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Mirny is a city (since 1966) in the Arkhangelsk region of the Russian Federation - Russia. It is the location of the Plesetsk cosmodrome. Mirny forms the municipality (urban district) "Mirny" with the status of a closed administrative-territorial unit (CATU) since 1993.
Monument to V. I. Lenin (1977, Lenin Square);
Monument to F. E. Dzerzhinsky (Dzerzhinsky St., 36);
Monument
"Cosmos-2000" (1989, opposite the hotel "Sever");
Monument to M.K.
Yangel (1977, Lenin St., 15)
Monument to M. G. Grigoriev (2007, Lenin
Square)
Monument to M. I. Nedelin (1977, Nedelina St. / Opposite
Lomonosov, 18)
Memorial in honor of those who died in the line of
duty and military duty (1973), "Eternal Flame" (1979), opposite the
street. Lenina, 69.
Monument to the Founders of the Garrison and the
City (1977, park named after M. G. Grigoriev)
Stele "45 years of the
Plesetsk Cosmodrome" (2002, Tsirgvava St., 2)
Monument "Rocket" (ICBM
R-5, 1979, park named after G. E. Alpaidze)
Monument
"Warrior-Liberator" (restored in 2012, park named after G. E. Alpaidze)
Monument to the Courage and Heroism of Warriors 1941-1945 (1978, park
named after G. E. Alpaidze)
Pre-Discovery Era
The area now known as Mirny,
located in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) of eastern Siberia, Russia,
was largely uninhabited and unexplored until the mid-20th century.
Situated on the Irelyakh River in the Vilyuy River basin,
approximately 820 kilometers (510 miles) west of Yakutsk, the
region's harsh Arctic climate—characterized by permafrost, extreme
cold (down to -60°C), and vast taiga forests—made it a challenging
frontier. Indigenous Yakut (Sakha) peoples, who have inhabited the
broader region for centuries, traditionally engaged in reindeer
herding, hunting, and fishing, but no permanent settlements existed
in the immediate vicinity of what would become Mirny. The Sakha
Republic itself, established as an autonomous Soviet socialist
republic in 1922, was known for its mineral potential, but
systematic exploration intensified after World War II as the Soviet
Union sought resources for industrial reconstruction and military
needs.
Geological interest in Yakutia dates back to the early
20th century, with sporadic surveys hinting at diamond deposits due
to the region's kimberlite formations—volcanic pipes that often
contain diamonds. However, the remote location and logistical
difficulties delayed major expeditions until the 1950s, driven by
the USSR's need for industrial diamonds for tools, abrasives, and
defense applications during the Cold War.
Discovery of
Diamonds and Founding (1950s)
The pivotal moment in Mirny's
history came on June 13, 1955, when a Soviet geological expedition
discovered the "Mir" kimberlite pipe, one of the world's largest
diamond deposits. The expedition, part of the Amakinsky team, was
led by figures including Yuri Khabardin, Ekaterina Elagina, and
Viktor Avdeenko, though credit has been contested. Some accounts
highlight the contributions of women like Larisa Popugaeva and
Natalia Sarsadskikh, who developed key prospecting methods, but
official Soviet narratives often attributed the find solely to
Khabardin, who received awards and had a settlement named after him.
Elagina famously sent a coded telegram: "Have smoked peace pipe,
tobacco is excellent," signaling the discovery while maintaining
secrecy. Natalia Kind, who provided crucial guidance, was later
marginalized and turned to dissident activities, smuggling works by
authors like Solzhenitsyn abroad.
The discovery transformed the
site from a temporary tent camp into a permanent settlement. Mirny
was officially founded in 1955, named "peaceful" in Russian
(Мирный), reflecting the optimistic Soviet ethos. It was the first
Soviet industrial town in the Arctic built from scratch post-World
War II, free from the Gulag system's legacy, unlike many other
Siberian outposts. Open-pit mining at the Mir mine began in 1957,
making it the USSR's first developed diamond mine and rapidly
elevating it to the largest. By 1959, Mirny achieved town status,
with infrastructure quickly developing to support the influx of
workers. The population grew from pioneers in rudimentary conditions
to a structured community, initially planned as a fly-in-fly-out
operation but evolving into a family-oriented city as miners brought
spouses and children.
