by many musicians (e.g. Arcade Fire's Régine Chassagne has played "Weltmeister" piano accordions).

By plane
The nearest airports are Erfurt (140 km), Leipzig (145 km), Dresden (150 km) and Nuremberg (170 km). The next major international airport is Munich airport (300 km).

By train
No high-speed or intercity trains serve the Vogtland. Its major rail line is the hourly "regional express" from Hof (30–45 minutes), Chemnitz (about one hour) and Dresden (two hours) that stops in Plauen and Reichenbach; complemented by the two-hourly EBX from Leipzig (two hours), Gera (one hour) and Hof to Mehltheuer and Schönberg. Arriving from further destinations, you will have to change in Nuremberg and Hof, Leipzig or Erfurt and Gera.

By car
The most convenient way to reach the Vogtland is by car using the Autobahn A 72 linking Upper Franconia (Hof, Bayreuth) and Southern Germany in general with central Saxony (Chemnitz, Leipzig, Dresden), that intersects the region from southwest to northeast. Both the Vogtland's "capital" Plauen and the most frequently visited region in its south is accessible via the B 92 road from Gera or the neighbouring Czech Republic (Františkovy Lázně, Cheb).

By bus
While Plauen used to be served by a Nürnberg - Dresden bus up until mid 2016, that connection was withdrawn when Flixbus bought Postbus who ran that connection. As of November 2016 no public scheduled bus service to Plauen or any other point in the Vogtland exists.

See

 * Göltzschtalbrücke, the 78 metre-high, 29-arched rail viaduct over the Göltzsch river is the largest brick-built bridge in the world and the region's symbolic landmark. At the time of its completion in 1851, it was also the tallest railway bridge in the world.
 * Vogtland museum in Plauen
 * Show embroidery, Plauen
 * Round church of Klingenthal
 * Spa building and gardens of Bad Elster
 * Musical instrument show workshops in Markneukirchen
 * Bismarck tower, Markneukirchen
 * stalactite cave Syrau
 * show mines: alum mine Plauen or "Grube Tannenberg" in Schneckenstein (8 km north of Klingenthal)

Do

 * Skiing in the Elster mountains of Upper Vogtland
 * Hiking
 * Cycling, mountainbiking and E-biking (e.g. at mountainbike park Schöneck)
 * Theater Plauen-Zwickau (formerly Vogtland theater), Plauen
 * Vogtland philharmonic orchestra, Greiz and Reichenbach

 * Annual events
 * Kleine Tage der Harmonika competition for young accordionists (early March)
 * Mozart weeks in Bad Elster (late March to early April)
 * International accordion competition Klingenthal (May)
 * International jazz days Bad Elster (August)
 * Mundharmonika live harmonica festival in Klingenthal (3rd weekend in September)
 * Chursächsische festival of classical music in Bad Elster (September to early October)
 * Winter dreams festival in Bad Elster (November to February)

Eat
Vogtland cuisine is heavily centered on potatoes. The region was one of the first in Germany to grow this vegetable. Typical (side) dishes include potato dumplings, Bambes (a kind of potato pancake), potato soup and potato pie.

title: Vogtland


text:
Voidokilia

The Bay of Voidokilia is near Pylos, Messenia.

Get in
To get to the bay is not that easy if you don't have your own means of transport. To get there, you can take a taxi or rent a motorbike.

See

 * The Bay of Voidokilia The amazing bay of Voidokilia is an interruption in the limestone ridge which goes from Methoni in the south to Gargaliani in the North. It is through this interruption that the waves of the Ionias sea created one of the most spectacular beaches and bays of Greece.
 * Around this area, you find a dune landscape. This is very rare type of landscape in the Peloponnese.
 * The Cave of Nestor to the south of the Bay.
 * The Old Venetian Castle of Pylos higher up on the hill, above the Cave of Nestor.

title: Voidokilia


text:
Vojvodina

Vojvodina is an autonomous region of northern Serbia.

Cities

 * — capital and largest city of Vojvodina
 * — fourth largest city of Vojvodina, with its fair share of sights
 * — fourth largest city of Vojvodina, with its fair share of sights

Other destinations

 * — a gently sloping hill south of Novi Sad is the second closest thing that Vojvodina has to a mountain (the closest thing being Vršački Breg, which rises above Vršac). It possesses a dozen of monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church built between 15-19th centuries by Serbian settlers from the South. Combining the European Baroque with the Byzantine traditions of the Balkans, these churches had a cultural importance as a bridge between the Southern and the Northern Serbs.
 * — Vojvodina has more than twenty castles belonging mostly to German, Magyar, and Serbian noble families in the past, and the Dunjerski Castle is the most visited one.
 * — one of the oldest tourist attractions in the country, dating back to the 1840s, when it was not only a popular weekend escape, but also a spa for well-to-do middle class and nobility.
 * — sand land located in southern Banat. It is the Europe's largest sand land, therefore it's often nicknamed "European Sahara".
 * — largest individual bog in Serbia, located in the municipality of Zrenjanin. It is known for being filled with a variety of species of flora and fauna.

