Sol-Iletsk

Sol-Iletsk is a town in Orenburg Oblast, Russia, positioned along the right bank of the Ilek River. The settlement sits 77 kilometers (48 miles) south of Orenburg at an elevation of 125 meters (410 feet).

The settlement began as a Cossack outpost in 1754 and later grew into the fortress of Iletskaya Zashchita. The town adopted its current name in 1945 after the end of World War II.

The name reflects the Russian word for salt and points to centuries of mineral extraction shaping local life and work. Visitors today notice traces of this connection in how buildings and public spaces relate to the mining heritage.

The town sees a sharp increase in visitors during July and August when people come to use the salt lakes. Outside these summer months, about 26,000 residents live here in a quieter daily rhythm.

The area houses the Black Dolphin Prison, a maximum security facility for people serving life sentences in the Russian corrections system. This institution ranks among the most heavily guarded in all of Russia.

Location: Sol-Iletsky District

Inception: 1754

Elevation above the sea: 125 m

Website: https://soliletsk.ru

GPS coordinates: 51.16667,54.98333

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:02