Yakutsk

Yakutsk is the capital of the Republic of Sakha Yakutia, one of the most oldest Siberian cities.

History

It was founded by a Yenisei sotnic Petr Beketov in the 25th of September in 1632. Under his leadership the Cossak detachment laid Lenskiy ostrog only by 1647. It was renamed as Yakutskiy located on the right bank of the Lena river 70 km to the north from the modern location of the town. Being one of the most important out-posts of Russia in the Eastern Siberia, Yakutsk became trade and administrative center of the region, the base for numerous reconnoitring and later scientific expeditions of the Far East and the Far North researchers. In 1822 the Yakutsk got the status of the provincial town, in 1851 the center of the Yakutian independent region on the Government rights. Since the Yakutsk – the permanent capital of Yakut Region, since the 27 th of April in 1922 Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, since the 27th of April in 1992 the Republic of Sakha Yakutia. Nowadays Yakutsk is the large administrative, industrial, cultural and scientific center, one of the most dinamically developing cities of the Far East.

Climate

Yakutsk is located on 62 northern latitude. The climate is sharply continental that allows the record – breaking overfalls of maximum summer (+ 38C) and minimal winter (-64C) temperatures. Its total fluctuation in temperature is more than 100! The mean temperature in January is – 42.7, in July is + 18.7. The precipitation event is more than 200 millimeters for a year. The most comfortable time for travel is March, June, July. You can fully enjoy winter holidays and snow-covered views of the central Yakutia in tolerable weather conditions in Spring sunny months with skis, snowboards, skating, riding, dog sledding, ice sculptures exhibitions. The mean temperature in March is about – 22.5. But two summer months are nice opportunity to see wonderful munificence of the northern nature, to enjoy with white nights, to sail along the Yakutian rivers and to take part in Yakutian national holiday Isiakh.

How to reach

By planes

Direct flights to the Moscow, Saint- Petersburg, Novosibirks, Krasnoyarks, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and other big cities of the country are done regularly from Tuymaada International Airport. There are weekly international direct flights to Harbin (China), Seoul (South Korea), Sapporo (Japan) as well as regular flights to district centers within the Republic.

The major airport is located outside of the town. You can reach downtown by taxi (15-20 min), or by buses № 4, 5, 20 (30-40 min).

The private aviation is served in Magan Domestic Airport “ Magan” located seven km from the town. Availble flights to district centers. You can reach downtown by taxi (30-40min), or by bus (60-70 min).

By train

There is no railway service. The most nearest railway station is Tommot, 453 km from the town. Yakutsk Passenger Terminal is to be constructed on the right bank of the Lena river by 2012. You can take railway tickets from Tommot or Nerungry stations to any destinations in Air Service Central Agency (8, Ordzhonikidze Street).

By car

The federal primary road M 56 “Lena”(Never – Yakutsk) is the only road which connects Yakutsk with the outworld. This road has macadam and in places improved cement pavements with curb–to-curb width of 7 meters. It runs in conditions of eternal frost almost all through. You can see numerous lakes and minor rivers while travelling. Most bridges along the way are low-level and timber with capacity below 60 ton. Two years ago the Lena road has been recognized as the worst road in the world because of the deplorable state. However, the situation around reconstruction was improved last years, but anyway while rain season some places on the road become heavy- going (especially in the district of Uluu-Kachikatsy). There is a ferry–boat which works in summer on the last share of 12 kilometers across the Lena river– Nizhniy Bestyakh-Yakutsk , but it is an ice waftage in winter. There is no road in May and October.

The transit scheduled buses goes from Nerungry (18-20 hours) and Aldan (12-14 hours) to Yakutsk two times a week. There are private microbuses as well, which plies between towns according to the number of passengers daily.

Ship

You can take regular passenger passage from Yakutsk river harbor to Olekminsk, Lensk, Zhigansk, Khandiga and to some other district centers of Yakutia. There is no regular passenger service outside the Republic, except for passages to Ust-Kut (the Irkutsk Region), where the railway terminal is. There is also an active freight navigation across the Arctic ocean to ports of North-West Russia, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk only for provision delivery reasons.

By bus

It is the major public transport. The complex traffic routing includes most corners of the town – about 20 routes. There are not much suburb rounds to the neighboring settlements from the Bus Service Station. One way ride costs 10 rubles (on Feb, 2007). Free travel for children under 7.

By taxi

There are a lot of taxi service you may get in touch with by phone. The fare is not fixed, it depends on distance. Riding within downtown will be for 80 rubles. Also you can rent a cab for an hour. Latter will cost at least 250 rubles.

