Ust-Nera - the center of Oymyakon'ya

Oymyakonye is a territory known to the whole world as a pole of cold (the lowest temperature is -71.2 degrees). In addition, the largest temperature fluctuation on the earth is recorded here - on average from 61st with a minus sign to 39 with a plus sign. This territory is located between the two ridges - Chersky and Suntar-Hayat. In the basin between them in 1931 was created Oymyakonsky ulus (district). The reason for its occurrence is the richest reserves of gold, tungsten, tin, arsenic, antimony, mercury and other rare minerals.

Location of the village

Closer to the north, where the Nera River flows into Indigirka, is Ust-Nera, an urban-type settlement that became the district center of the ulus and the largest settlement of Oymyakonye since 1954. The founder of the village, as well as several other settlements in north-eastern Yakutia and Kalym, was a Soviet geologist Valentin Alexandrovich Tsaregradsky (July 24, 1902-1990). Shortly before the war, a seaplane arrived at the mouth of the Nera with geologists on board. August 6, 1937 is considered the day of the founding of the village of Ust-Nera.

Founder of Ust-Nera

Valentin Alexandrovich, who first set foot on this land, is very revered in these places - his name was named street. The expedition worked fruitfully until 1941 - many gold deposits were explored, and in 1942 the first mines were discovered. In addition, this year, intelligence work was carried out at the future tungsten mining enterprise Alaskitovoe, during which during the war the Vlasov prisoners made an attempt on V. Tsaregradsky when he inspected the underground workings. Miraculously the geologist remained alive.

Builders of mines and settlements

Of course, everywhere in Yakutia there were camps of prisoners. Their hands laid roads, including the Magadan highway, mines were created (they also extracted gold) and housing projects were built. The village of Ust-Nera was the first school (1945-1946) obliged to the builders-prisoners. In those days, the entire settlement was surrounded by barbed wire, because they were working on many objects. According to the documents of the society "Memorial", from 1949 to 1957 it was in this village that Indigirllag was located.

Years of successful development

In 1938 Dalstroy was established - the Trust for the management of road and industrial construction in Kalym. In the village of Ust-Nera in 1944, the Indigirskoye GPU was located, which belongs to Dalstroy (liquidated in 1957). The settlement itself was surrounded by impenetrable swamps. In 1945, the energy combine comes into operation, and in 1946 Ust-Nera receives its industrial current, and immediately begins telephone installation of the village.

In 1950, this settlement, located in the north-east of Yakutia, receives the title of urban-type settlement. But not only the harsh climate makes this place hard for living. Indigirka, which is the coldest river in the world, carries many dangers during the floods. The floods of 1951, 1959 and 1967 were terrible. The water rose to the second floor of the old school (the new one was built in 1974), flooded food warehouses. After the flood of 1959, the coasts of the willful river began to be strengthened. The population of the village of Ust-Nera grew steadily and in 1989 reached 12.5 thousand people. Local residents and TV began to look first (1971) in Yakutia. In 1978, a concrete bridge was built through Indigirka.

Hard times for the industry

Severe perestroika years affected this promising area. The mines began to be closed, the population began to fall steadily, and already in 2010 there were 8,400 people living here. Now the social policy of the federal authorities, including in relation to Yakutia, represents the most important direction of the state's activity. Special programs are being developed to help stop the outflow of the population. Much is being done to make promising industrial areas attractive to new settlers.

The realities of our days

The village of Ust-Nera is also not neglected. Yakutia (the Republic of Sakha) pays great attention to youth policy. Now in the village there is a mining and processing gold-mining plant. It is a city-forming enterprise. In addition, there is an airport, a modern polyclinic and a hospital, a sports complex with a swimming pool and a stadium. Actually, everything that characterizes the modern district center, is in the village of Ust-Nera. Reviews about it, of course, very different. Pessimists say that the village is dying. Optimists list the beautiful buildings of SE "Sakhatelecom" and the Palace of Culture "Metallurg", new buildings of the MC "Pegasus" and the cinema "North". There are banks, hotels, the city museum, modern shops, markets and kindergartens.