Understand
Vojvodina is the autonomous province of Serbia, located north of Belgrade, the country's capital, in the farming region called the Pannonian plain. Its western and southern borders are marked by great rivers, the Danube and the Sava, whose banks are often dotted with weekend cottages, and with forests and marshlands, some of which have been turned into wildlife sanctuaries and good hunting grounds. The third river, the Tisa, flows southward from Hungary and cuts Vojvodina approximately in half. These three rivers mark Vojvodina’s three historic regions: Bačka, the region which is shared with Hungary, in the North West; Banat, shared with Romania, in the east; and Syrmia, in the south-west, shared by Croatia and Central Serbia, as part of Syrmia is included in the Belgrade metropolitan region.

The locals here often take pride in their cities and villages having a more European look than those just south of the rivers. This is because Vojvodina entered the first Yugoslavia (after World War I) as an affluent region of the Habsburg Empire, while the rest of Serbia had long been dominated by the Ottoman Turks. Along with the German, Hungarian, and Jewish cultures which thrived in this ethnically diverse region, Vojvodina was the place of the Serb cultural revival at that time. It largely inspired the other Serbs to fight against the Ottoman rule – and achieve their own independence in the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. And even when what is now Central Serbia proclaimed independence from the Turks in 1875, the cities with most ethnic Serbs were still in the Habsburg Monarchy, except for Belgrade. This included those in the region which is now Vojvodina: Novi Sad, Sombor, Bečkerek (now Zrenjanin), and Pančevo.

Novi Sad is the capital and largest city in the province with over 300,000 residents. It was the largest Serbian city, along with Sombor between the 17th and 19th centuries. Novi Sad was also called the Serbian Athens, as the cultural center of the Austrian Serbs. Subotica was a city of over 100,000 people at the beginning of the 20th century. In contrast to Novi Sad, the Serbs there constituted only a small minority at that time, the rest being the Hungarians, Bunjevci, Germans, etc. When Yugoslavia was formed after World War I, Subotica was the second largest city in the new country, after Zagreb, now the capital of Croatia. Unfortunately, Subotica stagnated throughout the 20th century, and now it is only the second largest city in Vojvodina. It boasts a good old town atmosphere and many Art Nouveau landmarks, and a popular resort by Lake Palić. Bečkerek was renamed Zrenjanin after World War II, after a local war hero, and is now Vojvodina's third largest city. Sombor, another old town close to the Hungarian border, with a lot of greenery and bicycles, has a remarkable theater and the oldest Serbian teachers' college. Like Subotica, its population stagnated in the 20th century and now has about 50,000 people. Pančevo (135,000 people) was, with Zemun, the southernmost Austro-Hungarian outpost bordering first Turkey and later Serbia, lying on the Danube river and very close to Belgrade. After Yugoslavia was created, the Belgrade metropolitan region tried to merge the three cities into one. Zemun merged with Belgrade, and is now part of Central Serbia, while Pančevo remains a separate city. However, the commuter train line connecting Belgrade and Pančevo brings these two cities much closer together.

Talk
Now this is something to talk about! First, as a foreign visitor, you will probably find a way to communicate. Most people, especially the younger and in the cities, can speak and understand at least some English. German is also often taught at school, French is restricted to a very thin elite, but Hungarian remains native to 14 percent of the population and is spoken by many more, making them the largest minority group in Serbia.

If you are studying Serbian, Vojvodina may be your best place to start using it. The speech there is slow and clear, indeed it can be so slow that it has become the butt of jokes. But Serbian is by no means the only language you may hear in that province. With over three quarters of the population now claiming Serbian as their mother tongue, it is true that Vojvodina is no longer the linguistic mosaic that it used to be. But it remains ethnically diverse and many Vojvodinians take pride in preserving their various native languages. No less than six are considered official: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Rusyn. They may soon be joined by the Serbo-Croatian dialect spoken by the Bunjevci, an ethnic group from northwestern Vojvodina, which is a controversial matter as both Serbs and Croats claim the Bunjevci as their own.

German, or rather its dialect called Danube Swabian, was native to one quarter of Vojvodina’s population before the Second World War, and spoken by many more. But most ethnic Germans were either deported or killed in the war’s aftermath. With just over three thousand local Germans remaining dispersed throughout Vojvodina today, their dialect is all but extinct. Some members of other tiny minorities, hailing from various parts of the Habsburg Empire (the Czechs, the Ukrainians, etc.) and the former Yugoslavia (the Macedonians, the Albanians, etc.) also try to preserve their native languages. Vojvodina is home also to the Roma or Gypsies, many of whom speak their various mother tongues. Last but not least, some of the newest immigrants speak Chinese.

See
The above mentioned cities and places. EXIT music festival in Novi Sad has been a huge crowd-gatherer since its foundation in 2000; it was ranked as the most vibrant and successful festival in Central/South Eastern Europe.

