What made the Kolyma Gulag so notorious?

History. Under Joseph Stalin’s rule, Kolyma became the most notorious region for the Gulag labor camps. It was Kolyma’s reputation that caused Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, author of The Gulag Archipelago, to characterize it as the “pole of cold and cruelty” in the Gulag system.

Why is the Kolyma River region famous?

The Kolyma is known for its Gulag labour camps and gold mining, both of which have been extensively documented since Joseph Stalin–era Soviet archives opened. The river gives its title to a famous anthology about life in Gulag camps by Varlam Shalamov, The Kolyma Tales.

Are there still camps in Siberia?

After the Russian Revolution the labour camps in Siberia were closed down. These were later reopened by Joseph Stalin and opponents of his regime were sent to what became known as Glavnoye Upravleniye Lagere (Gulag). It is estimated that around 50 million perished in Soviet gulags during this period.

What was the Gulag in Siberia?

The Gulag was a system of forced labor camps established during Joseph Stalin’s long reign as dictator of the Soviet Union. Conditions at the Gulag were brutal: Prisoners could be required to work up to 14 hours a day, often in extreme weather. Many died of starvation, disease or exhaustion—others were simply executed.

Where are the Kolyma Mountains in Siberia located?

Encyclopaedia Britannica’s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree…. Kolyma Upland, Russian Kolymskoye Nagorye, mountain tract in northeastern Siberia, Russia.

How did the Kolyma region get its name?

It is bounded by the East Siberian Sea and the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Sea of Okhotsk to the south. The extremely remote region gets its name from the Kolyma River and mountain range, parts of which were not discovered until 1926.

What is the weather like in Kolyma, Alaska?

Kolyma. The area, part of which is within the Arctic Circle, has a subarctic climate with very cold winters lasting up to six months of the year. Permafrost and tundra cover a large part of the region. Average winter temperatures range from −19 °C to −38 °C (even lower in the interior), and average summer temperatures, from +3 °C to +16 °C.

How long is the road from Tomtor to Kolyma?

The length of the original road via Tomtor is about 1900km or 1180 miles. Locally, the road is known simply as Trassa (“The Route”), or Kolymskaya trassa (“The Kolyma Route”), since it is literally the only road in the area and therefore needs no special name to distinguish it from other roads.

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