Chukotka, the marvelous world of the Arctic nature

Chukotka is located at the north-eastern tip of Russia and Eurasia. It is one of the most isolated places in the world. // Late summer in southern Chukotka. A view of Tkachenskaya Valley from Mt Inakhpak.

Chukotka is the most remote, unreachable and inhospitable region of Russia. It is also the least explored. Living here, you feel like a speck in the silent snowy wilderness. Visitors to the region will be exposed to the winds of two oceans, see the unique Arctic flora and fauna and the mysterious monuments of Chukotka

Its area of 721,500 square kilometres is larger than that of any European state, and it is the most sparsely populated region of Russia: the vast spaces of the Chukotka Autonomous Area have just 50,000 inhabitants, half of whom belong to the small Northern peoples. // Rainbow over Providence Bay in Bering Sea in the east of Chukotka.

Chukotka is also the only Russian region that is located in two hemispheres. The only other place on the planet where the 180th meridian passes on land is the Fiji Islands in the Pacific. // September day in Krest Bay in eastern Chukotka (Iultinsky District). The last sun rays, the next time the tundra will see them will be in a year.

Chukotka is located in the tundra-zone. During the short summer Arctic berries, mushrooms and flowers turn the tundra into a colourful fragrant carpet. The first snowfall starts in late October after the period of rain and fog and continues till next June. // The Iultin-Egvekinot road, one of the few roads on Chukotka, was built in the 1940s to provide access to the tin and tungsten mine.

Chukotka is wedged between the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. So when you reach Cape Dezhnev (the easternmost tip of Russia), you can see the Arctic on your left and the Pacific on your right, North America in front of you and boundless tundra of the north-eastern Eurasia behind you. // End of the world: a view of the Bering Strait. Beyond the fog is the American continent.

One of the most mysterious monuments of Arctic culture, the Whale Bone Alley, is located on Yttygran Island in the south-east of Chukotka. The island has never been inhabited and contains two rows of about 500 metres of the ribs and sculls of giant Greenland whales. The ribs are five metres tall. // An August day in near Anadyr. View of Mount St Dionysius.

Another interesting surviving monument of the ancient Eskimos is the Pegtymel Petroglyphs. These are drawings etched on cliffs at a height of 20

The Chukotka Autonomous Oblast boasts a real Arctic gem called the Wrangel Island Preserve, often referred to as the polar bear

Chukotka is immersed in the long Arctic night when sunlight is seen only a couple of hours a day. // White nights in St Lawrence Bay (Bering Sea). There are still patches of snow and ice at the end of June

If you come here in winter, you will be rewarded with a unique natural phenomenon called Northern Lights. // Northern Lights in March. The two bright spots on the left are a minor parade of planets, the conjunction of Jupiter (below) and Venus (above).

From Moscow, the Chukotka capital Anadyr can only be reached by plane. Movement in Chukotka is difficult because of the lack of roads, so you can only get from one village to another by helicopter or plane. In summer, it is possible to reach some villages by sea. // The end of the short January day (about noon) on Mount St Dionysius.

To visit any place in Chukotka you will need an FSB (Federal Security Service) permit. This is because of its proximity to the border between Russia and the United States. If you are planning to go to Chukotka, the best bet is to contact a travel agency and go with an organised group. // The tundra in the dark of the long winter night.

The indigenous population of Chukotka, the Chukchi and Eskimos, are cheerful, fun-loving folk. Every winter they have dog and deer sled races. In summer they hold the Beringia Festival on the coast of the Bering Strait. The summer season is crowned with the Ergav indigenous folk festival held in the region