7 interesting facts about the Far North

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Not all cold territories of Russia are geographically located in the north. However, due to the peculiarities of the landscape, many regions have such a harsh climate that they are also referred to as the Far North.

1. The Far North occupies 2/3 of the territory of Russia

The Far North concept appeared in the Soviet Union in the 1930s to denote remote areas with difficult living conditions. Most of them are located on permafrost, with barren soils and harsh winters. But the main criterion is inaccessibility, lack of year-round communication with other areas. As the locals sometimes joke, there are no roads - only directions.

Geographically, such areas are considered the Arctic and the Far East. However, at the legislative level, much more territories are attributed to the Far North, and they are located not only in the north: this also includes part of the Urals and Southern Siberia, namely, some regions of Tuva and Altai.

In addition, there are areas that are equated to the territories of the Far North. It turns out that together with them, the Far North occupies about 70% of the entire country!

2. Very few people in the Far North

Despite such a vast territory, less than 12 million Russians live in the Far North, that is, only 7% of the country's population. It is interesting that among the inhabitants of the Far North there are a lot of indigenous peoples. These are Pomors, Yakuts, Tuvans and many others.

They often lead the same traditional way of life as they did hundreds of years ago. But the cities of the Far North are slowly but surely emptying out: in the Soviet years people came here for a “long ruble”, because salaries for specialists were 5-6 times higher than in central Russia. Many cities and towns were built next to mineral deposits that fell into decay after the collapse of the USSR.

Residents move to warmer regions and sell their apartments. So, in Vorkuta, a two-room renovated apartment will cost about 200 thousand rubles - as one square meter of housing on the outskirts of Moscow. In villages near Vorkuta, prices start at 30 thousand rubles, together with furniture. Of course, there are exceptions: for example, the population of Salekhard on Yamal is increasing from year to year, and many local residents are not going to leave anywhere.

3. The state provides "northern delivery"

The designation of the territories of the Far North was necessary in order to solve the problems with the supply of necessary things. Every year before the winter season, the state organizes the so-called "northern delivery" - it delivers fuel, medicines, food and other goods to such areas, most often by air or water.

Of course, there are shops in the towns and villages of these areas, but for individuals, delivery can be very expensive, which also affects the price for buyers.

4. It is expensive in the Far North

It is difficult to farm because of the peculiarities of the soil, the weather conditions do not always allow bringing from other regions - and it turns out that the cheapest here are apartments. Cheese here costs twice as much as in central Russia, eggs three times, fruits and vegetables 4-5 times. True, in the Far North, different types of game and fish are sold relatively inexpensively, which are rarely found on the "mainland".

5. Bright houses against depression

In many cities located in the High North, it is a tradition to paint apartment buildings in bright colors. Where there is a lack of sun and vegetation, orange, yellow and pink buildings help to cheer up. How can you be sad in such a riot of colors? Just look at these magnificent graffiti in Salekhard!

6. In the Far North, long vacations and earlier retirement

In Soviet times, benefits for people working in the Far North were established in 1932 and revised several times. Today, people who work here in the Far North receive an additional 24 days of vacation (to the standard 28 days a year), and in areas equated to the Far North - 16. Once every two years, the cost of the vacation is paid by the company, and the travel time to the place of vacation is not counted.

If a person has worked for more than 15 years in the Far North, then he has the right to retire 5 years earlier than an ordinary Russian (55 years for women and 60 for men). In territories equated to the Far North, you need to have 20 years of work experience to get such a right.

7. Residents of the Far North are accustomed to harsh conditions

People who have spent their entire lives in southern latitudes will likely find it very difficult to get used to the cold, windy winters and lack of sun. But for the indigenous people of the Far North, such conditions will not cause much stress. Several years ago, scientists from Yakutia found that the body of the northern indigenous peoples rather quickly adapts to the polar night and the harsh climate.