Cape Kir

Cape Kir (Russian: Мыс Кир) is a rocky headland on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Olsky municipal district of Magadan Oblast. This natural landmark of the Kolyma region is best known for a stone arch carved by the sea into the coastal cliffs. The cape lies near the site of the former fishing settlement of Atargan and borders Cape Kharbiz, together forming one of the most striking stretches of coastline in the region.

What to see

The main feature of Cape Kir is a rock arch that cuts straight into the sea. The cliffs above the arch are crisscrossed with cracks and overhung with ledges and outcrops, which makes the formation look especially dramatic against the sea and sky. Beneath the arch lies bluish pebble beach, covered by incoming waves at high tide.

In winter, landfast ice builds up at the base of the arch. At that time of year it becomes possible to walk under the stone vault on foot — one reason Cape Kir draws tourists and photographers even in the cold season. The contrast between the harsh northern nature of the Sea of Okhotsk and the graceful shape of the stone arch makes the place a recognizable natural landmark of Magadan Oblast.

History

Cape Kir has held the status of a geological nature monument since 1983. This status underlines the value of the rock arch as a geological form rare along the Sea of Okhotsk coastline.

During the Soviet era a small fishing settlement stood nearby, on the Atargan spit. The name "Atargan" comes from the Even language and means "ant." Today only traces of the former settlement remain, and the surrounding coast keeps its pristine, sparsely populated appearance.

How to get there

Reaching Cape Kir is not easy: it is far from the larger settlements of the Olsky district and is mainly accessible from the sea. In summer, the arch can only be reached by water — by boat, setting off from the nearest coastal settlements.

In winter a different route opens: a temporary ice road (zimnik) is laid across the ice of the Olskaya Lagoon to the Atargan peninsula. From there, Cape Kir can be reached on foot along the shore. This winter route is the one most often chosen by those who want to see the arch and the landfast ice beneath it.