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// Republics
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// Autonomous Areas (Okrugs)
// Agin-Buryatia Autonomous Area >>
// Chukotka Autonomous Area
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// Autonomous Regions
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Chukotka Autonomous Area
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Chukotka Autonomous Area is located in northeastern Russia on the Chukotka (or Chukchi) Peninsula and adjoining mainland. The area includes Wrangel, Ratmanov, and other islands. It borders on the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Kamchatka and Magadan regions, and the East Siberian, Chukchi, and Bering seas.
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Chukotka Autonomous Area was formed on December 10, 1930. It has an area of 737 700 km2 (4.32% of the RF), a population of 83 000, and population density of 0.1 people per km2. Native people make up a third of the total population; they include Chukchis (about 16 500-17 000 people), Chuvantsy (about 1500), Evens (about 700-800), and Yukaghirs (less than 500). The population of Chukotka has decreased drastically in recent years as a direct consequence of a continuing decline in gold production on the peninsula.
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The area is divided into 8 districts, 2 cities under district administration, 18 towns, and 45 rural councils. The city of Anadyr is the district administrative center.
Mineral resources include gold, tungsten, tin, coal, and copper. The best known deposits are Valkumei and Pyrkakai (tin) and Anadyrskoe and Beringovskoe (coal).
HISTORY
The word "Chukotka" brings to mind a cold, far-away, but at the same time ancient and romantic territory. It has its own unique image of pristine nature, stark contours of coastal regions and mountains, and open expanses of plain. The landscape has changed little since the first Russian explorers saw it in the 17th century.
The region's natural resources and evolutionary changes obviously had an influence on the history and culture of the people living here. Russian documents first mention Chukotka in the 1640s. The Russian name for the region comes from the name of the ancient inhabitants, Chukchi, which translates as "rich in reindeer". Long ago, the Chukchis and other native peoples like the Yukaghirs, Eskimos, and Koryaks settled in specific natural zones suitable for habitation. The ancestors of the Chukchis and Koryaks lived mainly in the inland areas of Chukotka. The people living on the Bering Sea coast were primarily seal hunters, while those occupying the continental tundra and forest tundra zones were reindeer herders.
Russian settlement of Chukotka began in the 17th century. The earliest explorers were Cossacks led by explorer Semen Dezhnev, who reached the area of present-day Markovo. Here, they met with fierce resistance from the Koryaks and Chukchis. Part of the Yukaghir people, who occupied large territories from Yakutia to Amguema, perished from epidemics, while many more were wiped out by the Chukchis and Koryaks, leaving them with no choice but to side with the Cossacks. The Russians abandoned these lands in the 18th century, and the Chukchis burned their fortresses and started a war with the Koryaks, eventually forcing them out. As a result, by the late 19th-early 20th centuries, the Chukchis occupied a vast territory stretching almost from Kolyma to the Chukotka Peninsula. The Yukaghirs had nearly disappeared, but were brought back once again by Russians returning to Anadyrsky fortress and the present-day city of Anadyr. As a result, fortresses were built at Markovo, at the junction of Anadyr and Eropol, and at Anyue, and trading posts appeared in the settlement of Ven (Tavaivaam) and at Krasnoe Ozero (Chikaevo or the Osinovaya River). The inhabited territories had expanded even further by the end of the 18th century. The internal wars ended after this, and trade began to develop rapidly. Chukchis, Eskimos, and Russians bought goods from Yakutian and Kolyma merchants, who took furs, walrus tusks, and other goods in exchange. As a result, the Russians further strengthened their already commanding position on Chukotka. They set up a Cossack post near the present-day city and launched a naval patrol vessel. Districts were organized in Markova, Uelen, and Anadyr.
In 1930, Anadyrsky and Chukotsky districts of the Far Eastern Territory were combined to form Chukotka National District, renamed Chukotka Autonomous Area in 1977.
RESOURCES
Chukotka Autonomous Area has a severe continental climate with average January temperatures from -15 to -39°Ñ and average July temperatures from +5 to +10°Ñ; average annual precipitation ranges from 200 to 500 mm. Winter lasts for eight to nine months, with strong winds. Summers are short, and the sun does not have time to warm the earth.
The area is located at the confluence of two large rivers, the Sernoi and Enmyvaam and is surrounded by three northern seas (East Siberian, Chukchi, and Bering). The great Anadyr River flows through the very center of the area. The river is 1117 km long, and its basin extends over an area of 150 000 km2. On the southern part of the peninsula near the Kenkeren mountain range, there are a number of glacial lakes that are usually ice-covered until the end of June. The Anyue-Chukchi mountain tundra plateau forms the watershed between the Pacific and Arctic ocean basins. It consists of a series of mountain ranges cut by broad water gaps. The Anadyr Plateau, where the main mountain ranges and river basins originate, is located in the center of the peninsula; and the Koryak Uplands cover the extreme southern part of the area. The Anadyr Lowlands lie between them.
