Magadan

Steller's sea eagle

Known for its Kolyma gulag prison camps, Magadan's isolated taiga and tundra are located on the Sea of Okhotsk. Offshore islands support the largest Steller's sea lion populations and seabird colonies in the Russian Far East, with about seven million birds on the largest island alone. Local communities and Evenk indigenous peoples travel primarily by river and depend on fishing and hunting for subsistence. The gold mining industry has a strong foothold in the region and is supported heavily by foreign investors. Toxic mining waste, associated water and air quality problems, and potential offshore oil development are major threats to the region, as well as permafrost melting.