Magadan Oblast facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magadan Oblast Магаданская область (Russian)
—  Oblast  —
Flag Coat of arms
Political status
Country	Russia
Federal district	Far Eastern
Economic region	Far Eastern
Established	December 3, 1953
Administrative center	Magadan
Government (as of June 2014)
• Governor	Sergey Nosov
• Legislature	Oblast Duma
Statistics
Area (as of the 2002 Census)
• Total	462,464 km2 (178,558 sq mi)
Area rank	11th
Population (January 2014 est.)
• Total	150,312
Time zone(s)	MAGT (UTC+12:00)
ISO 3166-2	RU-MAG
License plates	49
Official languages	Russian
Official website: http://www.magadan.ru/

Magadan Oblast is a region in Russia. It is located in the Russian Far East and is part of the Far Eastern Federal District. Magadan Oblast has a population of about 136,085 people (from the 2021 Census). This makes it one of the least populated regions in Russia.

Magadan is the largest city and the capital of Magadan Oblast. Most of the people in the region live in this city. The areas along the coast have a slightly milder climate than inland. However, both areas are very cold for their location.

Magadan Oblast shares borders with Chukotka Autonomous Okrug to the north. It borders Kamchatka Krai to the east and Khabarovsk Krai to the south. To the west, it borders the Sakha Republic. The main way people make a living here is through mining. They especially mine for gold, silver, and other important metals.

History of Magadan Oblast

Magadan Oblast was created on December 3, 1953. Before that, it was known as Kolyma. In the 1930s and 1940s, there were many valuable resources found here. These included gold, silver, tin, and tungsten. Because of these resources, mining and road building grew a lot.

After 1953, paid workers took over most of the jobs. Many people moved to the region because the economy was growing fast. They were especially interested in the gold mining jobs.

The native people of the region include the Evens, Koryaks, and Chukchis. They traditionally lived by fishing along the Sea of Okhotsk coast. Others herded reindeer in the Kolyma River valley. The growth of industries made life harder for them. Many lost their traditional ways of making money and became unemployed.

Chukotka Autonomous Okrug used to be part of Magadan Oblast. But in 1991, it became its own separate region.

Geography and Landscape

Jack London Lake

Burkhalinsky Pass near Susuman

Gertner Bay in Magadan

Magadan Oblast is mostly made up of mountains, tundra, and taiga forests. Tundra is a cold, treeless area. Taiga is a forest of evergreen trees. The southern part of the region has some forests with birch, willow, and larch trees.

Inland, there are mountain ranges like the Kolyma Mountains. There is also the Chersky Range. The highest point in Magadan Oblast is an unnamed peak in the Okhandya Range. It is 2,337 meters (7,667 feet) high.

Along the coast, there are several peninsulas. Some of the main ones are the Taygonos Peninsula and the Koni Peninsula. There are also islands like Telan Island and the Yam Islands.

Wildlife in Magadan Oblast

The animals found in the southern part of the region include snow sheep, reindeer, moose, and brown bears. Many different kinds of birds live here too, like ducks and seabirds. The coastal waters of the Sea of Okhotsk are full of life. You can find large animals like bowhead whales. These waters are also great for fishing. People catch pollock, herring, cod, and salmon. They also catch crabs and shellfish.

Economy and Industries

The economy of Magadan Oblast mainly focuses on mining. They mine for gold, silver, and other non-ferrous metals. The city of Magadan is the only large industrial center. Farming is not very developed in the region. In April 2014, the Russian government decided to extend a special economic zone in Magadan Oblast. This zone helps businesses by offering special benefits until December 31, 2025.

Mining for Resources

Magadan Oblast is known as one of the richest mining areas in the world. Gold is the most important resource found here. Silver and tin are also mined. There are almost 2,000 places where gold can be found in riverbeds. There are also 100 gold ore deposits and 48 silver ore deposits.

Recently, there has been interest in mining coal in the region. In the future, there might also be good chances to find and use oil and natural gas.

Fishing Industry

The fishing industry is the only food sector in the region. It is the second most important industry after mining. The part of the Sea of Okhotsk that borders Magadan Oblast is very productive. It is one of the best fishing areas in the world. Magadan Oblast has over 15,900 kilometers (9,880 miles) of coastline. It also has 29,016 kilometers (18,030 miles) of rivers important for fishing.

Fishing companies mostly operate in Russia's economic zone. They fish in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Most of the fish are caught near the coast. Fishing companies are mainly in Magadan, Ola, and Evensk. The most important fish caught are pollock, herring, cod, and various kinds of salmon. They also catch crabs, squid, and shrimp.

Farming and Agriculture

Because of the very cold climate, farming is the least developed part of Magadan Region's economy. As a result, half of all food products must be brought in from other places. The farming sector includes companies that produce food, processing industries, and farms. Special areas of farming include reindeer herding and fur farming. Traditional activities like hunting, fishing, and fur trapping are also important.

Current Economic Situation

Even though Magadan Oblast has many natural resources, its economy has not grown as much as expected. The harsh climate and poor infrastructure are part of the reason. Also, the difficult changes after the Soviet Union ended caused many companies to close. This led many people to leave the region.

Recently, there have been new efforts to attract foreign investment. This could help improve the economy. In November 2005, President Vladimir Putin supported special tax benefits for the region. This was to encourage more gold mining.

Population and People

The population of Magadan Oblast has changed over time. In 1989, there were 542,868 people. By 2021, the population was 136,085. This shows a big decrease in the number of people living in the region.

Ethnic Groups in Magadan Oblast

Population Changes

Lenin Street in Magadan

Magadan Oblast has one of the highest rates of population decrease in Russia. For example, the rural population in Yagodninsky District dropped from 13,843 in 1991 to just 445 in 2007. This trend continued, and by 2021, the population was around 139,000 people. Many people have moved away from the region.

Religion in Magadan Oblast

According to a 2012 survey, many people in Magadan Oblast follow the Russian Orthodox Church. About 29.6% of the population belongs to this church. Other people identify as Christian without belonging to a specific church. Some follow traditional native faiths. A large number of people, about 27%, say they are "spiritual but not religious." About 13% say they are atheist.

See also

In Spanish: Óblast de Magadán para niños