Mirny Mine

Fast Facts

Location: In Sakha Republic in south-eastern Siberia.
Attraction Type: Mine
Significance: The largest open pit diamond mine till 2005
Best Time to Visit: May to September
Visiting hours: Daytime
How to reach: Fly to Mirny and then travel by road
Nearest International Airport: Mirny Airport

Mirny Mine in Russia is world's largest diamond mine. This open pit mine, located in Mirny in East Siberia, was discovered by Soviet geologists Ekaterina Elagina, V. Avdeenko, and Yuri Khabardin in 1955 during Amakinsky Expedition. Also termed as Mir Mine, it was a center of excavation activity for nearly half a century.

This diamond mine of Mirny is immense with a pit of diameter of nearly 1200 meters and depth of 525 meters. It takes approximately 2 hours by a truck to come up to the surface from the bottom of this pit mine. This mine remained operational for about fifty years till April 2004. This mine had an annual production of two million carats of diamond.

Mirny, a quiet town in Sakha Republic, was set up only after the discovery of this gigantic pit mine in 1955.

Activities

Mir Mine, though currently not functional, is worth a visit for its enormity. Sakha region of Russia is also famous for its taiga forests and traditional people. Horse farms are a treat to watch. The taiga forests are inhabited by reindeer, Siberian tigers, and wolves. The sleepy towns of Sakha region are perfect for a tranquil getaway. The river Lena in Yakutsk is a charming sight as well.

Accommodation and Dining

While touring Sakha region in Russia you might put up in Yakutsk, Oymyakon, or Sinsk. Tygyn Darkhan in Yakutsk, and a few guesthouses in Sinsk and Oymyakon are places to put up. Food is delicious as in most Russian cities. Fish and meat recipes are particularly palatable.