Hidden Treasures of Siberia
In that distant land, cities are few and far between, but the depths are rich. Layers of ore lie embedded in the mountains, and gold is scattered along the riverbeds…
These words, spoken by the poet Khedrin, were how the envoys of Yermak described the conquered Siberia to Ivan the Terrible. However, the riches of Siberia’s depths extend beyond just valuable minerals. Our Soviet scientists have uncovered an uncharted treasure in the heart of Siberia—heat. Beneath several kilometers of earth, covering an area of over a million square kilometers in Western Siberia, lie hot lakes. The water temperature in these lakes exceeds 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit).
This geothermal heat from Siberia’s depths is an inexhaustible source for heating cities and villages, as well as for growing vegetables and fruits in greenhouses. But is it only for these purposes? The Soviet people will surely find many other uses for it.