Chukotka
Chukotka is the easternmost region of Russia and of the whole Eurasian landmass. It is washed by waters of two oceans – the Arctic and the Pacific. A half of the territory lies beyond the Polar Circle. Almost the whole area is occupied with tundra. Coasts are reach of scenic bays, full of sea birds and mammals. Aborigine peoples – the Chukchis, the Eskimos (the Siberian Yupik) and other small local nationalities are mostly engaged in reindeer breeding or in hunting for sea mammals.
The climate is extremely rigorous with average temperatures of January –18…-42oC, of July +4…+14oC, of the whole year –4…-14oC depending on the site. Fast changes of weather, strong winds and sunless days are characteristic features of Chukotka. Therefore tourists should be prepared to unexpected delays and changes of itineraries because of weather conditions. Nevertheless Chukotka is the exclusive destination, very attractive for adventurous tourists.
Chukotka is still a restricted region of Russia that has had limited contact with the rest of the world. Every tourist, a Russian or a foreigner, must have a special permission to enter Chukotka. Few visitors and extremely low density of local population help to preserve unique landscapes, flora and fauna of the region.
In the end of the 20th century due to a deep economical crisis many people left Chukotka and you can still see some deserted houses, settlements and military bases. Nowadays Chukotka revives. Anadyr - the capital of Chukotka - has become a modern town with clean streets, bright comfortable houses, hotels, supermarkets, entertainments and other attributes of civilization. Native aborigine villages have got new modern houses, schools, first-aid posts and satellite communications.
Highlights:
- Virgin landscapes, flora and fauna of Arctic tundra
- Sea mammals – whales, walruses and seals in waters and on rookeries
The cold waters of Chukotka seas are lifeless and waste for the first sight. And one can think so if he isn’t dedicated to. But life there is like a boiling pot. And the sea inhabitants are the great Arctic heritage.
The gray whales are the most amazing creatures. It’s a great success for the traveler to see the whale fountain on the horizon. And also it’s a great joy when a whale comes near to the shore. And the most incredible thing is to hear “whale singing”. The sounds they make can be compared with the voice of the Universe.
There are more than two hundred species of birds in Chukotka. But you can’t realize their real number until you see the bird flocks in a wild nature. Sometimes the flocks of white geese close the sky when they fly for nesting to Wrangel Island.
- Traditional lifestyles of aborigines – reindeer herders and hunters for sea mammals
Self-names almost all radical peoples of Chukotka have one value - «the real person». For some centuries of the neighbourhood in territory there were some independent ethnoses: chukchi, eskimo, evens, yukagir, lamut, chuvan, kerek.
Most numerous of radical peoples of Chukotka - chukchi, "reindeer" people which have mastered immense open spaces of tundra in wandering with deer herds.
Most east people of Russia - eskimos, founders of a unique civilization sea hunters, ideally adapted to high-grade life in the Arctic desert.
- Wrangell Island in the Arctic Ocean - a reserved territory, where nature complex of the Mammoth Era remains. Rare and endemic plants, birds and mammals of tundra and Arctic seas can be met there. The island is a place, where white bears – masters of Arctic - give birth to descendants. In practice, it may be reached only with sea cruises nowadays.
- Dezhnev Cape on the shore of the Bering Strait – the easternmost point of the Eurasian landmass with the monument in honor of Russian Cossack Semen Dezhnev – the leader of the first European expedition, which reached that place.
- Elgygytgyn Lake – a big picturesque lake of ideally round shape, appeared in result of collision of the Earth with a giant meteorite (one of two main versions). Water glassy, surrounded with mountains, creates wonderful landscapes. Endemic deep-water fish dwell there
