Kharp, Administrative settlement in Priuralsky District, Russia.
Kharp sits on the bank of the Sob River near the Polar Urals in the Yamalo-Nenets region. The settlement occupies a location at approximately 66 degrees north latitude, surrounded by open tundra landscape.
The settlement grew from a Gulag prison camp in 1961 during construction of the Salekhard-Igarka Railway. It began as a railway station called Podgornaya, serving the workers who built the line.
The name comes from the Nenets language and refers to the northern lights, honoring the indigenous roots of this polar region. The settlement carries this connection to the traditional inhabitants of the tundra.
The settlement sits about 45 kilometers from Salekhard, from where it can be reached. Two major correctional facilities operate in the area, making it a specialized destination rather than a regular tourist site.
One of the correctional facilities was transformed in 2004 into a specialized institution for life-sentenced inmates. This shift marked a turning point in the settlement's modern role.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
