Monday, 5 October 2026

Model of the White Sea Canal in the GULAG Museum and estimates of construction deaths

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Model of the White Sea Canal in the GULAG Museum and estimates of construction deaths

The GULAG Museum has a model of the structures of the White Sea Canal. Besides the questions "what for?" and "at what price?", one finds oneself wondering HOW. How could so colossal a construction be built in such conditions, and at the cost of what sacrifices? It was built, as you can see, literally out of poles, logs and earth; concrete structures account for an insignificant share, and the entire length of the canal system was put together anyhow. According to various estimates, between 12 thousand and 86 thousand people died.

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