![]() View of the village on Ayon Island | |
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | East Siberian Sea |
Coordinates | 69°47′40.59″N168°39′37.03″E / 69.7946083°N 168.6602861°E [1] |
Area | 2,156 [1] km2 (832 sq mi) |
Length | 63 km (39.1 mi) |
Width | 38 km (23.6 mi) |
Coastline | 550 km (342 mi) [1] |
Administration | |
Russia | |
Okrug | Chukotka Autonomous Okrug |
Demographics | |
Population | 440 (2006) |
Pop. density | 0.2/km2 (0.5/sq mi) |
Ethnic groups | Chukchi |
Ayon Island is an island in the coast of Chukotka in the East Siberian Sea. The island itself consists mainly of low-lying tundra, and is primarily populated by the Chukchi people, who use the tundra as pasture for their reindeer herds.
It is located on the western side of the Chaunskaya Bay, directly off the Nutel'gyrgym Peninsula, at the eastern end of the Kolyma Gulf. The island is 63 km (39 mi) long and 38 km (24 mi) wide with an area of 2,156 km2 (832 sq mi) and a coastline of 550 km (340 mi) [1] . It is generally low and flat and there are many small lakes and swamps. Ayon Island is separated from the mainland by the Maly Chaunsky Strait, a shallow channel which is barely 2 km (1.2 mi) wide in its narrowest spot. The bay to the south and east is Chaunskaya Guba. Administratively[ citation needed ] and municipally, [2] Ayon Island belongs to Chaunsky District, part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation.
There are two small settlements, Elvuney [3] (now abandoned) [4] and Ayon in the northwestern end of the island.
The name of the island is thought to come from one of two sources. Firstly, it is suggested that it comes from the Chukchi word "Ayo", meaning "brain", as the islands shape is somewhat like a brain. [3] The second school of though is that it is derived from Chukchi meaning "coming alive", in reference to the fact that although the island is covered in ice and snow during the winter, in the summer, this melts and the island provides a good pasture for reindeer herds as well as being the home to swarms of midges and gadflies. [3]
Following the rise of communism in the Soviet Union in the first part of the twentieth century, the native herds were collectivised in 1933 into a group called "Enmitagino". [3] Such collectivisation was very successful on the island and in 1950, the collective in Ayon was turned into a formal Kolkhoz that would eventually have around 22,000 reindeer under its control. [3] In addition to reindeer herding, the new collective was also engaged in sea-hunting and the collection of furs. [5]
A polar station was established on the site of the village in 1941 and the icebreaker Krasin brought Pyotr Sidersky and a crew of seven people to man the new station. [5] This was the first time that the village site had been inhabited permanently, with indigenous people living there only during the summer when the reindeer were taken to pasture, with the exception of a few individuals who would over-winter in order to hunt. [5]
By 1944, the settlement had become increasingly permanent and there were 103 people living in 23 houses. [5]
However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, state support was withdrawn and the herders—who had been used to being supplied with the latest technology by the state—now found that not only did they have to fend for themselves (with regards to the day-to-day herding) but that there was no guarantee they would even receive any money they were owed for the meat they provided to the state. [3]
The result of this was the herds shrinking from nearly 22,000 to only around 4,000, gradually growing into a considerably high level of unemployment in the town. [3] This has led to a spike in alcohol abuse—specifically vodka drinking— which not only fuels sociological problems and public intoxication, but also sanitation issues associated with public urination and defecation. This, combined with public dumps, littered vodka bottles, and general trash can breed pathogens leading to disease. Some deadly infections can spread to reindeer, as they may come into contact with these waste areas, further reducing the size of the herd. [3]
Pevek is an Arctic port town and the administrative center of Chaunsky District in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on Chaunskaya Bay on a peninsula on the eastern side of the bay facing the Routan Islands, above the Arctic Circle, about 640 kilometers (400 mi) northwest of Anadyr, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. Population: 4,015 (2021 Census); 4,162 (2010 Russian census); 5,206 (2002 Census); 12,915 (1989 Soviet census).
Billings is a rural locality in Iultinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Population: 211 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, it is incorporated as Billings Rural Settlement in Chaunsky Municipal District.
Chaunsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the six in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located on the northern shore of the autonomous okrug and borders with Iultinsky District in the northeast, Anadyrsky District in the southeast, and with Bilibinsky District in the south and west. The area of the district is 67,091 square kilometers (25,904 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Pevek. Population: 5,148 (2010 Russian census); 6,962 (2002 Census); 32,167 (1989 Soviet census). The population of Pevek accounts for 80.8% of the district's total population.
