Goryachiy Kamen is a small village in the Ustyansky Municipal District of the Arkhangelsk Oblast of Russia, located in the southern part of the region, in the basin of the Ustya River, a tributary of the Vaga. It is part of the Rostov-Minsk rural settlement, with the administrative center in the village of Rostovskoye, and is located approximately 45 km from the settlement of Oktyabrsky, the district center. The village is known for its picturesque nature, history associated with the traditional culture of the Russian North, and proximity to the Ustya River, which shapes its landscape. Despite its small population and remoteness, Goryachiy Kamen retains the authentic appearance of a northern village, with wooden buildings and a rural way of life.
1. Foundation and early period (17th–19th centuries)
Context:
Ustyansky District, named after the Ustye River, was part of the Velsky
Uyezd of the Vologda Governorate in the 17th–19th centuries, then the
Northern Territory. The district was inhabited by Novgorodians, and
later by Russian peasants engaged in agriculture, logging, and fishing.
Goryachiy Kamen, like many villages in Ustyan, arose during the period
of active development of the northern lands.
Origin of the name: The
name "Goryachiy Kamen" is presumably associated with a local legend or a
natural object - possibly a large boulder heated by the sun, or a
geothermal source, although there is no exact data. An alternative
version connects the name with a hard-to-reach area, where rocky soil
made agriculture difficult.
First mentions: There are no exact
written records of the foundation of Goryachiy Kamen, but the village
probably arose in the 17th–18th centuries, as part of the Rostovskaya
volost. The 19th century census tales mention neighboring villages
(Rostovskoye, Minskoye), which allows us to date the appearance of
Goryachiy Kamen to this period.
Life of peasants: Residents were
engaged in agriculture (rye, barley, flax), cattle breeding and
forestry. The proximity of the Usty River provided fishing and timber
rafting. The village was part of the parish of the Church of the
Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the village of Rostovskoye, built in the
18th century.
2. 20th century: Soviet period
Administrative
changes: Ustyansky District was formed on May 15, 1929 as part of the
Nyandomsky Okrug of the Northern Territory, with the center in the
village of Shangaly. Goryachiy Kamen was included in the Rostovsky
Village Council, later merged with Minsk into the Rostovsko-Minskoye
rural settlement. In 1975, the district center was moved to the village
of Oktyabrsky. Collectivization: In the 1930s, a collective farm was
created in Goryachiy Kamen, uniting peasant farms. The main activities
remained agriculture and logging, with timber deliveries to the Shangal
timber transshipment base.
The Great Patriotic War: Residents of
Goryachiy Kamen, like the entire Ustyansky district, participated in the
war. About 18,500 Ustyansky residents went to the front, many did not
return. In the rear, women and teenagers worked on collective farms,
providing the front with food and timber.
Post-war development: In
the 1950-1970s, new roads were built in the district, infrastructure was
improved, but Goryachiy Kamen remained a small village, with wooden
houses and a minimal social base. The population declined due to
migration to the village of Oktyabrsky and cities (Arkhangelsk, Velsk).
Soviet development: In the 1960s–1980s, new houses, a school in
Rostovskoye, and a club and library in neighboring villages appeared,
serving Goryachiy Kamen.
3. 21st century: Modernity
Administrative reform: In September 2022, the Ustyansky municipal
district was transformed into the Ustyansky municipal district,
abolishing rural settlements, including Rostovsko-Minskoye. Goryachiy
Kamen became part of a single district with the center in Oktyabrsky.
Population: There is no exact data on the number of residents of
Goryachiy Kamen, but it is estimated at several dozen people, with a
tendency to decrease due to the outflow of young people. There are 230
settlements in the district, many of which are sparsely populated.
Events: In 2024, the Ustyansky district actively participates in rural
support programs, including the construction of schools and roads, which
indirectly affects Goryachiy Kamen. In 2025, a school-kindergarten for
580 children is planned to be built in the neighboring village of
Bereznik.
Location: Goryachiy Kamen is located in the southern part of the
Ustyansky District, in the valley of the Ust'ya River, a tributary of
the Vaga, the Northern Dvina basin. The village is located approximately
45 km southwest of the village of Oktyabrsky and 25 km from the village
of Rostovskoye. Coordinates: approximately 61.05° N, 42.15° E. The
nearest railway station is Kostylevo (80 km).
Terrain: Flat, with low
hills and swampy areas typical of the Onega-Dvina-Mezen Plain. The
Ust'ya River forms picturesque banks, with sandbanks and forests.
Water bodies: The Ust'ya River, which flows nearby, is suitable for
fishing (bream, pike, perch). There are streams and small lakes in the
vicinity.
Climate: Moderately continental, with cold winters
(January: -15 °C, minimum up to -40 °C) and short warm summers (July:
+17 °C, maximum up to +31 °C, record on May 9, 2010 in Shangaly).
Precipitation: 600–700 mm, with a maximum in summer. Snow cover lasts
from November to April. The area is equated with the regions of the Far
North.
Time zone: MSK (UTC+3, Moscow).
Goryachiy Kamen is a typical northern village, with wooden buildings
and minimal infrastructure.
