North-East Science Station (NESS)

NESS is situated in the Kolyma River lowland. It is in the forest-tundra zone and 5 km from the town of Cherskii. The research station is affiliated with the Pleistocene Park (PLP) located on privately owned land.

NESS was established in 1980 and has been privately owned since 1990. The total area of facilities under roof is c. 1500 m2, with c. 250-300 m2 laboratory facilities, c. 600 m2 accommodation facilities for station personnel and visitors, c. 150 m2 of conference hall/dining facilities, with the rest being storage and technical facilities. Some facilities allow accommodation and scientific research during winter. Currently, the maximum number of visitors accommodated on the station at any one time is 40-50 people. Visitors are accommodated on the all-inclusive basis. This includes transportation from the airport, accommodation, meals, drinks, and local transportation within reasonable proximity from the station. A variety of shops are available in Cherskii town.

The station is located in the continuous permafrost zone with vast territories underlain by yedoma (ice complex). Natural wild life includes bears, moose, and reindeer. In addition, muskoxen, Yakutian horses, and bison occur in the Pleistocene Park.

The town of Cherskii is located 5 km from the station (10 minute drive). The town population is 3000 people, with half of them being Russians, and the rest being Chukchies, Yukagires, and Yakutians. The town is the administrative centre of the district and has a sea port. Some percentage of the population is involved in fishing, hunting, and mammoth tusk collections.

NESS is located 10 minute drive from the Cherskii airport, which is serviced by 2-4 flights a week to the international airport of Yakutsk. The main route for international visitors is Moscow – Yakutsk (6.5 hour flight) with connection flight Yakutsk- Cherskii (4 hour flight).