It was the first rural power plant in the Soviet Union to be built without a government budget, funded largely by local villagers.
The project was initiated by local teacher P.P. Kirillov, who mobilized the community to harness the Lama River's energy.
Lenin's visit to the station in 1920 contributed to the village of Yaropolets being branded as the 'cradle of electrification' in Soviet propaganda.
During the 1941 Battle of Moscow, the station was blown up by retreating Soviet forces to deny resources to the German army, then later rebuilt by locals.
The facility was officially granted protected status as a cultural heritage site of regional importance.
Yaropoletskaya Ges is the site of the first rural hydroelectric power station in Russia, constructed in 1919 under the GOELRO plan. The station utilizes the dammed waters of the Lama River to generate electricity and maintain a scenic reservoir. It was famously visited by Vladimir Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya in 1920 to support the electrification initiative. Following severe damage during World War II, the facility underwent significant restoration efforts. Today, the complex operates as a historic industrial monument rather than a primary utility provider. The site features the original turbine hall, a concrete spillway, and integrated landscape elements reflecting Soviet-era engineering aesthetics.
The bridge crossing the Lama River provides the clearest view of the dam's facade and the waterfall-like spillway.
Wear sturdy, waterproof footwear as the area around the spillway can be muddy or slippery.
Bring mosquito repellent if visiting during the summer months due to the proximity of the river.
Explore the surrounding Yaropolets village to see the nearby Goncharov and Chernyshev estates.
Do not attempt to climb onto the concrete spillway or the dam wall, as these structures are aging and unstable.
The outdoor grounds are accessible year-round, though access to the interior of the station is highly limited and irregular.
