Narym (from the village. Nyar - swamp) - a village in the Parabel district of the Tomsk region, in the past a city, prison. The administrative center of the Narym rural settlement.
Location and Overview
Narym is a small village located in the
Parabelsky District of Tomsk Oblast, Russia, deep within the Siberian
taiga. It sits at coordinates approximately 58°55′40″N 81°35′45″E, at an
elevation of about 57 meters (187 feet) above sea level. The village is
positioned roughly 25 kilometers northwest of the district
administrative center, Parabel, making it a remote settlement in the
northern part of Tomsk Oblast. Tomsk Oblast itself spans a vast area in
southwestern Siberia, characterized by its flat and monotonous terrain
that only slightly rises near the oblast's capital, Tomsk. Narym's name
derives from the Southern Selkup dialect word "njarəm," meaning "marsh"
or "swamp," which aptly reflects its geographical setting.
Rivers
and Hydrography
Narym is strategically situated on the banks of the
Ob River, one of Siberia's major waterways and the seventh-longest river
in the world, near its confluence with the Ket River. The Ket River
joins the Ob approximately 8 kilometers downstream from Narym, creating
a dynamic fluvial environment prone to seasonal flooding. The Ob River
basin dominates much of Tomsk Oblast, with extensive swamps forming on
the level watersheds between rivers. Historical records, such as
17th-18th century maps by cartographer S.U. Remezov, highlight
additional hydrographic features in the broader Narym Territory,
including numerous lakes depicted in old drawings of the region. These
lakes, along with the rivers, contribute to the area's wetland-dominated
landscape, which has historically influenced settlement patterns and
accessibility.
Terrain and Natural Features
The terrain around
Narym is predominantly flat and swampy, enveloped by vast expanses of
taiga forest—a dense boreal woodland typical of Siberia. The village is
surrounded on all sides by marshes, which create natural barriers and
have made the area notoriously difficult to access, historically serving
as a "natural prison" for exiles. While much of Tomsk Oblast is
described as monotonous lowland, historical maps of the Narym Territory
(encompassing the former Narymsky and Ketsky uyezds) reveal subtle
elevations referred to as "mountains." These features, depicted with
conventional signs on 17th-century drafts by S.U. Remezov, correspond to
real geographic uplands noted by travelers and scholars from the 17th to
19th centuries, as well as local oral traditions. These elevations were
mapped with practical considerations for Russian land reclamation,
indicating low ridges or hills amid the otherwise level, boggy plains.
The soil is often waterlogged, supporting peat bogs and coniferous
forests, with limited arable land.
Climate
Narym experiences a
severely continental climate, characteristic of interior Siberia, with
extreme temperature variations between seasons. Winters are long and
harsh, lasting from October to April, with average January temperatures
plummeting to around -20°C to -25°C (-4°F to -13°F), and occasional
drops below -40°C (-40°F). Summers are short and relatively warm,
typically from June to August, with July averages around 18°C to 20°C
(64°F to 68°F), though brief heatwaves can push temperatures above 30°C
(86°F). Precipitation is moderate, around 500-600 mm annually, mostly
falling as rain in summer and snow in winter, contributing to the
persistent humidity and swamp formation. The region sees significant
snowfall, with accumulations often exceeding 1 meter, and the rivers
freeze over for several months, allowing for ice roads but also causing
spring floods during thaw. This climate supports the taiga ecosystem but
poses challenges for human habitation and agriculture.
Surrounding Areas and Ecosystem
The broader Narym Territory lies
within the West Siberian Plain, a vast lowland extending across much of
Russia. To the north and east, the landscape transitions into even
denser taiga and more extensive wetlands, while southward toward Tomsk,
the terrain becomes slightly more elevated and less marshy. The area is
part of the Ob River floodplain, which fosters rich biodiversity despite
the harsh conditions. Flora includes conifers like Siberian pine,
spruce, and fir, interspersed with birch and aspen in cleared areas,
along with mosses, lichens, and bog plants such as sphagnum. Fauna
comprises typical Siberian species: brown bears, wolves, elk, foxes, and
various birds like owls and woodpeckers, with the rivers supporting fish
such as pike and perch. The swamps and forests have historically limited
development, preserving much of the natural environment, though logging
and oil exploration in Tomsk Oblast have impacted nearby regions.
