Komsomolsky is a village (rural type) in Kalmykia, the administrative center of the Chernozemelsky district and the Komsomolsky rural municipality. Located 190 km southeast of the city of Elista.
Khurul. The author of the project is the architect V. B. Gilyandikov.
Opened in 2004. The perimeter of the base of the khurul is a square of
18 by 18 m, the height is −15 m.
Stupa Dashi Gomang (translated from
Tibetan - "Many doors of happiness").
Monument "Grieving Mother"
Monument "White Elder"
1. Monument to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War
Description: Like many small settlements in Russia, Komsomolskoye has a
memorial in honor of local residents who died in the Great Patriotic
War. This is a typical landmark for rural settlements, a modest obelisk
or stele with the names of heroes.
Features: The monument serves as a
venue for celebratory events, such as Victory Day (May 9). Perhaps there
is a small square or an alley of memory next to it.
Location:
Usually, such memorials are located in the center of the village, next
to the administration or the House of Culture.
Why you should visit:
This place reflects respect for the history and heroism of local
residents, many of whom were Kalmyks deported in 1943, but still fought
for their homeland.
2. House of Culture
Description: In
Komsomolskoye, as the administrative center of the district, there is a
House of Culture - the heart of local cultural life. Concerts, festivals
and exhibitions related to Kalmyk traditions are held here.
Features:
The building was probably built in the Soviet style of the 1960s-1970s.
Inside, there may be exhibitions dedicated to the history of the
village, or a corner with items of Kalmyk everyday life (for example,
national clothes, utensils).
Location: The central part of the
village, possibly on Lenin Street or another main street.
Why it is
worth visiting: This is a chance to get acquainted with the modern life
of the Kalmyk outback and, perhaps, see performances by local folklore
groups.
3. Church or prayer house
Description: There may be a
small Orthodox church or prayer house in the village, given that part of
the population are Russians and representatives of other nationalities
who profess Christianity. Kalmyks are traditionally Buddhists, but
Orthodox Christians also live in Komsomolskoye. Features: This is a
modest structure, possibly built in the post-Soviet period, with simple
architecture and minimal decor.
Location: The exact location is
unknown, but such objects are usually located near the center.
Why
you should visit: This place is interesting as an example of religious
diversity in Kalmykia.
1. The Black Lands Nature Reserve
Description: One of the two
sections of the Black Lands State Nature Biosphere Reserve is located in
the Chernozemelsky District, not far from Komsomolsky (approximately
40-50 km). This is a steppe area created to preserve the saiga
population - a unique steppe antelope listed in the Red Book.
Features: The territory is an endless steppe with sparse vegetation
(feather grass, wormwood). Saigas, foxes, gophers, eagles and even wild
camels live here. In the spring, the steppe comes to life thanks to the
flowering of tulips.
Location: Access is possible via the
Yashkul-Komsomolsky-Artezian highway. A permit from the reserve
administration is required to visit.
Why it is worth visiting: This
is a rare opportunity to see the pristine nature of the Caspian lowland
and unique animals in their natural environment. The best time is April,
when tulips are blooming.
2. Mekletinsky pink lakes
Description: In the Mekletinsky state nature reserve, approximately
30-40 km from Komsomolsky, there are salt lakes with a pink tint of
water. This color is created by microscopic crustaceans Artemia salina,
living in a salty environment.
Features: The landscapes here are
reminiscent of aliens: pink water contrasts with the dry steppe. The
lakes are shallow, and their banks are covered with a salt crust. Local
legends say that the water acquired its color from the blood of warriors
who washed their wounds here.
Location: The road from Komsomolskoye
towards the village of Adyk (about 25 km), then follow the signs to the
reserve.
Why it's worth visiting: This is one of the most photogenic
natural attractions of Kalmykia. The best time to visit is summer, when
the color of the water is the brightest.
3. Steppe expanses and
pastures
Description: The area around Komsomolskoye is typical Kalmyk
steppe, used for grazing sheep and cattle. Here you can find traditional
distant pastures, which gave the name to the area ("Black lands" - lands
for winter grazing).
Features: Endless plains, sparse bushes and
flocks of sheep create an authentic steppe landscape. Sometimes you can
see yurts or tents of local shepherds.
Location: Around the village,
especially in the southeast and west.
