People feel better about themselves and their lives, defying the international stereotype of Siberia.

Journalist Kate Baklitskaya today begins an epic 3 month tour of some of Siberia's most iconic places.

It takes truly extreme cold for Yakutian students to miss out on their classes: but the big freeze has arrived (except in Chersky).

Residents warned to stay away from the animals, with two men already having been savagely attacked... but there is happy news for two little cubs.

Crossing frozen tundra, the 15 competing teams and their dogs will endure temperatures of minus 25C or lower.

Fate of 13 still unknown as rescue efforts continue. 

Ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the flame will twice cross Siberia, once from west to east, then east to west.

Russia will have 11 time zones instead of the current nine, with Siberia's Kemerovo region moving one hour further from Moscow.

Ukraine has moved its Consulate General from Vladivostok to Novosibirsk. The former Soviet state has other Consultates General around Russia already.