Founding and Early Development (16th–18th Centuries)
Narym holds
the distinction of being the oldest Russian settlement in the Tomsk
region of Siberia. It was established in 1596 (or possibly 1598) as
Narymsky ostrog, a fortified wooden outpost, under the command of ataman
Tugarin from Surgut. This marked the first Russian foothold in what is
now Tomsk Oblast, as part of the broader Russian expansion into Siberia
following the conquest of the Khanate of Sibir. The site was
strategically chosen for its position along the Ob River, allowing
pioneers to navigate upstream to the Ket River and then via a short
portage to the Yenisei River, facilitating trade and exploration routes.
In 1601, Narym was granted town status, and Narymsky District was
formed. The settlement initially served as a center for collecting yasak
(tribute in furs) from the indigenous Selkup people, who inhabited the
region. However, early years were fraught with challenges: the ostrog
was relocated twice—in 1619 and 1632—due to recurrent floods and fires.
A devastating fire in 1638 destroyed much of the settlement, including
its wooden ramparts. Despite these setbacks, Narym gained permanence in
1629 when it fell under the administrative jurisdiction of the newly
founded city of Tomsk. Population records show steady, albeit modest,
growth: 46 residents in 1633, 55 in 1643, and 74 by 1662. By the late
17th century, it had evolved into a regional stronghold.
During the
18th century, Narym held uyezd (county) status within the Tobolsk
Viceroyalty. In 1785, it was awarded a coat of arms, symbolizing its
growing importance, with a population of 827. It emerged as a key trade
center, connecting Moscow to major fairs like Makaryev and Irbit. An
annual fair ran from June 25 to July 25, complemented by weekly Saturday
markets, trading in furs, fish, and other Siberian goods.
Immigration
during this period included early arrivals of Poles and Jews in the
second half of the 17th century, followed by Western settlers in the
first half of the 18th century. Volga Germans, such as the Raiber family
from Kolb, also settled in Narym, contributing to its diverse ethnic
makeup amid the dominant Russian and indigenous Selkup populations.
19th Century: Trade Hub and Administrative Decline
The 19th
century saw Narym's market expand, solidifying its role as a
transportation and distribution hub for the sparsely populated
surrounding taiga. The population hovered around 1,000, serving as a
vital link for goods moving through Siberia. However, in 1822, Narym
lost its administrative prominence when the regional center shifted to
Tomsk, reflecting the latter's rapid growth. Despite this, it remained
economically relevant as a waypoint for river traffic on the Ob.
Narym's isolation also cemented its reputation as a place of exile. From
1638 onward, it became one of Russia's primary destinations for
political prisoners, second only to Arkhangelsk and Vyatka in volume.
Exiles included Decembrists (following the 1825 revolt), participants in
Polish uprisings (1830–31 and 1863), narodniki (populist
revolutionaries), and other dissidents. Notable figures included
Bolesław Szostakowicz, a Polish revolutionary exiled in 1866
(grandfather of composer Dmitri Shostakovich), and writer Vadim
Kozhevnikov. The harsh environment—impassable bogs, virulent mosquitoes,
and brutal winters—acted as a natural prison, with many exiles
succumbing to disease or despair.
20th Century: Tsarist Exiles,
Revolution, and Soviet Repression
In the early 20th century, under
tsarist rule, Narym continued as an "open prison" for revolutionaries.
Bolshevik leaders like Yakov Sverdlov were exiled there multiple times,
starting in 1911 for four years. Sverdlov endured isolation in remote
hamlets like Maksimkin Yar and Kostyrevaya, facing food shortages,
harassment by guards, and health issues, yet he organized local
education, medical aid, and political discussions. He attempted several
escapes, succeeding on his fifth try in late 1912.
