Lavrentia
Chukotsky Rayon was formed in 1927, and today is home to 5200 residents living on a territory of 30,700 square kilometers (population density 0.2 per square kilometer). Lavrentiya, with a population of 1328, is the administrative centre.
Indigenous people, mostly Chukchi and Yup'ik, comprises 82 percent of the total population. Chukotsky Rayon agricultural region of the okrug with absolute predominance of native people living in villages.
Lavrentia is the only regional center of the okrug (district) having the status of the village according to social and demographical features. It is closer to traditional civilization, not to industrial one.
The village of Lavrentia grew from cultural base situated on the coast of the cognominal bay. There are some enterprises of local significance, airport, regional hospital and other services in Lavrentia. The ships unloading is usually being accomplished by raid method, the bay is not suitable for sea port, however theoretically Lavrentia has chance to become centre of Russia-USA border interrelations like Providenia. The distance between Lavrentia and US settlements Nome and Kotzebue is much shorter than the distance between these settlements and Providenia. The economy of the region is presented by agricultural enterprises. Native art crafts are developed. There is a bone carving workshop in Lavrentia.
Industry lacks completely. The regional development opportunities are connected with reindeer breeding, fishing, and sea mammals hunting.
In the years 2004-2005 positive trends in social and economic life of the region, namely significant goods turnover increase, provided services amount enlargement, growth of wages in all spheres of economy, pensions growth, stabilization of demographic situation, and population life quality raise stayed on the same level as in the previous 3 years.
During the last 5 years we could observe positive trends in natural population increase. For instance, in the year 2005 it was 3.5 times more than in the year 2001. The amount of children born during the last year was 15% more than in the year 2001.
As for housing space per capita indicator, in the year 2005 it was 2.4 square meters. Since the year 2003 till February, 2006 116 houses (total square equals 28906 square meters) including 105 one-flat houses (total square equals 7488 square meters) were built.
During last five years almost in all villages of the region the reconstruction of boiler-houses and diesel electrical stations has been done.
In the year 2005 the capital repair of social sphere objects, regional center dock, 6 block houses in Lavrentiya and Neshkan started on expense of the district funds.
Life-level of people is characterized by average month wages growth and citizens incomes increase. In the year 2004 the average month wage was 9600 rubles, in the year 2005 it increased 1l.25 times.
Stable agricultural enterprises support continues. Every year, according to regional grant program, reindeer breeders, sea mammals hunters, and other agricultural workers gain financial support. According to statistics, in the year 2004 agro industrial complex production is evaluated in 5.0 mil. rubles, in the year 2005 6.8 mil. rubles. The reindeer amount increase during the year 2005 was 1.21 times more than during the year previous year.
The Okrug (Disctict) Administration made a decision to use geothermal springs of the Chukotsky Region for national village of Lorino heating. Power of a spring provides possibility to meet citizens need in heating which means 2.5 thousand calories in hour. The project on geothermal springs usage is worked out by Island company Kamhnit LTD.
Source: courtesy of http://www.chukotka.org
