Hi! My name is Bolot. I am a journalist. Based in Yakutsk. Ask me a question about the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Siberia / Russia, and get the answer.
Andrey I is a prominent Russian film maker. He is the man, who helped a lot to clean Shergin’s Shaft, the world’s deepest permafrosted well created in Yakutsk, Russia, a few centuries ago. Here is the related news.
Hereby, Andrey I sent me his own story about his extraordinary descent to the bottom of Yakutsk. Praise god, his text in English.
History background:
1837. After a decade of wearisome work in the permafrost a well of 116 meters depth was dug out. Now it is known as Shergin’s Shaft.
1844. Scientific research began. Shergin’s shaft became the world’s “cradle” of science of cave exploring and permafrost studies.
1942. In unknown circumstances the cable used to descent to the bottom of the shaft breaks off. The shaft remains inaccessible for 67 years.
2009. After a long preparation and the digging the snow cork the entrance of the shaft is opened. The 3rd of November is set as the day of storm of the shaft, the attempt of the work in TV format with direct broadcast of the event.
Further, see photographs and a story written by Andrey I himself.
Received a very nice request from a 12-year-old lady from Stochholm, Sweden.
She wrote:
Hi!.. I am 12 years old. I am working on a school project about Yakutsk and Yakutia. There are some things I want to ask about. – What type of clothes do you use during wintertime? -What abot the wildlife in Yakutia, what type of animals live there? – Children who don’t live close to their school, how do they get to school during the coldest periods?
This is so cool! I was extremely glad to hear kids’ interest in Yakutia.
As you know, Yakutsk, the capital of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia in Russia’s Siberia, is based on the frozen ground known mostly as the permafrost. What’s that? It means the ground the city stands on is penetrated by ice. Actually, it is the mixture of dust, soil and ice.
See the above video made inside the undeground tunnel used by Yakutsk Permafrost Institute (the only one alike in the wold) and get an idea of what I am trying to tell. In this vid I like most of all those huge frozen snowflakes. If you had be lucky enough to go down inside, please, do not crush snowflakes, as it took decades for them to became so awesome :)
Previously, I wrote much about Yakutsk Permafrost Institute. Read more…
The flag of Yakutia in a bookstore in the 2nd House of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia
Yesterday, Doug Wothke sent me a text with a quick question, “Where to buy the flag of Yakutia?” Gosh, it appeared to be a hard question.
I don’t know why, but Yakutia flags are something that tend to be ordered specially at local advertising & publishing houses. It is something used mostly and ordered in a bulk by governmental and municipal organizations, NGOs, various parties or companies.
So, the flag of Yakutia must be ordered. I mean, if you wish a flag, you need to contact a company that produces flags, and place the order.
Thanks to Vasily Kirillin, we’ve got this updated info on Wi-Fi access points in Yakutsk, Siberia / Russia, as of Apr 28th, 2011.
Vasily writes, in Yakutsk, where is the most expensive Internet (1MB=~2 Russian Rubles), Wi-Fi is a luxury that is not offered in all places. Nevertheless, there is a recent increase in the number of those organizations that offer their customers Internet access via Wi-Fi on a fee basis and only a few for free.
Address: 21 Lenin Avenue (проспект Ленина, дом 21), Yakutsk/Russia. How to get: From the airport by a taxi (~20 min, 150-250 rubles, max. 300 rubles, don’t pay more for the ride) or by buses # 4, 14, 109 (30-35 min, 15 rubles for one way, bus driver might ask to pay extra for huge luggages). How to book: by phone +7 (4112) 42-13-92. In Russian only. Type: appartment-based hotel/hostel.
On the map: see the below.
It is located in a Stalin-like appartment building in the very center of Yakutsk. On the main street, Lenin Ave. Across the road in front of ALROSA s 4-stars hotel Polar Star. Click the photo to enlarge.
I was frequently asked about hostels/small hotels availability in Yakutsk. There are some, and they are different. At long last, I found time and checked a few.
Here is my current pick. That’s Metro Hostel. It is cheap and clean. It has many big advantages. Let’s list them. Read more…
This question was asked by Swiss photographers Mathias Braschler & Monika Fischer, who spent the whole last Saturday on searching a person with a tumbledown house for the forth portrait. Ad notam, they currently work on the worldwide photo project about people directly affected by climate change. So, they were hungry at midnight in the town, where people don’t tend to eat so late. Especially, me. I prefer to spend all evenings with my family. The question was simple, but it took one hour to be answered. Read more…
Sure. In Yakutsk the popular wireless technology is provided by SakhaTelekom JSC. Currently, visitors may get connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi with SakhaTelekom JSC’s prepaid cards in 15 locations. Read more…
