The Kolyma River is located in Siberia in northeastern Russia, and its basin spans the Sakha Republic, Chukotia Region and Magadan Oblast. The river is frozen to a depth of several meters for about 250 days each year, and does not thaw until early June and lasts until October. The history of this region is closely tied to the exiles, revealing both past misfortunes and the resilience of the human spirit.
The Kolymma River originates from the confluence of the Kuru and Ayan-Yuri rivers, which is located in the negative region of Russia and separates the rivers from flowing into the Sea of Okhotsk. After flowing through the upper highlands, the Kolyma River flows southwards towards the Kolyma Lowlands and eventually empties into the Kolyma Bay of the East Siberian Sea.
Kolinma is 2,132 kilometres long and has a drainage area of 647,000 square kilometres. This land is rich in natural landscapes and hidden history.
In 1640, explorer Dimitry Zyryan ventured through the area and met with the Chakchi people, leaving the first records of the Kolymma River. Over time, countless exiles and adventurers have left their mark on the area, many relying on the river for their survival. The stories of the exiles here, like the past revealed after the melting of an ice-covered river, make people reflect on the meaning of life.
This river is not only a natural barrier, but also a witness to a period of history, carrying the dreams and despair of exiles.
Kolma is famous for its Gulag labor camps, which left countless tragic memories during Stalin's era. The river’s name eventually became associated with the famous literary work, The Kolinma Story, which chronicles life and struggles in the Gulag. With the end of the Gulag, the region's economy gradually declined and many people chose to emigrate elsewhere. Those who remain still rely on fishing and hunting for a living, and some of their catch is even stored in the permafrost.
Today, the Kolymma River basin is empty except for a few villages such as Sinegorye, Debin, Srednekolymsk, Chersky, etc. There are also some important facilities, such as the Kolinma Hydropower Station, which provides electricity to the local area. Although these small villages are no longer prosperous, they still maintain their unique resilience. The construction of the Kolinma Hydropower Station is a symbol of confidence in the sustainable development of the local area. It not only provides electricity to the local area, but also attracts talents.
The design of the hydropower station is extremely challenging. The project demonstrates the exploratory spirit of human technology under extreme conditions, which is in sharp contrast to the icy history of the Kolinma River.
As a river that carries the fate of exiles, the Kolymma River has not only shaped this land physically, but also carved out the joys and sorrows of mankind in the long river of history. In the future, how will this river play a role in global climate change? What new thoughts and changes will its existence cause?