Permafrost posed immense engineering
challenges, requiring innovative techniques for excavation and
construction—all developed by Soviet scientists without external
aid. The mine's steep slopes, enabled by frozen ground, became the
world's steepest in an open-pit operation. Diamonds from Mirny were
crucial for the Soviet economy, with the site dubbed the "capital of
diamond country" in state media, overshadowing even Yakutsk in
industrial significance.
Soviet Era Development and Boom
(1960s–1980s)
During the Khrushchev "Thaw" and subsequent
Brezhnev era, Mirny exemplified Soviet urban planning in the Arctic.
It was constructed as a "city of a new type," emphasizing modern
amenities, communal living, and industrial efficiency. The Amakinsky
expedition evolved into the Yakutalmaz trust, later becoming Alrosa,
which dominated operations. By the 1970s, environmental innovations
emerged, such as closed water circulation systems to handle
wastewater in permafrost conditions, reducing pollution. The town
expanded with roads, housing, schools, and cultural institutions,
attracting over 70 nationalities and fostering a diverse community.
The Mir mine reached depths of 525 meters by its closure, producing
gems that accounted for a significant portion of global output—up to
25% of the world's diamonds from Yakutia. Annual profits exceeded
$600 million in the 1990s. Infrastructure like hydropower plants
(e.g., the 2004 Svetlinskaya, built into permafrost) and
methane-powered vehicles supported the energy-intensive industry.
Alrosa also provided social services, including education and
health, under Soviet mandates. Key figures like Vyacheslav Shtyrov,
who started in Mirny and became Alrosa's president and later Sakha's
leader, navigated the industry through economic turmoil.
Post-Soviet Transition and Challenges (1990s–2000s)
The 1991
collapse of the USSR brought economic upheaval. Alrosa, privatized
but with significant state ownership (Russia and Sakha hold stakes),
adapted by outsourcing social services to local government while
contributing 24% of Sakha's taxes via social-economic agreements.
The open-pit Mir mine closed in June 2001 after 44 years, shifting
to underground mining to preserve larger diamonds and avoid
explosive damage. This transition employed 3,600 workers and
maintained output.
The town faced isolation issues, relying on
Alrosa's airline for connectivity to Moscow and beyond. Population
stabilized around 37,000 by 2010, down from peaks due to migration.
Institutions like the Mirny Polytechnic Institute (a NEFU branch)
focused on mining education and research, symbolizing the town's
enduring industrial identity.
Recent History and Current
Status (2010s–Present)
In the 2010s, Mirny continued as Russia's
diamond capital, with Alrosa as the world's largest producer by
volume. A major setback occurred on August 4, 2017, when flooding
from an overlying lake burst into the underground mine, causing an
industrial disaster that crushed equipment and endangered
lives—though no fatalities were reported in some accounts, it
highlighted safety risks. Operations resumed, but the incident
underscored the perils of mining in such environments.
Today,
Mirny is a modern industrial hub with about 35,000–40,000 residents,
most employed by Alrosa. The decommissioned open-pit mine, now a 1.2
km-wide, 525 m-deep hole, is a tourist curiosity, though access is
restricted due to hazards like restricted airspace from downdrafts.
The town blends Soviet-era architecture with contemporary
developments, including technological spillovers like specialized
paints from mining innovations. Economically vital to Sakha, it
contributes through taxes and supports regional infrastructure,
while facing ongoing challenges from climate change, permafrost
thaw, and global diamond market fluctuations. Mirny's story remains
one of human ingenuity against nature's extremes, from tent camps to
a thriving Arctic city built on buried treasures.
Location and Overview
Mirny is a town in the Sakha
Republic (also known as Yakutia), located in the far northeastern part
of Russia within the Russian Far East. Situated on the Irelyakh River,
which forms part of the Vilyuy River basin (itself a tributary of the
larger Lena River system), Mirny lies approximately 820 kilometers (510
miles) west of Yakutsk, the republic's capital. The town's geographic
coordinates are 62°33′N 113°58′E, placing it in the western portion of
Sakha, a vast region that spans over 3 million square kilometers—roughly
half the area of the Far Eastern Federal District and larger than
Argentina. At an elevation of about 340 meters (1,120 feet) above sea
level, Mirny is embedded in the expansive Siberian landscape,
characterized by its isolation and reliance on diamond mining, which has
shaped both its economy and physical environment since its founding in
1955 following the discovery of a kimberlite pipe. The town, with a
population of around 34,000-37,000, exemplifies a "monocity" built
around resource extraction, thriving in an otherwise inhospitable
subarctic setting.
