Krasnoyarsk Krai

krasnoyarsk krai – красноярский край

Krasnoyarsk Krai occupies a huge territory extending 4,000 km from grassy steppes in the south to the icebound Arctic Ocean in the north. It includes the Taimyr (Dolgan-Nenets) Autonomy which occupies Taimyr Peninsula and Northern Land archipelago and Evenkia Autonomy located approximately in the middle of the Krai. The two autonomies can be reached by car but only by seasonal winter roads when swamps and rivers are solidly frozen.

achinsk – ачинск

When approaching the town, huge ash dumps attract your attention. These are byproduct of the Achinsk alumina plant. The main road bypasses Achinsk located 170 km west of Krasnoyarsk. Therefore, you have to make a short detour to see the town. Nothing much to admire in Achinsk founded in 1683 but the administrative high-rise and the 1832 Kazan Cathedral.

"Achinsk, the town where one wants to live"

kansk – канск

Kansk was founded in 1636. It is located 230 km east of Krasnoyarsk. If you travel by road from Irkutsk to Krasnoyarsk it is advisable to stay overnight in Kansk to avoid very late arrival in Krasnoyarsk as the distance between Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk equals 1,100 km. The Siberia Hotel is centrally located, simple and cheap. OK for one night.

The 1804 Trinity Church.

minusinsk – минусинск

Curious travelers can visit Minusinsk when driving to\from Tuva. The town has quite a number of 18-19th century buildings but most of them require (as of June 2021) thorough renovation and restoration. The Martyanov Museum of local history was established in 1897 and named after his founder.

The 1803 Savior Church stands across the square from the Martyanov Museum.

Lenin in winter outfit was cast in the same mould as the one in Biysk (see Altai Krai).

The scene of the bas-relief: young Lenin lectures Marxism to his followers.

Lovers of automotive machinery are sure to enjoy the museum of Soviet automobiles and motorbikes.

Phillips Connor from Singapore has just examined a Volga car once used by Soviet traffic police.

usinsky trakt & yergaki mountains

The road from Minusinsk to Tuva\Tyva Republic is called the Usinsky Trakt. The Trakt runs through the scenic Yergaki Mountains.

An anti-avalanche gallery. Snowfalls are possible from September to June.

Stupas and prayer flags signify proximity to Buddhist Tuva\Tyva Republic.

This memorial stone marks the spot where the then Krasnoyarsk Krai governor Alexander Lebed and seven people of his entourage died in April 2002 when their helicopter tripped over the nearby power line. General Lebed played decisive role in negotiating ceasefire in Transdnistria in 1992 and an end to the first Chechen War in 1996.

On the border of Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Republic of Tuva\Tyva.

lesosibirsk – лесосибирск

Lesosibirsk founded in 1975 is located 290 km north of Krasnoyarsk. It is a big river port and a centre of logging.

The 1995 Cross Exaltation Church.

Timber rafting is still widely used in the area.

yeniseisk – енисейск

Yeniseisk founded in 1619 and located 340 km north of Krasnoyarsk is an interesting historic town. Once it was Siberia's main fur trading center. Rich local merchants competed in building mansions and churches. Yeniseisk is sometimes referred to as Suzdal of Siberia. The ancient town Suzdal in Vladimir Oblast has the biggest density of churches and monasteries per square mile than any other town in Russia. For Suzdal, see one of Golden Ring pages.

The 1712 Epiphany Cathedral.

To the founders of Yeniseisk.

The 1747 Resurrection Church.

The 1774 Assumption Church.

There are many well preserved 18-19th century buildings in Yeniseisk.

In summer tourists can reach Yeniseisk by boat.

evenkia – эвенкия

Evenkia boasts the lowest population density in Russia. Just 0.02 persons per square km. The area about the size of France or Turkey is populated by about 16,000 people. The town of Tura located at the confluence of the Nizhniya Tunguska and the Kochuchum rivers is Evenkia's administrative center.

The Nizhniya Tunguska is navigable.

A WWII memorial.

The only hotel in Tura.

The bust of Vasily Uvachan who headed Evenkia in 1961-75 and contributed a lot to the development of the area.

There is only one all-the-year-round road in Evenkia 17 km long from the center of Tura to the airport.

Locals.

Parking.

taimyr peninsula – полуостров таймыр

Taimyr Peninsula is the territory of Dolgan-Nenets Autonomy. The administrative center is Dudinka. I have never been to Dudinka but for 10 years frequented the town of Khatanga located in the middle of the peninsula. In 1993-2002 we used Khatanga as a springboard for our international skydiving expeditions to the North Pole. The remote Khatanga was founded in 1626.

An Antonov-74 on tarmac of Khatanga airport waiting for departure to the North Pole.

A jetty made of ice on the Khatanga River.

Tundra around Khatanga is strewn with remains of woolly mammoths.

Woolly mammoth tusks, teeth, bones, etc. are displayed in the underground museum.

Every April the only hotel in Khatanga was overcrowded with travelers heading for the North Pole.

Photos of the Khatanga River and tundra taken while I was gliding under an open parachute canopy (1995).

Happy Dolgan-Nenets kids (1995).

Sometimes locals treat tourists to a concert (2002).

In return tourists treat locals to vodka (1998).

The village of Kresty (Кресты) 20 km west of Khatanga (1993).

Locals were often under influence (1993).

The village of Novorybnaya (Новорыбная) about 150 km north-east of Khatanga. 45 minutes by helicopter.

With lovely Dolgan girls in Novorybnaya (1994).

The most industrious Dolgans and Nenets tend reindeer herds in tundra.

northern land – северная земля

I many times landed on the Sredny Island on the way to or from the North Pole. It is a small island within the Sedov archipelago west the October Revolution Island. There is an aerodrome and a border guards garrison on the island. I also visited the Cape Arctichesky - the northernmost point of the archipelago but took no pictures.

The Sredny Island.