In Memory of the First Salt Miners

 

The monument is located in front of the river station in Tolkyn square. According to those who advocated the installation of the monument, the bank of Irtysh is the very place for it.

“It was thanks to the salt industry that Pavlodar appeared on the world map when, in 1720, an outpost appeared on the Irtysh near the salt depots mined on Koryakovskoye Lake,” – said Peter Garin, the representative of the initiative group for installing the monument. – “The descendants of our salt miners, who live in Germany, in Russia, and in Ukraine, very warmly received the news that we will have a monument that perpetuates hard work and the achievements of their ancestors. We are very grateful to the leaders of the city and the Oblast for the fact that they not only helped with the opening of the monument but also arranged the park around.”

The monument consists of four blocks, which are made of shell rock, brought from Zhanaozen, and a stylized salt crystal at the top. The 400-year history of salt mining in Pavlodar Oblast.

After participating in the opening ceremony of the monument, the Oblast Head made a working detour of Pavlodar. In Usolka micro-district, he visited a drainage canal, around which improvement works are continued today. A contracting organization took out all the garbage from an artificial reservoir, abandoned many years ago, Also, builders have equipped concrete stairs, a bridge over the canal and footpaths on both sides. For the convenience of the locals, they installed gazebos and a playground.

“For so many years this channel has been in a great desolation, and now there is such beauty here,” – said Tamara, a resident of house No. 15 on Mayra Street. – “Previously, it was even scary to walk past the canal, now, I am sure, both children and adults will walk here.”

According to the Oblast Akim, the authorities seriously intend to adjust all the recreational zones of the Oblast centre.

“Over the past few years, almost all parks and squares have been repaired in the Oblast centre,” – Bulat Bakauov said. – “Now we need to calculate and start landscaping recreational areas. We are looking for creative and interesting ideas. Everyone should join this work, including the deputies. At the same time, there can be no excuse that there are any communications under these places. Remember how they laid out paving stones on the pedestrian zone along the tram tracks of Tauelsіzdik Avenue. Many said that after the first accident on the networks under the sidewalks, the stone covering would have to be disassembled and thrown out. And nothing happened; the staff of the city’s water supply company has already eliminated the breakdown on the water supply, after which they restored the path.”

 

The Oblast Head also visited the automobile bridge over Usolka River and the Olympic swimming pool under construction. If the first object has already been opened for passage, then the sports facility is planned to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, in the Oblast Department of Physical Education and Sports, they are thinking about the name for the new pool.