Komi Republic

File:Komi03.png

The Komi people first feature in the records of the Novgorod Republic in the 11th century, when traders from Novgorod traveled to the Perm region in search of furs and animal hides. The Novgorodians called these lands Zavolochye ("beyond the portage"), from the Russian word volok ("portage"), and the Komi were referred to as "the Chud beyond the portage".{{cite book |last1=Forsyth |first1=James |title=A History of the Peoples of Siberia: Russia's North Asian Colony 1581-1990 |date=8 September 1994 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-47771-0 |pages=2–5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzhq85nPrdsC |language=en}} The Novgorodians penetrated deep into these lands, and the methods used were typical of those used by later Russians in subsequent campaigns.

The Moscow principality also played an increasing role in the expansion into Komi territories, accompanied by a great increase in monastic activity in the 14th and 15th centuries under the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. The missionary Stephen of Perm, a native of Ustyug, created the first alphabet for the Komi, known by contemporary Russians as Zyrians (zyriane). He settled in Ust-Vym and became the first bishop of Perm. After Novgorod was annexed by Moscow, the Komi territories came under the influence of Moscow in the late 15th and early 16th century. The site of Syktyvkar, settled from the 16th century, was known as Sysolskoye (Сысольскoe). In 1780, under Catherine the Great, it was renamed to Ust-Sysolsk (Усть-Сысольск) and used as a penal colony.

Russians explored the Komi territory most extensively in the 19th and early 20th centuries, starting with the expedition led by Alexander von Keyserling in 1843. They found ample reservoirs of various minerals, as well as timber, to exploit. After the founding of the Soviet Union in 1922, the Komi-Zyryan Autonomous Oblast was established on August 22, 1921,{{cite book|title= Коми Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика|url= http://bse.sci-lib.com/article063246.html|publisher= Great Soviet Encyclopedia|access-date= 22 June 2020}} and on December 5, 1936, it was reorganized into the Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic with its administrative center located at the town of Syktyvkar.

Many of the "settlers" who arrived in the early 20th century were prisoners of the Gulag – sent by the hundreds of thousands to perform forced labor in the Arctic regions of the USSR. Towns sprang up around labor-camp sites, which gangs of prisoners initially carved out of the untouched tundra and taiga. The first mine, "Rudnik No. 1", became the city of Vorkuta, and other towns of the region have similar origins: "Prisoners planned and built all of the republic's major cities, not just Ukhta but also Syktyvkar, Pechora, Vorkuta, and Inta. Prisoners built Komi's railways and roads, as well as its original industrial infrastructure."

Anne Applebaum, Gulag: A History (Random House, Inc., 2004: {{ISBN|1-4000-3409-4}}), pp. 78, 82. On 21 March 1996, the Komi Republic signed a power-sharing agreement with the government of Russia, granting it autonomy.{{Cite news|url=https://jamestown.org/program/russia-signs-power-sharing-treaty-with-komi-republic/|title=Russia Signs Power-Sharing Treaty with Komi Republic|date=1996-03-21|website=Jamestown|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}} The agreement was abolished on 20 May 2002.{{Cite journal|last=Chuman|first=Mizuki|title=The Rise and Fall of Power-Sharing Treaties Between Center and Regions in Post-Soviet Russia|url=http://demokratizatsiya.pub/archives/19_2_L7H017206G216817.pdf|journal=Demokratizatsiya|page=146}}

File:Саблинский хребет.jpg]]

The republic is situated to the west of the Ural Mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain. The Polar Urals rise in the northeastern part.Google Earth Forests cover over 70% of the territory, and swamps cover approximately 15%. The Komi Republic is the second-largest federal region by area in European Russia after Arkhangelsk Oblast.

• Area: {{convert|415900|km2|sp=us}}
• Borders (all internal): Nenets (NW/N), Yamalo-Nenets (NE/E), Khanty–Mansi (E), Sverdlovsk (SE), Perm Krai (S), Kirov (S/SW), and Arkhangelsk (W).
• Highest point: Mount Narodnaya (1,894 m)
• Maximum N→S distance: {{convert|785|km|sp=us}}
• Maximum E→W distance: {{convert|695|km|sp=us}}

Major rivers include:

• Izhma River
• Mezen River
• Pechora River
• Sysola River
• Usa River
• Vashka River
• Vychegda River
• Vym River

There are many lakes in the republic. Major lakes include:

