No Nickel In Nikel? A Russian Mining Town Faces Steep Decline
For decades, nickel mining and smelting in the northern Russian town of Nikel provided a living for its residents and vast wealth for the company's owners. But little money was invested in the town, and its infrastructure crumbled as nickel from the mines dwindled. The town's large smelting plant was shut down over environmental concerns, and residents are now wondering what the future holds.