Uktus

Uktus was one of the early state ironworks of the Urals, built on a tributary of the Iset before Yekaterinburg arose nearby. Construction began in 1702 under the direction of Ivan Astrakhantsev, with craftsmen and peasants assigned from surrounding settlements. Its first blast furnace began work in 1704 and a second followed in 1706. Workshops included hammer mills, forges and a shop for boring cannon; a stockade and other defenses were added in 1708–1709.

Fire destroyed almost all the works in 1718, leaving the dam standing; the plant was rebuilt by 1720. Copper smelting was also undertaken, using ores from a number of mines in the district. Swedish prisoners worked alongside local peasants in mining and charcoal burning. Depleted woodland and dwindling supplies contributed to the closure of the copper works in 1749, illustrating the heavy demands these furnaces placed on the surrounding country.