The city on the island, Nefteyugansk, is equal to the regions of the Far North. Winters here are long and harsh, and summers are very short. It is washed by two rivers - the Ob and the Yuganskaya Ob. The city got its name from the words “oil” and “egan”, which means “river”. Many people know practically nothing about this city, and when they hear this name, they think about whether the sights of Nefteyugansk exist at all. Of course they do. And there are a considerable number of them, since the city is very developed culturally.
The history of Nefteyugansk
The city itself is still relatively young, it is only 57 years old, but it is actively growing and developing. It all started in 1961, when the shore of the Yuganskaya Ob met a detachment of geological prospectors commanded by M.I. Vetrov.
And already on October 15, the first fountain with black gold began to flow. A year later, another fountain produced 800 tons of daily oil volume. This happened for the first time in Tyumen, and this served as the main impetus for the large-scale expansion of the village.
And no matter how pretentious the phrase that “the history of the city is written with oil” may sound, this is an absolutely true statement, since it is precisely because of the rich oil deposits that young and energetic people come here to live and work.
In the fall of 1977, N. A. Maltsev approved the order to create Yuganskneftegaz, which later became the property of the Yukos Oil Company. An auction held in the winter of 2004 made it possible to purchase the enterprise, and now it is the main production facility of Rosneft.
The city's population is small, there are about 130 thousand registered residents. But presumably this number is slightly higher, since illegal immigrants from the Caucasus and other neighboring countries come to the city to earn money.
History of the city's formation
On June 22, 1961, a rich oil field was discovered near the village of Cheuskinsky by a team of geologists. Not far from this place, on the right bank of the river. Yuganskaya Ob scientists organized a temporary settlement, which later grew into a city with more than 100 thousand people.
Only 6 years passed, and by decree of the Council of the RSFSR, Nefteyugansk was given the status of a city of district significance. After another 10 years, in 1977, by order of the Minister of Petroleum Economy and Industry, a production association was organized, called Yuganskneftegaz.
In 1980, Nefteyugansk rose to the level of regional significance and became the key center of the region of the same name as part of the Khanty-Mansiysk administrative district.
1984 was marked by a significant event for the city - on September 3, a road bridge across the river was put into operation. Yuganskaya Ob. Before this, communication with the mainland was carried out using a ferry crossing, and in winter, ice communication routes were established
.
By the end of 2000, the number of residents living in Nefteyugansk exceeded 100 thousand. This allowed the city to take its place in the top three most populated cities in the district.
Weather and conditions
Due to the continental climate, winter here lasts a long time and imposes its harsh rules. The temperature ranges from - 20 to - 30 °C. Sometimes snowdrifts can remain until the end of spring.
Spring takes up a significant portion of the summer months, and summer itself does not last long. True, it is difficult to predict the exact temperature. It can be a comfortable +20 or all +33 °C.
Then autumn comes again, but very quickly gives its time to winter. And the city again plunges into snowy darkness. Therefore, when talking about the sights of Nefteyugansk, it should be taken into account that some of them can only be seen in the warm season.
Entertainment for children and adults
To diversify your vacation and get a boost of positivity, it’s worth visiting Nefteyugansk entertainment centers. Many of them will especially appeal to young tourists.
Quest room “Locked Up”
- Address: 12th microdistrict, 63.
Escape rooms are becoming increasingly popular. They have won the love of young people who dream of being in the center of a thriller or action film. The Nefteyugansk quest room offers a game for 2-5 people.
The team will find themselves in a confined space behind locked doors. Hidden in a gloomy room are puzzles and tasks that can only be solved together. Once the puzzles are solved, the team will be able to escape the room. And this needs to be done in an hour.
“Locked Up” is not the only quest. The horror game “Five Nights at Freddy's” will provide a frantic flurry of emotions, where participants will not only have to solve problems, but also escape from monsters (animators in masks with glowing eyes).
Despite the creepy atmosphere, games in the quest room do not exert any influence or pressure on the psyche. Both adults and children can visit the club.
