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Russian Far East

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The Russian Far East is a massive region located in North Asia. It represents the easternmost portion of both Russia and the Asian continent. Geographically, the area spans the vast distance between Lake Baikal and the Pacific Ocean. It is defined by the boundaries of the Far Eastern Federal District. This district includes several specific areas like Amur Oblast and the Sakha Republic. It also contains the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Kamchatka Oblast.

Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300
Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300

This region occupies a unique place in global geography. It shares land borders with Mongolia, China, and North Korea to the south. To the northeast, it sits near the United States along the Bering Strait. To the southeast, it has maritime boundaries with Japan. While many foreign sources group this area with Siberia, Russian history treats it separately. In the Soviet era, it was known as the Soviet Far East. Today, the term "Far East" is used to describe the federal district. This territory covers more than one-third of Russia's total land area.

The history of the region involves many shifts in control and borders. Russian explorers first reached the Pacific coast in 1647 at Okhotsk. During the 19th century, the Russian Empire consolidated its power here. This included the annexation of parts of Chinese Manchuria between 1858 and 1860.

Vladivostok in the 1900s 05
Vladivostok in the 1900s 05

In the early 1900s, Russia and Japan fought a major war. Russia wanted a warm-water port for its navy to use all year. Vladivostok was a Pacific seaport, but it only worked during summer. After the war ended in 1905, Japan received the southern half of Sakhalin island.

Vladivostok in the 1900s 05
Vladivostok in the 1900s 05

During the Soviet era, the region experienced significant social changes. Between 1937 and 1939, the Soviet Union deported over 200,000 Koreans to Central Asia. These people were moved to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan due to fears of spying. Many died during the journey in cattle trains due to cold or hunger. The Soviet government also used Gulag labor camps to develop remote northern locations. After Joseph Stalin died in 1953, the use of forced labor decreased. It was replaced by volunteer workers who received relatively high wages.

Demographics in the Russian Far East show a very unique pattern. According to the 2021 Census, the population was 7.98 million people. Most of these people live in the southern parts of the region. Because the land is so large, it is very sparsely populated. There is slightly less than one person for every square kilometer.

Population of the Russian Far East, 1990-2015
Population of the Russian Far East, 1990-2015

The population has been dropping rapidly since the Soviet Union dissolved. It fell by 14% in the last fifteen years. Most residents are ethnic Russians or Ukrainians. However, many traditional groups like the Sakha and Chukchi have lived here for a long time.

Moving across such a vast area requires specialized transportation. For a long time, there were no domestic highways connecting the region to Russia. The M58 highway was not completed until 2010.

Метеор-236 на Лене
Метеор-236 на Лене

Railways are much more developed in this part of the world. The Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal–Amur Mainline provide vital links to Siberia. In very remote areas, aviation is the main way to reach civilization. Maritime transport is also essential for shipping oil, gas, and ores along the coasts.

Interestingly, the region has a unique driving culture. Most cars in the area are right-hand drive. Specifically, 73% of cars in the region use right-hand drive. However, drivers still stay on the right-hand side of the road.

Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300
Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300

This is quite different from the rest of Russia. The landscape also features dramatic natural features like volcanoes. For example, the Koryaksky volcano is a notable landmark in the area.

View from Radionuclide Station RN60 - Flickr - The Official CTBTO Photostream
View from Radionuclide Station RN60 - Flickr - The Official CTBTO Photostream

The wildlife is also diverse, including elk, wild boar, and sika deer.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:View from Radionuclide Station RN60 - Flickr - The Official CTBTO Photostream.jpg
View from Radionuclide Station RN60 -...
File:Vladivostok in the 1900s 05.jpg
Vladivostok in the 1900s 05.jpg
File:RIAN archive 370051 Students celebrating St.Tatyana's Day, or Russian Students Day.jpg
RIAN archive 370051 Students celebrating...
File:Population of the Russian Far East, 1990-2015.png
Population of the Russian Far East, 1990-2015.png
File:Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300.jpg
Vladivostok. Zolotoy Rog Bay DSC01337 2300.jpg
File:Метеор-236 на Лене.JPG
Метеор-236 на Лене.JPG
File:Набережная стадиона им Ленина Хабаровск фото1.JPG
Набережная стадиона им Ленина Хабаровск фото1.JPG
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