fireworks Siberia

Dudinka marks beginning of its 350th year with amazing New Year light show.

From 'fireworks' made from nothing more than hot water in minus 50C, to surfing in the Pacific, this is the New Year on our doorstep.

Low temperatures are a time for fun in -50C and below - riding bikes, ice swimming or eating frozen noodles.

A 175-room Marriott hotel is to open on a landmark site in Novosibirsk, while Irtuksk is set to get both a Kempinski and a Hyatt. 

The main remnant of the Chelyabinsk meteorite is to be hoisted to the surface within days.

Fewer bears in the Siberian region of Tomsk this year are waking from hibernation and hungrily raiding remote villages and towns scavenging for food.

Fast-freezing clothes, hot water fireworks, ice and snow bathing, vodka lollipops, dog sledging - see our report from the Kingdom of Cold.

Plans for modern Nature Theme Park and Acqua-park on site of old pulp and paper mill that spewed pollution into lake.

I am able to compare the two, and my conclusion is that there doesn’t seem to be any difference.