SAKHA(Yakutia) - the magic country

By V.Brygakha.

The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is a magic country. It is enigmatic and unique. Those who have seen this country once, will never forget the impressions they have had. Nobody can be indifferent to or unimpressed by the thick backwoods of taiga and the endless tundra, vast mountain chains and the boundless iced Arctic Ocean. People will keep in their hearts forever not only the unique Yakutia nature, but also remember kind, generous honest people whose culture, habits and customs are really romantic.

Yakutia is often referred to as the Land of one thousand wonders. It is virtually impressible to find another place on Earth where the yearly temperature could vary by 100⁰ C. It is in Yakutia where the absolute minium temperature -72⁰ C has been recorded in the place called Ojmyacon. This temperature record is the absolute minimum temperature for the whole Northern Hemisphere.

The continental climate of Yakutia really impresses the tourists - there is no other place on Earth like Yakutia. No wonder local people call the human breathing in a crystal cold fresh air “the whisper of stars”. Nomerous lakes and rivers provide people of Yakutia and the tourists with the feeling of quietness and freedom.

During seven months of the year the majority of rivers are covered with ice and snow and only in July free of ice they run their waters to the Arctic Ocean, flooding the areas around.

One of the greatest river in Yakutia is the Lena. It starts it’s running at the Baikal mountain and flows into the Arctic Ocean covering the distance of 4300 kilometeres. The Lena river starts as crystal clear small spring and by the Arctic Ocean it spreads it’s flow up to 35 kilometers wide.

First steamboats appeared on the Lena river in the 19 century. Today a rare opportunity to see Yakutia is given by the ship cruises on comfortable ships built in Austria. Traveling on Lena river you will see the wild nature, the primeval parts of the world, you will also see the real natural wonder - “the Lena pillars”. They are up to 200 metres high and their forms can look like humans or animals or some fantastic creatures. “The Lena pillars” is the true nature’s miracle. They were created by the “natural sculptors”: water heat and bitter cold weather.

Extremely cold winter is another big Yakutia wonder. Since neolitic era the hunting tribes occupied the Yakutia area.

Fishing and hunting were the main trades of local people. It is not a coincidence that Yakutia is called “the land of soft gold”. This name was given to Yakutia by the hunters, gold diggers, draggers, adventures who traveled through this magic country. They were impressed by Yakutia’s sables, polar foxes, regular foxes and various rare fishes.

Soon the fame of Yakutia furs, unique furs, delicatessen fish became worldwide.

Yakutia which in it’s size is equal to five territories of France, is famous not only for it’s bitter cold winter, but for it’s extremely hot summer as well. The average temperature during the year in Yakutia is +15,5⁰ C, but the maximum t⁰ quite often exceeds +30⁰ C (the record summer temperature in Yakutia is +41⁰ C).

Yakutia’s forests are famous for their larch trees, pine trees, fur tees, birches. A lot of tourists are attracted to visit Yakutia in the summer by various herbs, flowers, birds singing in the woods. Luckily there are places of the nature and unique folklore still preserved in Yakutia.

In comparison to other places on Earth, here in Yakutia animals, birds and fish are still preserved in their wilderness. Small wonder that Yakutia’s symbol is rare bird - crane-sterkh, who makes the nests only here, in Yakutia.

The Olonkho Land’s (that is name of Yakutia, given by the Yakut people) innermost depths are rich with fossils. Diamonds and gold, tin and antimony, gas and oil, silver and copper, lead and tugsten - everything is here, in Yakutia, as they say - you name it, we have it.

If you go to the Moscow Kremlin Diamond Fund you will be able not only see excellent artifacts made of the Yakutia gold, but also you can enjoy a real treasure of egg-shaped, lemon colored crystal of 342.5 karate. While touring Yakutia you will be able to visit some places where such treasures and precious stones are found.

During your trip on the Lena river you will visit one of the most ancient human settlement which was found by archeologists. The scientist Claim that there is an ethnografic connection between the Yakuts and the north-american indians. The Yakuts, jucatirs, evens have deep common historic roots, their predecessors came from the northerm areas of Europe. Their history keeps a lot of secrets, if we reveal them, we will be able to clarify a lot of blurred pages in the history of manking.