Places of interest

Museums

•  The Yaroslavsky United Yakutsk State Museum of History and Culture of People of the North

The excellent artifact collection of different periods – from the epochs beyond historical reach (since time out of mind) to the events in 90s of the XX century. The rich collection of stuffed wild animals of the North and the only full frame of the mammoth will make you wonder. More info.

Address: Lenin av . 5/2, tel. +7(4112) 42-5 1 - 74
Working hours: 10.00- 17.00

•  Museum of Mammoth of the Academy of Science of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

One of the diversified exhibits collection of the Ice-Age epoch in the world. The cryo–camera is the gem of the collection, where the head of the mammoth is. It was found in the deep-frozen soil in a state of nature – with flesh and wool. You should ascertain the presence of the cryo-camera beforehand, because it is often on the exhibition outside the Yakutsk .

Address: Kulakosky str. 48, 3d floor, tel.: +7(4112) 36-16-47.
Working hours: 10.00-18.00.

•  Museum of Archeology & Ethnography of the Yakutsk University

The history of the Yakut population is shown in the very interesting exposition of subjects of life and the cult of sakha, evenk, evenki, yukagiry and other Yakut ethnos from the earliest times.

Address: 48, Kulakovskiy street , Yakutsk , tel.: +7 (4112)49-68-41
Working hours: Tuesday- Friday: 10.00-17.00
Saturday: 11.00-16.00

The museum of permafrost is in a class by itself. Going down the ground you can listen to the detailed lecture about the essence of this nature phenomenon. Also you will see the collection of artifacts kept in natural refrigerator. Warm clothing is necessary for visiting the museum.

Address: 36, Merzlotnaja street , Yakutsk , tel.: 33-44-76, 33-43-38
Working hours: advance booking

•  National Art Museum of Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The great art collection includes the works of yakut, native, foreign masters of the fine arts of the XVI- XXI centuries. Also exposition includes the rich work collection of traditional yakut arts and woodcrafts. More info.

Address: 12, Kirova street
Working hours: 10.00-18.00, every day.

Also there are:

•  The Memorial House Museum of Maksim Ammosov
•  The Museum of History of Connection
•  The Yakut state literary museum of P.A.Ojunskiy
•  International Museum of Khomus (Vargan) Music
•  Music and Folklore Museum of the Nations of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
•  House Museum “The History of Political Exile in Yakutia”
•  Republic Museum of Pupils Achievments
•  Exhibit hall of the National Art Museum
•  Art- Gallery “Symekh”
•  Art-Gallery “Urgel”
•  Numismatic Museum of the Yakutsk University
•  Physical Culture and Sport Museum

Architectonical complexes and Monuments

•  Stariy Gorod

It is a rebuilt in an architectural style of XIX century urban area, which is located in the center of the town, circumscribed with Ammosova, Arzhakova streets and the Square of Falling Soldiers Before the Enemy. Paved with blocks streets with restricted traffic, coffee corners, trade houses are the place where citizens like to spend their time. There are rebuilt Preobrazhensky church, the Found Innovator Monument , Memorial of Falling Soldiers Before the Enemy, stela in honor 375 years of Yakutia as the member of Russia and the Museum of M. K. Ammosov , a well known politician in the beginning of XX century. More info.

•  Stela of Victoria

It is located in the cognominal square. The very high stela devoted to the victory of the Great Patriotic War is decorated in the sculpture of the yakut epos olonkho hero Nurgun Bootur.

•  The Monument to Abakayada

It is located on the Kirova and Poyarkova streets intersection. The sculptural group devoted to the first international marriage between Russian male and Yakut female and to their child (the symbol of two nations connection).

•  The Monument to Platon Oyunsky

It is located in the cognominal square, also so called Ordzhonikidze square. The sculptural figure of P.A. Oyunsky (a writer, a well-known socialist in the beginning of XX century) is a symbol of human intelligence progress. Also there is a metal bow over him with graven quotations from his writings that personify the productive fact of nature.

•  Lenskiy Historical Architectural Park Museum “Druzhba”

It is located on the right bank of the Lena river, where the Lensky ostrog was settled by pathfinders. The main exhibits of the museum are under the open sky – the copy of a well-known Zashiverskiy ostrogs Spasskiy church, and the copy of the overshoe of a centurion Petr Beketov, an ostrog founder. The other old wooden art of building of Yakutia are very interesting too. The exposition of culture and Yakut life: household goods, cult-objects, clothing examples and ammunitions, funeral complexes, works of arts and crafts are demonstrated in the rebuild constructions. There is a restaurant of Yakut cooking in the museum. Some ice-runs and the promenade are held in the territory of the museum in spring. One of the most nameable sight of the park museum is the lookout tower on the top of the nearest Sopka. Everybody may see the wonderful views of the Lena river from the tower. You can go there by a private micro-bus or by scheduled micro-bus (2 hours for travelling).

