Krasnokamensk, Zabaykalsky Krai

For other places with the same name, see Krasnokamensk (urban locality).
Krasnokamensk (English)
Краснокаменск (Russian)
-  Town[1]  -


A street in Krasnokamensk


Location of Zabaykalsky Krai in Russia
Krasnokamensk
Location of Krasnokamensk in Zabaykalsky Krai
Coordinates: 50°06′N 118°02′E / 50.100°N 118.033°E / 50.100; 118.033Coordinates: 50°06′N 118°02′E / 50.100°N 118.033°E / 50.100; 118.033
Coat of arms
Flag
Administrative status (as of January 2014)
Country Russia
Federal subject Zabaykalsky Krai[1]
Administrative district Krasnokamensky District[1]
Administrative center of Krasnokamensky District[1]
Municipal status (as of December 2012)
Municipal district Krasnokamensky Municipal District[2]
Urban settlement Krasnokamensk Urban Settlement[2]
Administrative center of Krasnokamensky Municipal District,[3] Krasnokamensk Urban Settlement[4]
Statistics
Population (2010 Census) 55,666 inhabitants[5]
- Rank in 2010 295th
Population (January 2014 est.) 54,608 inhabitants[1]
Time zone YAKT (UTC+09:00)[6]
Founded 1968
Town status since 1969
Postal code(s)[7] 674670, 674673, 674674, 674676, 674677, 674684
Dialing code(s) +7 30245
Official website
Krasnokamensk on Wikimedia Commons

Krasnokamensk (Russian: Краснокаменск; IPA: [krəsnɐˈkamʲɪnsk]) is a town and the administrative center of Krasnokamensky District in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia, located near the Sino-Russian border, 535 kilometers (332 mi) southeast of Chita, the administrative center of the krai. It is best known as the site for Russia's largest uranium mine. Population: 55,666(2010 Census);[5] 55,920(2002 Census);[8] 66,872(1989 Census).[9]

Etymology

The name translates roughly as town on red stone, with the reference to the color red reflecting both the actual rock formations in the area, as well as its political symbolism in the Soviet era.

History

It was founded in 1968, in conjunction with the commencement of mining of the Streltsovskoye uranium deposits, which had been discovered near the present site of the city in 1963. The settlement grew quickly and was granted town status in 1969.

From October 2005 until December 2006, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was jailed in Krasnokamensk on his conviction for tax evasion and fraud.[10]

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Krasnokamensk serves as the administrative center of Krasnokamensky District, to which it is directly subordinated.[1] As a municipal division, the town of Krasnokamensk, together with one rural locality (the settlement of Oktyabrsky), is incorporated within Krasnokamensky Municipal District as Krasnokamensk Urban Settlement.[2]

Economy

The town is best known for its uranium mine - Priargunsky mine - the largest in Russia. The mine produces around 90% of Russia's total output, and almost 10% of world production. In addition to uranium, molybdenum, manganese, and brown coal are also mined in the town's vicinity, with associated chemical plants producing sulfuric acid and lubricants.

Transportation

A branch railway has connected the town to Russia's rail network since 1972. Krasnokamensk is served by the Krasnokamensk Airport.

Pollution

According to the Blacksmith Institute, Krasnokamensk has generated fifty to seventy-five million tons of tailings, making it the largest waste stream at a uranium production site in the world. A Baley community survey documents hundreds of homes with radiation levels as much as 10-20 times the permissible levels. About 500-1000 homes or more suffer from radiation exposures far above international standards.[11]

In recent years, the dangerously high levels of radioactivity led to evacuation and resettlement of residents living near the tailing dumps.

Sister city

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and the Inhabited Localities of Zabaykalsky Krai
  2. 1 2 3 Law #317-ZZK
  3. Law #316-ZZK
  4. Федеральная служба государственной статистики. Федеральное агентство по технологическому регулированию и метрологии. №ОК 033-2013 1 января 2014 г. «Общероссийский классификатор территорий муниципальных образований. Код 76 621 101». (Federal State Statistics Service. Federal Agency on Technological Regulation and Metrology. #OK 033-2013 January 1, 2014 Russian Classification of Territories of Municipal Formations. Code 76 621 101. ).
  5. 1 2 Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  6. Правительство Российской Федерации. Федеральный закон №107-ФЗ от 3 июня 2011 г. «Об исчислении времени», в ред. Федерального закона №248-ФЗ от 05 апреля 2016 г. «О внесении изменений в Федеральный закон "Об исчислении времени"». Вступил в силу по истечении шестидесяти дней после дня официального опубликования (6 августа 2011 г.). Опубликован: "Российская газета", №120, 6 июня 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Federal Law #107-FZ of June 31, 2011 On Calculating Time, as amended by the Federal Law #248-FZ of April 05, 2016 On Amending Federal Law "On Calculating Time". Effective as of after sixty days following the day of the official publication.).
  7. Почта России. Информационно-вычислительный центр ОАСУ РПО. (Russian Post). Поиск объектов почтовой связи (Postal Objects Search) (Russian)
  8. Russian Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек" [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  9. Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров" [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  10. Where is Khodorkovsky? - Report from the Westdeutschen Rundfunk (German)
  11. http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org Blacksmith Institute Website

Sources

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