The history of the Vorkuta permafrost research station in the 1930s-1950-s

On the basis of a wide range of sources the process of creation and formation of the Vorkuta Permafrost Research Station (1936-1958) is studied. Today the history of the Vorkuta Permafrost Research Station (VPRS) is poorly studied. The documentary sources revealed in the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), National archive of the Komi Republic (Syktyvkar), Scientific archive of the Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Syktyvkar), Vorkuta Museum and Exhibition Center (Vorkuta) are introduced into scientific use for the first time. The 1920s-1930s became the birth period of a new scientific direction - permafrostology. This science gave an impetus to the systematic study and development of the Arctic. Permafrost stations which opened in the Northern latitudes at the initiative of the USSR Academy of Sciences, solved the problems of industrial and civil engineering in the areas of permafrost distribution. VPRS engaged in the study of permafrost soils in territory of the Pechora coal basin was one of such organizations. The main directions of VPRS research are analyzed, achievements and results of work of scientists, working conditions of the researchers in difficult climatic conditions are shown. The role of the station staff (L.A. Brattsev, V.K. Yanovsky, V.M. Barygin, D.A. Fiveysky, N.I. Saltykov, D.V. Redozubov, etc.) who made a great contribution to the permafrost studies is demonstrated. It is determined that under the quidance of scientists of the station, on the basis of their methods large industrial facilities of the Vorkuta district and Vorkuta were designed, including the first railway in permafrost conditions. The conclusion is made on the leading role of the VPRS scientists in research of permafrost soils which became the basis for the successful solution of construction problems in the Arctic territory.