ИСТИНА

Chukotka is remote Arctic region, which occupies northeastern tip of Eurasia. This area was discovered by Russians in XVII century. The first settlement (fortified settlement – “ostrog”) called Anadyrsk, was established in 1649. Intensive industrial development, aimed to mining industry, was during Soviet times in 1930-1980. Many settlements, populated firstly by Gulag prisoners, later by independent contractors, were established near minefields. This period is characterized by intensive infrastructure development and rapid population growth due to migrants. New cities and settlements sprung up across Western Chukotka, while in the east part of the region there was different situation. Due to the absence of mineral deposits of commercial scales, mining industry was not developed here. Moreover, since numerous settlements of indigenous peoples were confined to sea coast and some of them were located very close to ideological foe (USA), most of them were relocated to several base settlements. After Soviet Union collapse the economy of Chukotka was dramatically shrinking. The most developed areas have experienced the most significant damage. Many mining settlements were abandoned and closed. Since 1989 to 2002 regional population has decreased from almost 164,000 people to 54,000 (www.gks.ru). The highest migration loss rates were for non-indigenous peoples (mainly Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, etc.). Therefore almost all settlements of Eastern Chukotka, populated mainly by indigenous peoples (Chukchi, Yupik, Evens, etc.) survived crisis. New period in Chukotka economic development was in 2001-2008, when industrial magnate roman Abramovich was elected as governor. This period was characterized by restoration of mining industry, intensive housebuilding and increasing of living standards. Anadyr is a capital of Chukotka Autonomous District and has population of 15,468 people, permanently growing since 2006 (www.gks.ru). Although it was established on slope deposits, underlain by rock, there are many problems associated with exogenous processes activity and permafrost conditions changes. Anadyr is approximately 125 years old; most of its area has technogenically changed conditions and thus, different soil properties. Taliks, remained under buried stream courses, demolished boiler stations and concrete product plants, affect stability of existing buildings and infrastructure. Permafrost temperature increasing caused by climate change, has also negative effect on pile foundations through decreasing its bearing capacity. The current measures on permafrost conditions management and maintenance of waterworks allows stability of engineering objects and town sustainable development. The situation in Western Chukotka was not simple-directed. On the one hand, new projects in the resource sector (gold mining) from the end of 2000s has breathed new life into the economic center of the Chukotka and helped to curb the outflow of population. On the other, for example, Bilibino (the second largest city in Chukotka) experiences a recession due to impending decommissioning of the nuclear power plant (the northernmost in the world.). As a result, the economic center of the Chaun-Bilibino industrial hub shifted to the North in Pevek – sea port on the Northern sea route and key staging post for the gold mining industry. This is the place, where Russia's first floating nuclear power plant will be launched in 2019. Construction of appropriate infrastructure leads to a revival in the urban economy and appearance of enthusiasm of local residents. Hovewer, post-Soviet chaos didn’t pass unnoticed for Pevek; the city has been faced with massive problems in the housing sector, which with combination with climate warming led to large-scale disaster in the mid-2010s. The city was left without a source of drinking and technical water due to the destruction of the dam on the reservoir. The multi-year thawing of the soil under the dam and the thawing of ground ice (its content in the soil was 25-30%) led to thaw settlement of dam foundation, its deformation and the formation of cracks on the dam crest. The reservoir had lost the water as a result of permeability increase of abutment wall. The desalination plant was delivered to the city by sea to temporary response to the problem, but water quality was extremely low. Dam reconstruction had been completed only by September 2017 and stable quality water supply was resumed. The settlements of Eastern Chukotka are confined to sea coast and characterized by predominance of indigenous population. There is no large manufactures or mining facilities, but climate changes have negative effect on traditional environmental management and housings. Shrinking sea ice extent and increasing of duration of open water period causes accelerated coastal erosion, changing of marine mammal migration routes and worsening of sea hunting conditions. Active layer thickening, revealed through monitoring measurements in 2000-2017, facilitates thaw slumps and ravines development. Local long-term residents testify about tundra bushing, southern species invasion, shifting of seasonal periodicity. Despite all mentioned challenges, there is no any effective strategy on adaptation to climate and environmental changes and mitigation its consequences. Government, scientists, local communities and the other stakeholders need to combine efforts and develop roadmap to sustainable development, considering regional specific features.