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Spring Flood on the Kolyma River. Srednekolymsk under Water [photos]

Bolot — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:44:35 +0000

The spring is the most expected season during the winter in Yakutia. When it comes, it brings a great joy, as it gets warmer, snow melts, ice starts floating on rivers. A spectacular nature event, but…

The spring brings disasters as well. They happen to be devastating and hundreds of private houses and households go under water. This weekend the disaster came to the town of Srednekolymsk (population: 3500 people) situated on the west bank of the Kolyma River in North-East Yakutia, Siberia / Russia.

The ice jam occured on the river (see the photo further) and the level of water raised dramatically and the most part of the town went under water. At least, 1000 inhabitants were evacuated by the Russian Emergency Ministry yesterday, May 21st, 2012.

Ice jam on the Kolyma River. The arrow shows the location. Srednedkolymsk is on the right side.

Srednekolymsk residents, Ivan Shadrin, Masha Galitskaya & Lyuba Konstantinova, keep reporting and uploading photographs from the flood site on the Russian social website VK.com.

See what’s happing up there in Kolyma, East-North Yakutia, Siberia / Russia.

Today, the level of water in Srednekolymsk is reported to be getting lower.Similar Posts:

Snowdrops in Yakutia, Russia [photos]

Bolot — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:59:38 +0000

Ajar Varlamov’s photo.

In Russia’s Yakutia, May is the time when we say, “Finally, the spring arrived and snow is almost gone.” It is the time to enjoy snowdrops. Like icebreak on rivers, these magic flowers are a symbol of the spring.

Ajar Varlamov‘s photos taken near Yakutsk, Central Yakutia:

See more photographs from Ajar Varlamov.

Sergei Kokorin‘s photos taken in Aldan, South Yakutia:

Sergei lives in Aldan. If you will be heading to Yakutsk overland, stop by at his place. He can provide good accommodation and arrange interesting travels across South Yakutia. Check his website: www.goldenaldan.ruSimilar Posts:

Siberian shamanism & Sakha people in Yuri Sleptsov’s scratched drawings. Fine arts.

Bolot — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:11:06 +0000

Yuri Sleptsov, a Siberian artist based in Yakutsk, Russia

Hereby I present Yuri Sleptsov‘s art works. His drawings are done on a plastic board with the use of a scalpel. Such a technique is called scratchboard or scraperboard (grattazh, in Russian). Learn more about it on Wiki.

Yuri prefers to use the plastic, as it provides the sharp contrast between white lines and the black inked background. This technique is used very rarely. The drawing might be created in the course of several weeks, months or even year. A hard work. One little mistake might spoil the whole art piece.

Yuri Sleptsov started drawing in the scraperboard style in 1991. Since that, he participated in many various exhibits and was awarded for originality and fine technique.

He didn’t graduate any arts schools. Yuri used to be an economist, retailor, auditor. Currently, he is devoted to ethnographic researches. Does a lot to keep Eveni children’s summer nomad camp in Momsky region, North-East Yakutia.

Once Yuri said to me that his grandmother was a female shaman, one of his grandfarther (through farther’s line) was also shaman. Well, I am not surprise to feel some power in his artful images.

Mandar Uus (Boris Neustroev), a famous Sakha writer from the Tattinsky region of Central Yakutia.

Brothers.

Old Sakha man.

An American professor Correl.

A Siberian laika puppy and a butterfly.

One more thing. To support his children’s summer nomadic school in Momsky region, Yuri Sleptsov accepts orders for drawings. You can buy some from him or send your picture to be done in the scratchboard technique.Similar Posts:

Fine Arts: Alexander Khodulov’s oil paintings

Bolot — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:22:50 +0000

Shaman image. 1992-1993. Oil painting. 118 x 93.

Alexander Khodulov was a Yakutian artist, who lived from 1962 till 2003. His preferred genres were portrait, landscape scenery, still life, etc.

He was born in Yakutsk. In the family of the outstanding USSR national artist Dmitry F. Khodulov. Graduated Children Art School, Yakutsk Art College (1981), the Surikov Art Institute in Moscow (1987). A member of the Sakha Republic Artist Union since 1993.

Quote: “Nature was a leading theme in Alexander’s work, – said his wife and colleague Marianna Lukina. – His art pieces reveal a great love to the Yakutian land, lyric, and majesty. In his paitings one may feel sincerity, purity and life-asserting spirit. Viewers may have a sensation of nature, its sounds, structure and complexity. Irrespective of scenery, portraite, stills or other genres, he remained himself – modest and good-humoured.”

Alexander Khodulov. A self-portrait.

Saying a lot of sincere thanks to Yulia Khodulova for providing photographs and info.Similar Posts:

Happy Victory Day from Yakutsk, Siberia / Russia. 10 photos.

Bolot — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:20:48 +0000

Today is Russia’s Victory Day, a national holiday celebrated across the country. See photographs taken on Victory Day in Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russia.

To see big images, click thumbnails.

Happy Victory Day!Similar Posts:

Parade on May 1st in Yakutsk, Russia. 45 photos.

