Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
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Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Russian: Чуко́тский автоно́мный о́круг, 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 is the only region of Russia lying partially in the western geographical hemisphere. It is washed by the Bering Sea and the East Siberian Sea. 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.
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.
Elgygytgyn Lake, an important site for scientific research on climate change, is located in Chukotka.
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.
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.
The governor of Chukotka, business oligarch Roman Abramovich, better known in the West as the owner of Chelsea F.C., has spent billions of roubles in the region on developing infrastructure and providing direct aid to the inhabitants.[citation needed]
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[edit] Administrative divisions
[edit] 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% • Belarusan 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)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- (English) Official website of Chukotka Autonomous District.
- (English) Chukotka page with images.
