russia-ic.com

9YVkB TIL that the city of Sochi, Russia erected a fish statue costing about 3800 USD in honor of Gambusia affinis (aka mosquito fish) since, after introducing the fish in the early 1900s, there have been no cases of malaria for over 60 years.
k7LW TIL Eastern Russia has a “Valley of Death” where volanic hydrogen sulfide gasses displace all oxygen for a metre or so above ground level. This kills animals which attracts scavengers who are also killed in an endless chain of death.
9ANM TIL Russia, Corsica and Israel have raised monuments to mosquitofish, commemorating their role in defeating malaria in the early 20th century