Eat
Vojvodina's cuisine is blend of Hungarian, Austrian and Turkish foods. Famous dishes are sarma (small parcels of minced beef and rice wrapped in picked cabbage leaves), gulaš (goulash, a meat and vegetable stew) and paprikaš (a mix of vegetables, usually pepper and potatoes, and meat — it can be chicken, beef, pork, rabbit, etc.)

Go next
Vojvodina is linked with Belgrade, Central and Eastern Serbia in Serbia and with other countries like Hungary, Croatia and Romania. It has an excellent net of motorways: one, A1/E75 runs from Belgrade towards Novi Sad and Subotica to Hungary; the other one, A3/E70 starts in Belgrade and goes towards Sremska Mitrovica to Croatia.

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Volcan Barú

Volcano Baru or Volcan Barú is an active stratovolcano in Chiriqui Province of the Pacific West in Panama, in Panama's northernmost region. The volcano and its surrounding area is a national park.

Understand
The Volcan Barú National Park is 14,325 ha in size, and the mountain is Panama's highest peak at 3,475 m. The volcano has been dormant for over 600 years; but with the bubbling hot springs and frequent seismic activity, it might not be entirely extinct.

If you are lucky you might see the Pacific and the Caribbean ocean from the top. Best chances for that is right on the sunrise.

There is a rough and very steep 4x4 road to the top. Near the summit, there are numerous cellular towers, and the rock face of the summit is covered with graffiti. In spite of this, the views beyond are breathtaking.

The famous Sendero de los Quetzales Trail (Quetzal Trail) passes through the lower slopes of the Volcan Baru.

Flora and fauna
This not a tropical forest because of its altitude. There are plenty of birds to see and it has characteristics of a cloud forest. Deer, coati and the occasionl puma or jaguarundi could be seen. Timber line is close to the summit.

Climate
From May till November it is pretty wet and above 3000 meters it could get very cold at night.

Get in
The easiest way is to take a cab from Boquete for $5 until La Casetta.

Fees and permits
It costs $3 for citizens of Panama and $5 for foreigners. Camping is $5 and $3 for students.

Get around
Walking is the way to go but it is possible to get up until the summit.

Do

 * Hike
 * Camp

Itineraries
The best views from the peak are at dawn. On some days (if you are lucky), it is possible to see both the Atlantic and the Pacific, as well as Costa Rica. On other days (if you are unlucky) you will just see the surrounding mountains in the fog.

There are two possible ways to be at the peak at dawn. First, you can start around midnight and be on the top for sunrise and hike back the same day. Second, you can go the day before until the camping site one km before the peak, sleep there, wake up early see the sunrise, and then walk down. It typically takes 6-8 hours to reach the summit, and 4-5 hr to come back down.

The most common hike is up the 4x4 road from Boquete, but there is also a highly challenging trail from Volcan. A taxi to the ranger station near Boquete can be made from in town; if you are doing the night time hike, this will need to be arranged the day before.

Campers typically hike at the Fogones campground, which is 12.5 km into the trail (1 km before and about 200 m below the summit). The campground has a shelter. The shelter is typically kept free of debris by fellow hikers, but the overall area is strewn with garbage and a bit smelly. There are mice.

The first 3 km, and 6 to 9 km, and 11 to 12.5, are the steepest. There is a downhill around 10 km, which is followed by a steep uphill.

There is an indigenous path going across the park to Bocas del Toro, but it is long, perilous, rarely traversed, and none of the tour operators offers trips across it.

Preparation

Although the road up is wide and clearly marked, do not be fooled: this is a challenging hike. It is 13.5 km long and involves 1,700m of elevation. The road up is steep and only occasionally flattens. Inexperienced hikers should take a guide, as there are risks (hypothermia, mild altitude sickness, broken ankles) that they may not be prepared for or able to judge well. For the same reasons, doing the hike alone is risky. That said, hikers and employees of the towers at the summit traverse the path nearly every day, so rescue is often possible within hours -- but there are no guarantees. A guide from a tour operator can also provide a full set of hiking gear for those who do not come with their own. As the road is wide and clearly marked, those without a guide do not need to fear getting lost.

Hikers should be prepared for three main issues: Cold, wetness, and a lack of water.

The base of the trail and the first half of the hike are usually fairly warm (perhaps 20 °C during the day and 10 °C at night), so a light base layer is recommended. The summit, and the campground near the summit, are close to freezing -- a bit above in the rainy season, a bit below in the dry season. Layers are best for this -- something like a 300 weight fleece (or down sweater) and a windwall. A hat and gloves are a must.

It can rain any time, though it rains much more in the rainy season. Rains typically appear in the early afternoon and last a few hours, but may appear at any hour. Rains can be torrential, and can get into backpacks over the shoulders under the rain fly, and into waterproof hiking boots through the ankles. For this reason, extra precautions (such as wrapping clothing and sleeping bags in grocery/garbage bags, or taking rain pants) may help. A poncho may also provide more protection than a rain jacket. Rubber boots will not get wet the way hiking boots will, but provide less ankle support. Extra dry base layers are recommended.

