Vivi lake is the centre of Russia. Scientists say that the lake region is a country, is a world of water, flat mountains, polar forest, endless tundra, fearless birds, animals and fish.

A summer day here lasts for several days, a polar night - for several months.

Vivi lake is called "Evenkia's Baikal". It is the biggest fresh lake in the region. The length is 90 km, the width is 4 km. Fish species which inhabit the lake are also unique.

The natural treasures of Evenkia are numerous, but not endless. That is why the basin of the lake, Vivi river which flows out of the lake and all the territory around them are planned to be proclaimed a specially protected natural zone with a limited usage of natural resources. The government also plans to regulate activity harmful for nature: felling, hunting, fishing, construction and clearance of the forest lands.

The centre of Russia, the point which unites all the country, the magical place where great powers are concentrated is situated on the shore of the lake Vivi.

On the 21^st of august in 1992 a high stele (7 meters) was installed on the hill near the lake. On the top of the stele there is an eagle with two heads. The stele was blessed by Moscow patriarch Aleksiy the second. There are geographical coordinates of the centre of Russia on the monument: 66 degrees 25 minutes of latitude North and 94 degrees 15 minutes longitude East. This point is officially acknowledged and defined by the Russian federal department of geodesy and cartography.

The idea of the monument has long and complicated history. In 1974 the project of the monument was banished. Only in 1983 the scientists managed to get permit for the monument's installation.

Vivi lake is not only the centre of Russia, but also the symbol of Krasnoyarsk region, Evenkia and Taymyr unification. On the 23^rd of September in 2003 the three governors of the regions met on Vivi lake and dug three bottles of cognac thus symbolizing Siberian friendship of Krasnoyarsk, Dudinka and Tura.

There is also one more monument situated near the stele. It is a wooden chapel of Sergiy Radonezhskiy. The height of the monument is 11 meters including a dome. It was created by a local architect Sergey Salatkin. Both monuments make up a great architectural ensemble.

There are no people living on the shores of the lake. The nature is too severe here.

Long time ago there was only 1 fisherman living here. Anatoly Ivanovich Denisenko came to Evenkia 12 years ago with an expedition and decided to stay here forever. He became a local sightseeing - he met pilots, cooked fish and meat for them, looked after the stele and was absolutely happy that there were no people around him.

Everybody will find something for his soul here, but the most important thing is that you tend to become softer looking at fire. Many frank stories are told here late at night.