Yaya, Administrative settlement in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia
Yaya is an administrative center in Kemerovo Oblast, located roughly 280 kilometers north of the regional capital. It spreads along the Yaya River, a tributary of the Chulym, and is marked by a station on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The settlement was founded in 1897 under the name Zharkovka and gained urban-type status in 1934 during Soviet administrative reforms. This shift made it a key point for railway development across Siberia.
The settlement reflects Siberian ways of life, where wooden houses and Soviet-era buildings define the streets. Daily rhythms center around the railway and surrounding forests that support local livelihoods.
The railway station is the main hub for arriving and departing, connecting the place to larger regional centers. Summer is the best time to visit, when roads are passable and temperatures become comfortable.
The place was once a thriving hub for Soviet industry and railway administration, yet today a different chapter of its story unfolds. Look closely and you can still spot traces of this past in the buildings and abandoned factory structures.
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