Talking about this northern city of Russia, it is necessary to concentrate on two things: history and climatic conditions. This is what we will do in our article. Of course, we will not forget to mention the main attractions of Novy Urengoy. “What to see in the city?” - such a question will certainly ask a rare guest of the “gas capital”.
Geographical location and climate
The 100 thousandth city of Novy Urengoy is located in the north of Western Siberia. Two small rivers (Sede-Yah and Tamchara-Yah) divide it into two halves - North and South. In winter, snows and fierce frosts dominate here, and in summer, white nights. And this is not surprising when you consider that the city is located just 50 kilometers from the Arctic Circle.
Locals affectionately call their city Nur, and the rest of the country proudly call it the "gas capital of Russia." Today, about 110 thousand people live here. Among them are not only Russians, but also Ukrainians, Nogais, Bashkirs, Tatars, Circassians, Chechens … Altogether more than forty nationalities! The city has a lot of Muslims, so here, along with Orthodox churches, you can see a small mosque.
The climate of Novy Urengoy is quite severe and also changeable. Summer is incredibly short, winter lasts 284 days! The coldest month of the year is January. At this time, the air temperature in the city often drops to -30 degrees. When it gets colder, schools and some government agencies close in Nur. Another "trouble" of the Urengoy weather is strong, gusty winds, often reaching a speed of 10-15 m / s.
History and sights of the city
New Urengoy, alas, is not rich in attractions. There are no historical or architectural monuments here at all. The reason is the “modest" age of the city. In 2015, he celebrated his fiftieth birthday.
In 1966, a team of workers led by master Polupanov drilled an exploratory well here. When the workers reached a depth of 1300 m, a gas "fountain" burst out of it with great force and power. And so it appeared on the map of the Soviet Union Urengoyskoye field - one of the largest natural gas production in the world.
Shortly after this event, the construction of the future city begins. In 1975, a settlement called Novy Urengoy was registered. A year later, they began to lay a railway to it. The construction of the railway line lasted almost six years and was completed in 1982. From this moment the city began to develop at a frantic pace.
The sights of Novy Urengoy are primarily monuments and monuments dedicated to certain events. Many of them are inextricably linked with the history of the “gas capital”. Below we offer the reader a list of eight main attractions of Novy Urengoy:
- Monument to the first borehole.
- Fountain "Sailboat".
- Memorial of Memory in the square of the same name.
- Monument to the pioneers of the development of Urengoy.
- Orthodox church of Seraphim of Sarov.
- Monument to the architect A. I. Nalivaiko (many buildings in the city were built according to his sketches).
- Art Museum.
- Theater "Northern Stage".
Monument to the first borehole
Description of the sights of Novy Urengoy is logical to start with this monument. It is located two kilometers east of the city. This is the most iconic monument of Novy Urengoy, because it tells about people who were directly involved in the construction of the very first borehole in the city.
Monument - stylized oil rig. Nearby are the gilded figures of two drillers, one of whom joyfully greets all the guests of the city with his right hand. The monument was erected back in the 60s and has not changed much since then.
Sailboat Fountain
It is difficult to imagine a sailboat in a city cold and far from the seas and oceans. And he is here! The impressive metal structure installed in the Friendship Park really resembles a sailboat - it has both a mast and sails. In summer, water splashes here, and in winter, the design turns into a beautiful light composition. The Sailboat Fountain is one of the main attractions of Novy Urengoy and a certain symbol of this city.
Temple of Seraphim of Sarov
Urengoy miracle - that's what the locals call this temple. It was built of wood in 1995. But two years later, the church completely burned out due to faulty wiring. Parishioners organized a charity marathon to raise funds and rebuilt the temple in record time (in just a couple of months). And he became much more beautiful than the original version!
Monument to the pioneers of the development of Urengoy
Another iconic landmark of Novy Urengoy is the monument to the pioneers of the development of the city. Its author was the famous architect Nikolai Raspopov. The total height of the stele is 12 meters. A copper statue of a woman holds a burning torch in her right hand. The weight of the sculpture is quite solid - three tons. The monument adorns one of the central city squares.