• Sindorskoye Lake
• Yam-Ozero Lake

File:Vym River.jpg

The republic's natural resources include coal, oil, natural gas, gold, diamonds, and timber.Walker, T. R., Crittenden, P. D., Dauvalter, V. A., Jones, V., Kuhry, P., Loskutova, O., ... & Pystina, T. (2009). Multiple indicators of human impacts on the environment in the Pechora Basin, north-eastern European Russia. Ecological Indicators, 9(4), 765-779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2008.09.008Walker, T. R., Habeck, J. O., Karjalainen, T. P., Virtanen, T., Solovieva, N., Jones, V., ... & Patova, E. (2006). Perceived and measured levels of environmental pollution: interdisciplinary research in the subarctic lowlands of northeast European Russia. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 35(5), 220-228. https://doi.org/10.1579/06-A-127R.1 Native reindeer are in abundance and have been intentionally bred for human usage by the indigenous population.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

Around 32,800 km² of mostly boreal forest (as well as some alpine tundra and meadows) in the Republic's Northern Ural Mountains have been recognized in 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Virgin Komi Forests. It is the first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in Russia and the largest expanse of virgin forests in Europe. The site includes two pre-existing protected areas: Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve (created in 1930) and Yugyd Va National Park (created in 1994).

Winters in the republic are long and cold, and the summers, while short, are quite warm.

• Average January temperature: {{convert|−17|°C|°F}} (southern parts) to {{convert|−20|°C|°F}} (northern parts)
• Average July temperature: {{convert|11|°C|°F}} (northern parts) to {{convert|15|°C|°F}} (southern parts)
• Lowest recorded temperature: {{convert|-58.1|°C|°F}} (village of Ust-Shchuger)
• Average annual precipitation: {{convert|625|mm|in|abbr=on}}

{{Main|Manpupuner rock formations}}

Deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, the Komi Republic is home to Manpupuner (Man-Pupu-Nyer), a mysterious site in the northern Ural Mountains, in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District, made out of seven rock towers bursting out of the flat plateau known as the "7 Strong Men". Manpupuner is a very popular attraction in Russia, but not on an international level. Information regarding its origin is scarce. However, it is known that their height and abnormal shapes make the top of these rock giants inaccessible even to experienced rock-climbers.

{{Main|Administrative divisions of the Komi Republic}}

Komi Republic is divided into 12 raions or districts.

{{Clear}}

File:Administrative Map of Komi numbered.svg

File:Komi peoples.jpg]]

Population: {{ru-census|p2021=737,853|p2010=901,189|p2002=1,018,674|p1989=1,261,024}}{{Historical populations|1897|171000|1926|207314|1939|318969|1959|815799|1970|964802|1979|1118121|1989|1261024|2002|1018674|2010|901189|2021|737853|type=|footnote=Source: Census data}}

{{Largest cities

| country = the Komi Republic

| stat_ref = 2010 Russian Census

| list_by_pop =

| div_name =

| div_link = Administrative divisions of the Komi Republic{{!}}Administrative Division

| city_1 = Syktyvkar

| div_1 = Syktyvkar{{!}}City of republic significance of Syktyvkar

| pop_1 = 235,006

| img_1 =

| city_2 = Ukhta

| div_2 = Ukhta{{!}}Town of republic significance of Ukhta

| pop_2 = 99,591

| img_2 = ViewFromVetlosyan.jpg

| city_3 = Vorkuta

| div_3 = Vorkuta{{!}}Town of republic significance of Vorkuta

| pop_3 = 70,548

| img_3 = Ул. Гагарина - panoramio (4).jpg

| city_4 = Pechora

| div_4 = Pechora{{!}}Town of republic significance of Pechora

| pop_4 = 43,105

| img_4 = Лето... - panoramio (1).jpg

| city_5 = Usinsk

| div_5 = Usinsk{{!}}Town of republic significance of Usinsk

| pop_5 = 40,827

| city_6 = Inta

| div_6 = Inta{{!}}Town of republic significance of Inta

| pop_6 = 32,080

| city_7 = Sosnogorsk

| div_7 = Sosnogorsk{{!}}Town of republic significance of Sosnogorsk

| pop_7 = 27,757

| city_8 = Yemva

| div_8 = Knyazhpogostsky District

| pop_8 = 14,570

| city_9 = Vuktyl

| div_9 = Vuktyl{{!}}Town of republic significance of Vuktyl

| pop_9 = 12,356

| city_10 = Mikun

| div_10 = Ust-Vymsky District

| pop_10 = 10,730

}}

:Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120103081658/http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/Cbsd/DBInet.cgi#1 Russian Federal State Statistics Service]

