Upper_Kolyma_Highlands
The Upper Kolyma Highlands (Russian: Верхнеколымское нагорье, romanized: Verkhnekolymskoye Nagorye) is a highland area in Magadan Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia. The biggest town in the highlands is Susuman.[1][2]
There are large deposits of gold, tin and rare metals in the Upper Kolyma Highlands. The area is relatively less desolate than other mountainous zones of Northeastern Siberia, such as the Yukaghir Highlands or the Nera Plateau. However, some of the mining operations were deemed unprofitable following the collapse of the USSR and certain settlements of the Susumansky District lost population. Only a residual population remains in Shiroky, Kholodny and Bolshevik. Other places such as Belichan and Kadykchan have become ghost towns.[3][4]
The R504 Kolyma Highway crosses the southern part of the highlands.[2]