Chukotka Autonomous District (Russian: Чуко́тский автоно́мный о́круг; tr.: Chukotsky avtonomny okrug), or Chukotka (Чуко́тка), is an autonomous district located in the Russian Far East. It is the farthest northeast region of Russia, on the shores of the Bering Sea. Chukotka has an area of 737,700 km² and a population of about 53,000 (according to 2002 census figures), and just over 55,000 in 2004. The principal town and administrative center is Anadyr. It was formerly an autonomous district subsumed within Magadan Oblast, but it declared its separation in 1991, a move that was confirmed by the Russian Constitutional Court in 1993.
Lake El'gygytgyn, 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 millions of dollars in the region on developing infrastructure and providing direct aid to the inhabitants.
Administrative division
Districts
Chukotka Autonomous District consists of the following districts (Russian: районов):
- Anadyrsky (Анадырский)
- Beringovsky (Беринговский)
- Bilibinsky (Билибинский)
- Chaunsky (Чаунский)
- Chukotsky (Чукотский)
- Iultinsky (Иультинский)
- Providensky (Провиденский)
- Shmidtovsky (Шмидтовский)
Demographics
Population (2002): 53,824
Ethnic groups:
Of the 53,824 residents (as of the 2002 census) 1,199 (2.3%) chose not to specify their ethnic background. Of the rest, residents identified themselves as belonging to 86 ethnic groups, including 27,918 ethnic Russians (51.9%), 12,622 Chukchis (23.5%), 4,960 Ukrainians (9.2%), 1,534 Eskimoes (2.85%), 1,407 Evens (2.6%), 951 Chuvans (1.77%) and so on.
