Sakha Republic facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Republic of Sakha
Республика Саха (Russian)
Саха Өрөспүүбүлүкэтэ (Yakut)

— Republic —

Flag of Sakha

Coat of Arms of Sakha

Political status

Country

Russia

Federal district

Far Eastern Federal District

Economic region

Far Eastern Economic Region

Established

April 27, 1922

Capital

Yakutsk

Government (as of May 2018)

• Head

Aysen Nikolayev

• Legislature

Il Tumen (State Assembly)

Statistics

Area (as of the 2002 Census)

• Total

3,083,523 km² (1,190,555 sq mi)

Area rank

1st

Population (2010 Census)

• Total

958,528

• Rank

55th

• Density

0.31/km² (0.80/sq mi)

ISO 3166-2

RU-SA

License plates

Official languages

Russian; Yakut, Yukaghir

Official website: http://sakha.gov.ru/

The Republic of Sakha is a huge area in Siberia, Russia. It is one of Russia's 85 main regions, called federal subjects of Russia. Sakha is part of the Far Eastern District, which includes ten other regions.

Sakha is the largest federal subject in all of Russia! It's so big that it covers three different time zones. You might also hear this area called Yakutia.

History of Sakha
Geography and Climate
People of Sakha (Demographics)
Culture and Traditions
Economy and Resources
Government and Politics
Transportation and Travel
Images for kids
See also

History of Sakha

Long ago, small groups of native people lived in Yakutia. They hunted to find food and survive. Around the 13th and 14th centuries, a group called the Yakuts started moving north from Lake Baikal. Most of the Yakuts settled on the lands of these native tribes.

The Yakuts were special because they raised cattle and horses. They were also skilled at blacksmith work. These skills helped them stay in one place for longer. In the 17th century, Russians from Europe arrived in the region. The Yakut tribes, led by King Tygyn Darkhan, tried to fight the Russians. But the Yakuts did not have guns, so they lost.

The Russians took control of the Yakuts' land and kept moving east. Years later, many people were sent to live in Yakutia as a punishment. This was because Yakutia was very far away from other places.

Between 1921 and 1923, during the Russian Civil War, Yakutia was the last area controlled by the White Russians. Eventually, the Bolsheviks' Red Army took control. This event is known as the Yakut Revolt.

Later, under Stalin, special camps were built in the area. People were sent there to work, often mining gold. This gold helped the Soviet Union grow its industries. After the Soviet Union ended, Yakutia became the Republic of Sakha. It is still a republic within Russia today.

Geography and Climate

Sakha is in the northern part of Eastern Siberia. Because it is so large, it has two main climates: polar tundra and subarctic. Both climates have very long, cold winters and short, mild summers. There isn't much rain in this region.

The tundra climate in northern Sakha means the land is mostly empty and frozen. The subarctic climate in southern Sakha allows for taiga forests. These forests are home to many animals and birds.

Sakha also has several mountain ranges. The Lena Pillars are amazing rock formations found here. They are so special that they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is also rich in valuable minerals like diamonds, gold, and coal. Sakha is famous for its extreme temperatures. In winter, it can get as cold as −71.2 °C (−96.2 °F). In summer, it can be as hot as 40.7 °C (105.3 °F)!

People of Sakha (Demographics)

View of the City of Yakutsk

After the Soviet Union ended, Sakha's population went down for a while. But now, it is growing again! More than half of the people live in cities and towns. Most of them live in the capital city, Yakutsk.

About half of the people in Sakha are ethnic Yakuts. Most of the other half are Russians. Most people in Sakha follow Orthodox Christianity or do not believe in any religion. Some ethnic Yakuts still practice Shamanism. This is a belief system that respects spirits and nature. More native people are becoming interested in Shamanism again.

Russian is taught and used a lot in Sakha. But the Yakut language is also common. Different native tribes use Yakut to talk to each other. Yakut is also taught in some schools and spoken at home.

Culture and Traditions

Traditional Yakut dance (Ohuokhai)

The Olonkho is a famous Yakut story. It tells tales about great heroes, animals, and even everyday problems. Only experts who have learned the very long story well can perform it.

The Olonkho is part of the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This means it's a very important story that needs to be remembered and shared.

Republic Day is celebrated every year on April 27. It marks the day in 1922 when Yakut ASSR was formed during the Soviet Union. The Yhyаkh festival happens between June 10 and 25 each year. It is one of two New Year's Day celebrations for the Yakut people. The other is the more common New Year's Day in January. Yhyаkh celebrates the start of the short summer season.

Economy and Resources

Sakha's economy mainly depends on mining. They dig up minerals like diamonds, gold, tin, and coal. Sakha is Russia's biggest producer of minerals and raw materials. It also produces 99% of Russia's diamonds! This is about a quarter of all the diamonds in the world.

Other important industries in Sakha include making construction materials, jewelry, and medicine. In contrast, many native Yakut people still raise cattle and horses. They also hunt and fish to provide for themselves.

Government and Politics

The Head of Sakha is the main leader of the republic. People vote for the Head every five years. The Il Tumen, also known as the State Assembly, is the republic's parliament. Its members are also chosen by public vote every five years. Most of the lawmakers in the Il Tumen are currently from the United Russia party. This party is the main ruling party in Russia.

Transportation and Travel

Sakha is north of the important Trans-Siberian railway and Trans-Siberian Highway. This means it's a bit far from Russia's main travel routes. The main roads in Sakha are the Lena Highway, which goes south, and the Kolyma Highway, which goes east.

These roads are usually open all year. However, there is no bridge across the Lena River. So, cars have to take a ferry across the river in summer. In winter, they can drive right on the ice! The Amur-Yakutsk train line connects Sakha to the rest of the Trans-Siberian railway.

Sakha has several airports, including the Yakutsk International Airport. Flights from these airports connect Sakha to cities far away. It's also possible to transport goods using the Northern Sea Route during certain times of the year.

Images for kids

Fauna of the Sakha Republic: Ross's gull, the Siberian crane, polar bear, horse and reindeer. Russian post miniature sheet, 2006.
Ura River.
Olyokma River.
Lena Pillars.
Lake Ozhogino.
Verkhoyansk Range.
Udachnaya pipe diamond mine.
The people of the Ymyyakhtakh culture is regarded to be the ancestors of the modern Yukaghirs.
Tygyn Darkhan was the ruler of the Khangalas Sakha until the Russian Conquest of Siberia.
1821 map of Yakutsk Oblast.
British explorer & missionary Kate Marsden in Yakutsk, 1891.
Members of the Siberian Regional Duma from Yakutsk, 1917.
Platon Oyunsky, who wrote the traditionally-oral olonkho epics.
Breakdown of population changes, 1939–2002.
Statehood Day celebrations in Yakutsk.
Vitim, Sakha Republic.
Dapparay.
Cruise on the Lena River.
Yakuts celebrating Yhyakh. Yakuts form the easternmost indigenous community of Turkic peoples.
Temple dedicated to the Aiyy neo-Tengrist creed in Yakutsk.
Transfiguration of Jesus Christ Cathedral in Yakutsk.
Unusual gold specimen from Bulun District, Lena River basin. Weight is about 6 grams.
Yakutsk Aeroport, the main air-traffic hub of the republic.