| Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (English) Чуко́тский автоно́мный о́круг (Russian) |
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.svg) Location of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in Russia |
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| Coat of Arms | Flag |
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 Flag of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug |
| Anthem: | |
| Country | Russia |
| Administrative Center | Anadyr |
| Established | 1930 |
| Political status Federal district Economic region |
Autonomous okrug Far Eastern Federal District Far Eastern economic region |
| Code | 87 |
| Area - Rank within Russia |
737,700 km² 7th |
| Population ( 2002) - Rank within Russia - Density - Urban - Rural |
53,824 inhabitants 82nd 0.1 inhab. / km² |
| Official language | Russian |
| Governor | Roman Kopin |
| Legislative body | Okrug Duma |
| Charter | Charter of the CAO |
| Official website | http://www.chukotka.org/en/main/ |
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Russian: Чуко́тский автоно́мный о́круг, tr.: Chukotsky avtonomny okrug; Chukchi: Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округ, tr: Chukotkaken avtonomnyken okrug), or Chukotka (Чуко́тка), is a federal subject of Russia (an autonomous okrug) located in the Far Eastern Federal District.
It is the most northeasterly region of Russia and, since the sale of Alaska to the United States, has been the only part of Russia lying partially in the Western Hemisphere (east of the 180th meridian). It is bordered on the east by the Bering Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, and to the north by the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, which are part of the Arctic Ocean. Chukotka has an area of 737,700 km2 (284,800 sq mi) and a population of 53,824 according to the 2002 Census. 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.
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History
Chukotka was formerly an autonomous okrug subsumed within Magadan Oblast, but it declared its independence 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 times of the Soviet Union.
Economy
Chukotka has large reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, and tungsten, which are slowly being exploited, but much of the rural population survives on subsistence reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing. The urban population is employed in mining, administration, construction, cultural work, education, medicine, and other occupations.
Transportation
Chukotka is roadless and air travel is the main mode of passenger transport. There are local constant roads between some settlements. In the winter on the rivers are laid Winter road which connect which connect region settlements in a uniform network. In 2009 replacement of the emergency bridge through Loren river on constantly operating local road from Lavrentiya to village Lorino became the main event of transport of Chukotka.
The main airport is Ugolny Airport near Anadyr. Coastal shipping also takes place, but the ice situation is too severe for at least half the year.
Administrative divisions
The rayons of Chukota are :
Arctic coast: northern Bilibinsky District (northwest), Chaunsky District around Chaunskaya Bay, Shmidtovsky District, northern Iultinsky District, Chukotsky District at the eastern cape.
Pacific coast:Providensky District south of Chukotsky, southern Iultinsky District around Kresta Bay, eastern Anadyrsky District at the Anadyr Estuary, Beringovsky District in the south.
Interior: The western quarter of the Okrug is Bilibinsky District and the rest of the interior is Anadyrsky District.
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%) |
| All | 21,537 | 46,689 | 101,194 | 139,944 | 163,934 | 53,824 |
Ethnographic maps shows the Yupik Eskimos as the indigenous population of some villages near Provideniya, Chuvans in the Chuvanskoye village some 100 km west of Markovo, the Evens in some inland areas, and the Chukchi throughout the rest of the region.[2]
Vital statistics (2005)
- Births: 795 (birth rate 15.7)
- Deaths: 597 (death rate 11.8)
Vital Statistics for 2007:
Birth Rate: 15.94 per 1000 (13.62 for Urban Areas & 20.56 for Rural Areas) [3]
Death Rate: 12.37 per 1000
Net Immigration: -8.2 per 1000
NGR: +0.37% per Year
PGR: -0.44% per Year (Population decreased due to emigration despite births exceeding deaths by a significant margin.)
Governor
The governor of Chukotka until July 3, 2008, business oligarch Roman Abramovich, also the owner of Chelsea F.C. has spent over US$1 billion in the region (partly as normal tax payments) on developing infrastructure and providing direct aid to the inhabitants[4] since becoming governor in 2000. In 2004 there were also reports, however, that Chukotka gave Abramovich's company Sibneft tax breaks in excess of US$450 million[5].
Religion
The Russian Orthodox Church in Chukotka is represented by the Eparchy (Diocese) of Anadyr and Chukotka (Russian: Анадырская и Чукотская епархия). The controversial conservative Bishop of Anadyr and Chukotka, Diomid, who had occupied the Anadyr see since 2000 and had been instrumental in the development of the church in the peninsula, was sacked by the Holy Synod in the summer of 2008. The diocese has been since run by the archbishop of Khabarovsk and the River, Mark (Tuzhikov) (ru).
See also
References
- ^ (XLS) National Composition of Population for Regions of the Russian Federation. 2002 Russian All-Population Census. 2002. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/English/4-2.xls. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
- ^ Map 3.6 (Chukotskiy Avtonomnyi Okrug) from the series prepared for the INSROP (International Northern Sea Route Programme) Working Paper No. 90 in 1997.
- ^ http://www.statistika.anadyr.ru/nas/2/index.htm
- ^ What Abramovich may do with his money BBC News, 29 September 2005
- ^ Abramovich region found bankrupt BBC News, 21 May 2004
Josh Newell, 'The Russian Far East, A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development',2004
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chukotka |
Coordinates: 66°15′10.06″N 172°00′03.63″E / 66.2527944°N 172.0010083°E
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