Apapelgino

Apapelgino (English)
Апапельгино (Russian)
апаапэлгын (Chukchi)
-  Rural locality[1]  -
Selo[1]

Apapelgino in winter

Location of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in Russia
Apapelgino
Location of Apapelgino in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Coordinates: 69°47′33″N 170°36′50″E / 69.79250°N 170.61389°ECoordinates: 69°47′33″N 170°36′50″E / 69.79250°N 170.61389°E
Administrative status (as of June 2012)
Country Russia
Federal subject Chukotka Autonomous Okrug[1]
Administrative district Chaunsky District[2]
Municipal status (as of December 2011)
Municipal district Chaunsky Municipal District[3]
Urban settlement Pevek Urban Settlement[3]
Statistics
Area (rural locality) (December 2011) 0.49 km2 (0.19 sq mi)[3]
Population (June 2005 est.) 5 inhabitants[4]
Time zone PETT (UTC+12:00)[5]

Apapelgino (Russian: Апа́пельгино; Chukchi: апаапэлгын[6]) is a rural locality (a selo) in Chaunsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located just to the east of Pevek, on the northeastern shores of Chaunskaya Bay. As of June 2005, its population was estimated to be five people.[4]

Constructed as a part of the expansion of the Pevek Airport, Apapelgino has been mostly abandoned, although not officially abolished.

Etymology

There are several versions of the origin of Apapelgino's name. The first theory is that it comes from the Chukchi word "апаапэлгын" (apaapelgyn), meaning spider's neck, due to a variety of spiders in this place.[6] Another theory is that it is a portmanteau of the Yupik word "апы" (apy), meaning snow, and the Chukchi word "вэлгын" (velgyn), meaning throat or mouth.[6] Finally, the name could have derived from the Koryak word "апиапиль" (apiapil), meaning a sacrificial place.[6]

History

Apapelgino was used primarily to meet the administrative needs of the Pevek Airport, as well as for housing the airport's workers. In the 1950s, the airfield was developed as a part of the Soviet Air Forces' plan to create a ring of air bases around the Arctic for the use of its strategic bomber fleet during the Cold War. During the Cold War, this airfield formed a network of forward staging bases inside the Arctic Circle, the need for which was dictated by geography and weather. The northern parts of the Soviet Union closest to the United States are in the Arctic, with hostile weather conditions. Consequently, Soviet strategic bombers were normally stationed at bases in more temperate parts of the Soviet Union, flying training missions from these forward staging bases. However, the focus on intercontinental ballistic missiles as opposed to bombers meant that the airfield became less important and this was reflected by a gradual reduction in the local population.

Following the 1957 expansion of the airport, construction of a road linking Apapelgino to Pevek began in 1959; in 1961, a bridge was constructed over the Apapelgyn River to complete the link. As Apapelgino grew, a boiler house, greenhouses for growing vegetables, a complex for the lower secondary school, cafeteria and library, a nursery, kindergarten, and a series of apartment buildings were built.

By the beginning of the 21st century, however, the reduction in the population was such that it was decided that the remaining residents would be resettled to Pevek, with most residents leaving in 2001. Nevertheless, some refused to be resettled and, for the fear of losing the privileges allotted to the residents of localities in the process of liquidation, continued to reside in Apapelgino even after central heating was turned off.[7] Most of those residents moved out in 2002.[8]

Even after Apapelgino was mostly abandoned (with only five people remaining in residence as of 2005[4]), the airport still serves as the main transport hub for Northern Chukotka and the local infrastructure is being maintained.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Apapelgino is subordinated to Chaunsky District.[2] Within the framework of municipal divisions, Apapelgino is a part of Pevek Urban Settlement within Chaunsky Municipal District.[3]

Transportation

View south of the Pevek Airport. Ilyushin Il-76 parked.

Apapelgino is served by the Pevek Airport. The only road connecting Apapelgino with outside world leads to Pevek.

Climate

Apapelgino has a Tundra climate (ET) according to the Köppen climate classification.[9]

Climate data for Apapelgino
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 0
(32)		 4
(39)		 −1
(30)		 1
(34)		 14
(57)		 25
(77)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 14
(57)		 10
(50)		 3
(37)		 −2
(28)		 25
(77)
Average high °C (°F) −20.7
(−5.3)		 −20.2
(−4.4)		 −19.1
(−2.4)		 −14.2
(6.4)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 7.9
(46.2)		 9.2
(48.6)		 8.2
(46.8)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −8
(18)		 −21.1
(−6)		 −20.5
(−4.9)		 −8
(18)
Average low °C (°F) −26.8
(−16.2)		 −29.4
(−20.9)		 −27
(−17)		 −19.8
(−3.6)		 −5.4
(22.3)		 2.4
(36.3)		 4
(39)		 3.3
(37.9)		 −1.1
(30)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −24.2
(−11.6)		 −23.6
(−10.5)		 −13.3
(8.1)
Record low °C (°F) −49
(−56)		 −51
(−60)		 −49
(−56)		 −35
(−31)		 −27
(−17)		 −34
(−29)		 −1
(30)		 −4
(25)		 −18
(0)		 −34
(−29)		 −41
(−42)		 −46
(−51)		 −51
(−60)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 15
(0.59)		 9
(0.35)		 18
(0.71)		 6
(0.24)		 6
(0.24)		 27
(1.06)		 42
(1.65)		 30
(1.18)		 21
(0.83)		 36
(1.42)		 30
(1.18)		 12
(0.47)		 252
(9.92)
Avg. snowy days 16 12 10 10 7 2 2 3 10 16 16 16 120
Source: [10]

Gallery

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Law #33-OZ
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Directive #517-rp
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Law #46-OZ
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bema Gold Corporation, p. 87
  5. ↑ Правительство Российской Федерации. Федеральный закон №107-ФЗ от 3 июня 2011 г. «Об исчислении времени», в ред. Федерального закона №248-ФЗ от 21 июля 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в Федеральный закон "Об исчислении времени"». Вступил в силу по истечении шестидесяти дней после дня официального опубликования (6 августа 2011 г.). Опубликован: "Российская газета", №120, 6 июня 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Federal Law #107-FZ of June 31, 2011 On Calculating Time, as amended by the Federal Law #248-FZ of July 21, 2014 On Amending Federal Law "On Calculating Time". Effective as of after sixty days following the day of the official publication.).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Leontyev and Novikova, p. 71
  7. ↑ Regions.ru. Жители посёлка Апапельгино отказались покинуть свои неотапливаемые дома (Apapelgino Residents Refuse to Leave Their Unheated Homes) (Russian)
  8. ↑ Regions.ru. Жители посёлка Апапельгино покидают свои дома (Apapelgino Residents Leave Their Homes) (Russian)
  9. ↑ McKnight and Hess, pp. 232–235
  10. ↑ "Weather Averages for Apapelgino from meoweather.com". meoweather.com. Retrieved October 1, 2012.

Sources

External links