What was going on in Russia when Europe experienced the 'year without a summer'?
Darkness, pale sunlight, frosts, storms, endless cold rains and frequent snowfalls — that was the summer of 1816 in Europe.
The violent eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, spewing massive amounts of ash into the atmosphere, was to blame for the unusual weather. The consequences were dire: crop failure, livestock deaths, soaring grain prices, famine, rising crime, and unrest.
The Russian Empire was virtually untouched by this tragedy. Warm and moderate weather prevailed, allowing for a good harvest and increased wheat exports to the West, which was suffering from a food crisis. The country instantly became one of the world's leading grain suppliers, a status it maintained throughout the 19th century.
The consequences of the "year without a summer" in Russia became apparent much later. The extreme weather of 1816 led to a mutation of the cholera vibrio and a devastating cholera epidemic in Bengal, India. Fourteen years later, it ravaged the Russian Empire, claiming the lives of nearly 200,000 people.
