The Komi Republic (RK) is an administrative and territorial subject of the Russian Federation. Until May of 1992, it was an autonomous region. It was founded in August of 1921. The republic is a part of Northwest Federal Region and Northern economical district.
The republic is located in the far northeast of the European part of the Russian Federation, bounded by the Pechorsk and Mezensko - Vychegodsk lowlands, Middle and Southern Timana, and the western slopes of the Ural Mountains (the Northern, Pre-Pola and Polar Urals). On the west, northwest and north, it borders on the Arkhangelsk Region and its Nenets Autonomous Region. On the east, it borders on the Yamalo – Nenets and Khanty – Mansy Autonomous Regions. On the southeast, it borders with the Sverdlovsk Region, and on the south with the Perm Region. Territory is 415, 000 sq. km (2, 44% of the territory of the RF; 11th in size the RF). The city of Syktyvkar is an administrative center. The Komi Republic includes 8 cities under its direct jurisdiction, and 12 districts. Official languages are Russian and Komi. The population was 1,019,000 as of October of 2002. Density of population is 2,5 people per sq. km. Ethnic composition: Russian-speaking multination population-72%, Komi-28%.
The republic’s highest representative and legislative body is the State Council of the Komi Republic, which consists of 50 deputies who are elected to terms of 4 years.
Legislation may be initiated by the chairman or any deputy of the State Council, the Head of the Komi Republic, representatives of local bodies of the Komi Republic, or a Komi People’s Congress or its executive body.
The republic’s executive authority lies with the Head of the Komi Republic, and with those whom he appoints: the government and local administrations – which are authorized to carry out executive and administrative functions, and to look after the rights and legal interests of citizens in the republic.
The Republic of Komi today is a definitely industrial region, it has a self sufficiency of raw, energy and labor.
During the recent years the economics of the Republic of Komi has showed the following positive features:
Industry takes the leading position in the economy of the Republic of Komi. It is represented by more than 30 sectors and provides about 35% of GRP. Industrial labor accounts 22.4% of the total labor, the industry accumulates 26.4% of capital. The branch structure of the industry fuel (52.7%), timber, wood processing and pulp and paper (24.1%), electric power generation (14.2%).
Komi’s climate is determined by its location in the extreme northeast of Europe and remoteness from the Atlantic Ocean, the proximity of the Arctic Ocean, and the considerable influence of Arctic air masses and cyclones. The climate on most of Komi’s territory is moderately cold (boreal) with a long, cold winter and a short, but relatively warm, summer. Further to the north, the boreal climate changes into an Arctic climate. Zonal changes of the climate, though gradual, are quite distinct. The temperature rises pronouncedly from the north to the south; the average temperature in July for the Vorkuta area is 8-10oC, and the average for the south of Komi is 18oC. The annual average temperature is 0-1oC in the south of Komi and –4 to –6oC in northern areas. The period with stable low temperatures (below –5oC) lasts up to 140 days in the south and around 200-210 days in the northeast. The vegetation period is 150 and 100 days, respectively, and 60-70 days in the mountainous area of the central part of the Ural Ridge. The northern part of Komi is located in the area of permafrost (up to 200 m). Permafrost passes into separate islands and becomes thinner near the southern border of tundra.
Copious humidity, specific topographic features and geological structure have resulted in an abundance of surface and underground waters. Slow drainage and the nearby occurrence of underground water and considerable areas of permafrost in the northeast have resulted in the emergence of swamps.
A considerable part of Komi’s river network belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean. The Pechora (1890 km), Komi’s major river, is second (after the Volga) in water volume in the European part of Russia.
There are no large lakes. The total area of lakes is small, comprising only 0.1 % of Komi’s territory. The major lakes, Yamozero (49 sq.km) and Sindorskoye (35 sq.km), are residual lake and glacial basins.
The distribution of the river network, its density and the structure of river valleys undergo changes depending on the climate, topographic features, geological structure and other factors. In the Urals and in some Timan areas, rivers have high falls, and often have rapids and canyons-like valleys. On the plains they usually flow quietly, have broad valleys with vast flood plains, within which the river bed meanders widely, making up numerous channels. Divides are not distinct.
Soils on the territory of Komi undergo changes depending on topographic features, climate, natural rocks, water regime and the organic world. In the tundra zone the main type of soil is gley podzolized soil which is characterized by excessive humidity and low accumulation of organic mass. In northern taiga, gley podzolic soil is formed in spruce forests. Medium taiga is characterized by podzolic soil. Derno – podzolic soils, which are the best soils in Komi, are common in southern taiga especially in small-leaved forests. The vastest areas of taiga have hydromorphic podzolic and hydromorphic soils. The Ural soil is characterized by a change of zones ranging from mountain podzolic to mountain tundra and detritus soil.
Vegetation is mostly coniferous forests, consisting mainly of spruces and pines. To the east, the larch becomes more common and cedar begins to appear. Besides the fir, the silver fir, and the linden are common in southern taiga, as well as green moss forests with oxalis. Fir – groves with bilberries are common in middle taiga, and the silver fir can be found in river valleys. Waterlogged fir – groves with birches and pines predominate on flat divides. Fir forests with pines and birches predominate in northern taiga. In the extreme north of taiga, fir – groves become less condensed, and the birch occupies considerable part.
