Chukchi Peninsula facts for kids

The Chukchi Peninsula is a large piece of land that sticks out into the ocean. It is also called the Chukotka Peninsula. This peninsula is the easternmost part of Asia, which is a huge continent. You can find it in Russia, way up north.

The very tip of the peninsula is called Cape Dezhnev. It's close to a village named Uelen. Imagine a map: to the north of the peninsula is the Chukchi Sea. To the south, you'll find the Bering Sea. And to the east is the Bering Strait. This strait is a narrow stretch of water.

What's really cool is how close the Chukchi Peninsula is to Alaska in North America. At its closest point, it's only about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Seward Peninsula in Alaska. This is the shortest distance between the land of Asia and North America! The entire peninsula is part of a region in Russia called the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Panorama of the mountains in Chukotka, Russia, as seen from Gambell, Alaska.

Who Lives on the Chukchi Peninsula?

The Chukchi Peninsula has been home to indigenous peoples of Siberia for a very long time. These are the native tribes who have lived there for centuries. Some Russian settlers also live there today.

What Happens on the Peninsula?

The Chukchi Peninsula is an important area for many reasons. It lies along the Northern Sea Route, which is a shipping path across the Arctic Ocean. This route is also known as the Northeast Passage.

People on the peninsula work in different industries:

• Mining: They dig for valuable metals like tin, lead, zinc, and gold. They also mine for coal.
• Hunting and Trapping: People hunt animals and set traps for furs.
• Reindeer Raising: Many people raise reindeer, which are important for food, clothing, and transportation.
• Fishing: Fishing is also a big part of life there, with lots of fish in the surrounding seas.

Islands Near the Peninsula

In the Bering Strait, between the Chukchi Peninsula and Alaska, there are two small islands called the Diomede Islands.

• The western island is Big Diomede. It belongs to Russia.
• The eastern island is Little Diomede Island. It belongs to Alaska, USA.

Another much larger island, St. Lawrence Island, is also part of Alaska. It is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of the southernmost tip of the Chukchi Peninsula.

Learn More

• In Spanish: Península de Chukotka para niños