Incredible. When it was newer and the wood was treated, the grain on the wood must have looked very nice. I bet they used some sort of baltic birch wood.
More stuff like this, A+ post.
My gut tells me that the church must be actively maintained. Any exposed wooden structure like this would only last but maybe 100 years before collapsing into a pile. Unless Russia doesn't have storms, winter, wind, bugs, so on and so forth.
It was made from Aspen wood, which along with wood like cedar, douglas-fir, acacia, red wood are all excellent outdoor timbers that are naturally resistant to decay and most are immune to insects.
Untreated aspen wood can last up to 50 years, much longer if treated with oils.
It rates low on the Janka scale but performs exceptionally as a building material.
Aspen also has low permeability so it is naturally resistant to rot from snow, rain, and humidity impregnating the wood.
By comparison untreated pine will rot if left outside in about 3 years.
It would be dangerous to heat that in the winter.
It’s been standing in Russia for hundreds of years. I’m sure they have safe winter heating handled.
![Ancient wooden church, Krasnaya Lyaga, Russia. It was built in 1655. [1080x1346 - 347KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/f5bda0.jpg){kind=link}
(post is archived)