Melnikov Permafrost Institute

The Melnikov Permafrost Institute is a research facility in Yakutsk dedicated to studying frozen ground and climate patterns. It houses specialized laboratories that maintain temperatures of minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) for conducting detailed investigations.

The institute was established in 1960 as part of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Since then it has grown into a leading center for studying permafrost conditions and how they respond to climate shifts.

The institute partners with local Sakha communities to document traditional knowledge about environmental changes in Siberia's frozen regions. This collaboration shows how scientific research values local perspectives on climate shifts and soil conditions.

The facility is accessible by public transport, particularly bus number 17 from central Yakutsk. The stop is easy to identify by a mammoth sculpture near Merzlotnaya Street.

The facility operates cryo-storage units for preserving rare plant seeds, helping maintain genetic diversity in changing climate conditions. This seed bank is an important step in safeguarding plant resources for future generations.