Beringovsky District was an administrative district (raion) of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, which existed in 1957–2011. As a municipal division, it was, together with Anadyrsky Administrative District, incorporated as Anadyrsky Municipal District. It was located on the southeastern shores of the autonomous okrug and bordered with Anadyrsky District in the west and the Bering Sea in the east. Its administrative center was the urban locality of Beringovsky. Population: 2,501 (2010 Russian census); 3,162 (2002 Census); 8,968 (1989 Soviet census). The area of the district was 37,900 square kilometers (14,600 sq mi).
Providensky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the six in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located in the northeast of the autonomous okrug, in the southern half of the Chukchi Peninsula with a northwest extension reaching almost to the Kolyuchinskaya Bay on the Arctic. It borders with Chukotsky District in the north, the Bering Sea in the east and south, and with Iultinsky District in the west. The area of the district is 26,800 square kilometers (10,300 sq mi). Its administrative center is the urban locality of Provideniya. Population: 3,923 (2010 Russian census); 4,660 (2002 Census); 9,778 (1989 Soviet census). The population of Provideniya accounts for 50.2% of the district's total population.
Vayegi is a rural locality in Anadyrsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located near the border with Kamchatka Krai, on the banks of the river Mayn, southwest of Anadyr, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 497.
Khatyrka is a rural locality in Anadyrsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the shore of the Bering Sea southwest of Beringovsky. Population: 377 (2010 Russian census); with an estimated population of 323 as of 2018. Municipally, it is incorporated as Khatyrka Rural Settlement.
Yanranay is a rural locality in Chaunsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located just to the west of Pevek. Population: 217 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Yanranay is subordinated to Chaunsky Municipal District and is incorporated as Yanranay Rural Settlement.
Rytkuchi is a rural locality in Chaunsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located southwest of Pevek on the southern shores of Chaunskaya Bay. Established in 1934, its population as at 2010: 517 (2010 Russian census); The village is a national village with the local economy dominated by reindeer husbandry. Municipally Rytkuchi is subordinated to Chaunsky Municipal District and incorporated as Rytkuchi Rural Settlement.
Lorino is a rural locality in Chukotsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located on the boundary of the Chukchi Sea and the Bering Sea. Population: 1,267 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Lorino is subordinated to Chukotsky Municipal District and incorporated as Lorino Rural Settlement.
Chuvanskoye is a rural locality in Anadyrsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Russia, located west of Markovo on the banks of the Yeropol river, about 780 km from the mouth of the Anadyr. Population: 209 (2010 Russian census); with an estimated population as of 1 January 2015 of 188. Municipally, the village is incorporated as Chuvanskoye Rural Settlement.
Ostrovnoye is a rural locality in Bilibinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the banks of the Maly Anyuy River about 40 kilometers (25 mi) upstream from Anyuysk and about 179 kilometers (111 mi) from the administrative center of the district, Bilibino and 690 kilometers (430 mi) from Anadyr. Population: 379, of which 317 were indigenous peoples. Population: 384 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Ostrovnoye is subordinated to Bilibinsky Municipal District and is incorporated as Ostrovnoye Rural Settlement.
Amguema is a village (selo) in Iultinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Population: 531 (2010 Russian census); the village is based on the Iultin-Egvekinot road, one of the few significant roads in the Okrug. Reindeer herding is the most significant economic activity in the village. Municipally, Amguema is subordinated to Iultinsky Municipal District and incorporated as Amguema Rural Settlement.
Konergino is a village (selo) in Iultinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Population 424 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Konergino is subordinated to Iultinsky Municipal District and incorporated as Konergino Rural Settlement.
Yanrakynnot is a rural locality in Providensky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Population: 338 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Yanrakynnot is a part of Yanrakynnot Rural Settlement in Providensky Municipal District.
Nunligran is a village (selo) in Providensky Municipal District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Population: 360 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Nunligran is subordinated to Chukotsky Municipal District and incorporated as Nunligran Rural Settlement.
Enmelen is a village (selo) in Providensky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Population: 367 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Enmelen is subordinated to Providensky Municipal District and incorporated as Enmelen Rural Settlement.
Apapelgino is a rural locality 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.
Ayon is a rural locality in Chaunsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, situated on the northwestern shores of Ayon Island in the entrance to Chaunskaya Bay. It is the only populated place on the island. Its population was estimated to be 252 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Ayon is subordinated to Chaunsky Municipal District and is incorporated as Ayon Rural Settlement.
Ilirney is a rural locality in Bilibinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located southeast of Bilibino, on the banks of the Maly Anyuy River. The population of the village as of 2012 is 281, of which 247 are native Chukchi, a slight reduction on the most recent census data: 287 (2010 Russian census); Municipally, Ilirney is subordinated to Bilibinsky Municipal District and is incorporated as Ilirney Rural Settlement.