Source:{{cite web|url=http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/munst/munst87/DBInet.cgi|title=База данных показателей муниципальных образований|website=www.gks.ru|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409023956/http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/munst/munst87/DBInet.cgi|archive-date=April 9, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

According to the 2010 Census, ethnic Russians make up 65.1% of the republic's population, while the ethnic Komi make up 23.7%. Other groups include Ukrainians (4.2%), Tatars (1.3%), Belarusians (1%), Ethnic Germans (0.6%), Chuvash (0.6%), Azeris (0.6%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.

{{Bar box

|title=Religion in Komi Republic as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)[http://sreda.org/en/arena "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922230056/http://sreda.org/en/arena |date=September 22, 2015 }}. Sreda, 2012.[http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps]. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg Archived].

|float=right

|bars=

{{Bar percent|Russian Orthodoxy|DarkOrchid|30.2}}

{{Bar percent|Other Orthodox|MediumOrchid|0.6}}

{{Bar percent|Old Believers|Purple|0.6}}

{{Bar percent|Other Christians|DeepSkyBlue|4.9}}

{{Bar percent|Islam|Green|0.9}}

{{Bar percent|Rodnovery and other native faiths|Red|0.9}}

{{Bar percent|Spiritual but not religious|DarkSlateGray|41}}

{{Bar percent|Atheism and irreligion|Black|14.5}}

{{Bar percent|Other and undeclared|Gray|6.4}}

}}

According to a 2012 survey, 30.2% of the population of Komi adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 4% are unaffiliated generic Christians, 1% are Rodnovers or Komi native religious believers, 1% are Muslims, 1% are Orthodox Christians not belonging to churches or members of non-Russian Orthodox churches, 1% are Old Believers, and 0.4% are members of the Catholic Church. In addition, 41% of the population declared to be "spiritual but not religious", 14% is atheist, and 6.4% follows other religions or failed to answer the question.

{{clear}}

There are over 450 secondary schools in the republic (with ~180,000 students). The most important higher education facilities include Komi Republican Academy of State Service and Administration, Syktyvkar State University and Ukhta State Technical University.

The head of government in the Komi Republic is the Head of the Republic. As of 2024, the current Head is Rostislav Goldshteyn.

The State Council is the legislature.

The Komi Republic's major industries include oil processing, timber, woodworking, paper, natural gas and electric power industries. Major industrial centers are Syktyvkar, Inta, Pechora, Sosnogorsk, Ukhta, and Vorkuta.

Komigaz conducts natural gas transportation and distribution. The Yaregskoye oil field is developed by Lukoil.{{cite web|url=http://www.lukoil.com/materials/doc/AGSM_2012/GO%202011%20ENG.pdf|title=Geology and field development - Financial economics of the Arman oil field in Kazakhstan|date=2011|publisher=Lukoil|access-date=2013-05-25|archive-date=October 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028035332/http://www.lukoil.com/materials/doc/AGSM_2012/GO%202011%20ENG.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The petroleum, wood and paper industries made up 94.5% of the Republic’s exports in 2021.

Railroad transportation is very well developed. The most important railroad line is Kotlas–Vorkuta–Salekhard, which is used to ship most goods in and out of the republic. The rivers Vychegda and Pechora are navigable. There are airports in Syktyvkar, Ukhta, and Vorkuta.

In 1997, total railroad trackage was 1,708 km, automobile roads 4,677 km.