Address: Ust-Aldanskiy district (region), Sottinsy village.

Also there are:

•  Rebuilt towers of Yakutskiy ostrog of XVII century
•  Building of exchequer of XVIII century
•  Mine Shergin – the deepest private man-made mine in the permafrost
•  The Monument to A. E. Kulakovskiy, a writer and a well-known socialist
•  Monuments to different politicians of the imperial and soviet epochs in different regions of town: to Lenin, Dzerzhinskiy, Marks, Kraft, Yaroslavskiy.
•  Two Monuments to Mammoth ( The Institute of Permafrost and The Circus )
•  Other Monuments of traditional wooden Siberia art of the XX century in the Saisar and Zalog regions.

What to do (How to plan)

Excursions

Yakutsk for one day

It would be better to go to the Museum of Mammoth and the Museum of archeology and ethnography since morning. If weather is good, you can have a walk along the quay of Teplaya (Warm) Lake . The quay is a favourite rendezvous of the youth and lovers on fine mornings. The bridges connect banks of the lake. The university camp on the one side, and old wooden buildings on the other side. The floating fountains works in lake in summer, rinks are organized in winter.

Turning to north west on the intersection of Lenin Avenue and Kulakovskiy Street you will find yourself on the Square of Friendship with the Monument to A. E. Kulakovskiy, the Theatre of Opera and Ballet and rebuild constructions of the treasure of times Ecaterina II. Nowadays the branch of the National Art Museum is in this place.

If you go north-east along the Lenin avenue till the Lenin square, then go south-east along the Kirova street seeing the domes of Preobrazhenskiy church, you will come to the complex of “Stariy Gorod”. After enjoying the architectural sights, taste national dishes in the restaurant of Tygyn Darkhan Hotel. Also you can buy here your favourite Yakut souvenir from the Kuday Bakhsy shop.

After midnight visit the National Art Museum of the Republic Sakha (Yakutia) in the Lenin Square. But take into consideration that even cursory inspection of the exposition will take you about 2 hours. Visit the Local History Museum that is located near from the Lenin Square in the northeastern side the other time of the day.

“Chochur-Myran”, the national Yakut and Russian kitchen restaurant, is the best place where you can have supper. It is located on the area of natural beauty with a private Museum of Objects of Life of XIX century.

….for two days

The first half of a day you can go to the unique underground laboratory of Permafrost Institute, but the second half of a day, after visiting the International Museum of Vargan Music, have supper in the “Tamerlan” restaurant and enjoy the performance in the Sakha Theatre.

….for three days

Going to the suburbs is the best thing to do in the third day – the ethnographical complexes “Orto Doydu” with the zoo and restaurant or Druzhba Architectural Museum under the open sky.

•  Sakha Drama Theatre named after P.A. Oiunsky

Dramatic performances in the Yakut language. There is a synchronous translation into Russian language. More info. Address: 1, Ordzhonikidze st., Yakutsk , tel.: 34-13-31, 34-28-21

•  Yakut State Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Suorun Omolloon.

Opera and ballet not only of worlds classics, but also of Yakut writings. Also you can see concerts of local singers and guest artists and cultural evenings. Address: 46/1, Lenin pr., Yakutsk , tel.: 36-06-90, 36-14-12, 36-11-65.

•  Russian State Drama Theatre named after A.S. Pushkin

Dramatic performances in the Russian language. Classical and Modern writings. More info. Address: 21, Lenin pr., tel.: 42-46-91

•  Variety Theatre, Music Saloon “Charoit”

Musicales and concerts of Yakut artists. More info. Address: 2, Kalandarashvili street, tel.: 32-11-72, 35-11-42.

•  State Theatre of Humor and Satire

Comedy shows (musicals, concerts) in the Yakut language. No synchronic translation. More info. Address: 25, Kirova street, tel.: 43-43-28, 43-35-90.

•  Kulakovskiy Culture Center

Concerts and diverse cultural events. Address: 13, Dzerzhinskiy street, tel.: 44-24-96

For children

The circus. The State Circus of the Republic Sakha ( Yakutia) is the most northern circus in the world. The Yakut Circus – the combination of Russian traditional circensian art with national culture of the far north. The gem of the circus program is the acrobat troop learned in China. They are prize winners of numerous international competitions and festivals. Also the Russian circus tours are often.

