Novosibirsk. Zaton // SAYA.UZ

Novosibirsk. Zaton

Novosibirsk. Zaton

Published:

Took place on: 2025-04-06

Cool cars! Cool barracks! Cool abandoned buildings! Cool boats! And, most of all, -- cool pets!

Zaton (Backwater) is one of the most depressed areas of Novosibirsk. It's so bad, in fact, that a city name hall its whole center as unsuitable for life! Most houses are still not connected to the sewerage.

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This area emerged in 1928-1930 years as a settlement by ship repair yard. By plan it should have been a decent "social town" like Rastochka ("Chiselhood", an area of Novosibirsk too, a depressed one nowadays too), but first a temporary neighborhood called Protozaton was built. Now it is Zaton.

Some barracks here are enviable, though

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Some barracks here are enviable, though

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By my impressions, they should be repaired and provided modern amenities, not be demolished

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By my impressions, they should be repaired and provided modern amenities, not be demolished

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A House of Culture, common attribute of Soviet neighborhoods

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A House of Culture, common attribute of Soviet neighborhoods

The fact that river transport started to crumble and died almost completely during post-Soviet era, didn't help this area. Now it's just a graveyard of old river navy.

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To beat it all to death, across the Ob' (main river in Novosibirsk) there is Nakhalovka ("Impudentville", a depressed quarter as well!), historically inhabited by many antisocial elements. So Zaton was getting this criminal fleur throughout winters.

In the end, we got a zone with many crumbling barracks and many abandoned buildings.

To relax one can sit here...

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To relax one can sit here...

...and enjoy a view on a burned barrack.

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...and enjoy a view on a burned barrack.

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Looks like a typical clinic deep in Russian province

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Looks like a typical clinic deep in Russian province

Oh, an opened transformer box!

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Oh, an opened transformer box!

But it all got robbed, even floor was stolen!

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But it all got robbed, even floor was stolen!

But by 2025, the situation is a bit better. The eastern end saw a new residential complex, not ideal (like, its yards are just pure asphalt!!!), but the mood here is definitely pleasant, plus some greenery here (this time of the year -- all coniferous).

Previous time I took a walk here, for photo-session as well, was in 2019. It was also this gloomy early spring season Siberia has, in fact, a bit earlier, when snow cover was ubiquitous. And we saw the remains of ship repair yard. These photos impress me as even more melancholic.

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Now along this part of backwater a training yard and a playground were built. Not bad.

The river navy which survived are now by the other side, next to "anthills" (that's how we call economy-class tall apartment buildings)

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The river navy which survived are now by the other side, next to "anthills" (that's how we call economy-class tall apartment buildings)

On the east is... Lesoperevalka (Timber-handling) quarter. Ok.

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On the east is... Lesoperevalka (Timber-handling) quarter. Ok.

More anthills!

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More anthills!

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Old playgrounds look like this.

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Now to those 2 themes I obliged to you!

VAZ-2102 with a Soviet plate

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VAZ-2102 with a Soviet plate

WITH A BIKE WHISTLE ON ITS EXHAUST PIPE, AS HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE.

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WITH A BIKE WHISTLE ON ITS EXHAUST PIPE, AS HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD HOW MANY DECIBELS THIS RUSSO-JAPANESE EGGPLANT BEAST OUTPUTS JUST ON 40 KM/H!

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YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD HOW MANY DECIBELS THIS RUSSO-JAPANESE EGGPLANT BEAST OUTPUTS JUST ON 40 KM/H!

My favorite model is this blue-eyed cat, with whom I immediately got well!

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My favorite model is this blue-eyed cat, with whom I immediately got well!

All the pets I met here are tender

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All the pets I met here are tender

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Meanwhile this doggy was going his business behind the garages

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Meanwhile this doggy was going his business behind the garages

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A dog with heterochromia 💖💖💖

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A dog with heterochromia 💖💖💖

But she kept turning from me, so no good angle on her

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But she kept turning from me, so no good angle on her

Another model is this playful Alabay, who escorted me some way

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Another model is this playful Alabay, who escorted me some way

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One moment, when I stopped, he started to mess around in dirt

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One moment, when I stopped, he started to mess around in dirt

Apparently, he was going home (just the direction I was heading) and (maybe) knocked down smells such way

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Apparently, he was going home (just the direction I was heading) and (maybe) knocked down smells such way

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He then crawled under the nearest steel decked fence

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He then crawled under the nearest steel decked fence

And finally -- dog with his trophy

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And finally -- dog with his trophy

Of course he just ran past me, protecting his food. What if I took it?

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Of course he just ran past me, protecting his food. What if I took it?