And so, with that, my interest in geology faded, as the romance of geology’s noble past seemed to have disappeared from people’s memories.
Fast forward 20 years and, through an unexpected twist of fate, my childhood dream became a reality. Through a fortuitous series of events precipitated by a friend, I was recruited to spend two months working as a geologist in the northern realms of Primorsky Krai.
The first thing that struck me was the geologists’ camp and the practicalities of their everyday life. I had the feeling that nothing had changed in half a century: canvas tents stretched over a frame of felled tree branches; heavy cotton sleeping bags that lacked the slightest water resistance; rubber boots; the white canvas sacks to hold rock samples; beds cobbled together out of boards and crates; potbelly stoves; ancient military maps. GPS and mobile phones were the only reminders that 1950 was far in the past.
And then of course there were the vehicles that drove us out to our collection sites. Our arsenal consisted of old Soviet models – the GAZ-3308 Sadko cargo truck, the UAZ 469 off-road utility vehicle, and the 452 van, nicknamed “the pill” (tabletka) and “the bread loaf” (bukhanka). Their all-terrain capabilities were offset by constant breakdowns and a complete lack of passenger comforts.
Denne historien er fra July/August 2020-utgaven av Russian Life.
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Denne historien er fra July/August 2020-utgaven av Russian Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sidewalk Art
The lamentable state of Russia’s roads and sidewalks has long been fertile ground for memes and jokes. Irkutsk artist Ivan Kravchenko decided to turn the problem into an art project. For over two years he has been patching ruts in city sidewalks with colorful ceramic tiles.
Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?
The Russian vaccine seems top-notch, but low public trust and a botched rollout remain formidable barriers to returning to normalcy.
the Valley of the Dead
On the Trail of a Russian Movie Star
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
POLAR YOUTH
Misha Smirnov has the day off. There are the traditional eggs for breakfast and the usual darkness out the window.
Russian Chronicles
Russian Chronicles
A People on the Brink
Over the past century, the ancient people known as the Votes has been exiled twice, has seen its language banned, and has faced the threat of having its villages razed. Today, although teetering on the verge of extinction, it holds fast to one of the last rights it enjoys – the right to bear and to say its own name.
Tenders of the Vine
Visiting Russia’s Nascent Wine Region
Restoring the Future
A Small Town Gets a Makeover
Ascending Anik
Here I stand, on the summit of Anik Mountain, drenched to the bone amid zero visibility, driving rain, and a fierce wind.