Address: 22, Poyarkova street, tel.: 42-95-73, 42-96-46.

The Zoo. The zoo “Orto-Doydu” has about 150 animal species. From invertebrates to big mammals, including Siberian tigers, brown bears and wild sheep. The point of the exposition is the fauna of northern and Far-Eastern Russia. There are terrarium and aviaries with birds. 7 species from the collection are in the Red Book of Russia and Yakutia. You can go there by private automotive transport, by bus №202 and by shuttles “Yakutsk- Pokrovsk” from the bus service station.

Address: Pokrovskiy highway, 50km, tel.: 22-52-59.

Festivals and holidays

The main national holiday traditionally held on the 21st of June, the summer solstice day. The exact data can be moved. Depends on weekends. Tens of thousands people from all corners of the Republic come to “Us Khatyn” location for the nation wide walk. The main event of the two-days celebration is the beautiful ceremony of the white shamans' blessing of the harvest. The ceremonial of meeting the sun has the deep sacral meaning. The celebration is attended by national sport game competitions - jumping, toxophily, tag of stick, “khapsagai” fight and etc., by national arts – singing, vargan playing, reading tongue twisters, etc., by competitions of national meals, national costumes, the best decorating of the place, by concerts of popular singers.

Others:

•  Labour Day(1, May)
•  Victory Day (9, May)
•  City Day (in the beginning of September)
•  Republic Day (27, September)
•  New Year (31, December)
•  International Festival of Modern Music “Tabyk” ( annually in December, it was not held in 2005, because of the bad financing)

Shopping

•  Clothes, subjects of life. Urban markets “Manniattaakh”, “ Stolichniy” have the most cheapest prices where you can buy everything in one time. Such trade markets as “Atlant”, “Optimist”, “Favorit”,” Apelsin” and others have the great choice of goods on the average selling prices. There are also a lot of boutiques and shops of well-known trade marks along the Lenin prospect.

•  Foodstuffs. The most moderate prices are in the distribution centers retailing on the Chernishevskiy street and in the multiples on the different regions of the town – “Tokko”, “Solnechnaya Tuymaada”. Fresh local production: meat, milk, vegetables, eggs are on the supermarket “Krestyanskiy”. You can buy delicacy from the “Elisey”, “Poyarkov” shops. Grocery day-and-night shops are in every block of the town and they are often not far from the bus station.

•  Alcohol. Alcohol drinks stronger than 15% are not on sale after 10 pm till 8 am in shops, but it is not forbidden in bars. Some taps of the bear are brewed in Yakutsk – “Elley”, “Yakutskoe”, and etc., and also some taps of vodka, alcohol infusions are produced. The most famous local vodka – “Pantoff”, with extracts of unossified antlers of the deer.

•  Tourist duffel. The great choice of the tourist duffel is in the trade house “Mercuriy”, in the trade house “202 Calibr”, in shops “Bayanay”, “Sarskaya Okhota”.

•  Books, maps and guide-books. The literature of different genres and styles is in shops “ Knizhniy Market”, “Knigolub”, “Argys”, “Podpisniye Izdaniya”, “Propagandist”. Maps and more detailed 2km maps of Yakut regions are in the shop “Globus”.

Food

Inexpensive

•  Canteen of the Print House.

The canteen of the Print House, where most Yakut newspapers are produced, is well-known due to his democratical prices (lunch – first, second courses, tea, desert – for 70 rubles ), jollops and the soviet style in the menu and indoor scene. Address: 31, Ordzhonikidze street . Working hours: since 12.00 to 15.00.

Popular price

•  “Eli- Pili”. It is a free- floe restaurant with traditional European kitchen and the South Russian entourage. There is a big hall with zones for smoking and no-smoking, a large menu, inexpensive prices (150-200 rubles for supper). It is a youth public often in evenings and in the day-time - workers from the nearest administrations. Address: 13, Kirova street . Working hours: 8.00 a . m. – 24.00 p.m.

•  “Tamerlan”. Yakut and Central Asia kitchen, wonderful indoor scene in Mongolian style. The gem of this place is the fry panel where any from your ordered meals will be cooked in front of you . Popular price (150-200 rubles for supper). Address: 8, the Lenin pr. Working hours: 9.00 a .m.- 24.00 p.m.

Expencive

•  “Tigin Darkhan”. It is the best place where you can taste the Yakut national meal. The crown dishes : “ oyogos” – the fried in the oven ribs of a colt , the porridge “ Salamat”, the salad “ Indigirka ” from the frozen fish. Supper for 1000 rubles. Address: 9, Ammosova street . Workinng hours: 08.00 a .m. – 10.00 a .m., 12.00 p.m. – 15.00 p.m., 18.00 p.m. – 23.00 p. m.