Zoo of the recreation center "Parus"
- Address: Surgut-Nefteyugansk highway 37 km, 1.
On the territory of the Parus recreation center there is a small petting zoo. Goats, cows, pigs live in enclosures, and fluffy rabbits live in cages.
In addition to the usual “village” animals, you can see wild boars, peacocks and even bears here. You can feed the animals and take pictures with them. The recreation center is located in the middle of a forest in an ecologically clean place, not far from the river bank.
Rafting on the Ob
Another interesting service provided by the Parus recreation center is boat rafting on the Ob River. By renting a boat (or booking an excursion), tourists will be able to travel along the river, explore the coastal sights of Nefteyugansk from an unusual angle, and fish for pike and ide. In the summer, during the swimming season, there is the opportunity to ride a banana boat, a cheesecake boat, or water skis.
Trampoline
- Address: st. Neftyanikov, 5/1.
The colorful trampoline center is stylized after everyone’s favorite cartoon “The Lion King”. The complex includes trampolines of varying complexity and configuration, foam pits, and pools with cubes. Those who are tired of jumping can play table tennis.
The center staff teaches children and teenagers complex tricks and provides safety instructions. “Hakuna Matata” is a wonderful place for a children’s holiday, giving many bright emotions.
See the sights of other cities located near Nefteyugansk - Kogalym, Khanty-Mansiysk, Surgut, Nizhnevartovsk, Salekhard, Novy Urengoy
The harsh climate of Siberia often scares off travelers, but it’s worth getting over yourself, because northern towns like Nefteyugansk are a real find for tourists. Here you can get acquainted with the unique culture of the Khanty and Mansi, see the beauty of the Siberian taiga and have fun visiting sports and entertainment centers. The city born of oil is waiting for you!
Ob River Museum
In 1989, a local history museum was organized, then, in 2003, on its basis, the current museum was created, dedicated to the way of life of the Khanty and Mansi peoples.
Perhaps it is one of the main attractions of Nefteyugansk, where you should definitely go, especially with children who are interested in history.
Showrooms include exhibitions such as:
- "Ugra Heritage";
- “History of navigation on the Ob”;
- “The Nature of the Ob River”, etc.
In addition, here you can look at authentic household items that are still used in everyday life, as well as stuffed animals that live in these parts.
The museum is also one of those attractions of Nefteyugansk, the descriptions and reviews of which are entirely positive and laudatory. Residents and guests of the city especially note the guides, highlighting their competence and friendliness. And an additional bonus to visiting is a small entrance fee.
Temples and churches in Nefteyugansk
White stone churches, high bell towers and golden domes add a special touch to the city's panorama. Nefteyugansk churches are relatively young compared to the most ancient monasteries in our country. However, they have their own history, firmly connected with the history of the city.
Church of the Holy Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
- Address: pr. 6P, 2.
The small church was built from hewn logs in 2021. The building is made in the style of Russian architecture. The structure has a cascade shape, due to which the roofs of the apses, central massif, refectory and porch are located at different levels. In the center rises a six-piece crowned with a tent and a golden dome.
Church of All Saints
- Address: microdistrict 2A, 12.
The white stone church in the style of Russian architecture was built in 2010. The building has a cross base. The extended refectory is adjacent to the main cubic massif.
From the east, the composition is closed by a semicircular apse. The front entrance is decorated with a pediment with stained glass windows. An interesting feature of the temple is that the roofs do not have a common shape. The central massif - the temple - ends with a flat roof with a drum and a golden dome. A tented bell tower rises nearby. The apse is covered with a polygonal dome.
In 2021, an Orthodox gymnasium was opened at the temple. The territory of the religious institution is well-groomed and green. Decorative fir trees grow here, and benches are installed for parishioners to rest.
Temple in the name of the Holy Spirit
- Address: st. Gagarina, 14.
The history of the temple began in 1988, when the Orthodox community received permission to rent a tiny wooden beam for worship. Initially, the temple bore the name of St. Panteleimon. The community repeatedly moved from one wooden building to another, until construction of a brick temple began in 1992.
