Travel to Kolyma: the whole range of emotions without crossing the border

And very in vain, because this mysterious land is just a godsend for curious tourists.

 

 

 

 

The gulag, the cold and the lack of roads are the first things that come to mind when people hear the name of the region. Of course, the story of Kolyma is covered in darkness and it cannot be called inspiring. Most of the stories about these places we know from the books of Shalamov and Solzhenitsyn, people who went through the horror of political repression.

 

However, travelers travel to Kolyma from all over the world, and there are many reasons for this.

 

 

 

 

If you are a bit of a stalker at heart, then Kolyma is the best place to spend a vacation. Abandoned homes, towns and even towns are scattered across the region. The reason for this is the northern location.

 

Many settlements arose in connection with the opening of mines, but over time resources were depleted or simply became unclaimed, and people left in search of a better life.

 

 

 

 

One of these places was the ghost town of Kadykchan. Its history is quite sad: in 1996, a mine exploded here, people died. As a result, there was no work, the rest of the population began to disperse, and it was decided to close the city, since it was simply not profitable for local authorities to maintain it.

 

The city is not the smallest - there was a good school, a hospital and even two restaurants. Now all this is left to the discretion of nature, the city is slowly overgrown with grass, and wild animals rule here.

 

 

 

 

If you want more mysticism, then there is another place with a dark past called the Road of Bones. This is a section of the Old Kolyma Road, which has remained since the time of the Gulag.

 

They worked 12-15 hours every day, regardless of the weather. And the weather, as you know, in the north is not the most friendly - in winter the temperature in these parts drops to -40 -50 degrees, or even lower. Of course, many prisoners died, but it was not customary to bury them, and the ground is hard as stone in winter. Therefore, the bodies of convicts were not very ceremony - they were simply rolled with logs that laid the road.

 

They say that in our days from under the logs of the Old Kolyma tract and then the bones appear. Of course, hundreds of restless souls make themselves felt: the road is very gloomy and “heavy”. In addition, the places there are quite deaf: many bears, few gas stations.

 

Therefore, even if travelers do not strongly believe in otherworldly forces, they should still thoroughly prepare for the trip.

 

 

 

 

But Kolyma isn’t just about prisoners and ghost towns. There will be attractions here for those who like to know the world in all its manifestations. If you’ve been to warm countries, why not visit the Pole of Cold?

 

 

 

 

Those who have studied well, probably remember from the school curriculum that the coldest place on earth inhabited by people is Oymyakon. However, the school probably meant the entire Oymyakon district.

 

The Pole of Cold itself is located in the central village - Tomtore. Despite the fact that it is not so easy to get here and there are no hotels - this place is in great demand among tourists. People come here across the country – by cars, motorcycles and even bicycles!

 

 

 

 

Foreign tourists also want to visit the Pole of Cold, and they often stop at local residents. By the way, it should be noted that prices here are very “northern” – expensive products and services from the population are equated to the price category “luxury”, although they are not at all.

 

 

 

 

In Tomtor, a local history museum and an incredibly beautiful cave are organized for travelers: the ice residence of the Yakut grandfather Chiskhan. Inside the cave is permafrost. Therefore, in winter and summer, the temperature there is kept within +5 degrees, and ice sculptures please the eye of visitors all year round.

The best time to visit Tomtor is early spring. It is at this time that the annual festival "Pole of Cold - Oymyakon" is held here, when the Yakut Chuskhan, our Santa Claus and our Santa Claus officially announce the end of winter.

 

If our tourist is difficult to surprise the coldest corner of the planet, then the nature of Kolyma will not leave anyone indifferent. The landscapes here are the most picturesque: the incredible beauty of the mountain, many rivers, lakes, and, of course, the Sea of Okhotsk.

 

 

 

 

In order to enjoy the mountain landscapes, you do not have to look for the coordinates of some special place, just drive along the new Kolyma highway, which winds between the gorges and rises to a height of bird flight.

 

 

 

 

The views are stunning, but if you are traveling in your car, it will be difficult for the driver to admire from the car window: Kolyma highway is one of the most dangerous roads in Russia. This fact is constantly reminded of the remains of cars in the gorges and monuments along the roadsides.

 

 

 

 

 

If you are not afraid of difficulties and you are ready for adventure, you will definitely want to visit Lake Jack London, which is called the most romantic place in Russia. You will not see crowds of tourists here, because it is very difficult to get to the lake: the road often wads, and in any bad weather there is a high probability of being cut off from the world by the stormy flow of a mountain river. In general, going there for a day to fry a barbecue is not the best idea.

 

But if you turn to local guides who have equipped specialized cars, then the trip will bring you an incredible amount of emotion.

 

 

 

 

So, Kolyma is a harsh land of dangerous roads, stunning landscapes, and cleanest reservoirs. It is fascinating and frightening at the same time; however, those who decide to conquer these places, it gives an incredible range of experiences that can not be obtained in any other corner of the planet.

 

Decide on this exciting journey - there will be something that suits you!

 

Text: Natalia Fedyakova

Photo: Natalia Fedyakova, jmktour, fotorelax