Shergina Mine in the city of Yakutsk is a unique monument of Russian history and science. Nondescript log house with a wooden roof, is located in the old part of town at the intersection of two streets Kulakovskogo and Yaroslavl, in the courtyard of the building previously belonged to a real school.

The depth of the mine is 116, 6 m. Shaft Shergina designated solid log cabins of larch logs, starting from the mouth, and to a depth of 52 m. The same lining has a depth of 73 to 79 m.

It was here the first time on the ground took the measurement of negative temperature of rocks at depth multimeter. Mine Shergina considered a source of instrumentally obtained evidence that confirm and prove the presence of permafrost.

The founder of the science of permafrost MI Sumgin called this city the cradle of Permafrost. Initially, however, dug wells are not for scientific purposes, but the search for drinking water. In the XVII century. Neryungri District of Cossacks came here, who are faced with such a serious problem as the lack of year-round water sources due to the fact that the permafrost was not possible to dig a well. Even if they manage to dig a well, the water that falls into it, immediately freezes.

In the summer of 1828, the Yakut merchant F. Shergin decided to dig a well in the yard of his house. Breakthrough of the well to a depth of more than 30 m Shergin in 1831 decided to discontinue further work as to get water, he could not. Continue I convinced him Admiral FP Wrangell, the merchant promised their material assistance. At different tiers dug wells were installed special thermometer that shows the temperature of the rocks. In 1837 Shergin well reached a depth of over 116 m. Soon the Emperor Nicholas I awarded a gold medal and the merchant gave him a ring with a diamond.

Spent on digging wells Shergin money and no one returned. With no funds, he stopped all further work. The fate of Fyodor Alekseyevich remained unknown. Up to 40-ies. XX century. mine was used as a laboratory for the study of permafrost. In 1942, the latest measurements were performed under the direction of ID Belokrylova.

Today, the mine is included in the state list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of Yakutsk under state protection as a monument of national importance.