The geography of Russia is diverse. In the north, beyond the Arctic Circle, permafrost reigns; in the south, in the subtropics, even in winter, the temperature rarely drops below zero. Each region is unique and beautiful in its own way, in each you can find a lot of interesting and unknown things, and people live everywhere.
Tazovsky District, Purovsky District (Yamal Peninsula) are inhabited territories where not only indigenous people live. Russia's leading companies are producing hydrocarbons in these parts, providing jobs for the local population, and also attracting thousands of active people to the polar regions. Exploration is underway in the region, new deposits are being discovered and developed. The Taz Peninsula, which is located beyond the Arctic Circle, was no exception.
Yamal
The Yamal Peninsula is located in the Arctic zone in the northern part of the world's largest West Siberian Plain. Its area exceeds 769 thousand square kilometers. Most of it is above the Arctic Circle. Translated from the Nenets language, the name means "Edge of the Earth", which is quite consistent with the geographical location.
On its territory there are over 300 thousand lakes and 48thousand rivers and streams. Part of the area is swampy, although thawing occurs only in summer. The climate here is quite severe, sharply continental. In addition to arctic cold cyclones and air masses coming from the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic, the climate is influenced by permafrost and the proximity of the icy Kara Sea, which cuts deep into the land. Winter on the territory of Yamal lasts at least eight months, the thermometer can drop to minus 59 degrees. The average annual temperature remains below zero.
But the summer here is short and rather cold, although on some days the temperature can rise to plus 30. There are often heavy fogs throughout the territory, especially in early autumn. Often there are magnetic storms, accompanied by the northern lights. Polar days and nights are also a feature of these places.
Geographic reference
The Taz Peninsula is located on the northern tip of the West Siberian Plain. On the map it can be found between the Taz and Ob bays. In length, it stretched for almost 200 kilometers, has an average width of 100 kilometers. The flat surface prevails, rising 100 km above the sea. The vegetation on the peninsula is characteristic of the tundra. Mosses and lichens, as well as shrubs, predominate. The entire territory is literally cut by ravines, many of which are quite deep. There are also many lakes and swamps. The peninsula is located in the permafrost zone, where the earth freezes many meters deep and even during a short cool summer thaws no more thanhalf a metre. All these factors affect the flora and fauna.
Tazovsky Settlement
The geographical center of the Tazovsky district is the village of the same name. It is located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. To the center of the district, the city of Salekhard, by water - 986 km, by air - 552 km. To Tyumen, the waterway stretches for 2755 km, and the air route is 1341 km. Korotchaevo railway station is located 230 km from the village. 7339 people live in Tazovsky.
In total, the district has 11 settlements and 5 administrative units. Air traffic has been established to the Taz Peninsula, there is a new highway. Well-established infrastructure. These innovations make it possible to supply the Taz Peninsula, the population and enterprises with everything they need. The area has a museum, a music school and an art school for children, libraries and other cultural institutions. All this is done so that both local residents and oil workers who came to develop rich subsoil can spend their leisure time usefully, and their children receive a versatile education.
Historical background
The first expeditions to the Taz Peninsula began to equip the government of the Russian Empire in the 16th century. On the river, called the Tasu-Yam-yakha by the Nenets, they founded a small trading town, later called the Gold-boiling Mangazeya.
Pomors and Cossacks traveled to these places for about a month along the rivers, delivering provisions, fuel and othervital goods. Vessels returned back loaded with valuable fish and furs. From these regions, up to 80 thousand sable tails entered the royal treasury. But this did not last long, the locals did not seek cooperation, and the conditions of the campaigns were extremely harsh. And soon they forgot about Mangazeya until the middle of the 18th century. In 1852, the first settlement of Halmer-Sede was registered, which means "Graves on the mountain." The fact is that it was founded on a hill where the old cemetery of the Nenets was located. And again caravans with furs and fish were drawn to the central regions of the country.
Years of Soviet power
When the Bolsheviks came to power, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug was founded, which included the Tazovsky district. A fish factory was founded here, a river port and an airport, first-aid posts, schools and other facilities were opened. The main activities of the region were fish and meat trades. This is the time when the Taz Peninsula (Russia) was developing rapidly.
In the 60s of the last century, deposits of hydrocarbons were discovered in the bowels of Yamal. Active oil and gas production, geological exploration of the entire region began. This direction has become and still remains a priority. Now the country's largest oil companies are exploring and mining liquid gold in these parts, attracting thousands of workers to distant lands.
Flora and fauna
The climate of the Taz Peninsula is quite severe, so the flora and fauna are scarce for most of the year. But with the advent of a short summer, flocks flock heremigratory birds that breed on this seemingly uninhabitable land. Many birds that live and nest here are listed in the Red Book and are not found anywhere else.
The vegetation is dominated by mosses and lichens, reindeer moss, dwarf trees, shrubs. The animal world is represented by fur-bearing animals, which are the object of hunting by hunters and poachers. Despite the remoteness of the peninsula and the difficult weather conditions, there are many who want to earn money on furs or valuable fish.
Local population
The Taz Peninsula, whose population is represented by 36 different nationalities, is distinguished by a small number of residents. Most of them are native Nenets, the rest are oilmen and geologists who came from different parts of the country.
Aborigines are pagans, they worship the supreme deity Num and the lord of the underworld Nga. Traditions of ancestors are carefully passed down from generation to generation. The climate of the peninsula is ideal for reindeer herding, and most of the indigenous people are engaged in this type of activity. Together with herds, they roam the endless expanses of Yamal, living in tents, making clothes from animal skins. The Nenets are also skilled hunters and fishermen.
Rare trees growing in the tundra are objects of worship, their branches are decorated with ribbons by those who came to pray and ask the spirit for blessings. The observance of such traditions does not mean at all that the population is in ignorance. Children study in boarding schools, andafter leaving school, they choose their own path.
The Taz Peninsula, whose photos amaze with the beauty of the nature of the tundra, stretching for many kilometers, is quite well developed and populated. Residential areas are under active housing construction and infrastructure development.