Architectural objects
Residential
buildings: One-story wooden huts of the 19th–20th centuries, with carved
window frames and gable roofs covered with slate. Several brick houses
from the 1960–1980s, built for collective farmers.
Outbuildings:
Sheds, barns and bathhouses, traditional for the Russian North, made of
larch, resistant to dampness.
Parish church: Goryachiy Kamen is part
of the parish of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the village
of Rostovskoye (25 km), wooden, 18th century, with partially preserved
icons. There is no church in the village itself.
Cultural sites
Local legends: The name "Goryachiy Kamen" is associated with folklore,
but specific objects (for example, a boulder) are not recorded. Legends
about the stone may be associated with pagan beliefs or natural
phenomena.
Local history museum: In the village of Oktyabrsky (45 km)
there is the Ustyansky Museum of Local History, which stores exhibits
about the villages of the region, including Goryachiy Kamen (utensils,
photographs).
Natural attractions:
Ustya River: Picturesque banks,
popular for fishing and recreation. In summer - rafting.
Forests:
Deciduous and coniferous forests (birch, pine, spruce), with berries
(blueberries, lingonberries) and mushrooms.
Hills: Low hills in the
vicinity, with panoramic views of the steppe.
Nearby attractions
Malinovka Ski Resort (Kononovskaya village, 40 km): Opened in 2008, with
slopes and lifts, popular with tourists.
Ustyansky Folk Art Center
(Shangaly village, 30 km): Master classes in painting, weaving and
cuisine of the Russian North.
Izba of Legends (Bestuzhevo village, 35
km): Interactive excursions with local dialect and legends.
Agriculture: The main activities are gardening and cattle breeding.
Residents grow potatoes, vegetables, keep cows and chickens. The
collective farms of the Soviet era have disintegrated, private farms
remain.
Logging: The forest industry remains important, with timber
harvested for local needs and supplies to Oktyabrsky. The proximity to
the Shangal timber transshipment base supports employment.
Fishing:
The Ustya River provides fish for personal consumption and sale.
Transportation:
A dirt road connects Goryachiy Kamen with Rostovsky
and Oktyabrsky. Buses are infrequent, the main connection is private
transport.
The nearest railway station is Kostylevo (80 km), on the
Northern Railway.
Real estate: A house in Goryachiy Kamen costs
200,000–500,000 rubles, rent is rare due to lack of demand.
Population: About 20-50 people (estimate), mostly Russians,
descendants of 19th century peasants. Young people leave for Oktyabrsky,
Velsk or Arkhangelsk.
Education: Children attend school in Rostovsky
(25 km), with bus transportation. In Oktyabrsky - Ustyansky Industrial
College and School of Arts.
Cultural traditions:
Holidays:
Village Day (in summer), Maslenitsa, with traditional festivities and
pancakes.
Crafts: Birch bark weaving, embroidery, preserved in
families and taught in Shangala.
Speech: Ustyansky dialect, with a
characteristic "okanye" and local words ("izba", "pokhlebka").
Religion: Orthodoxy, with an arrival in Rostovsky. Elements of pagan
rituals (veneration of trees, springs) are preserved in the surrounding
area.
Medicine: First aid station in Rostovsky, the nearest hospital
is in Oktyabrsky (45 km).
Sports: Skiing in winter, fishing and
hunting. In Oktyabrsky there is a sports complex named after Ivan
Kokorin.
State of preservation: Goryachiy Kamen retains the appearance of a
northern village, with wooden huts, but the deterioration of the
buildings is noticeable due to the lack of repairs. Infrastructure is
minimal, with a dirt road and electricity.
Accessibility:
Address: Arkhangelsk region, Ustyansky district, Goryachiy Kamen
village. Coordinates: ~61.05, 42.15.
How to get there:
By bus:
from Oktyabrsky to Rostovsky (25 km, 50 rubles), then taxi or walk (20
km).
By car: along the M8 highway to the turnoff to Oktyabrsky, then
along the dirt road through Rostovsky (170 km from Arkhangelsk).
Sightseeing hours: The village is open to visitors, but there are no
scheduled sites.
Excursions: Through Arkhangelsk travel agencies
("Pomor-tour") or the Ustyansky Museum of Local History. Topics: Russian
North, Ustyany, nature. Price: 2000–5000 rubles.
Restrictions:
Photography: allowed, drones — by prior arrangement.
Access for
people with limited mobility: not available due to dirt roads.
Where
to stay: Hotel in Oktyabrsky (45 km, from 1500 rubles/night), Malinovka
tourist center (40 km).
Where to eat: Cafe in Oktyabrsky (200–400
rubles), in the village — food in the homes of locals.
The legend of the name: "Hot Stone" may be associated with a mythical
boulder, heated by the sun or spirits, according to Buryat or Chud
legends.
Roza Shanina: Sniper, Hero of the Order of Glory, was born
in the village of Yedma (30 km), her feat made Ustyany famous.
Chud:
The lands of Ustyan were inhabited in ancient times by the Finno-Ugric
tribes of Chud, who left traces in the toponymy.
Lumberjack of the
21st century: The annual championship in the Ustyansky District
(Oktyabrsky) glorifies the forest industry, which is important for
Goryachiy Kamen.