From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mangazeya was a Northwest Siberian trans-Ural trade city in the 16th century. It was situated where the Ob and Yenisei rivers flow into the Arctic Ocean.
Russian settlers of the White Sea coasts of Russia (pomors) had found a route along the Arctic coast to Arkhangelsk to trade with Norwegian, English and Dutch merchants.
Mangazeya used to accumulate furs and ivory around the year to be shipped out during the short Northern summer.
This trade route was forbidden at the beginning of the 17th century under the penalty of death, for two reasons: the state was unable to collect on it, and there was a fear of English trading penetration into Siberia. Eventually Mangazeya was destroyed and its location and the Pomor route long forgotten.
