EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Offbeat

June 23, 2009

Gazprom is king of the hill in Russian region

MOSCOW (AP) — Coming soon to the stunning snowcapped peaks of southern Siberia — probably the world's highest billboard.

Leaders in the remote Russian region of Altai want to name one of the region's tallest mountains in honor of Gazprom, the state-run natural gas monopoly and corporate behemoth.

It was unclear whether the mountain currently has a name.

The Altai government's Web site says an official expedition is expected to climb the 11,200-foot (3,410-meter) peak this summer to erect a giant Gazprom logo on top.

Local lawmakers hope the logo will be seen for miles around.

For western consumers, Gazprom is more associated with acrimonious disputes that turned off gas supplies to Europe and symbolizes Russia's blunt-edged energy clout. But for many Russians the corporation that was once one of the world's largest is emblematic of Russia's resurgence.

Gazprom did not respond to request for comment.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Offbeat

NDN Video
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight 'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Photos of the Week
Beat Burt