Construction was completed in 1993. The new building in the Russian-Byzantine style amazes with its scale.
The temple was crowned with five golden domes on slender drums. The austere but elegant decor consists of massive vaults, arches, false niches and archivolts. The temple was reconsecrated in the name of the Holy Spirit. Today it operates and regularly hosts services, holidays and Sunday school classes.
Baptismal Church of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God
- Address: microdistrict 2A, 11.
Located on the territory of the temple in the name of the Holy Spirit. The building is made in the shape of a cross and ends with a cascading golden roof and a tent on an octagon. The facade is decorated with panels, false windows and pilasters.
The temple was built in 2003 as a baptismal center. The main part of the building of the cult landmark is occupied by a liturgical hall with an extensive iconostasis and a marble font.
Art Gallery "Ugoria"
Describing the sights of Nefteyugansk, one cannot fail to mention the Yugoria gallery, which was opened in 1995 by the Savostyanov family, Olga and Nikolai.
They wanted to achieve goals such as:
- A permanent exhibition of paintings presented by artists from the entire Nefteyugansk region.
- Conducting educational and cultural programs that will help develop an aesthetic worldview in children.
- Conducting, organizing and participating in exhibitions or seminars that will be held in Russia, abroad and, accordingly, in the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug itself.
- Research and acquaintance of visitors with the fishing of the inhabitants of Siberia.
The gallery exhibits paintings made in a variety of styles and completely different materials.
There are also exhibits representing the cold, wild, northern world.
Puppet theater "The Magic Flute"
An amazing place for the youngest residents of the city and, probably, the most important attraction of Nefteyugansk.
It was founded by a group of like-minded people at the end of the twentieth century. October 1991 was marked for Nefteyugansk with the first premiere of the fairy tale “The Cat's House”.
The theater changed its location several times. At first these were apartments in residential buildings, then the walls of the Stroitel cultural center, and then the Yubileiny cinema.
Having received an excellent building as a gift and carried out reconstruction, the theater opened its doors to spectators in the fall of 2005. And in 2008, another hall was opened for very young art lovers. Here children have the opportunity to get acquainted with the magical world, creating these wonderful fairy tales themselves.
By the way, adults were not left out of attention here either. Premieres of performances for older audiences are held for them.
Fun competitions and programs are often held in the lobby. There is also a theater studio where young artists are introduced to the basics of stagecraft.
Places for sports
Each tourist has his own taste and preferences for sports. Nefteyugansk has a variety of areas for active recreation, where everyone will find something interesting for themselves.
Center for Physical Culture and Sports "Pearl of Ugra"
- Address: microdistrict 2A, 4.
The large-scale complex “Pearl of Yugra” offers a lot of services. The infrastructure of the institution includes:
- a water park with pools of varying depths, a complex of water slides, trampolines and a jacuzzi;
- two swimming pools with ten professional lanes;
- table tennis room;
- Neftyanik stadium. In the summer, major football and athletics competitions take place here, and in the winter, cross-country skiing starts and the skating rink is filled;
- Russian bath and sauna;
- solarium;
- a conference room where business meetings and lectures take place;
- an open sports ground with a complex of exercise equipment. In winter there is also a skating rink;
- a universal sports hall for playing mini-football, volleyball, tennis and basketball.
The sports center hosts classes in swimming, aquatics, aqua aerobics and synchronized swimming. In addition, there are group fitness programs in various areas. Anyone can attend training, regardless of age and athletic training.
Indoor skating rink
- Address: 2nd microdistrict, 10.
The indoor skating rink is located in a modern high-tech building. Visitors are provided with a huge ice rink with high-quality surfaces and markings for playing hockey.
At the rental point you can rent hockey, figure or recreational skates, as well as sharpen blades. Public skating is organized daily, regardless of the season. Thus, guests and residents of the city can practice their favorite sport in both winter and summer.
The indoor skating rink hosts training sessions for children's and adult hockey teams. Competitions with teams from other cities and countries are also held here.
