Sireniki facts for kids

Sireniki is a small village in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, a region in the Far East of Russia. Its name in the local Yupik language, Sigheneg, means "Mountain of Horns". In 2010, about 469 people lived there. Sireniki is special because it's one of the oldest places in Chukotka that people have lived in continuously for thousands of years.

Exploring Sireniki's Location

Sireniki is located on the coast, where three rivers – the Maingyvykvyn, Sirenik-Keivuk, and Sineveyem – meet the sea. The village is surrounded by tall cliffs. Some of these cliffs have cool names given by the local people, like "Sokol" (which means falcon) and "Yablochko" (little apple).

A Special Watery Spot

What makes Sireniki's location unique is a large area of open water called a polynya right by the village shore. Even when the sea is frozen, this polynya stays open. This is super important because it allows the villagers to hunt sea animals all year round. There's also a sea cave nearby called "Sochi," named after a famous resort. In the summer, villagers even swim there!

Amazing Wildlife Around Sireniki

The open water of the polynya attracts lots of sea creatures. Many kinds of whales and seals live in the area. The village is right on the path where Bowhead whales travel in spring. These whales are a big part of what the local Yupik people hunt.

East of the village, there's a place called Imtuk Lagoon. It's full of fish! In winter, people catch cod, and in summer, they catch salmon. The tall cliffs around Sireniki are also home to many different birds, like puffins and gulls, who build their nests there.

Sireniki's Long History

Sireniki is the only village in Chukotka that has always been home to the Yupik people. It has been around for a very long time, about 2,000 to 2,500 years! The village started here because it was on the migration path of whales, which were a vital food source. It's amazing that people have lived in this exact spot without interruption for so long.

Ancient Homes and Whale Bones

There are many signs of old Yupik settlements in and around Sireniki. Most of these old places are now covered by a fox farm in the village. Scientists have found three main areas where ancient people lived. The oldest one is called Valvurak, which was used from the 1st century AD until the 1800s. The other two, Sliygu and Tykylia, were also old homes, some dug into the side of a volcano. The houses in these ancient parts of the village were built using the bones of whales that the people hunted.

What's in a Name?

The exact meaning of the village's name, Sireniki, is still discussed. Some people think it means "Mountain of Horns." Others believe it comes from words meaning "Valley of the Sun" or "Wheatgrass."

Recent Changes and Languages

Historically, Sireniki was mainly a Yupik village. However, in the 1960s, some Chukchi people who used to herd reindeer were moved to the village. Even with these changes, the Yupik people in Sireniki still continue their traditional way of hunting sea animals.

A very special language, the Sirenik Eskimo language, was spoken by the Sirenik people in this village. Sadly, the last person who spoke Sirenik as their native language passed away in 1997.

How Sireniki is Governed

Sireniki, Provideniya Bay, and surrounding area

In 2010, a new law changed how Sireniki was managed. The village still exists, but it's no longer its own separate local government. Instead, it became part of the larger Provideniya Urban Settlement. This means that the main town of Provideniya now handles many of the village's local responsibilities and services.

Who Lives in Sireniki

According to the most recent count, 469 people live in Sireniki. This includes 239 males and 230 females. This number is a bit lower than an estimate from 2006, which said there were about 533 people.

Life and Work in Sireniki

The Yupik people in Sireniki still practice their traditional sea hunting. They also keep alive the old ways of building boats. Besides hunting, a fox farm provides many jobs in the village.

Sireniki also has a general store, a school, and a library. After the Soviet Union ended, the school became smaller, going from ten grades down to six. This happened because it became harder to find enough qualified teachers.

Getting Around Sireniki

Getting to Sireniki can be a bit tricky. It's a 15-minute flight from the town of Provideniya, but there aren't regular flights. You can also reach the village by sea. The only other way is to travel about 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) on an unpaved road that goes over several mountain passes.

Sireniki's Climate

Sireniki has a Tundra climate. This means that even in the warmest month, the average temperature is between 0°C (32°F) and 10°C (50°F). January is usually the coldest month, and July is the warmest. From November to April, the temperature usually stays below freezing. It snows at least once every month, except for July and August.