Nikolskoye, Kamchatka Oblast

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For other uses, see Nikolsky.

Nikolskoye (Russian: Нико́льское) is a village (selo) in Kamchatka Oblast, Russia, located on Bering Island in the Komandorski Islands. It is the administrative center of Aleutsky District of Kamchatka Oblast. Population: 808 (2002 Census); 1,356 (1989 Census).

Nikolskoye was founded in 1826 by Aleut (Unangan) settlers from Atka Island in the Aleutian Islands who were brought there by Russian fur traders. While engaging to some extent in the traditional pursuits of whaling and sealing with harpoons and spears, they were primarily employed in the harvest of fur-bearing animals, notably sea otters and fur seals.

Currently, the population is divided roughly evenly between Russians and Aleuts, but mixing between the two is common. The current economy is based primarily on fishing, especially the harvest of salmon caviar, mushroom gathering, and government services and subsidies. Despite living in an environment that is extremely rich with wildlife, the inhabitants of the island are very restricted in the use of these resources since almost the entire island is a nature preserve. In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, poaching of fish, arctic fox, reindeer (which were introduced to the island), and migratory waterfowl was widespread, but there is virtually no harvest of marine mammals due to strict protection.

The village is served by Nikolskoye Airport.