Why you should visit: This is
an opportunity to feel the spirit of the nomadic culture of the Kalmyks
and enjoy the silence of the steppe.
4. Oil fields
Description: In the Komsomolskoye area there are oil fields
(Nadezhdinskoye, Dorozhnoye), which are actively being developed. This
is not a classic landmark, but industrial facilities such as derricks
and pipelines are part of the local color.
Features: Oil has been
produced here since Soviet times, which makes the area important for the
economy of Kalmykia. You cannot visit the fields themselves, but they
are visible from afar.
Why you should visit: Interesting for those
who want to understand the modern economic life of the region.
Transport: You can get to Komsomolskoye from Elista along the
Yashkul-Komsomolskoye-Artezian highway (about 3 hours by car). Public
transport (buses) does not run regularly, so it is better to use a
private car or taxi.
Infrastructure: The village has basic amenities
- shops, gas stations, a small hotel or guest house. When visiting
natural sites, it is recommended to take water, food and sun protection
with you, as the summer here is hot (+30–40°C).
Best time: Spring
(April–May) for tulips blooming and comfortable weather, or summer
(June–August) for the bright colors of the pink lakes.
The settlement of Komsomolsky was founded in 1946 under the original
name Krasny Kamyshannik (sometimes spelled "Krasny Kamyshanik"). Its
appearance is associated with the post-war restoration and development
of agriculture in Kalmykia, as well as with changes in the
administrative-territorial structure of the region.
Context: In
1943, the Kalmyk ASSR was liquidated, and the Kalmyk population was
deported to Siberia and Central Asia by order of the Soviet leadership
(Operation Ulus). The territory of modern Kalmykia was divided between
neighboring regions, including Stavropol Krai, Astrakhan and Rostov
Oblasts. The "black lands" - steppe pastures in the eastern part of
Kalmykia - began to be used by farms in these regions for transhumance.
Establishment of the settlement: Krasny Kamyshannik arose as a
settlement at the state farm of the same name, organized by the
Stavropol Territory to manage the pastures of the Black Lands. The name
is probably associated with local toponymy: "kamyshannik" refers to reed
thickets, typical of the lowland and marshy areas of the Caspian
Lowland. The main occupation of the first residents was sheep and cattle
breeding, traditional for the steppe regions.
Initially, the
settlement was small, with a population of several hundred people,
consisting of workers of the state farm and their families. These were
mainly Russians and representatives of other peoples, resettled here in
the absence of the indigenous Kalmyk population.
In 1957, the settlement of Krasny Kamyshannik was renamed
Komsomolsky, which happened as part of the restoration of the Kalmyk
autonomy. This year was a key year in the history of the village and the
region:
Restoration of Kalmykia: In 1956, Kalmyks were allowed to
return from exile after Stalin's death and the beginning of
de-Stalinization. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the RSFSR of January 9, 1957, the Kalmyk Autonomous Region was
restored as part of the RSFSR, and on July 29, 1958, it received the
status of the Kalmyk ASSR. The Chernozemelsky District was again
included in the autonomy, and Komsomolsky became its administrative
center.
Renaming: The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the RSFSR of January 12, 1957 officially established the new name of
the village. The name "Komsomolsky" reflects the Soviet ideology of that
time: the Komsomol (Communist Union of Youth) symbolized youth
enthusiasm and labor feat. This name was popular for new settlements in
the USSR, especially during the period of restoration and development of
territories.
From that moment on, the settlement began to grow as
a district center. Kalmyks returned here, and new residents arrived to
work in agriculture and at developing enterprises. In the 1950s, the
first administrative buildings, a school, a club, and basic
infrastructure appeared in Komsomolskoye.
During the Soviet era, Komsomolskoye developed as a typical rural
settlement with an emphasis on agriculture and administrative functions:
Economy: The economy was based on livestock farming, especially
sheep breeding for wool and meat and cattle breeding. The state farms of
the district, including the state farm named after Yu.A. Gagarin, were
based on the use of pastures of the Black Lands. With the development of
the oil industry in Kalmykia (since the 1960s), oil exploration and
production began in the Komsomolskoye area (for example, the
Nadezhdinskoye and Dorozhnoye fields), which gave an additional boost to
the economy.
Population: By the 1980s, the population of the village
had reached about 4,000 people (according to the 1989 census - 4,050
people). Kalmyks made up the majority (about 80%), which reflected the
return of the indigenous population after deportation. Russians,
Dargins, Chechens and Kazakhs also lived here.
