The winners of the ‘7 Wonders of the Finno-Ugric and Samoedic peoples Contest’ have been elected, according to the reports of the organizers of this international project, which was held on the basis of the media centre FINUGOR.RU.

In the ‘Nature’ category the supreme champion, according to the amount of voices given, is Barsov Hill proposed by the Khanty, which is situated close to the city of Surgut, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. The Seven Wonders of this category also include the Reindeer (which is considered to be the part and parcel of the northern peoples’ household: the Nenets, the Lapps, the Ents, the Khanty and the Nganasans); National Park ‘Yugyd Va’ proposed by the Komi; Disappearing Shimozero proposed by the Veps; Zayakinskaya Cedar Grove, proposed by the Udmurts; Khebidya Ya – the Kozminsky Grove from the Nenets people; Mordovian State Sanctuary of P.G. Smidovich from the Moksha and Erzya.

The Khanty gained the victory in the ‘Culture’ category: the first place was given Collection “Kan Kunsh Olan” - “The Earth of Cat’s Elbow”. It is followed by the Children Centre of Lylyng Soyum (‘Lively Little Brook’) from the Khnaty and Mansi; the national folk character of the Udmurts Lopsho Pedun; the Toy of Tavla from the Erzya; the Karelian village of Kinerma; and the Nenets monument of Khebidya Ten (‘Sacred Memory’).

It’s worth noting, that the list of wonders includes Onega and White Sea Petroglyphs, made by the far ancestors of the present-day Karelians.

In the ‘Monuments and constructions’ category the first place was gained by the art works of the world famous sculptor Stepan Erzya (from the Erzya and Moksha), the second place - Yuilsky Burg from the Khanty and Idnakar, the site of ancient Udmurts settlement, - the third place. The Seven Wonders also include the Church in the village of Nes (the Nenets), Hill of Chumbylat (from the Mari) and Ancient Sami Babylons (labyrinths) and Szigliget Castle of the Hungarians.

In the ‘Holidays’ category the most of the votes were given to the Bear Merrymaking of the Khanty, it is followed by the Mari song festival of ‘Peledysh Aio’ and the Moksha folk holiday of ‘Aksha Kelu’ (‘White Birch’), then go the Crow’s Day (the Nenets, Mansi and Khanty), Praying of Sheep Gully (the Erzya and Moksha), the amateur Komi composers Festival of ‘Vasiley’, and the ‘Red Festival’ in Udmurtia.

Due to the end of the project, in the contest page you can see the video address of the Estonian Minister of Cultural Affairs, heads and ministers of the Finno-Ugric regions, as well as the musical greetings of the Finno-Ugric folk groups.