Mask of Sorrow
Monument Monument commemorating Gulag victims in Magadan
A concrete memorial in Magadan, the Mask of Sorrow marks victims of Stalinist repression; visitors interested in Soviet history visit the sculptures, cemetery and views over Magadan Bay.
The Mask of Sorrow is a memorial sculpture in Magadan, Russia, commemorating victims of political repression who died in the region’s Soviet-era labour camps. The monument was created in the late 20th century and occupies a prominent position above the town.
A monumental sculptural face with symbolic tear elements and an adjoining memorial wall containing inscriptions and commemorative plaques. The memorial is sited to overlook Magadan and its harbour, offering views across the city.
Commissioned as part of post-Soviet efforts to memorialise victims of the Gulag, the monument was completed in the 1990s and has become the principal public memorial in Magadan to the region’s repressive camp history.
Located on a hillside above the town of Magadan in Russia’s Far East, the monument faces the town and the Sea of Okhotsk.
- Designer and date: Designed by sculptor Ernst Neizvestny and unveiled in 1996 as a memorial to victims of political repression and the Gulag system in the Kolyma region.
Tips for Visiting Mask of Sorrow #
- Plan your visit around late afternoon for the strongest photographic light-Mask of Sorrow sits on a hill above Magadan and the monument plus bay views are particularly striking at sunset.
- Walk or take a short taxi from Magadan's centre rather than driving up the road-there are marked paths and steps leading to the monument and nearby plaques and cemeteries that many drive-past visitors miss.
- Combine the stop with the regional history museums in Magadan to get context on the memorial; the small inscriptions and surrounding grave markers offer details that enhance understanding of the site's purpose.
Best Time to Visit Mask of Sorrow #
Visit in the brief summer months for the most comfortable weather and easiest access; winters are very cold and harsh.
Weather & Climate near Mask of Sorrow #
Mask of Sorrow's climate is classified as Subarctic (Dry Summer) - Subarctic (Dry Summer) climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -20°C to 15°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -15°C and lows of -20°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -12°C and lows of -19°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of -8°C and lows of -16°C. The driest month with just 11 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -8°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with 77 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -9°C and lows of -15°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -14°C and lows of -19°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
