Evenkia Municipal District Profile

Evenkia (Evenki region) refers to the regions of the Far North. It is located in the north-east of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, occupies 32% of its total area, but the share of the population of Evenkia is only 0.53%. This is one of the most sparsely populated territories not only in Russia, but throughout the world. The administrative and territorial status of Evenkia is currently a municipal district in the composition of the united Krasnoyarsk Territory.

99% of Evenkia is covered with pristine, pristine and impassable taiga, cut by many rivers and streams - the Lower and Podkamennaya Tunguska, Ilimpei, Khatanga flow through its territory. The green canvas of the taiga is generously decorated with lakes, among which are Essei and Vivi, and hills - the famous granite Evenki pillars. But the “crown” of local nature is the Putorana Plateau: a mountainous region of unique animals, unusual flora and waterfalls. Forests are mainly coniferous: spruce, larch, pine, Siberian cedar. There are birch, alder, bird cherry and mountain ash. A tenth of the territory is occupied by the tundra. And permafrost is widespread everywhere. Evenkia is far from the main Siberian cities, there are no year-round roads on its territory, movement along the Lower and Podkamennaya Tunguska is possible for several weeks a year, and even then during the flood: all villages are on the rivers. The bulk of the cargo is delivered by winter road and aircraft.

The distance from the administrative center to Moscow is 5738 km, to Krasnoyarsk - about 1000 km.

CAPITAL: The administrative center is the village of Tura (founded in 1927, population 5,500 as of 2018)

AREA:  767,600 km2. Length: 1,500 km from north to south and 850 km from west to east.

The earliest information about nomadic reindeer herders, which are now called Evenks, is found in Chinese historical chronicles of the 5^th-7^th centuries. But in general, until the XX century Evenki were not a single people, but separate tribes, living at a great distance from each other. At the same time, they were connected by a single language, customs and beliefs, which already indicates the common roots of all Evenks. The origin of the people has not yet been precisely established. Perhaps their homeland is Altai, Mongolia or Manchuria. Ethnographers offer dozens of theories.

Tunguska Reserve

Area: total area is 296,562 hectares, the area of the protection zone is 20,241 hectares

Also, six sites of an ancient culture were identified on the territory of the reserve. An open-air ethnographic museum is opened on the Yadulikan cordon, which acquaints tourists with the culture of the Evenki people.

Central Siberian Biosphere Reserve

Area: 972,017 hectares

The Central Siberian Reserve was created in 1985 to preserve and study various land and water natural complexes of middle taiga Siberia and its central part, landscapes of the floodplain and valley of the Yenisei River and its tributaries - the Podkamennaya Tunguska and Stolbovaya rivers. This is the only place in Russia where both banks of one of the great rivers of Eurasia are reserved at a distance of 60 km. In 1986, the reserve was given the status of a biosphere reserve by decision of UNESCO.

On the territory of the state biosphere reserve, any activity is prohibited, except for research and environmental education. Tourists can visit the reserve with the permission of the administration: the reserve has developed walking and rafting routes, routes of flying around the territory by helicopter.

Putoran State Nature Reserve

Area: 1,887,000 hectares

The reserve was established in 1988. The main objectives of its creation are the protection of mountain-lake-taiga landscapes, a peculiar plant world and rare species of animals. In August 2010, the reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Here on an isolated mountain range you can observe the perfect combination of subarctic and arctic ecosystems (taiga, forest-tundra, arctic desert). To visit these deserted places, it is required to obtain official permission from the administration of the reserve, and only organized groups registered in the regional department of the Ministry of Emergencies are allowed to enter the territory.

Evenk Museum of Local Lore, located in the village of Tura was founded in 1927, it is the only public repository of historical relics of Evenki culture, Essenes of Yakutia, Keto living in Evenkia. The unique part of the funds consists of a natural science and archaeological collection, an ethnographic collection (national clothes, antique women's jewelry, deer harness jewelry, Evenk calendars, musical instruments made of wood, bone, metal), a collection of religious objects (shamanistic costume, tambourines, amulets) , a collection of numismatics, applied art (objects made of birch bark, bones, fur appliqués, bead embroidery), a collection of fine art, documentary materials and personal belongings of people who contributed to the development of Evenkia.

In the Central Siberian Reserve there is a notable nature monument Sulomai (or Evenki) pillars: a canyon with slopes up to 150 m high, on which vertical stone hexagonal prisms with a diameter of about 10 m and a height of 80 m are located. Pillars are the result of weathering of rocks, which are similar to the figures of people, they are popularly called "Grandmother", "Mother", "Grandfather", "Granddaughter": each of the pillars has its own name.

Once a year, in March, the village of Surinda becomes the venue for the traditional national holiday - Reindeer Herder Day. Representatives of the reindeer herding brigades, including women and children, compete in races both on reindeer teams and on horseback - a deer intended for riding. Here anyone can get acquainted with the life of Evenki reindeer herders; arrange ice fishing; to take part in the construction of the plague and even arrange a night in it. For local residents, Reindeer herder’s day is not just a holiday, but also an opportunity to attract the attention of fellow countrymen to the problem of preserving the industry in Evenkia: development of the reindeer herding village infrastructure is needed, social facilities and housing are waiting for repairs, other favorable conditions for residents, engaged in reindeer husbandry must be created.

Along with the day of the reindeer herder, Fisherman's Day is celebrated annually. This distinctive holiday is held in late April. Everyone can take part in fishing competitions, compete for prose places and, of course, try a baud from their catch cooked at the stake. For most fishermen, this competition is primarily an opportunity to get out into the nature, relax and chat with each other.

Another big holiday is the Evenki New Year - Muchun, celebrated in June. Since ancient times, Evenks gathered on this day, talked about the past winter and made plans for a new one. During Muchun pagan rites of purification and fumigation of a kurekan - hedge for deer are performed.

The Evenki Dawns festival takes place every three years, alternately in one of the major villages. Within its framework performances of amateur artists, exhibitions and sales of products by masters of decorative and applied arts, sports (national wrestling, throwing a mout on a trochee, jumping over sledges, throwing an ax with a range) are held.

In the administrative center the village of Tura, the annual International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - Aboriginal Day is celebrated. The holiday is held in August and attracts a large number of guests from all over the region, mainly because of its distinctive features. The Path of Atonement is exactly where the Aboriginal Day begins. Passing it is not easy - there are many different obstacles. But only here, according to the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the North, it is possible to get rid of ailments, troubles and problems, and at the same time - from evil spirits that bring them. You can get acquainted with the Evenki culture here. On the site there are patrimonial plagues, where they are ready to share national traditions and food with any guest. This holiday is of great importance for the indigenous peoples of the North. It is here that they can tell about themselves - their culture and traditions, show how they live beyond the Arctic Circle.

What do you know about Evenks nation? Find out some facts on their way of life, beliefs and culture by this link.

Read about one of the most unexplainable events – the Tunguska meteorite here

Pick up a map of Russia, point to the center of the enormous country, then drag your finger north to a blank spot in central Siberia not marred by the names of towns or villages. This is the Putorana Plateau. Though its topography is reminiscent of the plateaus and mesas of America's Southwest, Putorana is no desert. It is crisscrossed by scores of unspoiled lakes and streams teeming with arctic grayling, char, and other fish. Its valleys are thick with long-lived larch trees that shelter brown bear, moose, wolverines, and great herds of migrating reindeer. Continue reading the story by the National Geographic here.