IMAGES OF SIBERIA IN EUROPEAN CULTURE
The article analyses views on Siberia that had been spread in European culture of the 18th - 21st centuries; describes the key political, ideological, and economic factors that had effect on forming and strengthening of such views in cultural consciousness of a historical and the today’s European. Little-known for the Russian historiography parts of memoire and ethnographic literature written by foreigners who had personally visited Siberian territories are given. The author’s view on genesis of true and false historical, cultural, and geographical stereotypes about Siberia is outlined.