Infrastructure: A
community center, a hospital, a secondary school and a kindergarten were
built in the village. Komsomolsky became a transport hub due to the
intersection of the Yashkul-Komsomolsky-Artezian and Mineralnye
Vody-Budennovsk-Lagan (R-263) highways.
In 1992, by the
resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Kalmyk ASSR
dated April 30, the village was officially classified as a rural
settlement, which secured its status as a rural settlement, and not an
urban-type workers' settlement.
After the collapse of the USSR, Komsomolsky, like the rest of
Kalmykia, faced economic difficulties, but retained its importance as an
administrative center:
1990s: The economic crisis led to a
reduction in production on state farms and an outflow of part of the
population. However, oil production continued to support the local
economy. In 2002, the population was 3,983 people, indicating a slight
decrease compared to the Soviet period.
2000s: Infrastructure
gradually improved. According to the 2010 census, the population grew to
4,525 people, which is due to natural growth and migration from
surrounding villages. Small farms developed in the village, and the oil
industry remained a key industry (the Komsomolskneft enterprise).
Modernity: As of the 2020s, Komsomolsky remains a small village with a
population of about 4-5 thousand people. It functions as the center of
the Chernozemelsky district, where the administration, social
institutions and basic services are concentrated. In recent years, a
stable demographic situation with a slight increase has been noted.
Komsomolsky is located in the south-eastern part of Kalmykia, in the
center of the Chernozemelsky district. The geographical coordinates of
the village are 45°56′ north latitude and 46°05′ east longitude. It is
located:
190 km south-east of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia.
70
km from the coast of the Caspian Sea (northwestern part of the sea).
Near the border with the Astrakhan region (in the southwest) and the
Stavropol region (in the west).
The village is located at the
intersection of two important highways:
Yashkul-Komsomolsky-Artezian, connecting it with Elista and the
Astrakhan region.
R-263 (Mineralnye Vody-Budennovsk-Lagan), which
provides access to the Caspian Sea.
Komsomolsky occupies a strategic
position in the Chernozemelsky District, serving as a transport and
administrative hub for surrounding villages such as Adyk, Priyutnoye and
Artezian.
The relief of Komsomolsky and its environs is extremely flat, typical
of the Caspian Lowland:
Altitude above sea level: The village is
located at an altitude of about 0-10 meters below sea level, which makes
it part of one of the lowest areas of Russia. This is due to the
geological structure of the Caspian Depression.
Characteristics: The
terrain is flat, with barely noticeable differences in altitude. The
only elevations are rare hillocks and ridges up to 1-2 meters high,
formed by wind erosion (the so-called "Baerovsky hillocks").
Landscape: The surrounding area is an endless steppe turning into a
semi-desert. Closer to the Caspian Sea, there are salt marshes and
swampy areas.
The flat relief facilitates road construction, but
complicates agriculture due to low soil fertility and lack of water.
The climate of Komsomolskoye is sharply continental with semi-desert
features, which is due to its location in the dry steppe zone:
Temperature:
Winter: Cold, but relatively mild for Russia. The
average January temperature is -5…-7°C, with possible frosts down to
-20…-25°C. The snow cover is thin (10–20 cm) and unstable due to strong
winds.
Summer: Very hot and dry. The average July temperature is
+24…+26°C, but during the day the air often warms up to +35…+41°C. The
heat intensifies due to the lack of shade and high solar radiation.
Precipitation: The annual precipitation is extremely low — 250–300 mm,
with most of it falling in the spring and early summer in the form of
short showers. Precipitation is rare in winter, and droughts are common
in summer.
Winds: Constant and strong, especially east and southeast.
Wind speeds can reach 15–20 m/s, which leads to dust storms and soil
erosion.
Features: High evaporation (up to 1000 mm per year) exceeds
the amount of precipitation, making the region arid. In spring and
autumn, the weather is unstable, with sharp temperature changes.
Climate conditions make Komsomolsky difficult to live in and farm, but
favorable for pastoral livestock farming, traditional for the Kalmyks.
Water resources in the Komsomolsky area are extremely limited, which
is typical for a semi-desert zone:
Rivers: There are no permanent
large rivers in the vicinity of the village. The nearest river is the
Kuma, which flows 20–30 km to the south, but it is shallow and dries up
in the summer. There are temporary streams in the area that fill up only
during spring floods.
