In the early November, Yakutsk-based Vladimir Potapov (fb profile) arranged the winter snowmobile expedition to the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia (Siberia/Russia).

The route was Ust Kujga (map) — Kazach’e (map) — Laptev Sea.

The mission was to deliver the remains of the Yuka Mammoth from the area of the Yukagir community, Laptev Sea, to Yakutsk. It is the same place, where the famous Yukagir mammoth head was discovered seven years ago.

The Yuka mammoth corpse was found in the well-preserved condition by Vasily Gorokhov’s community four years ago. It has four legs, proboscis, and wool.

The expedition was filmed by BBC TV Channel and scheduled to be on the air on February 25th, 2012. It will be a 60-min story.

See more Arctic expedition photographs taken by Egor Fedorov.

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This morning I went out for a regular dog walk. With Ogonyok, 1-yo Yakutian laika (learn more about this dog breed), we headed to the anabranch of the Lena River located just in front of the block I live in.

In summer, it is visited mostly by city people striving for swimming. In winter, it becomes a sort of Mecca for ice fishermen. This day was not exception. On the ice, we spotted a dozen of men sitting with rods and bending over holes.

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A railway station in Nizhnyj Bestyakh in front of Yakutsk on the opposite bank of the Lena River. Photo by Dmitry Medvedev.

Yep, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Yakutsk. He arrived right from Hawaii this night.

The purpose of his official visit is to discuss the issues related to housing and communal services and participate in the opening of the last constructed branch line of the railway Berkakit — Tommot — Yakutsk in the settlement of Nizhnyj Bestyakh. This place is located in front of Yakutsk on the opposite bank of the Lena River.

Amazing! The half of the day I had been waiting from local journalists for any photographs of the event, especially of the Nizhnyj Bestyakh event. But… it appeared to be Dmitry Medvedev, who took a picture and uploaded it on his Twitter account @MedvedevRussia.

President Medvedev said that the railway must come to Yakutsk via the bridge over the Lena River, not through the tunnel.

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This is a 5-min video about Yakutia!

Its creators tried to do the impossible… to show all images of the vast diverse region called Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Think, they succeeded, but, frankly, such a hard mission won’t be possible to do ever.

No more words! Watch Yakutia!

A short video is dedicated to the biggest Yakut national holiday called Ysyakh (Yhyakh). Celebrated annually in June.

Created by Vladimir Moonkuev. Music by Sasha Lukin.

No words. The video conveys all the message. Enjoy! Certainly, you’re welcome to Yakutia in summer!

Last weekend, friends of mine, Oe Karpov and Andrey Dyakonov, arranged the great event. It was a BIG city event, but done in a TINY manner. They rented a wooden house in the wooden part of Yakutsk City, invited close friends and let the rock music sound in all power and authenticity.

Yeah, it was the «103″ rock band performing the unique ethno Siberian heavy music. It was utterly awesome!

Frankly, I am a big fan of «103″. Like its story. It is a little group of young people, who arrived into the city from a little Yakutian village called Khatassy by the public bus «103″ a few years ago. This village is mainly known as the producer of pork & beef. Nothing special could appear over there, apart from the delicious meat.

And here they are. Authentic ethno rock music! Delivered by guys, who learned to play musical instrument themselves in a little wooden village hall. By the way, they use the sound of the khomus, Yakut Jews-harp instrument.

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Yakutian cow in a farm in Oymyakon District, Yakutia, Russia.

The total population of Yakutian cow (purebred indigenous species) is as low as 2500 heads.

More than 2,000 inhabit in Eveno-Bytantaysky National District (the Arctic Zone of Yakutia, Siberia / Russia).

Cattle is lead to ponds even at -50C and there were no one got udder frostbitten.

A purebred Yakutian cow might provide up to 2236 litre of milk a year. Its milk’s average fat content is about 5.6 %. Some cow might have even 11%. To compare, here is the fact. The average fatness of Kholmogorsky cows’ milk is 3.7 % only.

A Yakutian cow’s big distinguishing feature is that it can acquire adipose weight pretty fast in the course of the short pasture season.

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Glad that our famous designer Avgustina Filippova were able to participate in Yakutia’s Days in Toronto, Canada. In the above video you can see how she displayed her work — Yakut national costumes.

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Today, October 27, 2011:

October 26, 2011:

October is a very controversial month in terms of weather. On October 1st of the current year, Yakutsk had intensive snowing. We could say, Oh, winter arrived, but it might sound as a big delusion. In a few days, snow melted and the golden autumn got back and, moreover, it returned with summer-like rains.

This week was also crazy. On Monday and Tuesday, it was above zero. Today, Thursday, it’s already -17C and yesterday -3C with real winter blizzard. Do you think it is the climate change effect? Actually not. Usual October. Though many say winter came late this year.

No more words. Keep watching this year’s winter start in progress. I put all my pics together in the reverse chronology so you could feel the difference or its absence. Photographs were mainly done by different mobile cameras and shared @yakutia on Twitter and on my personal fb page.

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Dimitri Kieffer halted Nexus Expedition until 2012! This year he and Gulnara made it from Magadan to Yakutsk by bicycles. By the way, I wrote two posts about his expedition at AskYakutia.com.

On his last day in Yakutsk, he and fellows of Yakutsk Bicycle Club excersized downhill cycling in the city’s suburb. See more winter cycling pictures.

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