Almost the entire northeast of the Asian continent is occupied by one of the republics of Russia - Yakutia. Its natural and tourist potential is enormous, but its remoteness, poor roads and infrastructure make traveling here a real adventure. What is worth seeing during a visit to Yakutia?
Yakut records
The Sakha Republic is the largest federal subject of our country. It covers an area of over 3 million square meters. km, covers three time zones and extends from north to south for 2000 km, and from west to east for 2500 km. Less than 1 million people live on a huge territory, so the population density is one of the lowest in the country - only 0.31 people per 1 sq. km.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Gradoyakutsky Cathedral in Yakutsk
Yakutia is washed by cold seas and is located in a zone of sharply continental climate. From six months to eight months there are frosts here, and the temperature often drops below -50 ° C. This is one of the coldest regions in Russia.
In 1938, a temperature of -77.8 ° C was recorded in Oymyakon. It is curious that in the same village in July 2010 + 34.6 ° C was recorded. Thus, the temperature difference in one settlement exceeded 100 °. The air over Yakutia is dry and there is little precipitation. The height of the snow cover reaches only 15-25 cm.
Quarry "Mir"
Thanks to the rich mineral resources, industry is developed in the republic. Conventional mines do not exist - the permafrost zone is too large. No matter how deep you go into the soil, you find yourself on a layer of frozen earth. In the harsh lands there are deposits that are mined by open and semi-open methods. Diamond mining is developed here, and one of the most famous remains quarry "Mir", uranium, gold, oil, gas and coal. In addition, local residents - Yakuts, Russians, Evenks and Evens - are engaged in woodworking, agriculture, deer breeding, hunting and fishing.
Transport problem
Buluus glacier
According to statistics, there are few tourists in Yakutsk. The reason for this is an expensive road. The Russian capital and the main city of Yakutia are separated by more than 8000 km. The plane covers this distance in 6.5 hours, and the flight is not cheap.
In other Yakut cities - Oymyakon or Mirny, there are only routes along the rivers and winter roads. It turns out that you can get to the remote corners of the republic only in the cold season and by water. Some travelers use local aviation - planes and helicopters, but the cost of such flights is also quite high.
Lena cruises
View of the Lena Pillars from the Lena River
There are more than a dozen hotels, hostels and mini-hotels in Yakutsk. Almost all of them are designed for business travelers who fly here on business. However, there are always rooms for tourists.
River trips on motor ships along the Lena are popular among those who come to Yakutia. They are held during the navigation period - from late July to early November. Tourists travel both north and south of Yakutsk and spend the night on board the ship.
A trip for several days allows you to visit different natural zones - from tundra to taiga, see many sights, learn about the traditions, faith and life of indigenous peoples. Tourists are shown the sites of the most famous archaeological sites and interesting natural monuments.
Dunes of Tukulana
The small population of Yakutia has a unique culture that goes back many thousands of years. People lived on these lands long before they were discovered by the Russian Cossacks. Archaeologists have found on the territory of the republic the sites of a person aged from 300 thousand to 10 thousand years. Especially many prehistoric settlements were found in the middle reaches of the Lena River.
Evenks appeared in Yakutia quite late, in the middle of the 1st millennium AD. Later, they mixed with the Paleo-Asian clans that had lived here for a long time, and a new nation, the Yakuts, was formed.
The river trip along the Lena lasts from 12 to 14 days. During the summer season, there are from 3 to 5 such cruises, so it is worth booking places on them in advance.
"Lena Pillars"
Lena Pillars from a bird's eye view
This is what he calls a large natural park located on the banks of the Lena River, 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk and 200 km from Yakutsk. The height of the coastal limestone cliffs reaches 220 m. The whimsical stone giants resemble huge organs, slender towers, magical temples and medieval castles.
The nature reserve is inhabited by animals of taiga forests and mountain-taiga areas - bears, moose, chipmunks, squirrels, ermines, sables, wild reindeer and musk deer. More than a hundred species of birds nest in the forests. The finds of paleontologists remind of prehistoric times. The remains of bison, woolly rhinos and mammoths that inhabited Yakutia many years ago were found in the park.
Kyurylyur waterfall
For tourists who come to see the natural beauty, special tours are conducted along the Lena Pillars. Hikers can follow three ecological trails ranging in length from 2 to 8 km. Educational walks are designed for 2-5 hours and introduce you to the floodplain of the river, massifs of waving sands - tukulans, birds living on the river bank and beautiful stone outliers.
Fans of water tourism take part in rafting on the Sinyaya and Buotama rivers with pleasure. These are large trips of 100-134 km, which usually take from 2 to 5 days. Travelers, together with a guide, can raft in rubber boats or kayaks and spend the night in the huntsman's house. During the route, they have the opportunity to see virgin forests, noisy rifts, picturesque rocks and outcrops of permafrost on the river banks.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Yakutsk
What to see in Yakutsk
Locals call their capital "Gyokuuskaj". It was founded in 1632. The city began with a small wooden prison built by Russian Cossacks on the banks of the Lena. In modern Yakutsk, all tourists visit the Old Town - the historical quarter, where old wooden buildings are collected.
Many travelers travel outside of Yakutsk, 5 km of the Vilyui tract, to visit the complex “Kingdom of Permafrost”. People come here to see the lord of cold Chyskhaan and a large glacier located in the heart of the mountain. The tour lasts about an hour. Tourists explore the beautifully designed cave and admire sculptures, cutlery and musical instruments made of ice.
Kingdom of permafrost
Interestingly, in winter the temperature inside is -10 ° C, and in summer it is about -5 ° C, so warm clothes are needed. The center is open every day of the week from 11:00 to 19:00.
Mammoth Museum
During a visit to Yakutsk, it is worth looking into an unusual museum, where unique collections of skeletons of extinct animals are kept. More than 1,500 exhibits are exhibited in its halls - skulls, tusks, fragments of carcasses and stuffed animals. Museum staff regularly hold interesting master classes and show tourists the basics of bone carving.
Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk
The museum is located on Kulakovskogo street, 48. Its doors are open to visitors from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00. Tickets with a guided tour for adults and young guests are inexpensive - 120 rubles (2018).
Souvenirs
Since many precious stones are mined in the republic, tourists willingly take home high-quality jewelry. Rings, pendants, pendants, chains and bracelets are expensive and beautiful souvenirs. There are always finished products and individual stones on sale.
Tower of the Yakutsk prison
Figurines, jewelry, key rings and crafts made of mammoth bones are very popular among travelers. Exclusive souvenirs can be ordered from local carvers or purchased at the Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk.
Amulets with the image of bears are in demand among the Yakuts.For tourists, they sell original "bear" talismans decorated with semiprecious stones. Very often they are made in the form of an ordinary computer flash drive.
Horses have long been bred in the republic, and it is easy to find rugs, wall panels and comfortable insoles made of durable horsehair in souvenir shops. Yakut knives and items of national clothing and footwear, of excellent quality, are in great demand.
Ethnographic complex "Chochur-Muran" in Yakutsk
In Yakutsk, it is not difficult to buy warm high boots and fur phone cases. From delicious souvenirs to the memory of a trip to the Republic of Sakha, they usually bring stroganina, smoked and dried fish, dried venison and fragrant taiga berries.
