Magadan Oblast is a region rich in minerals and human suffering. The areas now known as Magadan Oblast and Chukotka were home to the Kolyma Gulag, a network of work-camps the size of France where approximately 500,000-1,000,000 men, women, and children died as a result of overwork, malnutrition, the cold, and human brutality. Anyone interested in the Kolyma gulags, or just more generally in human nature and great literature, should read Varlam Shalamov's ''Kolyma Tales''.
Russian is likely the only language you will encounter here.
Magadan Oblast is impressively remote and it is definitely advisable to fly to Magadan, likely from Moscow or much closer Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
There is no railroad connecting to Magadan Oblast and there is only one road, leading from the west, from Yakutsk. This road, however, is extremely long, remote, and poorly serviced. Moreover, there are (possibly legendary) reports of armed banditry along this road because of its extreme remoteness.
Getting out of Magadan Oblast is best done by plane, but it is possible to venture down the long, lonely road into Yakutia as far as Yakutsk, although this route may be blocked with snow during colder months.