Ukhta combines a long history of oil production with a historic wooden building, works of art and distinctive landscapes. The locations are varied: the museum and artworks are in the city, the Paraskiny Lakes are in the municipal district, and the Sedyu Canyon is outside Ukhta. Together, they bring city history, art and nature into view across different types of landscape.
Oil history and the museum
In 1597, oil collected from the Ukhta River was taken to Moscow. The first oil well in Ukhta is also part of this history: the oil extracted was initially used for medicinal purposes. These early accounts link the area to the history of oil without suggesting that the two events were a single occurrence.
The Ukhta Museum of History and Local Lore is housed in a wooden building constructed in 1936, which is considered a historical monument of republican significance. The museum building thus connects a specific location in the city with its own architectural and historical significance.
Art in the cityscape
A collection of sculptures with northern themes is located on Gazovikov Embankment. Another work of art gives the city a distinctive character: an oversized Lenin head sculpture from the Soviet era lights up above Ukhta in the evening. After its restoration, it became a city landmark. The sculpture collection and the single Soviet-era work of art offer different cultural highlights.
Lakes and canyon landscapes
The Paraskiny Lakes, a karst landscape with more than 20 lakes that can reach depths of 30 metres, are in the Ukhta municipal district. The Sedyu Canyon lies outside the city. Its features include high cliffs, karst caves and palaeontological finds; it also offers views of northern nature. The two landscapes are quite different: the Paraskiny Lakes are defined by their karst lakes, while the canyon is known for its cliffs, caves and finds.
More places to explore in the Komi Republic
Beyond Ukhta, the Komi Republic has its own nature and culture to discover. Yugyd Va National Park covers 1,894,133 hectares and extends across the municipal areas of Inta, Pechora and Vuktyl. It encompasses the highest peaks of the Subpolar and Northern Urals. Its rivers flow from the western slope of the Ural Mountains into the Pechora, which empties into the Barents Sea.
In the village of Yb, the Finno-Ugric Ethnocultural Park focuses on the culture and everyday life of 24 related Finno-Ugric peoples, including the Komi. Its programmes include activities about Komi culture, guided tours of Yb, games and workshops. A guided baking activity involves preparing shangi or listushki in the oven of a traditional Komi house. Check with the operator before your trip to confirm which activities are available.
The Svyato-Serafimovsky Monastery also stands on a hill in Yb, offering views across taiga that stretches for dozens of kilometres. The village is also home to the old stone Svyato-Voznesensky Church. According to local tradition, Catholic prisoners in transit preserved old icons in the 1930s rather than burning them for heating in temperatures of thirty degrees below zero.
Plan your journey
Ukhta and Syktyvkar are connected by rail, air and bus services. Check the timetables for your specific dates before travelling so you can choose the transport option that best fits your plans.
For an overview of the wider trip: Komi Republic.
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