This mine is the first thing I zoom in on when checking out a new procedurally generated 3d world map service. It is easy to spot because of the nearby Vilyuy Reservoir built to power the mine. Everyone's algorithm can handle mountians, but I've yet to see one that correctly renders this crater. Even google earth shows the mine as flat.
> These diamonds were all of a uniform size and shape and were dubbed 'Silver Bears'. While DeBeers could not understand how the Soviets were producing such a large quantity of gem diamonds of such uniform size, and supposedly from one mine that by DeBeers surveys should not be capable of such diamond production, they were, nevertheless, pressured to purchase them all lest the Soviets simply dump the diamonds on the open market, thus flooding it and bringing down diamond prices.<p>What's the speculation as to their surprising abundance and uniformity?
<p><pre><code> Helicopters can't fly over it—the downward force of the air would pull them in.
</code></pre>
Can someone explain the physics of this? The air above the hold is at the same pressure as that beside the hole, otherwise there would be a constant wind. Also, above a certain altitude helicopters don't rely on ground effects.
This is one of many insane places on Koryo's "Abandoned Russia" tours, which have long been on my bucket list:<p><a href="https://koryogroup.com/tours/84" rel="nofollow">https://koryogroup.com/tours/84</a><p>From $7,300/person, but you'll need to wait until next year since this year's kicked off today.
The article says that helicopters can't fly over the mine. But, the end of the runway is close by and the flight path is almost tangent to the edge of the hole.
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mirny,+Sakha+Republic,+Russia,+678171/@62.525739,114.0111885,14z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x5c7cbad695e42b5d:0xe2626d503aba7a8" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mirny,+Sakha+Republic,+Rus...</a>
Diamonds. Is there anything they won''t do?<p>They can prop up Stalinism regimes.
They can prop up apartheid.
They can prop up the likes of Mobutu Sese Seko.<p>So lovely.