Karaginsky Island is a small uninhabited island located in the Bering Sea. It has been designated a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island’s landscape is dominated by a ridge of ice-covered peaks rising to 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). The highest peak, Mount Pionerskaya, is 2,462 meters (8,893 feet) high.
The ice cap is estimated to be about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) thick. The island’s vegetation consists mainly of dwarf birch, willow and a few species of algae. Wildlife includes the brown bear, mink, seal and bald eagle.
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All About Of Karaginsky Island
History
The island was discovered by the Russian explorer Vitus Bering in 1741. He named it for Baron Alexei Karaginsky, governor-general of New Siberia and a patron of Bering’s voyage. The first recorded visit to the island was by Lieutenant Lapérouse in 1800.
Karaginsky Island became part of Russia in 1812. It was administered as part of Pechenga Governorate from 1826 until 1905, when it became a part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (1905-1917), then Chukotka Krai (1920 ).
In 1935, it was administratively subordinated to the Magadan Oblast. In 1985, Anadyrsk (Karaginsky) received town rights from Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
However, in April 2001 the Russian president Vladimir Putin asked governors of administrative districts to repeal their status as towns and return them to rural municipal districts; evacuating two hundred inhabitants a month would be adequate for this task.
Accordingly on 16 July 2001 Karaginsky reverted into an urban-type settlement with power transferred back under Chukotka Krai’s administration after sixty years since being severed by DPR . Karaginsky is now being administered from Anadyr.
Climate
The climate is Arctic with a mean monthly temperature below 0 degrees Celsius and daytime frost lasting forty days of the year. Along with the rest of Russia (and outside Alaska), Karaginsky Island experiences extremely cold weather in winter.
Winters are suitable for vegetable cultivation; summer temperatures hover around freezing point and can plummet to both below and above that level, depending on frost or thaw cycles nights will see a temperature drop from 23C during December when there is clear sky to -5 C at night in February/March.
Temperatures will vary by season: even though winter imparts positive buoyancy winds blow into the island bringing moisture and snow before dying out completely come spring time just one month prior along with extreme dry ness.
This will cause farmers to order large quantities of fertilizer which is then spread by ships aiming towards Chukotka; this happens twice a year, in spring just before the start of winter and autumn shortly after it ends.
Summer has temperatures ranging from 19C to 37C with summer heat waves duelding down for several days at a time bringing much needed relief for all suffering inhabitants. The worst temperature ever recorded was on 12 January 1968 when -48c was noted .
Culture
The food staple in Karaginsky is fish and game. The people have a nomadic way of life, hunting the reindeer and caribou that roam the tundra. In recent years, commercial fishing has replaced traditional hunting as a major source of protein for the Karaginskians.
Today, there are also dairy cattle, chickens and pigs kept by some families who participate in local agriculture; other than this most people rely on subsistence activities such as fishing or herding animals to provide sustenance .
Most residents identify themselves first and foremost as indigenous Chukchi hunters/gatherers , speakers of Chukchi, and secondarily as Karaginskians. Additionally other ethnic groups such as Russians are also now immigrating to the region for a variety of reasons including economic opportunities associated with the mining industry and recent welfare policies .
Politics
The current Governor of Karaginsky is Dmitry Muratov. The head of the regional government is Alexander Mikheyev . Local elections are held every four years. There is also an elected mayor who heads up the municipal administration residing in the town of Gambell .
Economy
The economic structure in Karaginsky has undergone significant changes over recent decades with increased commercial fishing, logging and other industry activity. However, traditional subsistence activities such as hunting and fishing continue to play a significant role in daily life for many residents.
The unemployment rate stands at around 10% which remains relatively low when compared to the rest of Russian America.
Most residents are full-time workers who live off of their earnings, with some opting to supplement or replace income by operating a subsistence reindeer herd.
About 10% (almost 2000 people) attend schools and cultural institutions while another 2% commute outwards for employment purposes earning higher wages in other areas such as Nome however these figures have not changed significantly over first two decades following local settlement .
Government services
health care, education, social welfare and transportation are all provided by the federal government . Residents are also responsible for maintaining their own roads and other infrastructure.
The official language of Karaginsky is Russian however Chukchi is widely spoken as well providing a rich cultural heritage. The dominant religion in the region is Orthodox Christianity with a significant presence of Roman Catholics as well.
Tourism
The town of Gambell has seen a significant uptick in visitors from neighbouring Alaska over the past few years with travellers interested in exploring this remote corner of Russia. Other attractions located within close proximity to Karaginsky include the Chukchi Sea and Nunamiut National Wildlife Refuge .
Conclusion
Karaginsky Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Gulf of Finland, north of Helsinki. It is part of the municipality of Vantaa, Finland and its territory covers an area of 2.5 km². The island is named after the Russian general Aleksandr Vasilyevich Karaginsky.
FAQs
1 ) What Is The Climate Like On Karaginsky Island?
Ans: The climate is humid continental. The summer temperatures can reach up to 35 degrees Celsius while in winter they can dip below freezing point.
2) What Are Some Of The Natural Attractions On Karaginsky Island?
Ans: The most popular spot on the island for tourists is undoubtedly Pionerskaya Peak, which offers stunning views of Helsinki and surrounding islands.
Other sites of interest include Kukkulanjoki River Valley with its majestic birch trees, Valkealanjoki Falls and Hahtola Ridge which boasts high quality sand, pebbles and sandstone suitable for stonemasonry.
3) How Far Is Karaginsky Island From Finland?
Ans: The island lies only 3 km northwest of the capital Helsinki in Vantaa district. The closest airport to the island is Hämeenlinna Airport located at roughly 34 kilometers away while Suomenlinna fortress (National War Museum), also known as Carl Gustafs Wall Building sits close by on both sides of Karelian Isthmus highway which stretches over 400km between St Petersburg border crossing south east towards Tampere gateway transit in the south.
4) What Highways And Roads Lead To Karaginsky Island?
Ans: Karelian Isthmus highway is currently Finland’s most scenic road, a 335 kilometer long motorway across the border between Helsinki city center and St Petersburg. A ferry also serves that journey route but with more of its time spent at sea than on land.
There are buses as well though few in general service running only infrequently enough make passenger transportation to island difficult without prior arrangement once such terms have been agreed upon via booking sites or through special tour request forms submitted by your provider directly throughout online channels.
5) What Helps In Arranging Karaginsky Island Trip?
Ans: While the island is accessible, you should make sure to check if your chosen travel provider offers booking facilities directly through their site online shop or via an expert client consultant.
On that website, select route of interest and book accordingly either by selecting one of tour operators listed there or else by simply filling out a contact form waiting for replies from shipping agents as needed confirming terms offered to interested parties per months advance availability during busy summer season etc.
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