Nerchinsk katorga

Nerchinsk katorga (Nerchinskaya katorga) was a system of katorga — a type of penal labour — practiced by the Russian Empire in the area of the Nerchinsk Mining District. That district embraced a large part of eastern Transbaikalia (today's Chita Oblast), near the border to China, in the 18th to 20th centuries. The District consisted of a variable number of industrial centres (zavody), usually operated by military administrations, the first of which, Nerchinsk, situated not far from the confluence of Nercha and Shilka Rivers, was established in the 18th century after the discovery in the area of large mineral reserves. Thus, penal labor was used to work the mines. The village of Nerchinsky Zavod, another of the District centres, was founded in 1700 by Greek mining engineers in the employ of the Russian Government. Several shafts and smelting furnaces were constructed. Starting in 1722, prisoners took over the mining. Katorga labor was used for mining lead ore and silver on tsar's private lands (so called cabinet lands) and in foundries, wine-making and salt-processing factories. From 1850 to 1890, katorga labor was used at Kara gold fields and for the construction of prison buildings. In 1869, they established the Nerchinsk Katorga Administration, which subordinated to the Ministry of the Interior. From 1826 to 1917, it was a katorga for political

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