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Chukotka Autonomous District (Чуко́тка) in the Russian Far East is the farthest northeast region of Russia, on the shores of the Bering Sea. It is the site of Lake El'gygytgyn, an important site for scientific research on climate change. The region has an area of 737,700 km² and a population of about 53,000 (according to 2002 census figures). The principal town and administrative center is Anadyr. It was formerly an autonomous region subsumed within Magadan Oblast, but it declared independence from Magadan 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 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, 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)
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