Khalmer-Yu[1] (Russian: Хальмер-Ю, Nenets: Хальмер'ю[2]) is a ghost town, a former urban-type settlement in Komi Republic, Russia, disestablished in 1995. Its main occupation was coal mining of high-quality coke coal in Pechora coal basin. It was administered by Gornyatsky district council of Vorkuta.[3]
It was named after the Khalmer'yu River. The name is translated from Nenets language as "River in the Death Valley", because the place was used a burial grounds by the indigenous population.[3]
Coal in the area was discovered in the early 1940s. Industrial mining started in 1957. Initially the settlement, together with the surrounding coal fields belonged to Nenets Autonomous Okrug. However mining was carried out by Vorkutugol (Воркутуголь, "Vorkutcoal") combine. Therefore, eventually was transferred to Komi ASSR in November 1959.[4]
In 1993 it was decided to shut down mining operations[5] and to liquidate the settlement by 1995.[6] The last settlements were forcibly removed with the help of OMON.[7]
In the early 2000s it became part of a military proving ground Pemboy (Пембой) as a result of the restoration of the aviation proving ground Khalmer-Yu which existed since the 1960s 15–20 km northeast of the settlement.[8][9][10][11][12]
References
edit- ^ Khalmer-Yu portal for former residents
- ^ Терещенко Н. М. (2008). "Ненецко-русский словарь". «Просвещение».[dead link]
- ^ a b "Valley of Life (about Khalmer-Yu settlememnt)", archived article from a June 1983 issue of Zapolyarye ("Trans-Arctic Cycle") from article cycle dedicated to 40th anniversary of Vorkuta
- ^ "Историческая справка. МО ГО "Воркута"" Archived 2014-08-10 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved August 3, 2004)
- ^ № 1351 «О ликвидации шахты „Хальмер-Ю“ производственного объединения „Воркутауголь“ и мерах социальной защиты населения поселка Хальмер-Ю Республики Коми»
- ^ В. И. Ильина Власть и уголь: шахтерское движение Воркуты (1989—1998 годы) Archived 2014-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, Syktyvkar, Syktyvkar State University, 1998.
- ^ Закрытие “Хальмер-Ю”, Chapter 5 from the book: Vladimir Ilyin, Власть и уголь: шахтерское движение Воркуты (1989 - 1998 годы)
- ^ An official answer of military to a citizen's request about the shooting range, an image of the letter
- ^ Игра в запуски. Lenta.ru
- ^ Бомбардировщики Ту-160 с Путиным обстреляли дом культуры в посёлке Хальмер-Ю
- ^ Учения Стратегических ядерных сил. 20.10.2012
- ^ lelik1970 - "Панцири" в Воркуте