Gym "Athlete"
- Address: 10th microdistrict, 1A.
"Athlet" is one of the best gyms in Nefteyugansk. Visitors are provided with high-quality strength equipment and cardio equipment. It is also possible to use the services of a trainer and order individual training.
The local cafe sells sports nutrition complexes, gainers, protein shakes, and an assortment of shakers. You can visit “Athlet” once or purchase a subscription.
Church of All Saints
The attractions of Nefteyugansk include the Church of All Saints. The building is completely new, it is only about 8 years old, it is white, which looks very beautiful when everything around is covered with snow.
The construction of the church was dedicated to the pioneers, those who learned to live in the harsh northern regions and developed the city. The funds for the construction of the temple were collected by local residents and, for the most part, . More precisely, the entire amount amounted to 70 million rubles, 65 of which were allocated by the state enterprise Rosneft.
Before the church, residents of nearby settlements were baptized at this place in a wooden monastery.
The building itself is located on a hill along the embankment and is completely surrounded by a fence; only one entrance is open, to which a long staircase leads.
Thanks to its location and night lighting, the view of the church in the evening is simply magnificent. The shimmering golden domes add a sense of mystery and solemnity that envelops the building, making the hearts of believers tremble with awe.
Historical monuments of the city of Nefteyugansk
The rich history of the young city is reflected in the sculptural compositions. Most of them are dedicated to pioneers and oil producers. However, no fewer monuments serve as references to events that occurred long before the founding of the city.
Rotunda "City born of oil"
- Address: microdistrict 2A.
There is a beautiful white-stone rotunda on the Ob River embankment. The roof consists of two hexagonal architraves located at different levels. The small architrave holds the inner circle of smooth columns, the large one holds the outer circle.
The rotunda rises on a brick platform, to which circular steps lead. This place serves as an excellent location for photo shoots. Majestic columns, a beautiful square and the Ob River in the background will provide tourists with picturesque pictures.
Sculpture "Oilman"
- Address: 16th microdistrict.
The monument is made in the form of a coin. On one side there is a bas-relief depicting a driller, and on the other there is a landscape painting of an oil rig. The monument is made of bronze and installed at the entrance to the Nefteyugansk Corporate Institute.
The townspeople call it a “coin” or a “mirror.” The latter nickname arose from the narrow pedestal, similar to the handle of a mirror. This name is very suitable for the monument, because it literally reflects the most important episode in the history of Nefteyugansk.
Monument to Ermak
- Address: microdistrict 2A, 11.
The monument to the legendary chieftain who conquered Siberia is a marble stele with a bronze portrait of Ermak Timofeevich and an inscription of gratitude from his descendants. The author of the monument was the sculptor Vladimir Samoilov.
The opening of the attraction took place in September 2001 on the territory of the temple in the name of the Holy Spirit. Currently, the monument is recognized as a symbol of military honor and Orthodox culture of the Yugansk land.
Monument to the Faithful Sons of the Fatherland
- Address: Gagarin street.
The impressive composition is dedicated to the Neftyugans veterans of the Afghan War. The center of the monument is a two-meter bronze statue of a young fighter. He is wearing military uniform and holding a weapon in his hand. At the foot of the statue the Eternal Flame burns. The background is an arch of red granite, in the arch of which a bell is suspended.
The memorial site is located a level above the pedestrian part. It is closed with granite borders, which are also used as benches. A flower bed blooms around the Eternal Flame, and there are always fresh wreaths near the walls with memorial plaques.
Monument to the Soldier-Liberator
- Address: Neftyanikov street.
In 1985, in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Great Victory, a monument to the Soldier-Liberator was erected in the center of Nefteyugansk. The ten-meter concrete statue depicts a young fighter. He’s wearing a soldier’s overcoat, a helmet, and holding a machine gun.
He has just returned from the battlefield. Behind the sculpture rises a through five-pointed star. At the foot of the monument the Eternal Flame burns. The opening ceremony was attended by veterans and relatives of those who did not return from the front.