Tundra vegetation predominates on Chukotka, although there are areas of forest tundra and forest in the south and west, where small herds of reindeer graze, keeping a wary eye out for Arctic wolves. Squirrels and foxes are abundant. Rare animals and birds, such as the snow sheep and Kittlitz's murrelet, may also be encountered on the peninsula. Polar bears roam along the coast. For nearly 1000 years, the people of Chukotka have been occupied with fishing and raising domestic reindeer, fur animals, and poultry. Seamen hunt sea mammals such as seals, whales, and walrus.
Chukotka has abundant mineral deposits, including gold, tin, tungsten, and hard and brown coal. Deposits of mercury have also been identified. The Beringovskoe and Anadyrskoe coal deposits have estimated reserves of 10 billion tons. Large oil fields have been discovered on the Chukchi and East Siberian sea shelves, but because of permafrost conditions, large-scale investments will be required to develop them.
ECONOMY
Chukotka Autonomous Area is part of the Far Eastern economic district and the Far Eastern Federal District.
Gold mining is the peninsula's primary industry. Since 1958 alone, nearly 820 tons of gold have been recovered from the gold mines here. By comparison, the gold mines of Alaska and the Klondike have produced about 1000 tons over a period of 100 years. Specialists estimate that Chukotka's alluvial gold reserves are sufficient for 10-15 years. Gold production has decreased to several tons per year in recent years. The Maiskoe deposit (300 tons of reserves) and deposits in Bilibinsky District (450 tons of reserves) are ready for development.
The leading industrial sectors are the power, coal, gold-mining, food, and fishing industries. The city of Anadyr is a center of the food industry, while Uelen is a center for artistic trades.
Agriculture specializes in reindeer herding, fur farming and trapping, sea mammal hunting, and greenhouse vegetable growing.
The main forms of transport are sea (ports of Anadyr, Pevek, Provideniya, Egvekinot, and Beringovsky) and air (airports in Anadyr and Pevek). There are also shipping routes on the Anadyr and Velikaya rivers. The seas play a vital and diversified role in the area's economy. The Bering Sea is acquiring greater economic significance with each passing year as a result of increasing traffic volumes on the Northern Sea Route.
A predominance of imports over exports is characteristic of the area. Chukotka exports coal, scrap metal, and small quantities of fish and reindeer products. The main imports are equipment, petroleum products, building materials, and food.
Small business development is a priority in the area. Further development of small and medium business will help solve many of the area's existing economic problems. The Administration of Chukotka Autonomous Area is focusing attention on problems of forming a unified system of small business development and support in the region.
Future objectives include further development of market relations and a market infrastructure, solution of environmental and demographic problems, and expansion of transportation and economic ties with other regions and foreign countries.
AUTHORITIES
The Administration of Chukotka Autonomous Area is the highest executive body. The Area Duma is the highest legislative body.
CULTURE AND ART
Every nation has its own history, culture, and way of life. Reindeer herding, fishing, sealing, and fur trapping are traditional economic sectors that are governed by a nomadic way of life and the scattered character of settlement. The cultures of the small native groups of the north are on the verge of disappearing due to the loss of native languages, native skills, everyday traditions, crafts, and folklore. The decrease in material and financial investments in culture has played a role in this.
Culture and art are an essential part of daily life of the native people of Chukotka, perhaps one of the most important parts; therefore, despite the difficult conditions, people here are trying to maintain existing cultural centers and even build new ones.
Two municipal museums opened in the area between 1997 and 1999: a museum of bone carving in the village of Uelen, Chukotsky District, and a museum of Chukotka life in the village of Meinypilgyno, Beringovsky District. Altogether, the museums of Chukotka have a fund of more than 50 000 exhibits, such as bone carvings and Chukchi and Eskimo implements.
Many villages have their own distinctive national ensembles. One of these is the world-famous professional concert ensemble Ergyron, which performs not only in the area, but also abroad.
A national college of the arts is also located in the area. It was established as a result of an experiment to introduce national art forms into programs at children's music schools.
TOURISM
Despite Chukotka's harsh climate, many people are drawn to this territory. They include extreme sports lovers, professional athletes, travelers, and plain romantics, who have decided to test themselves. Separated from central Russia by thousands of kilometers of roadless terrain, Chukotka is difficult for travelers to reach. Today, although it is possible to get to Peveka and even more remote locations on winter roads (from January to mid-April inclusive), these routes are long, difficult, and cold. In summer, travelers can reach Chukotka by boat; however, the main form of transport is by air.
The Chukchi Plateau extends through the northeastern part of the area. They consist of a system of rugged mountain ranges and massifs about 450 km long and up to 1843 m high (Iskhodnaya Mountain) that forms the watershed of the Arctic and Pacific ocean basins. This plateau area also attracts tourists. The tourist routes pass mainly through uninhabited areas. Points of interest for the development of combined routes are mountain peaks, such as Leninskogo Komsomola (1810 m), Rubinovaya (1624 m), Skalisty Peak (1646 m) and Konus Mountain (1707 m), and Ioni and Koolen lakes. There are also ski trails over mountain passes (elevation 700-800 m). The starting points for tours are the villages of Enmelen, Novoe Chaplino, Lavrentiya, Lorino, Uelen, and Iultin, which are reached by plane from Anadyr.
Official Site of Chukotka Autonomous Area:
http://www.chukotka.org/
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