Stroitel plays again in the Russian Bandy Super League in the 2017–18 season, after several years in Russian Bandy Supreme League, the second highest division. In 2015 a bandy federation for the republic was founded.{{cite web|url=http://www.rusbandy.ru/news/11420/|title=Ренессанс в Коми|trans-title=Renaissance in the Komi Republic|website=rusbandy.ru|date=28 November 2017}} In 2016 the authorities presented a five-year plan to develop bandy in the republic.{{cite news |url=http://www.sportrk.ru/news/6535|url-status=usurped|title=В Коми разработана Стратегия развития хоккея с мячом на "пятилетку"|trans-title=Komi has developed a five-year plan for bandy development|website=sportrk.ru|date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415052458/http://www.sportrk.ru/news/6535/|archive-date=15 April 2017}} There was an application in place to host the 2021 Bandy World Championship,{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.ru/hockey/Respublika_Komi_podala_zayavku_na_provedenie_CHM-2021_po_hokkeyu_s_myachom/article340977/|title=Республика Коми подала заявку на проведение ЧМ-2021 по хоккею с мячом|trans-title=Komi Republic bids to host the 2021 Bandy World Championship|website=sport.ru|date=4 February 2017 }} but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then cancelled after many participants pulled out after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web | url=https://bandy-vm.se/herrarnas-bandy-vm-i-ryssland-stalls-in-ryssarna-stangs-av-fran-masterskap-i-sverige/ | title=Herrarnas bandy-VM i Ryssland ställs in - ryssarna stängs av från mästerskap i Sverige | date=March 2022 }}

• Komi-Permyak Okrug
• Komi mythology
• Udoria
• Extreme points of Europe
• Valery Leontiev
• List of rural localities in the Komi Republic

{{Reflist}}

• {{RussiaBasicLawRef|ko}}
• {{Cite Russian law

|ru_entity=Государственный Совет Республики Коми

|ru_type=Закон

|ru_number=XII-20/5

|ru_date=6 июня 1994 г.

|ru_title=О государственном гимне Республики Коми

|ru_effective_date=11 июня 1994 г. (за исключением отдельных положений)

|ru_published_in="Красное Знамя", No.109

|ru_published_date=11 июня 1994 г

|ru_amendment_type=Закона

|ru_amendment_number=44-РЗ

|ru_amendment_date=4 июля 2006 г

|ru_amendment_title=О внесении изменений и дополнения в Закон Республики Коми "О Государственном гимне Республики Коми"pp

|en_entity=State Council of the Komi Republic

|en_type=Law

|en_number=XII-20/5

|en_date=June 6, 1994

|en_title=On the State Anthem of the Komi Republic

|en_effective_date=June 11, 1994 (with the exception of certain clauses)

|en_amendment_type=Law

|en_amendment_number=44-RZ

|en_amendment_date=July 4, 2006

|en_amendment_title=On Amending and Supplementing the Law of the Komi Republic "On the State Anthem of the Komi Republic"

}}

• "Коми АССР. Административно-территориальное деление на 1 июля 1968 г." Коми книжное издательство. Сыктывкар, 1968. (Komi ASSR. Administrative-Territorial Structure as of July 1, 1968)

• Pearson, M., Ojanen, P., Havimo, M., Kuuluvainen, T. & Vasander, H. (eds.) 2007. On the European Edge: Journey through Komi Nature and Culture. University of Helsinki Department of Forest Ecology Publications 36. 216 pp. {{ISBN|978-952-10-3898-3}}.
• Strogoff, M., Brochet, P. & Auzias, D. 2005. Guidebook Komi Republic. Avant-Garde Publishers, Moscow. 176 pp. {{ISBN|5-86394-255-X}}.

{{Wikivoyage|Komi}}

{{Commons category|Komi}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.rkomi.ru Official site of the Republic of Komi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930145124/http://www.rkomi.ru/ |date=September 30, 2019 }}
• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.gazeta-komi.ru All news of the Republic of Komi]
• {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20180330203839/http://syktyvkar.ws/ Website of Syktyvkar City - The Capital of the Republic of Komi]
• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.vorcuta.ru Official website of the Vorkuta City]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041010071157/http://www.syktsu.ru/english/ Official site of the Syktyvkar State University)]
• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.syktsu.ru Official site of the Syktyvkar State University)]
• {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20040922201445/http://www.uii.sever.ru/ Official site of the Ukhta State Technical University]
• {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181914/http://swkillaz.com/ Snowboarding in Komi Republic]
• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.tomovl.ru/chronograph.htm History Komi]
• [http://geocompendium.grid.unep.ch/reference_scheme/final_version/GEO/Geo-2-231.htm Historic-demographic note on the Nenets of the Komi Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306050337/http://geocompendium.grid.unep.ch/reference_scheme/final_version/GEO/Geo-2-231.htm |date=March 6, 2012 }}
• [http://www.nhpfund.org/nominations/komi.html Virgin Komi Forests] at [http://www.nhpfund.org/ Natural Heritage Protection Fund]

{{div col end}}

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Category:States and territories established in 1936

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