Sinegorye Airport: From Thriving Hub to Ruins
Sinegorye Airport, once a state-of-the-art facility, now lies in ruins. Built in the late 1970s to serve a single daily flight, it accommodated various aircraft types and was rated 'good' upon opening.
The airport's history began in 1978 when an An-24 aircraft inaugurated a new air route from Magadan to Sinegorye, covering the 1,560-meter runway in just 45 minutes. It could handle multiple aircraft types, including An-2, An-12, An-24/26, and An-28, as well as helicopters.
The airport's establishment was part of a larger regional development. In 1931, an administrative district was formed in the Kolyma goldfields, with the district executive committee based in Sredne-Kansk. Later, in 1958, the Magadan Regional Komsomol Committee launched the 'Komsomol shock project' to construct the Ichuveem site and power transmission lines.
Despite its initial success, the airport's fortunes declined. By 2000, it had been mothballed and fallen into disrepair. Tragedy struck on November 3, 1983, when a Mi-4A helicopter crashed near Anadyr Airport, though the commander's identity remains unknown.
Sinegorye Airport's story reflects the region's history of boom and bust. Once a vital link, it now stands as a reminder of the past, its future uncertain.
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