•  “Chochur Miran”. A suburban restaurant in a picturesque region is in the construction of a copy of the Lenskiy ostrog tower. Specialization: kedgeree, Yakut meals. Wonderful indoor scene, private mini- museum, driving on the dogs and snow storms in winter, ice sculpture, a possibility to observe the nest of ducks in summer. Supper for 1000 rubles. Address: Viluyskiy highway, 6 km . Working hours: 12.00p.m.- 24.00 a .m.

Night life

•  “Drakon”. It is the most large night club in the town. It is located in the cognominal entertaining three- floored center with a restaurant, boozers and billiard – tables. Two floors for disco place(800 people). It is rnb, pop and light house on Friday and Saturday. But on weekdays it is trans and house. There are sometimes specialized music days of 80s. Expensive bar: 0.5 liters of bear – from 80 rubles. Expensive entrance tickets: from 300 rubles. Address: 20/1, Oktyabrskaya street . Working hours: 20.00 p.m. – 09.00 a .m.

•  “Stealth”. One of the good clubs in the town. Disco place for 300 people. It is pop, light house and sometimes d n b sessions. The public – seniors, juniors. Democratical prices for the entrance tickets, but the expensive bar : 0.5 liters of bear – from 80 rubles. Address: 24, Oktyabrskaya street . Working hours: 20.00 p. m. – 07.00 a . m.

•  “Garazh”. There are two halls in the rock gas house. It is alive music sound in the weekend evenings. Local groups and sometimes Russian rockers play the music. The moderate prices in the bar: 0.5 liters of bear – from 65 rubles. Address: 1, Novoportovskaya street . Working hours: 20.00 p. m – 07.00 a .m.

Inexpensive

•  “Amalia”. It is in the center of the town with domestic style. The bedspace is limited. Obtain quarters in a hotel for 600 rubles for a day. Tel.: : 8-914-289-97-62

Average price

•  “ Lena ”. Hairdressing saloon, bar, currency exchange. In the center of the town. . Obtain quarters in a hotel for 2000 rubles for a day. Including the breakfast. Address: 8, Lenin pr.

Expensive

•  “Tygyn Darkhan”. Bar, restaurant, conference hall, the souvenir shop, sauna with pool, hair dressing saloon, currency exchange and exercise room. In the center of the town. Obtain quarters in a hotel for 3240 rubles for a day. Including the breakfast. Address: 9, Lomonosova street .

•  “ Polarnaya zvezda”. Situated in the very city centre. Cafe, bar, restaurant, trade center, sauna with pool, exercise room, business center, kegling, tourist agence. Obtain quarters in a hotel for 5250 rubles for a day. Including the breakfast. Address: 24, Lenina pr.

Communication

•  Postcode: 677000. Dialing code: 4112. Population: 225.5 thousand of people. Yakut time outruns for 6 hours the Moscow time (GMT +9). 14 settlements are under the administrative- territorial submission of the town.

Precautionary maesures

It is enough safety in the center of the town in any time, where the hotels, culture houses, and the main sights are. The streets are lighted in nights and there is a good police patrol. There are pocket-picking and mugging in the public transports, but it has not dangerous size. Be careful and do not visit such place like Zalog, 17 kvartal, Saysary in evenings and keep your jewels, expensive things in your deep and button pockets especially in public transports, markets, public places. It should be mentioned that the big nationalism problem is the myth. Yakutsk – is the multinational and tolerant town opened to different people with different church membership and nationality.

Suburbs

Visiting the main places of Yakutsk and the nearer suburbs will take you not more than 3-4 days. Yakut tourist agencies recommend you some interesting tourist directions:

•  Cruise on the motorship along the Lena river to Lena Pillars (2-3 days).

•  Cruise on the motorship along the Lena river to the Arctic Ocean (14 days)

•  Trip to never-melting ice cellar called Buluus (by car, 1 day)

•  Trip to the Verkhoyansk mountains, namely the Kisiliyakh place with the only geological constructions (by plane, 5-7 days).

•  Trip to Arctic Ocean coast, Tiksi (by plane,3-7 days).

•  Trip to Tomtor/Oymyakon, The Pole of Cold ( by car, 3-5 days).

Apart from cruises, all tours are individual.

Written by Yegor Fedorov.
Translated by N Frolova, YSU student.

RELATED LINK: Yakutsk: Journey to the coldest city on earth (The Independent, Shaun Walker)