Stele of Military Glory
- Address: 3rd microdistrict, 25.
The Stele of Military Glory is made of red granite. The front side is covered with mourning tiles, and at the top a double-headed eagle spreads its wings. The stele is the center of the architectural and sculptural ensemble.
Behind it are small steles with the symbols of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation and the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The complex occupies a paved podium in the center of a green square. The author of the project was the Armenian artist and designer Sargsyan V.A.
Mahalla Mosque
Residents with other religious views are not forgotten in the city either. In the center of the city there is the unfinished Mahalla Mosque. Unfortunately, there was no Muslim who could complete all the construction work. Although back in the 90s, when it began, a lot of money was invested. The sponsors were entrepreneurs, oil workers, and private citizens.
Now, although the building is not completed, all the decorations inside are complete. The mosque is designed entirely in the spirit of the East, with domes, minarets and decorated walls. There is a well-groomed area around, a quiet residential area and the beauty of northern nature.
Cultural attractions of Nefteyugansk
Tourists who appreciate painting, music and theatrical art should definitely visit Nefteyugansk cultural institutions. Here you can not only have a good time, but also get acquainted with the folklore of the peoples of the north.
Cultural and exhibition
- Address: Gagarin street.
The cultural and exhibition building is located in a one-story log hut with platbands made of light polished wood. There is a cozy atmosphere inside, conducive to a leisurely inspection of the exhibitions. The CEC has two permanent exhibitions.
The first occupies a small rectangular room, in which the interior of Soviet housing of the 1960s is recreated. Here is an iron bed, a homespun rug, a bookcase with figured posts, a mirror with black and white photographs attached to the corners. Many people will recognize this exhibition as a room in their grandmother’s house.
The second exhibition is called “City Born of Oil.” Here tourists will get acquainted with the history of the Ust-Balyk region and the chronology of the development of oil fields in the 1960s.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to the history of Nefteyugansk. Depending on the date, compositions are created dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, the collapse of the USSR and local events significant for the city’s history.
Puppet theater "The Magic Flute"
- Address: 9th microdistrict, 39.
The fabulous name of the theater matches its appearance. The building in which it is located resembles a tower with tower-like corner massifs, red hipped roofs and decorative stonework.
The theater organizes performances based on Slavic and Khanty-Mansi fairy tales, original and educational performances that not only entertain children, but also teach them worldly wisdom.
The Magic Flute has been around since 1996. The theater actively participates in the life of the city, organizing mass festivals, children's parties and talent competitions.
Cultural
- Address: 2nd microdistrict, 34.
The modern cultural and leisure complex occupies a huge building in the constructivist style. The premises are spacious, bright, equipped with the latest technology. The infrastructure includes a concert hall with 700 seats, a conference hall, which is used for business meetings and various administrative events, as well as halls intended for classes of creative groups.
Clubs and sections operating on the basis of the cultural center are created to reveal the talents of city residents: both children and adults. Concerts of a ballet troupe, a retro dance ensemble, pop concerts and performances by a veterans' choir are regularly held here. All residents of the city can take part in drawing and photography competitions that are organized at the Ob Cultural Center.
Alley of newlyweds
Newlyweds receive special honor in Nefteyugansk. After all, those who arrived here first came with their families. Young couples became practically pioneers of these places. Together with their children, they settled down, built buildings and improved the demographic situation of the region.
It was for them that the Newlyweds Alley was created on the embankment. The alley greets you with a forged arch with doves frozen in a kiss on wedding rings.
Further, a paved path leads to the same forged pergola, whose openwork walls are entwined with an iron vine with leaves, and at the top, on both sides, there are weather vanes of small cupids.
Then the newlyweds are greeted by oval granite stones and the Lovers' Bridge over a stone stream. It is believed to symbolize obstacles and trials in family life that must be overcome with the help of love, loyalty and respect.
The composition is completed by a sculpture of the Christian patron saints of the family, Peter and Fevronia, and the Tree of Life, on which ribbons are tied.
