Transcript MLA style - Sakha Open World

Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
The land of extremes
Facts about Yakutia:

Geographical situation
The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) occupies most of the
Northeastern part of the Asian continent. It extends 2000
kilometers from north to south and 2500 kilometers from
east to west. It occupies an area of 3 103 200 square
kilometers forming 1/5 of the territory of Russia. The
territory of Yakutia is larger then the territories of France,
Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK, Finland, and Greece
put together.
The Novosibirskie Ostrova and some other Arctic islands are
part of the territory of the Republic. More then 40 per cent
of the territory is above the Arctic Circle. There are three
time zones - six, seven, and eight hours ahead of Moscow.
The capital of the Republic - Yakutsk - is 6875 kilometers
from Moscow and 1814 kilometers from Vladivostok. The
difference between Yakutsk and Greenwich time is 8 hours.
Climate

Yakutia is rich in natural contrasts. The climate is sharply
continental with a range in temperature of 100(C from +40(C in
the summer to -60(C in the winter. The Pole of Cold (the absolute
coldest point of the Northern Hemisphere) is situated in
Oimyakonsky uluss where a record negative temperature of 71.2(C was recorded in 1926. Winter in Yakutia is continuously
cold but with little snow accumulation, while the summer is short
and dry with high temperatures prevailing through most of the
territory during this time. Also the Air is fresh and clean.
During winter, the low altitude of the Sun determines a short day
over most of the territory of Yakutia. The Polar Nights begin on
the territory which is above the Arctic Circle. The Sun seems to
forget about that area. Darkness and twilight take charge for
several months. Some nights are lit up by the Aurora Borealis, the
natural phenomenon that can only be observed along the latitudes
occupied by this territory. Due to the comparatively high altitude
of the Sun, and the dryness and clarity of the air, summers are
mostly sunny; the Polar Days begin. A day can last up to 20 hours
along the latitude of Yakutsk, while farther North, the Sun never
drops below the horizon
Economy

Natural resources
Yakutia is truly a treasury of natural resources. Diamond deposits
in West Yakutia as well as gold deposits in the basins of Aldan,
Indigirka, and Yana, are all well known. The Republic has large
reserves of tin, wolfram, mercury, complex and iron ores,
bituminous and brown coals, natural gas and oil. Yakutia is also
famous for construction materials and salubrious mineral waters.
Industry
The most important industry is mining. The diamond, gold and tin
ore mining industries are the major ones. 99 per cent of all
Russian diamonds are mined in Yakutia. The Republic develops its
diamond processing industry along with the oil and gas processing
complex. Jewelry is another traditional branch of the economy.
Along with diamonds, coal has a very high export value. Coal is
exported to the different regions of Russia and to the Asian-Pacific
countries. Timber production and processing is also highly
developed.
Spiritual Belief



Sakha initially are pagans
But in 18-th century have
been Christianized,
obtained Orthodox
Christianity
Still practice shamanism
Sakha Origin
Sakha (eski sakha)
nomads (turkic tribe)
who appeared in Siberia
in 10-th century
Today population of
Yakutia (Sakha)
represents multiethnic
community of
different believes

Early History

The Sakha arrived relatively recently in 13th century to their current
geographical area from Central Asia. They are heterogeneous of Turkic and
Mongolian origin. They conquered the indigionous hunter-gatherer tribes
and began to call themselves "Sakha", after Sakhastan, an historic nationstate in Persia. "Sakha" may be cognate with Saxe, Saki, Scythian, etc.,
historic tribes that were famous and dominant in Central Asia. The Evenki
referred to the Sakha as "Yako" and this term was adopted by the
Russians when they began arriving in the region in the early 17th century.
Tygyn, a king of the Khangalassky Yakuts, granted territory for Russian
settlement in return for military pact that included war against indigenous
rebels of all North Eastern Asia (Magadan, Chukotka, Kamchatka and
Sakhalin). King of Mengeler-Khangalastar Yakuts, Kull began a Sakha
conspiracy by allowing his relative Tygyn to enter into tricky pact with
Russians in plan to conquer all of North Eastern Asia in centuries to come.
The Lensky Ostrog (Fort Lensky), the future city of Yakutsk, was founded
by Pyotr Beketov, a Cossack, on September 25, 1632 (the date of the first
stockade construction). In August of 1638, the Moscow Government
formed a new administrative unit with the administrative center of Lensky
Ostrog, which cemented the town's ascendancy in the territory.
Late History
Place of exhile and repression
1920-s shaman hunting (witchhunting)
Shaman’s house were burnt, and shamans
were sent to prison
1970-80-s wave of national selfconsciousness, the trial over students for
“nationalism”
History

Chernyshevsky’s
house
Places of Interest