North Asia

Crane bird in the snow

Critically endangered Siberian crane populations have increased by nearly 50% over last decade

Peter Schulte / January 9, 2025

The Siberian crane, known for its extremely long and arduous annual journeys, is one of the world’s rarest cranes. Its western and central populations are nearly extinct today. Most Siberian cranes that remain belong to the eastern population, which migrates between northeastern Russia and China. By 2012, researchers estimated there were around 3,500-4,000 individuals left in this eastern population. The latest bird counts from Russia and China suggest their numbers have nearly doubled to 7,000 individuals thanks to concerted habitat protection efforts.

Twitter launches privacy-protected site on the dark web to bypass Russia’s block

Peter Schulte / March 10, 2022

Russia has blocked access to Facebook and has limited Twitter in an attempt to try to restrict the flow of information about its war in Ukraine.

Polluting facility at edge of water

Toxic sulfur dioxide emissions fell across India, Russia, and China last year– dropping 6% globally

Peter Schulte / October 30, 2020

In 2019, the levels of anthropogenic SO2 emissions fell worldwide by 6%. In only the second time ever, SO2 emissions fell in all three of the countries most responsible for emitting it: China, India, and Russia.

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All-female crew embarks on Black Sea patrol in first for Russian Navy

Peter Schulte / July 13, 2020

The voyage marks a symbolic step in Russian women’s quest to play a more active role in the armed forces, an institution dominated by men. The navy still holds barriers to entry for women.

Salyut

The Soviet Union launches humanity’s first space station, Salyut

Peter Schulte / July 17, 1971

Salyut 1 (DOS-1) was the first space station of any kind, launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. The Salyut program followed this with five more successful launches of seven more stations

The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia: Work in Freedom is the Foundation of a State (1914)

Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, granting serfs the full rights of free citizens

Peter Schulte / March 3, 1861

The Emancipation Reform of 1861 in Russia was the first and most important of the liberal reforms enacted during the reign of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. he reform effectively abolished serfdom throughout the Russian Empire.

Map of Bosporan Kingdom

The Bosporan Kingdom thrives in modern-day Russia and Ukraine

Peter Schulte / July 29, 1002

The Bosporan Kingdom was an ancient Greco-Scythian state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus.

Andronovo culture map

Andronovo culture flourishes in western Siberia and the Steppe

Peter Schulte / February 28, 1002

The Andronovo culture is a collection of similar local Bronze Age cultures that flourished c. 2000-900 B.C.E. in western Siberia and the central Eurasian Steppe.

Ulrik on glacier Iceland

Humans first arrive and settle in the Arctic

Peter Schulte / February 1, 1000

The first indigenous peoples evolved physically and culturally to meet the rigorous demands of their remarkable environment.

Siberia landscape

Humans first settle in Siberia

Peter Schulte / January 18, 1000

According to the field of genetic genealogy, people first resided in Siberia by 45,000 B.C.E. and spread out east and west to populate Europe and the Americas.