Black Dolphin Prison, Maximum security prison in Sol-Iletsk, Russia.
The federal correctional facility holds 700 inmates serving life sentences within a complex secured by multiple steel doors and constant surveillance.
The prison originated in 1745 as a labor camp and underwent modifications in 1773 following the end of Pugachev's Rebellion.
A sculpture of a dolphin created by inmates stands at the entrance, giving the prison its current name among the Russian population.
Inmates receive four daily soup meals and spend 90 minutes exercising in cages while their cells undergo thorough security inspections.
Guards transport prisoners in a bent-over position with handcuffs, preventing them from learning the facility layout or planning escape routes.
Location: Sol-Iletsk
Inception: 1773
Capacity: 1600
Operator: УФСИН по Оренбургской области
Address: Ulitsa Sovetskaya, 6, Sol-Iletsk, Orenburgskaya oblast', Russia, 461505 461505 Sol-Iletsk
Phone: +73533636200
Website: https://56.fsin.gov.ru/structure/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=4985
GPS coordinates: 51.15556,54.99306
Latest update: November 22, 2025 11:24
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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