Opoki, Natural monument in Vologda Oblast, Russia
Opoki is a geological natural monument featuring 60-meter-high limestone cliffs along the Sukhona River, displaying multicolored layers of ancient rock formations. The rock face reveals distinct geological strata with different mineral compositions and colors throughout its height.
The site was home to a Gulag labor camp called Opokstroy from 1943 to 1947, where inmates worked on navigation lock construction. This period left a lasting mark on the region's history and memory.
A memorial cross near the village of Porog honors those who perished during the hydraulic construction project. The site preserves the memory of a difficult chapter in the region's past.
The site lies roughly 70 kilometers from Veliky Ustyug and can be reached by turning off at a marker along the Sukhona road. Visiting during clear weather offers the best views of the rock formations and surrounding landscape.
An artesian well drilled in 1941 during geological surveys continues to function, creating a natural fountain that periodically shoots water upward. This flowing spring reveals the underground geological forces at work beneath the surface.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
