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Cherskii 2014: Accommodation
Stove and pipes to pump water uphill from the Kolyma River to the living houses. (Photo: Martin Hertel)Tuesday, 6th of May 2014
During our April stay in Cherskii the facilities of the Northeast Scientific Station that are used to accommodate visitors in the summer were still closed for winter.
We therefore stayed in the private homes of our Russian partners, and could get insights how the normal life in the far north is organized during the polar winter.
For us Central Europeans, it usually does not make much of a difference in everyday life if it is winter or summer; in Siberia, on the other hand, even some of the simplest things you would never worry about in Europe can be complicated during the polar winter.
One example is running water: in Siberia, it is simply not possible to have water pipes to supply each house with fresh water year round - because of the harsh and long winter with temperatures between -20 and -40°C, all pipes would freeze up and crack, even with the best insulation.
The solution at our station is to have water tanks inside the house to store water under non-freezing conditions.
The filled-up tank usually lasts for 1-2 weeks, dependent on the consumption and number of people in the house.
Moose stew. (Photo: Martin Hertel)To refill the tanks, water from the Kolyma River is used. The total process of drilling into the frozen river, heating the stove to heat the river water and pump it uphill very fast so that the water will not freeze within the pipe, is very complex and takes roughly a whole working day.
Also we were able to experience Russian culture in more detailed way during our stay with the Russian hosts.
Since our stay ended shortly before the Eastern holidays, we learned a lot about the Eastern celebration and other holiday traditions.
Also we were offered a lot of Siberian and Russian style meals, which were always delicious. On behalf of the whole team we have to thank our Russian friends for their hospitality!
Lunch break with slices of raw frozen fish (a Siberian delicacy). (Photo: Martin Hertel)We enjoyed our time in Cherskii very much and it was very impressive for all of us to experience this region during the polar winter.
Your hospitality was great, the food you cooked for us was always delicious and your support of our work was outstanding.
Written by Fanny