Remote
Just how remote is Siberia? Evidence of the Arctic's seclusion from the rest of the world is scattered as far as the eye can see. What arrives in Cherskiy, Russia, rarely leaves. Rusting metal sweeps the landscape in waves. Abandoned ships and aircrafts float down river. A cacophony of floating, scraping shipping containers echo in cadence. Everything seems to squeak like pieces of chalk that catch the board at just the wrong angle.
A Bridge to the Barge
Resources are too scarce to remove remnants of the past. A disintegrating museum of vacated vehicles, buildings and machines from across the decades. At first glance, Cherskiy seems, in every respect, a ghost town. Structures appear to be uninhabitable, and yet, the town is swimming with the motion of families and people going about their daily lives.
The Northeast Science station receives shipments of outside goods twice per summer. Most residence in this arctic town will see outside resources even less frequently. Huge War of the World-like machines sit on the horizon just outside of Cherskiy, ready to transport supplies from ship to truck. Shipments come on cargo containers that often arrive later than expected. Many cargo containers arrive, fated to remain in the town indefinitely. One more block in the Jenga graveyard of cargo containers.
Shipping machines sit on the horizon
Shipping Containers
In Siberia, when something breaks it is impossible to call a specialist to fix it. Therefore, it is vital to become a Jack of all trades. Men are expected to be plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics. Resourcefulness is key, if something breaks, families fix it themselves with limited supplies or...it remains broken.
Internet and electrical in town can be spotty, going out at any time. Northeast Science Station cooks, Olya and Lena, light candles for dinner, not for romantic ambiance, but out of necessity.
A candlelit dinner
Transportation in the summer can vary drastically from barge and speedboat to "the machine." A clever device made out of "many different vehicles." Again, in Siberia, it is vital to work with what you have and make what you have work.
The Machine
The land slowly envelops the rusting historical litter as bushes swallow barrels and larch forests eat cars whole. In many ways the juxtaposition of it all is quite beautiful.
An abandoned ship floats in the Annui
Add new comment