Valkumey (, Chukchi language: Вылӄыӈэй, Vylḳyňèj, lit. "Coal Mountain"[V.V. Leontev and K.A. Novikova, Топонимический словарь северо-востока СССР ( Toponymic Dictionary of the Northeastern USSR) (1989) Magadan. p.71]) was an inhabited locality (an urban-type settlement) in Chaunsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the shores of Chaunskaya Bay (part of the East Siberian Sea). Population: 0 (2002 Census);
History
Prior to the foundation of the settlement a preliminary expedition headed by a geologist called Dietmar was undertaken assessing the prospects of developing mining in the immediate area. He predicted that there were significant quantities of cassiterite-tin ore in the area, a prediction that was confirmed by later, more focussed, expeditions by larger teams of geologists.
Valkumey was founded in 1941[Dead-cities.ru Entry on Valkumey ] when mining began in this area, and the first few tons of tin were extracted from the Valkumey mine in the form of cassiterite.[ Chukotka During World War II] Valkumey became one of the major centres of tin mining in the Soviet Union, supplying a significant percentage of the tin required by the Soviet military.
By 1968, the population of the settlement had risen to 3,700.[Law #33, Article 14.2]
Population
The mines were declared unprofitable and that there was no possibility of developing any other form of economy in 1999 and the settlement was closed along with a number of others in Chukotka.
[ Постановление Правительства РФ от 2 февраля 1998 г. N 128 О мерах социальной защиты населения ликвидируемых поселков золотодобытчиков в Чукотском автономном округe ( Russian Federation Government resolution dated February 2, 1998 No. 128 on measures of social protection of the population of liquidating estates gold miners in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug "Russian Federation Government resolution dated February 2, 1998 No. 128 on measures of social protection of the population of liquidating estates gold miners in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug).] The Russian government guaranteed funds to transport non-working pensioners and the unemployed in liquidated settlements including Valkumey from Chukotka to other parts of Russia.
The Ministry of railways was obliged to lease containers for the transportation of the migrants' goods to the Chukotkan administration and ensure that they were delivered to the various settlements.
The population table below shows the impact on the settlement as a result of the closure of the mines.
| Demographic Evolution |
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| 2017 | 3059[ Перепись населения СССР 1970 года 1970 census of the Soviet Union] | 3417[ Перепись населения СССР 1979 года 1979 census of the Soviet Union] | 3906[ Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность городского населения РСФСР, ее территориальных единиц, городских поселений и городских районов по полу All-Union census, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in the federal districts, towns, rural settlements and regional centres with a population of more than 3,000.] | 0[ 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 2002 Russian Census] |
Transport
Valkumey is connected via a road network to Pevek, Komsomolsky and Krasnoarmeysky along with a number of other local settlements, but it is not connected by permanent road to any other part of the district or Chukotka. There is however, a small road network within the settlement including:
[ Valkumey – Chaunsky District – Pochtovik Mail Delivery Company]
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Улица Горняцкая (Ulitsa Gornyatskaya)
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Улица Комсомольская (Ulitsa , lit. Komsomol Street)
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Улица Космонавтов (Ulitsa Cosmonaut, lit. Cosmonaut Street)
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Улица Красноармейская (Ulitsa Krasnoarmeyskaya, lit Red Army Street)
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Улица Минерал (Ulitsa Mineral, lit. Mineral Street)
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Улица Рохлина (Ulitsa Rokhlina)
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Улица Северная (Ulitsa Severnaya, lit. North Street)
See also
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List of inhabited localities in Chaunsky District
Notes
Sources
External links
