Nature of Yakutia

Almost the entire periodic table of the elements is securely covered with ice in the interior of Yakutia. Only in the southern part of the Republic the proven and estimated mineral resources reserves are evaluated at $780 billion by experts. Yakutia is rich in such key resources as oil and gas. According to the estimates, the reserves (namely those that are profitable to produce even in the North) of natural gas amount to 2405.4 billion cubic meters, of oil - to 330.4 million tons, of gas condensate - to 45.7 million tons, of helium - to 8.8 billion cubic meters. And what is more, the development of this rich natural base is just beginning.

Gifts of tundra and taiga

However, Yakutia is lucky with something more important than even multibil-lion-dollar riches of its depths and that is its nature almost unaffected by humans which has been preserved here.

This land is harsh. At the first glance it can seem even cruel. During the year the temperature varies from almost tropical heat in July ( + 35° C) to a severe winter in January (-60° C). The amplitude is almost 100° C! It seems that few creatures can adapt to this climate.

Wherever a man walks in Yakutia -across sand or rocks or a forest carpet of grass - everywhere under his feet, there is permafrost hidden underground, which is 300-400 m and in some places even up to 1000 m thick of all the way thoroughly frozen ground. An entire scientific institute is engaged into studying of this unusual phenomenon in Yakutia.

The territory of the Republic lies in four geographic zones: taiga forest (nearly 80% of the area), tundra, forest tundra and arctic desert. Nearly half the territory of Yakutia is located within the Arctic Circle which means it has thousands of square kilometers of sparsely populated areas are yet to be conquered. In this sense, Yakutia offers many opportunities for extreme tourism. Taiga or tundra can be dangerous, but it is the "charm" of this wildlife and its untouched and severe beauty that was admired by such writers as Jack London, Ernest Seton Thompson, Vitaly Bianki, isn't it?

The remains of prehistoric animals are forever preserved in the permafrost as in a huge natural "refrigerator". The low temperature "tinned" not only bones but even soft tissue and hair of ancient animals. Due to permafrost scientists were able to learn, for example, the diet of five-ton giant mammoths.

Mammoth ivory is valued around the world, especially after the ban on elephant ivory trade. Russia exports 60 tons of bones annually only to China and according to experts' opinion the reserves are far from being exhausted. Scientists believe that there are still about 150 million dead mammoths under the Siberian tundra which neither the researchers nor the merchants have managed to get yet. Yakut craftsmen make unique things out of mammoth ivory: jewelry, figurines, knives' handles of magnificent beauty and much more.

Forests and water

Harsh Yakut land is asleep in winter. It seems only the wind is blowing around snowflakes and the frozen woods are silent. But something has stirred here: it could have been a bird or a fluffy white hare racing by. It turns out that the snow surface is "scribbled" in traces of many animals. No, the nature is not numb because of the terrible cold!

Despite the harsh,;climate, the fauna of Yakutia is surprisingly rich. In the endless taiga forests one can find a huge elk or a holder of a crown of luxurious antlers, reindeer or an unusual fanged musk deer. Herds of mountain sheep are found in the covered with everlasting snow mountains, thick-skinned walruses and curious, always hungry polar bears live on the northerly winds blown sea coast. The so-called fur bearers are of particular importance to the Yakuts: polar foxes, sables, red foxes and minks. The hunt for such animals has long played an important role for the local population; the development of capitalist relations in Siberia began with the fur trade in the XVII century.

And Yakutia has not only a lot of forests but also much water. There are about 800 thousand lakes here and 700 thousand rivers to add. Their total length is more than 8 million km. The most full-flowing river is Lena, it stretches over a vast space of Siberia over 4400 km. At all times local peoples have settled on its banks and along rivers of the Anabar, Indigirka, Olenek and Kolyma. Almost 50 species of fish live in its waters, salmon and whitefish are the most important and valuable among them.

Fish, wildfowl and venison are the basis of the Yakut cuisine. Products are either boiled or eaten raw here. The most popular dish is stroganina: fresh frozen meat or fish are sliced and served with hot spices and onion, pepper, or wild leek sauces.

The eternal laws of life

Animals as well as people are accustomed to living in the North. The harsh land is no longer frightening, it rather forces to respect nature and to adapt to difficult conditions, learns to take delight in small favours. For example, local people sometimes use the permafrost as a refrigerator. Peculiar kinds of cellars are cut through or dug up where products are perfectly preserved even in the extreme heat.

But perhaps nowhere in the world spring is being so much awaited for as in Yakutia. Waking up from a sweet slumber, throwing away a duvet of snow, the nature slowly as if reluctantly reveals its colours. The man no longer needs to struggle for survival. However, he needs to prepare feed for cattle, receive numerous taiga "gifts" (to catch fish, gather berries, etc.) during the short summer.

Since the dawn of time peoples of the Sakha nation have lived in this way, their descendants continue to live in the same way, not by adjusting the environment but by adapting to natural conditions. The local people follow the simple and eternal laws: help your neighbour, save what you already have, never live for the moment and think about the future. They say this is precisely what the modern civilization lacks, and that is why it now faces the consequences of the reckless attitude towards the nature. There are few such pure and unspoiled places like Yakutia on the Earth, where it is possible to understand and feel the real life.