'Chukotka Autonomous Okrug' (,
tr.: ''Chukotsky avtonomny okrug'';
Chukchi: Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округ), or 'Chukotka' (Чуко́тка), is a
federal subject of
Russia (an
autonomous okrug) located in the
Far Eastern Federal District.
It is the farthest northeast region of Russia, and since the
sale of
Alaska to the
United States is the only region of Russia lying partially in the
western geographical hemisphere. It is washed by the
Bering Sea, a section of the Pacific Ocean, and the
Chukchi Sea and
East Siberian Sea, which are part of the Arctic Ocean. Chukotka has an area of 737,700 km² and population of 53,824 (according to
2002 Census), and just over 55,000 in 2004. The principal town and administrative center is
Anadyr.
Lake El'gygytgyn, an important site for scientific research on climate change, is located in Chukotka, as is the village of
Uelen, the closest substantial Russian settlement to the
United States.
History
Chukotka was formerly an autonomous okrug subsumed within
Magadan Oblast, but it declared its separation in 1991; a move that was confirmed by the Russian Constitutional Court in 1993.
Traditionally the home of the native
Chukchi people,
Siberian Yupiks,
Koryaks,
Chuvans,
Evens/
Lamuts,
Yukagirs, and Russian Old Settlers, the region was subject to
collectivisation and
forced settlement during the
Soviet era.
Economy
Chukotka has large reserves of
oil,
natural gas,
coal,
gold, and
tungsten, which are slowly being exploited, but much of the rural population exists on subsistence
reindeer herding,
hunting, and
fishing. The urban population is employed in
mining, administration, construction, cultural work, education, medicine, and other occupations.
Elgygytgyn Lake, an important site for scientific research on
climate change, is located in Chukotka.
Administrative divisions
Main articles: Administrative divisions of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Demographics
''Population'' (2002): 53,824
''Ethnic groups'': Indigenous peoples make up less than one third of the total population. According to the
2002 Census the ‘national composition’ was •
Russian 51.86% •
Chukchi 23.45% •
Ukrainian 9.22% •
Eskimo 2.85% •
Even 2.61% •
Chuvan 1.778% •
Tatar 0.99% •
Belarusians 0.96% •
Yukaghir 0.34% •
Chuvash 0.30% •
Moldovan 0.24% •
Buriat 0.22% •
German 0.22% •
Bashkir 0.22% •
Azeri 0.20% • and a few other groups of less than one hundred persons each. In addition, 2.23% of the inhabitants chose not to specify their ethnic background on the census questionnaire.
[1] Historical figures are given below:
| census 1939 | census 1959 | census 1970 | census 1979 | census 1989 | census 2002 |
|---|
| Chukchis | 12,111 (56.2%) | 9,975 (21.4%) | 11,001 (10.9%) | 11,292 (8.1%) | 11,914 (7.3%) | 12,622 (23.5%) |
| Chuvans | | | | | 944 (0.6%) | 951 (1.8%) |
| Eskimos | 800 (3.7%) | 1,064 (2.3%) | 1,149 (1.1%) | 1,278 (0.9%) | 1,452 (0.9%) | 1,534 (2.9%) |
| Evens | 817 (3.8%) | 820 (1.8%) | 1,061 (1.0%) | 969 (0.7%) | 1,336 (0.8%) | 1,407 (2.6%) |
| Russians | 5,183 (24.1%) | 28,318 (60.7%) | 70,531 (69.7%) | 96,424 (68.9%) | 108,297 (66.1%) | 27,918 (51.9%) |
| Ukrainians | 571 (2.7%) | 3,543 (7.6%) | 10,393 (10.3%) | 20,122 (14.4%) | 27,600 (16.8%) | 4,960 (9.2%) |
| Others | 2,055 (9.5%) | 2,969 (6.4%) | 7,049 (7.0%) | 9,859 (7.0%) | 12,391 (7.6%) | 4,432 (8.2%) |
'Vital statistics' (2005)
★ ''Births'': 795 (birth rate 15.7)
★ ''Deaths'': 597 (death rate 11.8)
Roman Abramovich
The
governor of Chukotka,
business oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is also the owner of
Chelsea F.C., has spent over
US$1 billion in the region on developing infrastructure and providing direct aid to the inhabitants
[2] since becoming governor in
2000. There are also reports, however, that Chukotka gave Abramovich's company
Sibneft tax breaks in excess of US$450 million
[3].
See also
★
Chukchi Peninsula
References
1.
2. What Abramovich may do with his money ''BBC News'', 29 September 2005
3. Abramovich region found bankrupt ''BBC News'', 21 May 2004
External links
★
Official website of Chukotka Autonomous District.
★
Chukotka page with images.
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