The Pearl of the North

For citizens of Tula from citizen of Ukhta, Komi Republic

I love my little northern town, my homeland, my Pearl of the North. And though the greatest part of the year it is covered with snow and the summer is not so warm, but I can`t imagine myself without these white spaces, without eyelashes in frost and Epiphany frosts. There's a completely different air, comparing with Tula and a completely different perception of itself. It is like you are a piece of the huge taiga with its pine trees, knee-deep snowdrifts, and the frost that makes you breathe  with a full chest. And the air is not the same like here, it seems it permeates through you, forever leaving in your memory the smell of pine trees and the crunch of the snow under your feet. Can you imagine anything like that in Tula? No snow, no frost, no downy fir-trees.  Just grey, boring atmosphere for a few months till the first leaf appears on the trees. But many people like Tula because of its great places to visit. Native citizens though don`t go anywhere except work and study. Just try it and you`ll understand how simple things can give you a chance to feel and see the whole beauty of your own city.

Ukhta, situated in the centre of  the Komi Republic, is a beautiful modern town. It got a town status on November, 21in 1943. It`s often called the town of oil and gas industries workers. Our enterprises supply the republic and the whole country with fuel, oil products and gas, delivered to Poland, Slovenia, Germany, France and Italy.

I spend all my free time in Ukhta in my native swimming pool, where I began my way of life, - Alexander Suhorukov, the world champion in the distance of 4x100 meters (2008).

Someone can say that in Ukhta can`t be places to visit and get a portion of culture and history. And if you also think so, you are mistaken! Among the cultural establishments it is necessary to mention the Palace of Culture, where you can visit different exhibitions, concerts, watch movies in the huge 3D cinema hall; two music schools visited by many children and some of them take part in competitions of different levels and become realmusicians. The Exhibition hall includes natural display with animals, fish, birds, rare kinds of insects and the hugest collection of butterflies in Russia. The Youth Palace is one of the most popular places in the city. There are different sections which train actors, painters, dancers or designers. Moreover, the Museum of the Town History, the Biological Museum, the Geological Museum, the Museum of gas Industry show you how this small city was growing  and became a modern city of oilers and gas workers. 

`The famous people are just people from the outskirts of our huge country`,- Igor  Leonov, the head of administration.

This small northern city gave birth to many people who became famous all over the country and even in the world. Sergey Kapustin,. The sevenfold world hockey champion, Andrey Derzhavin, a singer and composer of the band Mashina Vremeni, Roman Abramowich, ex-governor of the Chukotka District, the ex-owner of sports football club “Chelsea”), Eduard Zaharov, a boxer who took part in the Olympic Games. I`m sure you`ve heard about them! And some of them stay in Ukhta and don`t want to change their place.

`Coming here is not difficult, but it’s much harder to leave`,- Alexander Suhorukov, the swimmer.

The most wonderful place in Ukhta , in my mind, is a ski resort "Snegiri"(bullfinches). This is the cascade of multiple slides created by nature for winter fun. This is a recreation center, where adults can feel like children, remembering their childhood and ride on a sled with snow slides, falling into a huge snowdrift. There are also many kids getting up for the first time on skis or snowboard. Who knows, maybe they are future Olympic champions?

Young people can rent snowmobiles and surf the endless white fields at the foot of the hills. At the top of the biggest hill you can hire winter equipment and realx in a small cafe, where people in winter get a warm with hot tea. In addition, the top of the hill opens a beautiful view of the city, so in the summer "Snegiri" is popular for recreation with a big company. I do not need Switzerland and the Alps, because we have our own place where you can spend the winter holidays with benefit.

People call Ukhta The Pearl of the North and it sounds magnificent.  In fact, it is beautiful in every season, especially in winter! I can speak about Ukhta for hours, but for clear understanding you should visit it.