Bolot — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:09:57 +0000

May 1st is a special day in Russia. It’s a national holiday. It might called in different ways. International Workers’ Day, May Day, Spring & Labour Day or Labour Day. Here we just use the word “May 1st” (in Russian, “Pervomaj” or “Pervoe Maja”.)

How do we percept this holiday?

In my and many others’ opinion, it is more like a celebration of the spring. It is a day, when we can enjoy parades and go out of the city for BBQ (shashliki).

See photographs of the May 1st Parade taken place in Yakutsk, Russia.

To see big images, click thumbnails.

Similar Posts:

70 Travel Photos: Reindeer Sledding w/ Even Herders in Oymyakon, Siberia, Russia

Bolot — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:17:26 +0000

In February, as you might already know, I experienced just a magic reindeer sledding expedition across valleys and rivers of Oymyakon, East Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia. With the Even nomad family of the Cherkashins. Well, it was a sort of expedition to me, but not to reindeer herders. They considered two-day travel as a regular neighbourhood visit.

No more words from me. Enjoy 70+ photographs.

More about Oymyakon reindeer sledge trip at my other blog AskYakutia.com.Similar Posts:

Tundra City in Udachny, Russia – Architectural Project Mentioned by eVolo

Bolot — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:41:40 +0000

Russian architect Pavel Sipin’s project “Tundra City” (a futuristic city located in the abandoned Udachny diamond pit in West Yakutia’s Mirninsky region) deserved Honorable Mention at eVolo’s 2012 Skyscraper Competition.

See images above. Click to enlarge them.

The city of Udachny is used for the futuristic city architectural project not for the first time. Its name means “lucky” in the Russian language, but its fate doensn’t look as such.

In the very beginning, everything seemed really awesome. In 1955, the Udachnaya pipe diamond deposit was discovered. As it was located in the remote area, the pit exploitation started in the 60s. The city of the same name was founded in 1968.

Now it looks this way.

In the Soviet era, this place could be considered as a happy industrial city, but bad time arrived after the 1.7 kilotonne atomic bomb blast in October 1974. People realized that environment in the North were too vulnerable and it would better not to play with it.

Soviet architects developed even the project “City Under the Dome” and, yes, in the diamond pit, but it was put in the archive. Decades later, Pavel Sipin revived the theme of futuristic Udachny City.

Here’s how his project was described at 2012 Skyscraper Competition:

“Tundra City is located in the exhausted diamond mine “Lucky” which is the geographical center of the entire Russian Tundra – the last point of urbanization of the Russian North.”

“The tundra is an unexplored region, which hardly anyone wants to go. It is associated with a “hole” due to poor living conditions. The Russian government has paid attention to the prospect and huge potential benefits of developing the region to the whole the country. This has been facilitated by the existing geopolitical threat posed by the rapidly development of China, India, and other countries.”

“Tundra City is a launching pad to address the problems of the region: population, development of infrastructure, creation of new industry, agriculture, science, and culture.”

“Tundra City is a new ark, which will gather people together for a new life, new qualified scientists and workers will grow, who will put the Yakut ideas into practice. The tradition of the Yakut people is dominated by the heart-“olonkho”. The Center (a symbolic heart) is built of 11 modules – logs, including the following areas: scientific, social, agro-industrial, residential, relaxation, hospitality, educational, and industrial. Two blocks (expedition and station) are located on the surface; the rest of the program is located underneath. A central skeleton supports spatial structures while residential unit are built around an H section, in which the central wall is complemented by a number of locked houses. Academic (scientific) units are built of space trusses. Agro-industrial unit consists of a structure of massive floors, fixed on the central bearing wall.”

Ok. I would just say, “Another nice project to discuss and dream about.”:)

Have a good day!Similar Posts:

Yakutian horse riders in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [photos]

Bolot — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:43:10 +0000

Hereby, I am publishing Yegor Makarov’s photographs of Yakutian horse riders from different horse trekking expeditions across the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia.

Yegor Makarov is a successful businessman, who lives and runs the Muus Khaya entertaining complex in Yakutsk, Russia. His big addiction is to travel across his vast homeland, and he is a big fan of the Yakutian horse, Yakutia-orginated horse breed.

Currently, he is making a documentary and a book about the Yakutian horse. Meanwhile, he shares his passion with you.

Photos were taken during his expeditions to Verkhoyansky and Oymyakon regions as well as across Verkhoyansky and Chersky Ranges.

See the episodes of Yegor Makarov’s Yakutian horse documentary. More his photos are available in posts tagged under his name Yegor Makarov.Similar Posts:

2012 Yakutsk Spring Race Tournament by Mammoth Off-Road Club [photos]

Bolot — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:16:36 +0000

It’s already a good tradition. Annually, Mammoth Yakutsk Off-Road Club arranges the spring race, that officially opens the season for the club’s all-terrain events. It happens in April, when snow is still on the ground. This year was not exception.

Last weekend, the club held the snow race tournament called “Spring Melting.” Participants were devided into different categories depending on a vehicle type and they needed to compete who would come to the finish line first.

Ok. No more words, take a look at my following photographs.

By the way, let me know, what a type of a car you have and whether you participate in any races. If yes, give us a link to check.Similar Posts: