But then Siberia also has no less than SEVEN real Santa figures, and you can meet them all here.

Elsewhere in Buryatia, close to Lake Baikal, there are reports of other strange sightings.

Marooned men went for up to 3 weeks without food on island in Laptev Sea in temperatures of minus 15C.

The flame warms Siberia and even takes a dip in Lake Baikal en route to the Sochi Winter Games.

Exceptional display from new exhibition in Irkutsk is the work of an entire family. 

Russian President to 'personally' monitor situation amid fears projects could alter river flows and harm Baikal eco-system.

The beaches here are thronged with sun-seekers, children paddle in the warm waters — even the babushki are relaxed.

Enough joking. New NASA-Russian research is leading to concern that global warming is causing truly disturbing changes to the virgin forests of northern Russia.

In each case the deadly decades-old 'zombie' disease originated in contaminated soil and was awakened by hot Arctic summer weather.