Gallery: Take a Tour of Kupol, an Isolated, Freezing Gold Mine in Siberia

  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Scenery Landscape Mountain Ice Snow Aerial View and Airport
    Elena Chernyshova
    01

    Golden Kupol

    Located in a remote corner of Siberia, more than 1,000 people live and work in this barren landscape.
  • Image may contain Human Person Transportation Vehicle Outdoors Bulldozer Tractor Nature and Wood
    Elena Chernyshova
    02

    Golden Kupol

    A drill covered with special housing to protect it from Arctic temperatures.
  • Image may contain Human Person Outdoors Nature Ice Cross Symbol Clothing Apparel Helmet Hardhat and Snow
    Elena Chernyshova
    03

    Golden Kupol

    A worker checks instruments at a meteorological station.
  • Image may contain Mountain Outdoors Nature Ice Snow Glacier and Slope
    Elena Chernyshova
    04

    Golden Kupol

    Vehicles on the 200- mile ice supply road that connects the Kupol gold mine to the port of Pevek.
  • Image may contain Helmet Clothing Apparel Human Person and Fireman
    Elena Chernyshova
    05

    Golden Kupol

    A worker smelting gold into ingots.
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    Elena Chernyshova I hanslucas.co
    06

    Golden Kupol

    The gold concentration plant uses 4.5 thousand tons of ore from the Kupol and Dvoinoye deposits.
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    Elena Chernyshova
    07

    Golden Kupol

    Gold is extracted from underground mines a quarter-mile deep.
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    Elena Chernyshova
    08

    Golden Kupol

    Inside the mine.
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    Elena Chernyshova
    09

    Golden Kupol

    A scientist in the Kupol laboratory creates samples of the precious metal.
  • Image may contain Outdoors Human Person Garden and Plant
    Elena Chernyshova
    10

    Golden Kupol

    An experimental hydro-culture greenhouse produces fresh lettuce every day for staff.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Snow Human Person Ice Winter Housing Building and Home Decor
    Elena Chernyshova
    11

    Golden Kupol

    In February, the outside of the camp is coated with a thick layer of snow and ice. Inside, however, there are continuously heated rooms, including a gym.
  • Image may contain Window Human Person and Porthole
    Elena Chernyshova
    12

    Golden Kupol

    Staff relax by playing a game of table-tennis.
  • Image may contain Building Housing Human Person Furniture Bed Indoors Room Bedroom Chair Dorm Room and Erlend Loe
    Elena Chernyshova
    13

    Golden Kupol

    Workers spending down time in one of the staff bedrooms.
  • Image may contain Human Person Indoors Interior Design Restaurant Furniture Couch Laptop Electronics and Computer
    Elena Chernyshova
    14

    Golden Kupol

    A rock group made up of miners plays in the Solstice Café.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Night and Aurora
    Elena Chernyshova
    15

    Golden Kupol

    The Aurora Borealis hangs in the night sky above the Kupol gold mine.
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