There is no water available -- there may or may not be a ranger at the summit who may or may not be willing to provide rainwater. Typical water consumption would be 2 L going up, 1.5 L going down, and 1 L overnight.

Bear in mind that at the time when the hike starts to get colder (around perhaps km 11), it may be raining and changing clothes may be difficult.

Eat & drink
There is no water source after the registration station so bring enough supplies for your trip.

Camping
The only possibility to stay overnight in the park is camping. There is a shelter with some bins for trash about one km before the top.

Stay safe
You might get wet (especially in rainy season) and that the temperature in the early morning hours might drop under 10 °C. So bring a tent, second set of clothes, good sleeping bag, water, food, rain jacket and optionally a camping mattress.

Dress in layers, as the higher you go, temperatures will change dramatically.

Go next

 * Boquete - Pass the registration hut and continue walking until "la cruz" (the crossway) there you should be able to get a taxi or a bus which brings you back to Boquete (both around $1 per person).

title: Volcan Barú


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Volcán Masaya

Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya is in western Nicaragua, just outside the capital city of Managua.

Understand
Masaya is an active volcano with constant flumes of sulfuric smoke spewing from the vents in its main crater. Lava flows have not occurred in over 200 years, although explosions are fairly frequent (the most recent, in 2001, hurled 60-cm (2-foot) rocks as far as the visitor center, injuring one tourist and damaging several vehicles). Masaya is the larger of the two volcanoes that lie within the park. The smaller volcano is Volcan Nindiri.

History
Indigenous people worshipped, feared, and respected the volcano before the arrival of Spanish conquerors. The Spanish considered the place evil, and called it "La Boca del Infierno". In 1979, Masaya became Nicaragua's first National Park.

Landscape
Black chunks of volcanic rock strew the mountain, which is carpeted in soft green grasses.

Flora and fauna
Two of the most interesting life forms that can be seen at Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya are:
 * Bats - early evening guided hikes are available which will take you to the caves where millions of bats live, emerging in clouds of fluttering black wings just after sunset each day. The park charges a small additional fee for the bat tour.
 * Chocoyos - a colony of these small, green parrots actually lives inside the main caldera of the Masaya volcano! While most life forms avoid the gaseous fumes and inhospitable terrain of the crater, thousands of these parrots thrive there. The best time to see the parrots is late afternoon, when the parrots return to their nests.

Climate
Although Nicaragua is generally hot and humid, a steady breeze blows across the mountain and it can get chilly at the top, especially in the evening. Be sure to bring a hat and/or sunblock because there is no shade or shelter near the top of the mountain.

Get in
The park entrance is at the KM23 marker on the Carretera a Masaya. It's about 15 minutes by car from Managua and frequent buses between Managua and Granada pass the entrance, however, getting up the mountain from there could be problematic for the non-hiker without a car. The road is paved all the way to the rim of the crater.

Fees and permits
The park entrance fee is C$70 (Feb 2023) for foreign visitors and C$20 for Nicaraguan citizens (cedula required for discount). Guided evening tours to the underground lava caves or bat caves are an additional C$60.

Get around
Walk.

See

 * The volcanoes: Masaya and Nindiri.
 * The visitor center: exhibits describe the history, culture, and geology surrounding the volcanoes.
 * Cruz de Bobadilla is an observation platform that gives excellent views into the caldera.
 * Caves carved by lava flows can be explored with park guides. You can find bats in the caves.

Do

 * Visit the Masaya crater after dusk. Opens at 18:00. Great light show by the lava.
 * hike
 * sightsee
 * picnic (tables and a playground are next to the visitors center)

Buy
T-shirts and hats are sold in the visitors center. Anything else you need is best purchased in the nearby town of Masaya.

Eat
There are no food services on the mountain. A bar and restaurant is directly across the highway from the park's main gate, and a full range of food and drink is available in the town of Masaya.

Drink
Visit the town of Masaya, or go onwards to Managua or Granada.

Sleep
There are some posadas in Masaya. You can also find lakeside villas at Laguna de Apoyo. Major hotels are near Managua. A variety of bed and breakfast inns is available in Granada.

Camping
Not available.

Stay safe
Climbing near the craters is dangerous. Most public observation points have walls and signs to warn visitors.

Go next

 * Masaya
 * Granada (Nicaragua)
 * Managua
 * Mombacho - another volcano

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Volcano

There is more than one place called Volcano:

United States of America

 * Volcano (California) — a town in California
 * Volcano Village — a town in Hawaii

Travel topics

 * Volcanoes — an article on visiting volcanoes which includes listings for many volcanoes around the world

title: Volcano


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Volcano (California)

Volcano is a town in Amador County, California.

Understand
Volcano is a small town with a population of only 115 persons (2010 Census). Despite the name, it is not on or near a volcano. The name came from early miners who thought the bowl-shaped valley where the town is was a volcanic crater. In the 1850s, Volcano was a booming mine town but the years following brought a steady decline to its current population.

