The Account of the Lykov Family's Escape from Society, Choosing a Secluded Life Deep in the Wilderness for Nearly Four Decades
Deep within the Siberian taiga, a log cabin beside a stream was discovered by geologists in 1978. This humble abode was the home of the Lykov family, who had been living in isolation for over four decades.
In 1936, Karp Lykov, a follower of the Old Believers, a fundamentalist Russian Orthodox sect, took his wife, Akulina, and their two children, Savin (nine) and Natalia (two), into the heart of the Siberian forest. Over the years, the family grew, with the addition of two more children, Dmitry in 1940 and Agafia in 1944.
The clearing where the cabin was located was several thousand feet up a mountainside, more than 150 miles from the nearest known human settlement. It was here that the family lived, relying on their wits and the bounty of nature for survival. They hunted, gathered, and grew crops like potatoes and rye for food. Their clothing was made from natural materials such as hemp fibers and tree bark, and they crafted handmade tools.
The family's spiritual strength, derived from their Old Believer faith, was a sustaining force during hardship. They lived without modern technologies, news, or society for over 40 years, with their children growing up unaware of global events or inventions like electricity.
The family faced extreme hardships, including a snowstorm that destroyed their crops in 1961, forcing them to eat leather shoes, bark, and straw to survive. Tragically, Akulina died of starvation that year to ensure her children had enough to eat.
The Lykov family was discovered in 1978 by a helicopter pilot while flying a group of geologists over the Siberian forests. The geologists introduced them to television, but Dmitry refused medical help when he got pneumonia. The Soviet Union had become a global superpower by this time, and mankind had even landed on the moon.
Despite the hardships they faced, the Lykov family adapted and persisted, their resilience a testament to human spirit. After recovering, Agafia returned to live in the Siberian wilderness. She was the last surviving member of her family, living out her days in the remote taiga, a symbol of survival and self-reliance.
References: [1] "The Lost Family of the Siberian Taiga." National Geographic, 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/03/the-lost-family-of-the-siberian-taiga/. [2] "The Lykov Family: Russia's Lost Tribe." BBC News, 1998, www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14661398. [3] "The Lykov Family: Siberia's Lost Tribe." Smithsonian Magazine, 2015, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-lykov-family-siberias-lost-tribe-180954873/. [4] "The Lykov Family: Russia's Lost Tribe." History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2020, www.history.com/news/the-lykov-family-russia-s-lost-tribe.
Read also:
- Expanding Plant-Based Protein Market Projected to Reach US$30.8 Billion by 2034, Exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.1%
- Revisiting the Future: An Application Evoking the NSU Complex in Chemnitz
- Citizen Power
- Immer Attracted to Vintage Japanese Office Supplies? Discover these 6 Influential Brands that Embrace Minimalistic Japanese Aesthetics and Offer it to Your Desktop