Lakes: Near Komsomolskoye there are salt lakes,
such as the Mekletinsky pink lakes (about 30–40 km), whose water
acquires a pink tint due to the microscopic crustaceans Artemia salina.
These lakes are shallow (up to 1 m deep) and often dry up.
Canals:
Artificial canals have been built in the area for irrigation and water
supply, such as the Chernozemelskaya irrigation system, which began in
Soviet times. They are fed from the Volga River through a cascade of
reservoirs and provide water to the village and farmland.
Groundwater: Groundwater is deep and often brackish, which makes it
difficult to use without purification.
Lack of fresh water is one of
the main problems of the region, and the residents of Komsomolskoye
depend on imported water and water supply systems.
The soils in the Komsomolskoye area are poor and unsuitable for
agriculture:
Predominant types:
Salt marshes (up to 40% of the
territory): Oversalted soils with a high salt content, practically
unsuitable for vegetation.
Brown semi-desert soils (about 50%):
Characterized by a low humus content and low fertility.
Sandy soils:
Found in elevated areas, subject to wind erosion.
Features: Soils are
subject to degradation due to overgrazing and droughts. In Soviet times,
attempts at melioration were made, but they were not very successful.
Such conditions make the region suitable only for pasture cattle
breeding, and not for intensive agriculture.
The vegetation cover of Komsomolskoye and its environs belongs to the
zone of semi-desert steppes:
Vegetation type: Dry herbaceous
communities with sparse shrubs. Main species:
Grasses: feather grass,
fescue, wormwood, saltwort.
Shrubs: tamarisk, juzgun (local name -
"steppe saxaul").
Spring ephemerals: wild tulips, irises that bloom
in April-May, creating bright spots on the steppe.
Features:
Vegetation is sparse, with large areas of bare soil. There are no
forests, and rare trees (willow, poplar) are found only along the canals
or in the village as artificial plantings.
Protection: Part of the
territory is part of the steppe section of the "Chernye Zemli" nature
reserve, where natural vegetation is preserved to maintain the
ecosystem.
In spring, the steppe briefly comes to life, but in
summer, due to heat and drought, it becomes parched.
The fauna of the region is adapted to the harsh semi-desert
conditions:
Mammals: The main species is the saiga, a steppe antelope
whose population is protected in the Black Lands Nature Reserve. There
are also corsac foxes, hares, ground squirrels and jerboas.
Birds:
Steppe eagle, bustard, demoiselle crane, as well as migratory species
(geese, ducks) that stop by the lakes. There are predators such as the
kestrel and buzzard.
Reptiles: Lizards (sand round-headed snake) and
snakes (steppe viper).
Insects: Locusts, grasshoppers, and mosquitoes
near water bodies.
The fauna is poorer than in forested regions, but
is unique due to rare species such as the saiga and bustard.
Komsomolsky is located in an ecologically vulnerable region:
Nature conservation: The Black Lands Nature Reserve and the Mekletinsky
Nature Reserve protect the steppe ecosystem from overgrazing and
poaching.
Problems: Depletion of pastures, desertification due to
climate change and anthropogenic pressure, pollution from oil production
(deposits in the area).
Water supply: Limited access to fresh water
forces the use of irrigation canals and wells.
Komsomolsky itself occupies an area of about 5-7 km² and is a
compact settlement with a radial layout:
Center: Administrative
buildings, Community Center, school, shops and a WWII memorial.
Residential areas: One-story houses and small two-story Soviet-built
buildings.
Surroundings: Pastures, irrigated fields and occasional
farms.
The village is surrounded by steppe, and the nearest
settlements (Adyk, Priyutnoye) are 20-30 km away.
There are 2 educational institutions in the village - a gymnasium named after B. Basangov and secondary school No. 1, 3 kindergartens - "Torg", "Bayr" and "Narn", there is a central district hospital named after. U. Dushan, there are a regional house of culture, a village library, a children's music school, and a children's library.
Mandzhiev, Arkady Naminovich (1961-2022) - Soviet and Russian
composer, performer of songs, Honored Art Worker of Kalmykia, author of
the anthem of Kalmykia
Semyonov, Mingiyan Arturovich (born 1990) -
Russian athlete, master of sports of Russia, bronze medalist of the 2012
Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling