In the Verkhoyansk District of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), it is planned to set up a tourism and recreational cluster “Verkhoyansk - the Heart of the Arctic”. The master plan for the cluster was developed by the Tourism Development and Territorial Marketing Agency of the Republic.
The project is focused on the capitalization of the natural “assets” of the Verkhoyansk District such as record low air temperatures typical for the area (down to -67.8 degrees Celsius in 2022) and natural beauties. The Kisilyakh Shale Mountains, often referred to as the “Northern Shambhala” or the “Yakut Stonehenge”, as well as the Batagay Thermocarstic Basin are among the most amazing natural landmarks. In addition, the cluster will include the Adychinsky Paleontological Museum and the Ulakhan-Sular section known for its paleontological burials. The planned routes also involve visiting the local history museum the “Pole of Cold” and the ethno-complex in Verkhoyansk. The authors of the project expect that the cluster will be able to attract about 9.5 thousand tourists a year.
Tourism promotion is a significant aspect of the sustainable development of the Arctic. The launch of new tourist routes and programmes allows to diversify the local economy and create additional jobs. It is worth mentioning the intangible aspect of the issue: attracting tourists to the polar latitudes stimulates wider new relations between the Russians coming from different regions and contributes to the spiritual mutual enrichment of different communities and cultures.