Climate
Mirny experiences an extreme
subarctic climate (Köppen classification: Dfc), marked by
hypercontinental conditions with drastic temperature swings, low
precipitation, and pervasive permafrost. Winters are long and brutally
cold, lasting up to eight months, while summers are short (primarily
July) and relatively mild. The average annual precipitation is around
322 mm (12.8 inches), with the bulk falling in summer—July sees about 55
mm, compared to just 10 mm in February. Temperature records since 1959
highlight the severity: highs can reach 36.7°C (98°F) in summer, but
lows plummet to -57.3°C (-71°F) in winter. Nearby areas like Aldan (in
the same western Sakha region) provide comparable data, with January
averages of -21.3°C (-6.3°F) highs and -30.1°C (-22.2°F) lows, and July
averages of 23.0°C (73.4°F) highs and 11.1°C (52.0°F) lows. The dry air
and calm conditions make the cold somewhat bearable, but the entire
region is underlain by permafrost up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) deep in
places, which restricts building, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Annual precipitation in broader western Sakha ranges from 200-400 mm,
contributing to a landscape prone to swamps and limited evaporation.
Hydrography
The hydrographic network is dominated by the Lena
River basin, one of the world's longest river systems at 4,400 km. Mirny
sits directly on the Irelyakh River, a tributary of the Vilyuy River
(2,650 km long), which in turn feeds into the Lena. Other nearby rivers
include the Aldan (2,273 km) and Olyokma (1,320 km), both Lena
tributaries that carve through the western Sakha landscape. These rivers
are vital for transportation during the short ice-free season (3-4
months), but freeze solid in winter, enabling sled trails. The Vilyuy
basin also holds significant natural gas deposits, connected by pipeline
to Yakutsk. Environmental concerns arise from mining pollution; the
Vilyuy was declared an ecological disaster area in 1992 due to toxic
by-products affecting water quality.
Topography and Landforms
Mirny's topography is typical of interior Siberia: flat to gently
undulating plains interspersed with river valleys and low hills. The
broader western Sakha region transitions from the Central Siberian
Plateau in the west to more mountainous borders, including the Stanovoy
Range to the south and the Verkhoyansk Range to the east. Permafrost
creates unique landforms like thermokarst lakes and uneven ground,
limiting soil depth and vegetation. Surrounding areas feature endless
taiga forests, swamps, and plateaus, with roads traversing challenging
terrain—often unpaved and prone to flooding or freezing. The town's
isolation is amplified by this ruggedness; access is primarily by air,
as ground routes are difficult and seasonal.
Vegetation and
Wildlife
Vegetation in Mirny and western Sakha is predominantly taiga
forest, covering about 47% of the republic, with Dahurian larch
dominating 90% of the tree cover. In the south near Mirny, stands of
fir, pine, spruce, and dwarf birch appear, transitioning from sparser
tundra-like flora in drier, colder spots. Mosses, lichens, and dwarf
shrubs thrive along riverbanks due to permafrost restrictions. Wildlife
includes reindeer, squirrels, foxes, ermines, and various birds adapted
to the subarctic; indigenous groups like the Sakha, Evenk, and Even
traditionally herd reindeer and hunt in these forests. Summers bring
mosquitoes, but the town itself sees fewer due to its developed areas.
Geological Features and Natural Resources
Geologically, Mirny is
defined by its diamond-rich kimberlite deposits, part of ancient
volcanic pipes. The most prominent feature is the Mir open-pit mine
(also called Mirny mine), the world's second-largest excavated hole at
525 meters (1,722 feet) deep and 1.25 kilometers (0.78 miles) in
diameter. Discovered in 1955, it produced up to 10 million carats
annually before open-pit operations ceased in 2004; underground mining
continued until full closure in 2011 due to costs and declining yields.
