The History of Geothermal Resources Use in Russia and the Former USSR

Abstract

Usage of geothermal energy in Russia and the former USSR goes back to deep antiquity. And always the reality was in neighbourhood with legends. History of hot and mineral springs is traced from Crimean antique towns through Kiev Russia, Moscow State and Russian Empire to our days. Wave of ancient civilization arised in Mediterranean near volcanoes and hot springs, rolled through all territory of Russia and reached Kamchatka where met another culture and magic land of geysers and volcanoes. Another wave of civilization from ancient Greece rolled through Western Europe, crossed Atlantic Ocean with the first American settlers and met American Indians' culture. Finally two waves of civilization reached Pacific Ocean from different sides at the regions of high thermal activity and met each other in Bering strait. As Christopher Columb descovered America from Eastern coast as Vitus Bering reached America from western coast. Peoples of fairy land Kamchatka have as fantastic legends as American Indians and ancient Greeks.