Despite the fact that the region where Magadan is located, Russian explorers and colonists tried to explore as early as the 15th century, only in the 20th century did it become necessary to explore and develop new gold deposits on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Magadan region
The region belonging to the regions of the far north is located in the north-eastern part of Russia, on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. In the north, the region is neighbored by the Chukotsky District, in the east - by the Kamchatka Territory, in the south the region borders on the Khabarovsk Territory, and in the west - with the Republic of Yakutia. From an administrative point of view, the region where Magadan is located belongs to the Far Eastern Federal District.
The appearance of the Magadan Region on the map of Russia is inextricably linked with the October Revolution and the subsequent administrative changes in the Far East. Initially, the region where Magadan is located was part of the Far Eastern Republic, which was incorporated into the RSFSR in 1921.
Gradually vast territories of the Far East region began tobe divided for more rational administration. The Khabarovsk Territory, the Kamchatka Region appeared. However, a special place in the development of the territory where Magadan is located was occupied by the state trust Dalstroy, which was created on the territory of the Kamchatka region to develop new gold deposits along the Kolyma River. Dalstroy became a unique administrative entity, which, constantly expanding, eventually turned into the Magadan region.
Magadan. History
Although attempts were made to discover gold deposits in the vicinity of present-day Magadan, they remained unsuccessful for a long time. However, in 1926, an expedition led by Sergei Vladimirovich Obruchev managed to prove that all the necessary geological conditions exist to continue searching for a gold mine.
Two years later, another scientific expedition was undertaken under the leadership of Bilibin. The expedition of 1928 marked the beginning of a systematic study of the Kolyma, clarifying the intricacies of hydrography. The most suitable place for the construction of the port has been identified.
In June 1929, the construction of residential buildings began on the site chosen for the construction of the seaport. Thus, June 22 is considered the date of foundation of the city of Magadan. Until 1931, the population of the new city did not exceed five hundred people.
Development of the territory
The decision to create a special state enterprise in the Kamchatka region was taken atPolitburo level. Dalstroy was created for the development of already explored deposits and on the basis of prospective estimates.
The newly explored territories were so important for the country's leadership that already at the initial stage, direct control of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks was assumed. However, the absence of a permanent population in the reporting territories prevented the rapid development of resources and construction. In order to overcome the shortage of labor resources, it was decided to create Sevvostlag, one of the forced labor camps in the NKVD system.
Given where Magadan is located relative to Moscow, it is not surprising that a significant part of the prisoners died on the way. The air distance between Magadan and the capital of Russia is 5905 kilometers.
Dalstroy transformation
If you use land roads, this distance increases to 10021 kilometers. Even today, this distance is not so easy to overcome, and in the thirties it was almost insurmountable without significant losses, especially since the NKVD officers were not very worried about the safety of prisoners.
Despite the fact that the heads of Dalstroy and Sevvostlag reported on the shock development of Kolyma and active construction, archival data do not confirm these statements. In the early thirties, 9,900 prisoners and a little over 3,000 thousand civilian workers worked in the territories of the present Magadan region. By the end of the forties, it became obvious that the administration of the trust and the camp did notcope with the management of the territory and more thoughtful civil administration is required.
Economy of Magadan and the region
In 1951, the Magadan region was created in the territories controlled by Dalstroy and the NKVD. From the very beginning of its history, the region faced significant difficulties in economic and economic development. The Sea of Okhotsk, near which Magadan is located, where 92 thousand inhabitants live today, somewhat softens the subarctic climate of the region, but it still remains too harsh for intensive population growth.
Despite the fact that the city has industries such as a shipyard, a machine tool factory, and a food and beverage factory, the gold mining industry is still the backbone of the region's economy.
Industries related to catching and processing fish, and enterprises involved in the maintenance of fishing vessels are developed.
However, it is worth remembering that the region where Magadan is located, and whose photos give a lot of pleasure to the viewer, is a harsh region, the development of which cost its inhabitants a lot of work and even blood.
