For those unfamiliar with the culture, the concept of "Russian bare nudism" often brings to mind a paradox: a country known for its social conservatism and harsh winters, yet possessing a deep-rooted history of public nakedness. This story follows the three primary ways this culture manifests today: through the steam of the banya, the radical history of the early Soviet era, and the secluded "wild" beaches of the modern day. The Ritual of the Banya