Joseph Stalin was
exiled to Narym in July 1912 for a planned three-year term but escaped
after just two months in September, using the Ob River route. This brief
stay later influenced his policies; upon seizing power, Stalin
transformed Narym into a hub for mass deportations. (Note: Contrary to
some sources, Vladimir Lenin was not exiled to Narym; his Siberian exile
from 1897–1900 was served in Shushenskoye village in the Minusinsk
district.)
Post-1917 Revolution, Narym's role shifted dramatically
under Soviet rule. In 1925, it was downgraded from a town to a selo.
During Stalin's collectivization and purges, it became part of the Gulag
system. Historian Zubareva estimates that between 1935 and 1939 alone,
around 200,000 people were deported to Narym. From 1930 to 1989, over
500,000 individuals—kulaks, political opponents, ethnic minorities
(including Roma forcibly migrated from Moscow in 1933), and post-WWII
exiles—were banished to the region. Many were sent to labor camps, while
others faced execution. Mass graves along the Ob River held executed
prisoners; erosion later exposed skeletons, with locals identifying
about 1,000 by clothing remnants before authorities concealed the rest.
Indigenous groups like the Narym (southern) Selkups, living alongside
Evenki neighbors, were documented in the early 20th century by
ethnographers like Fateev, highlighting their traditional lifestyles
amid encroaching Soviet policies.
Modern Era and Legacy
Today,
Narym remains a small village, preserving its historical significance
through the Museum of Political Exiles, originally built in 1948 as a
Stalin museum in the house where he stayed. Renamed in 1960 during
de-Stalinization, it chronicles the region's exile history, including
artifacts from tsarist and Soviet eras. The village's remote location
continues to evoke its storied past as a symbol of Siberian hardship and
resilience.
All the main objects of interest to tourists in Narym are related to
the topic of political exile. Most of them are concentrated on the
street that now bears the name of one of the local exiles -
V.V.Kuibyshev. There are located:
Narym Museum of Political
Exile (branch of the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore). The
original name is “Narym Museum named after I. V. Stalin”. The
decision to found the museum was made in 1938 by the Novosibirsk
Regional Committee of the CPSU (b). Three years later, the main
building of the museum (house 33) in the style of a peasant hut was
completed, but the exposition was opened for visitors only in 1948.
Next to the main building of the museum, the Alekseevs' house (house
33a), which was specially transferred there, was installed, in which
Stalin, who was serving his exile, rented housing, and the building
of the convict prison (house 33b), in which the exiles V.V.Kuibyshev
and Ya.M. Sverdlov were kept. According to the order of the Ministry
of River Fleet of the USSR, all passenger steamers plying by the
Narym pier had to stop there for at least three hours in order to
visit the museum for their passengers. In 1956, after the
personality cult of the "leader of the peoples" was exposed, the
museum was temporarily closed, but two years later, by the decision
of the Tomsk Regional Committee of the CPSU, it was reorganized into
the Memorial Museum of political exiled Bolsheviks of the Narym
Territory. Under this name, the institution first opened its doors
to visitors on March 27, 1960. The museum underwent its last
reorganization in the late 1980s, when it received its current name.
Unlike the previous ones, the modern exposition of the museum pays
attention not only to the Bolsheviks, but also to other political
prisoners of the Narym region;
The manor house with the house of
the police department (house 1), in which the exiles were obliged to
periodically mark their presence;
The shop of the merchant
Rodyukov (house 15) - a brick building where the exiles not only
stocked up on food, but also received illegal correspondence from
the foreign bureau of the Central Committee of the RSDLP;
Huts
where other political exiles lived (houses numbered 2, 5, 6, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 18, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 42, 44, 50)
Other
attractions in Narym include:
A wooden house built by exiled
participants in the Polish uprising (current address is Sibirskiy
Lane, 6);
A cemetery with the graves of political exiles who died
while serving their exile in Narym;