Nyuklya Cape

Nyuklya Cape (Mys Nyuklya) is a rocky headland on the shore of Tauyskaya Bay, part of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Olsky municipal district of Magadan Region, roughly half an hour's drive from the city of Magadan. The cape juts about 500 meters into the sea, with its height ranging from 49 to 91 meters and averaging around 63 meters. To the east of the cape lies Nyuklinsky Beach, made of sand and pebbles.

History

On 4 July 1928 the First Kolyma Geological Expedition, led by Yuri Bilibin, landed near the cape. This landing marked the start of systematic geological surveys of Kolyma, which within a few years led to the discovery of the region's gold deposits and launched the entire gold-mining history of the area. In 1978, on the fiftieth anniversary of the landing, a memorial stele was erected at the site, and it still stands there today. On 28 August 2006 a chapel dedicated to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, patron of seafarers, was consecrated on the cape.

Legends

The cape's name is linked to the Even word "nukuya," meaning "rotting fish": according to one version, it recalls periodic mass die-offs of spawning herring that perished in the shallows during low tide. Another tale holds that, seen from a certain angle, the cape's silhouette resembles a sleeping beauty or a sleeping dragon.

Nature

Seals can be spotted right at the tip of the cape, and seabirds gather above the water, drawing birdwatchers and anglers to the spot. In summer the sandy, pebbled shore near the cape attracts visitors; in winter a fast ice belt forms around the cape and usually lasts until the May holidays. In September 2020 a wildfire destroyed vegetation over more than 10 hectares around the cape, noticeably changing the familiar look of its slopes.

Getting there

The cape and its panoramic view of Tauyskaya Bay are considered one of the calling cards of Magadan Region. The best view opens from an observation platform located roughly half an hour's drive from Magadan, making Nyuklya Cape a convenient destination for a short trip from the regional capital.