Sakha produces 99% of Russia's diamonds (about 25% globally), with Mirny
as a key hub operated by Alrosa. Other resources include gold near
Aldan, tin in the Yana valley, coal along the Lena, and oil/gas in the
Vilyuy basin. Mining has altered the landscape, creating vast
excavations visible from space and contributing to environmental
degradation.
Heads of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
1957-1962 - Major
General Grigoriev Mikhail Grigorievich, one of the founders of the
training ground, head of the garrison;
1962-1963 - Lieutenant General
Shtanko Stepan Fedotovich, head of the 3rd UAP)
1963-1975 -
Lieutenant General Alpaidze Galaktion Eliseevich (1916-2006), Hero of
the Soviet Union, head of 53 NIIP MO;
1975-1979 - Lieutenant General
Yury Alekseevich Yashin, head of 53 NIIP MO;
1979-1984 - Lieutenant
General Ivanov Vladimir Leontievich, Head of the 53rd Research Institute
of the Ministry of Defense;
1984-1985 - Lieutenant General Kolesnikov
Gennady Alekseevich, head of 53 NIIP MO;
1985-1991 - Lieutenant
General Oleinik Ivan Ivanovich, Head of Department 53 of the GIIP MO;
1991-1993 - Lieutenant General Anatoly Nikolaevich Perminov, head of the
53rd GIP MO;
1993-1999 - Lieutenant General Zhuravlev, Yuri
Mikhailovich, head of the 1st GIK MO;
1994-1996 - Major General
Ovchinnikov Anatoly Fedorovich, head of the 1st GIK MO as part of the
Aerospace Forces;
1997 - Colonel Pronikov Vladimir Pavlovich, head of
the 1st GIK MO as part of the VKS;
1999-2003 - Lieutenant General
Kovalenko, Gennady Nikolaevich, head of the 1st GIK MO;
2003-2007 -
Lieutenant General Bashlakov Anatoly Alexandrovich;
2007-2008 - Major
General Oleg Nikolayevich Ostapenko, head of the 1st GIK MO;
2008-2011 - Major General Oleg Vladimirovich Maidanovich, head of the
1st GIK MO;
2011-2012 - Major General Alexander Valentinovich
Golovko, head of the 1st GIK MO;
since June 2013 - Major General
Nestechuk Nikolai Nikolaevich, (head of the 1st GIK MO;
Honorary
citizens of the city of Mirny
According to the official website of
the city of Mirny:
Ageev Alexander Ivanovich, folk master, local
historian;
Alpaidze Galaktion Eliseevich, head of the garrison from
1963 to 1975, Hero of the Soviet Union, one of the city parks is named
after him;
Volkova Lidia Sergeevna;
Grigoriev Mikhail
Grigorievich, head of the garrison from 1957 to 1962, one of the
founders of the training ground;
Gryazov Nikolai Yakovlevich,
Chairman of the City Executive Committee from 1967 to 1985;
Dolinov
Leonid Ivanovich;
Eremin Alexander Arkhipovich worked in the garrison
military forestry from 1956 to 1990;
Esenkov Sergey Vasilievich;
Zagorny Vladimir Akimovich;
Ivanov Vladimir Leontievich;
Kovalenko
Gennady Nikolaevich;
Ovchinnikov Anatoly Fedorovich;
Perminov
Anatoly Nikolaevich;
Plisko Vasily Nikolaevich, head of the
engineering department of the garrison from 1971 to 1983, honored
builder of the RSFSR;
Prestensky Petr Zakharovich, head of the
engineering department of the garrison from 1966 to 1971, Hero of
Socialist Labor;
Sitnikov Stanislav Grigorievich;
Skalova
Valentina Prokopievna;
Shchelkanov Viktor Vasilyevich, head of the
section of military unit No. 01935 from 1960 to 1985, the title was
awarded for his active work in the construction of facilities in the
city;
Yashin Yuri Alekseevich, head of the garrison from 1975 to
1979, laureate of the State Prize;
Notable natives
Sergey
Glushko (Tarzan);
Metal band "Cadaverous Poison";