Get in
Volcano is 3 miles north of California State Route 88, which connects with California 99 to the west and US 395 to the east.

title: Volcano (California)


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Volcanoes

Volcanoes come in many shapes and sizes, and their eruptions vary hugely in both frequency and intensity. Many volcanoes are tourist attractions and are worth a visit provided you take due care, in particular keeping a safe distance from eruptions.

Eruptions are extremely dangerous; the worst of them cause complete devastation over wide areas, sometimes with a large death toll. Despite the risk, due to the renowned fertility of volcanic soil, there are often large agricultural settlements close to volcanoes.

Understand
Neither volcanoes nor eruptions are particularly common. A list at the Smithsonian shows 1319 volcanoes which have erupted in the Holocene Epoch (since the end of the last Ice Age, about 10,000 BCE). Another shows frequency of eruptions 1960-2022; the range is 52 to 90 eruptions per year, most of them small. After an eruption most volcanoes will be calm for a while before pressure builds up enough for another blast; the interval can be anything from a few weeks to many centuries, depending on the local geology. There are hundreds of active volcanoes around the world, but many more that are dormant or extinct. One can still appreciate the awesome power of nature from these volcanoes, without the hazards that go with active ones.

Measurement scale
There is a scale for the force of eruptions called the Volcanic Explosivity Index or VEI; the main factor is the volume of ejecta, the amount of material spewed out. The scale is logarithmic; a VEI-5 eruption produces at least 1 km3 of ejecta, VEI-6 10 km3, VEI-7 100 km3, and VEI-8 1000 km3.

Really large eruptions are quite rare. The 20th century had three VEI-6 eruptions, ten VEI-5, and a few thousand smaller ones, but none of VEI-7 or above. As of early 2024, the 21st century has not had any VEI-7 or larger events either.

There have been only four or five VEI-7 events in the last 2,000 years – Lake Taupo (New Zealand) in 180 CE, Ilopango (El Salvador) around 431, Mount Paektu (on the Korean-Chinese border) around 946, possibly Mount Rinjani (Indonesia) in 1257, and Mount Tambora (Indonesia) in 1815. As for VEI-8, there has not been such an event in recorded history; the most recent was at Lake Taupo about 26,500 years ago.

The VEI-7 Tambora eruption of 1815 put out 160 cubic km (38 cubic miles) of ejecta, including enough dust and ash to cause "the year without a summer", widespread crop failure and some famine as far away as the US and Europe. Said "year without a summer" led the German Karl Drais to invent a "walking machine" which is today considered the first ancestor of the modern bicycle.

Classifying volcanoes
According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the major volcano monitoring organization based in Washington, DC, volcanoes can be classified as follows: However, there is no international consensus on these definitions; each organisation may use somewhat different terms or different definitions. In any case, the terms are not precise; a volcano classed as active may do nothing interesting for hundreds of years, and volcanoes considered dormant sometimes erupt. A volcano classed as extinct is quite unlikely to come back to life, but there is no absolute guarantee. Perhaps the best-known type of volcano is the stratovolcano which is built up from multiple layers of ash and lava over centuries, giving a conical shape. Several of the world's most famous volcanoes, such as Mount Fuji, Krakatoa, Vesuvius and Mount Etna, are of this type. Filipino tourist literature claims their Mayon Volcano has the world's most perfect cone.
 * active if
 * it has erupted within the last 10,000 years (recently in geological terms)
 * or it shows considerable activity – hot springs, fumes, earthquakes, etc.
 * dormant (French for sleeping) if it is considered active but is currently quiet
 * extinct if it is no longer active

A complex stratovolcano has multiple cones or multiple calderas; examples include Kilimanjaro, the Three Sisters in Oregon and Taal Volcano in the Philippines.

A somewhat less common type is a shield volcano, formed when the lava is less viscous and therefore spreads out much further. Most of Hawaii's volcanoes are of this type. A phreatomagmatic eruption may have huge explosions when a large amount of water is instantly turned to steam on contact with superheated magma. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was VEI-6, much smaller than the VEI-7 Tambora eruption a few decades earlier, but it is more famous because the explosions were absolutely enormous. The Hunga Tonga eruption of 2022 was similar since that volcano is under the sea.

A strombolian eruption is not very powerful (VEI-1 or 2) but may last a long time. Stromboli has been erupting more-or-less continuously for several thousand years.

Supervolcanoes
Supervolcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth, but are not easily recognizable as such. Many are so big that, for many years, even geologists did not appreciate that these features were volcanoes in their own right. "Volcanoes form mountains; supervolcanoes erase them. Volcanoes kill plants and animals for miles around; supervolcanoes threaten whole species with extinction by changing the climate across the entire planet."

- National Geographic

Supervolcanoes are generally in the form of large calderas, which are giant volcanic depressions formed either by large explosive eruptions or quiet long-term drainage of magma. They often have associated lava flows or domes, and in many cases there are smaller volcanoes within the caldera. Many of the calderas are now lakes, and sometimes the smaller volcanoes are islands in the lake.

Examples of supervolcanoes include Yellowstone in the United States, Lake Toba and Mount Tambora in Indonesia, the Phelgraean Fields near Naples in Italy, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, and Lake Taupo in New Zealand. Most supervolcanoes have undergone unimaginably huge eruptions (VEI-7 or 8) in the geologic past; these are what created the huge caldera. However, such eruptions are tens or hundreds of thousands of years apart. There is no reason to worry that Yellowstone, for example, will explode during your visit; it had several huge eruptions in the past, but none since a VEI-8 event 640,000 years ago.

Geothermal areas
Throughout volcanic areas of the world, one may also encounter geothermal areas. These places are often, but not always, associated with volcanic activity. Hot springs, geysers, mud pools and fumaroles (steam/gas vents) are common scenic features in geothermal areas, and hot springs can be great places to take a dip. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Iceland are especially famous for hot spring baths. Geothermal areas are also an environmentally friendly source of energy, and Iceland takes advantage of this very well.

Yellowstone National Park is probably the best known example of a geothermal area, as molten magma lies not far beneath its ancient caldera. Nearby Thermopolis, Wyoming has the world's largest hot spring plus a dinosaur museum and Native American petroglyphs. Geysir in Iceland, which is the namesake for all geysers in the world, is another famous geothermal region. New Zealand, with its volcanoes in the North Island, is also known for extensive geothermal areas, with Rotorua perhaps being the best known one. The indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, who traditionally cooked their food by burying it underground with heated rocks (known as a hangi), often make use of the geothermal heat instead if they live in a geothermally active area. Similarly, Iceland has a tradition of baking rye bread underground using the geothermal heat. Kamchatka in Russia is known for its picturesque Valley of the Geysers, but its remote location makes it only accessible by helicopter, meaning that it receives far fewer tourists than the other places mentioned here.

Stay safe
Scientists can make predictions about volcanic activity, and those predictions are good enough to make it essential for travellers to check for current warnings when planning any trip to a volcanic area. However, the problem is complex and not all volcanoes are closely monitored, so predictions are generally not precise and sometimes not entirely reliable. Local media or tourist offices are the usual sources for warnings, but many countries have a government-run volcano monitoring organization which is the definitive source. Public safety authorities may order hazard areas evacuated and visitors should certainly follow such advice. However, the onset of some volcanic events can be quite sudden, and authorities are sometimes slow to act since evacuations are disruptive, expensive and sometimes controversial. When an order is given, it may be difficult to comply since transportation may be disrupted or overcrowded.

If you are near a volcano that begins to act restless — perhaps earth tremors or expelling steam or dust — you should consider leaving the area without waiting for an evacuation order. "Get out while the gettin's good."

Volcanoes are complex and can be quite different from each other, so for most of them it is a good idea to have an expert guide who knows the particular mountain you want to visit. On the other hand, climbing some volcanoes without a guide is reasonable; for example Mount Fuji has not erupted since 1708, scientists are not issuing warnings, and there are well-marked trails.

Volcanic activity is often associated with earthquakes or tsunamis, and some volcanoes are high enough that altitude sickness is a risk. Each of those has another whole set of hazards; see the linked articles.

Equipment
Good footwear is essential since many volcanic rocks have sharp edges and some are hot; also, the terrain is often irregular and good boots will reduce the risk of a stubbed toe or turned ankle. A sturdy pair of hiking boots are the usual choice; look for thick soles, preferably in a material such as Vibram which does not melt easily.

Other equipment — such as heavy work gloves, a helmet, safety googles, a walking stick, a facemask for dust or a gas mask for poisonous fumes — is sometimes needed as well. For some volcanoes, mountaineering skills and equipment are needed. On a few, snakebite is also a hazard and high leather boots are the simplest protection.

Hazards
Volcano hazard zones can extend for dozens of kilometers, and there are multiple hazards.

An erupting volcano is extremely dangerous. Unless you have an excellent reason for going near one, the best advice is to stay away and watch it from a considerable distance, or even from the safety of your home or hotel on the TV news. It takes a major eruption to destroy a city, create or sink an island, or produce a huge death toll, but even the smallest eruption can destroy buildings and kill people. Even in areas with highly developed tourist infrastructure, there can be dangers - in 2019 a hiker was killed by a violent, unexpected eruption on Stromboli and twenty-two died when Whakaari / White Island erupted while a number of tour parties were visiting it.

"It's tempting to go to the throat of the volcano to get the data, because if you do you're a hero ... It's a battle between your mind and your emotions. If your emotions win out, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble."

- Ken Wohlitz

Hazards found only during eruptions are:

Other hazards are present whether or not the volcano is erupting: Any of those can kill, but the ones that claim the most lives are pyroclastic flows and lahars because they often occur suddenly, they move very fast, and they can travel surprisingly long distances. Do not go anywhere that they are likely. If you get hit by either of these, your chances of survival are almost zero. If you are in the path, you are unlikely to outrun it, even with a vehicle; your best chance may be to try to get off the path by moving perpendicular to the flow or diagonally.
 * Lava is molten rock spewing forth from the volcano. In addition to the direct danger, a large lava flow radiates enough heat to ignite vegetation and kill animals at a considerable distance.
 * Pyroclastic flows are streams of red-hot ash and debris that rush downslope from their source vents, incinerating anything flammable in their path. They can reach temperatures up to 800°C (over 1400°F) and travel at up to 150 km/h (almost 100 mph).
 * Volcanic bombs are rocks thrown upward by eruptions; many are ejected as blobs of molten rock that solidify while airborne, so they may still be dangerously hot when they land. Large ones are generally not thrown far or high, but they can be any size up to that of a house and are spectacularly dangerous. Smaller ones can be thrown thousands of meters high and may land dozens of km away, and even an egg-sized rock can kill if it drops from a great height. A hard hat will reduce this danger somewhat, but not to anywhere near zero.
 * Jökulhlaups are floods caused by the volcano melting parts of a glacier, possibly a part that functions as dam of a glacier lake. On Iceland there have been peak discharges in the order of magnitude of floods of the Amazon River. Bridges downstream from Vatnajökull used to get destroyed on a regular basis. Volcanoes can also cause floods when a crater wall collapses releasing the lake within, by melting snow that is not part of a glacier, or by blocking rivers.
 * Lahars are avalanches of mud created when a deposit of volcanic ash becomes mobile when it gets wet from rainfall or from a flood. They can occur long after eruptions, travel many kilometers at high speed, and be devastating. While there are usually some warning signs before eruptions, lahars often occur with no warning.
 * Steam is dangerous, perhaps just scalding but in some cases (Krakatoa or some geysers) explosive. In many cases, hot water or hot mud are nearly as hazardous.
 * Lethal gasses are gasses from eruptions or from vents, typically carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide; assume any vent with steam may also have nastier gasses. Often, but not always, the stink of sulphurous compounds provides a warning; avoid areas with a rotten egg smell. Also try to stay upwind of any vents releasing gasses. Walking toward a vent, keep the wind at your back; walking away, keep it in your face.
 * Vog or volcanic smog is a nasty combination of water droplets with dissolved gasses, possibly plus volcanic dust. Since SO2 in water becomes sulphurous acid, this is highly irritating to eyes and throat. In high concentrations or for vulnerable people — asthma, heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women, the elderly, etc. — it can be fatal. If you are exposed, a face mask gives some protection and drinking lots of water will soothe the throat.
 * Falling rocks and landslides are more probable when the earth is restless. Avoid steep slopes and cliff edges, and be cautious if you need to be in vulnerable places.

Staying on high ground when observing a volcano gives you a better view and reduces several hazards. The dangerous gasses are heavier than air and collect in low-lying areas, and lava, pyroclastic flows, lahars and floods all tend to follow the contours of the land. A combination of distance and altitude also reduces the risk from volcanic bombs. Often the best place to observe is from high on the other side of a valley, well away from the volcano; bring binoculars.

Most photographers will shoot a volcanic eruption from a good distance with a telephoto lens, but others find they get better results by moving closer; this may reduce blurring due to dust and ash and the distortions caused by hot air. It should be attempted only with considerable caution, and only with an expert guide.

Ashfall, volcanic mudflows, and the effects of earthquakes can extend for hundreds of kilometers away from the volcano. The most famous victim of ashfall was the Roman city of Pompeii, buried in 79 CE by Mount Vesuvius. Those two were only about 8 km (5 miles) apart, but ash can also be transported by air in vast quantities over a huge area. The enormous (VEI-8) prehistoric eruption of Yellowstone spread a layer of ash, close to two meters thick in places, over much of the US and parts of Canada and Mexico.

Volcanic ash tends to stop aircraft and vehicle engines, so transportation may be disrupted. An eruption in Iceland in 2010 shut down airports for weeks more than 1,000 km away in mainland Europe, but mostly the affected area is smaller, less than 100 km from the volcano. In some cases, boats and roads may also be shut down.

Dormant volcanoes
When a volcano is dormant, you are mostly safe even close to it, but there are some issues. Lava flows can still be hot for years after an eruption and only a thin crust of rock may be covering them. Old lava flows can be sharp as broken glass, so you should wear hiking boots or very thick shoes. To add to these dangers, lethal gases may be seeping out of vents near the volcano – and some can have a new eruption without much warning.

Lahars can also occur around dormant volcanoes, whenever a deposit of volcanic ash gets wet. They can travel many kilometers, and be devastating. While there are often some warning signs before eruptions, lahars can have no warning. Watch out for possible lahars when there are heavy rains.

Geothermal areas
Geothermal areas also have hazards. Hot springs and mud pools can be dangerous due to heat, acidity, or poison, so do not go near these areas unless you know for sure that they are totally safe. Geysers are a common feature of major geothermal areas, and can erupt hot water or mud unexpectedly.

Landslides are also common in geothermal areas, as even volcanic rock can become weakened over time. Acidic fumes can seep out of fumaroles (steam/gas vents) or hot springs. Noxious gases can also be encountered coming out of holes in the ground, and the gases can reach dangerous levels in enclosed spaces like caves, manholes, or pool enclosures. Carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of volcanic activity, is known for going into enclosed spaces and it can kill swiftly with little or no warning.

Destinations
This section lists some of the more active or better known volcanoes in the world today; some of these can still be explored from up close. Wikipedia has lists of volcanoes for various regions, which include many we do not list.

Recently active volcanoes get red markers below; dormant or extinct volcanos get blue markers. Related phenomena, such as geothermal areas without actual volcanoes, get black markers.

Ethiopia
The Danakil Depression, part of the Great Rift Valley, has some unearthly landscapes, several geothermal areas and two volcanoes. This is also an important area for paleontology with some man-made tools over three million years old.

Islands near Africa
Madagascar has several volcanic fields but has not had an eruption since 6050 BCE.

Asia
Asia has many volcanoes which are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, plus some others.

Indonesia
With 167 known active volcanoes, Indonesia is the world's most volcanic country by far. The Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (website in Indonesian) is the government agency responsible for monitoring and warnings.

Philippines
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lists 24 volcanoes as "active"; 21 of those have erupted in the last 600 years. Another 25 are listed as "potentially active" and 355 as "inactive".

The four most active, in order, are: Except for Kanlaon, these are all in southern Luzon.

Other volcanoes include:

Russia
Kamchatka, Russia's largest Pacific peninsula, has several active volcanoes and some hot springs and geysers.

Two volcanoes, close to each other and to Kamchatka's's capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been jointly designated a Decade Volcano.

The largest area of igneous rock (7 million km2, 3 million mi2) on Earth is the. The eruption, about 250 million years ago, is thought to have continued for about two million years and to have caused the largest extinction event in history.

Atlantic
Most of the ridge is submerged, but parts of it are above water. In the North Atlantic, Jan Mayen, between Greenland and Norway, has the northernmost active volcano on Earth, and Iceland and the Azores are also on the ridge. In the South Atlantic, Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island and Bouvet Island are on the ridge.

The Canary Islands are in the Atlantic but not on the ridge; this article therefore lists them under.

The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic, but this article groups that region's volcanoes under.

Azores
This whole group of islands is of volcanic origin.

Iceland

Iceland has many active volcanoes, among them: Some Icelandic volcanoes are featured in fiction. Snæfellsjökull is in Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Surtshellir has a long accessible lava tube, supposedly once home to the fire giant Surtr. Many parts of the Game of Thrones TV series were shot in Þingvellir National Park.

Europe
Culturally and politically, Iceland is part of Europe. Geologically, however, it is part of the mid-Atlantic ridge, so this article lists it under. The Canary Islands are also politically part of Europe, specifically Spain, but this article classifies them geographically and lists them under.

Italy
Both Etna and Vesuvius are Decade Volcanoes.

North America
Most North American volcanoes are in the Pacific Coast Ranges, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

USA
The Aleutian Islands and the associated Alaska Peninsula are volcanic in origin and have several active volcanoes. The Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest has active volcanoes, two of which have had major eruptions since 1900: Hawaii also has many volcanoes.

Canada
Canada has no volcanoes which have erupted in the last few thousand years, and only a few which are classed as active; it is thought to have had only about 50 eruptions in the past 10,000 years. However there are many dormant volcanoes, part of the same geological system that produces active volcanoes in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

Central America and Caribbean
Many of Central America's volcanoes are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, but a few in Central America and all of the Caribbean's form another active zone.

Guatemala
Lake Atitlán is spectacularly beautiful and is one of the country's main tourist destinations. There are several volcanoes among the hills around the lake: Another major tourist destination is Antigua Guatemala. There are several volcanoes nearby and guided hikes are available from the town to any of them.

The country also has several other volcanoes.

Oceania
The Pacific Ring of Fire runs through parts of Oceania, and other areas such as Hawaii also have volcanoes.

Hawaii
The entire Hawaiian island chain is volcanic in origin. Most of the volcanoes are of the shield volcano type, spread out rather than sharply conical

Antarctica
Over 130 volcanoes have been discovered in the frozen wastelands of Antarctica, and with many erupting underneath the dense ice sheets they are not particularly practical to visit.

Travel agencies
In many areas — at least the Philippines, Italy and Costa Rica — many local travel agencies offer guided tours to their region's volcanoes. There are also agencies that specialize in volcano tourism.
 * Volcano Adventure Indonesia, Sukapura, Indonesia, tel. +62-335-581439, +62-81319090225. Tours to Mount Bromo and elsewhere in Indonesia.
 * VolcanoDiscovery, Germany, tel., . This tour operator specializes in international volcanoes and one of its most important programs is for Indonesian volcanoes. The tours are trekking & photography tours with small groups and an intensive personal service. The tours are usually about 7–14 days.

title: Volcanoes