Magadan (Russian: Магада́н, mah-gah-DAHN) is the capital of Russia's Magadan Oblast, with a population of about 92 000 residents.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Magadan is one of the few ports in this remote part of Russia, kept open over winter by resident icebreakers. The town is quite isolated - there is no railway, and the only road out of town is impassable in summer to all but the most hardy of off-road vehicles. Magadan is one of the most remote cities reachable from the outside world by road that is fully connected to the rest of the road network. The city was founded in 1930 and named after the river with the same name. During Stalin's reign, the isolated settlement gained importance as transit centre for prisoners sent to gulags.
The only passenger transport are marshrutkas which cover all the city.
1 Mask of Sorrow (Маска скорби (Maska skorbi)). 24/7. The Mask of Sorrow is a 15-m-tall concrete monument to the victims of the Gulags, for which this region was well known, on a hill on the outskirts of town. You will need transport to get here, but it's worth the effort. It is a tribute to the prisoners who were subjected to forced labour in the construction of the R504 Kolyma Highway also dubbed as road of bones because of the gulag prisoners that died during construction in harsh conditions. Because of the permafrost conditions in some areas, it was deemed more practical to interment corpses into the fabric of the road rather than digging graves to bury them.
DVS Tour. DVS-Tour can arrange tours to Gulag sites in the region Magadan Beach. When the weather is warm, it seems that half the town heads for the beach, so it's a great opportunity to mingle with the locals. Hardy individuals might care to try a swim in the sea of Okhotsk, but while the weather might be sunny, chances are the water will feel crisp. Climb Marchekanskaya sopka for great views. If you come in winter, you should definitely walk on the ice of the sea - it is a rare experience.
1 Woki-Toki Friends Only (Woki-Toki Только для друзей), Ulitsa Gagarina, 12, ☏ +7 924 858 11 10. Pizza and sushi and wok stir-fries. Plus rolls and various snacks.
Okean Hotel - has an interesting pole-dancing bar, admission 200-250 руб, beers 150 руб, definitely worth a visit if this is your thing, or even if this is your first experience. Ladies welcome, very non-threatening.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Magadan typically sees ~16°C daytime highs and 9 rainy days.
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