Pine forests are quite common for river terraces and sand plains, and range from dry lichen forests to swamped sphagnum pine forests. Forests with the predominance of small – leaved trees (birch and aspen) are quite common, but they mostly grow on deforested and burned – out areas of former coniferous forests. Birch – woods can be mostly found in the Urals and forest – tundra. Aspen – woods are located mostly in the southern areas of Komi. Large areas in the taiga occupied by swamps. In the middle taiga they are often surrounded by small pine trees, and there are no forests in the northern area. Meadows can be mostly found in the flood – lands of major rivers. Dry meadows are common in southern taiga.
Tundra vegetation – brushwood of dwarf birch and bushes – can be seen in the northern part of taiga. Dwarf birch predominates in northern forest – tundra, alternating with swamps and small forest islands.
Typical tundra without forests occupied a relatively small part of the Komi Republic and belongs to the sub - zone of bush tundra. Dwarf birch tundra predominates in the areas between rivers, as well as bumpy peat bogs, sedge and moss swamps. Willow brushwoods are common in river valleys.
The foothills and slopes (up to 600 – 700 m) of the taiga Urals are covered with coniferous taiga (spruces and pines). The larch predominates in the north of the mountain and taiga zone. Mountain tundra is located above the forest zone and passes in turn (from 800 m in the Pre-Polar Urals and 1200-1300 m in the Northern Urals) into the alpine tundra belt, where one can find only single specimens of taller plants.
Komi’s fauna comprises about 300 vertebral species, including more than 50 species, including more than 50 species of mammals, over 200 species of birds and several thousand invertebrate species. Siberian taiga species predominate and become even more abundant in the east: one can find the sable, the Siberian weasel, the nutcracker and other species there. Some European species can be found only in the west of Komi. In southern areas, one can find animals inhabiting mixed forests and open forest steppes: the European here, the field-vole, the polecat, the quail, the partridge, etc. Many mammals and birds are hunted: the squirrel, the marten, the bear, the wolverine, the lynx, and the chipmunk in coniferous forests; and the lepus, the fox, the ermine, the wolf and elk in low forests and river valleys. One can see a rare hybrid of the sable and the marten – the sable-marten – in the Pechora - Ilychsky Reserve, and wild reindeer in the taiga and tundra. Rodents are quite common. Near lakes and ponds, one can find the otter, the mink, the water vole, and the muskrat; land the beaver and the raccoon dog are being acclimatized. The wood grouse and the hazel grouse are hunted in taiga and the black grouse is hunted in birch woods. Few species inhabit the tundra all the year round. It is mainly the polar fox, the willow grouse and the rock ptarmigan that are hunted. A lot of waterfowl can be seen near tundra water areas in the summer.
Thirty-six species of fish have been discovered in Komi water areas, the most valuable food fish being the salmon, the omul, the white salmon, the white-fish and the umber.
Komi has unique mineral resources in terms of reserves, deposits, diversity and quality. According to expert appraisals, the total value of regional mineral reserves accounts for 8% of the estimated Russian potential, including coal, oil, gas, bauxite, titanium ore, salts, gold, diamonds, non-ferrous and less common metals, fluorite, shale oil, mineral water and building materials. Fuel and energy raw materials play a major role in this potential (up to 97%). The Pechora Coal-Field and the Timano-Pechorskaya Oil-and-Gas Province have been well explored. A number of ore deposits in the Timan Ridge, the Northern and Polar Urals are being developed. Mineral resources are being explored within the Vychegodsky Basin. Komi bioclimatic resources allow intensive farming in the south, and deer-raising and animal husbandry in the north. Economic activity on a considerable part of the territory involves timber. Timber reserves, according to various appraisals, consist of up to 2.8 billion cubic meters.
The fields tested on the republic territory contain about 80% of quartz fibers, 50% of titanium, 30% of bauxites, 50% of barites, 4.5% of coal, 3% of oil from the all Russia stocks. Due to its reserves and extraction volumes the republic is the main fuel supplier (coal, oil, natural gas) for Russian European North.
The Pechora coal-mining basin takes the second place in Russia according to its stock and contains a spectrum of coals to produce coke and energy.
Oil and gas fields of the republic are located in the central and Southern parts of the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province. At the beginning of 2005 there exist 137 hydro carbon fields, 82 of them have been exploited (93.3% of the extracted stock). The current extracted oil stock exceeds 486 mln tons, as for gas more than 117.3 bln cubic m. The largest eight fields contain 70% of the extracted stock. 43 fields are being developed.
Within the Timan ridge two bauxite regions were found and tested: Middle Timan (68% of the stock)and South Timan (32%) which constitute the most important basis for the domestic aluminium industry.
Middle Timan region have been developed, here there large bauxite fields are tested, they are united into Vorykva group which contains more then 30% of all Russia bauxites.
Titanium ore stock is the largest in Russia. Yarega oil and titanium deposit is unique by its amount and quality, it concentrates more than a half of all Russia titanium ore ready for extraction. The project “The Complex Development of Yarega Oil and Titunium Deposit” has been implemented in the republic. Extraction and processing of titanium ores will be paralleled with a heavy oil extraction, the stock of which is estimated at 75 mln tons.
Parnokskoye iron and manganese field is the most promising and prepared for exploitation, it is on the West slope of the Polar Urals.
At the moment in the republic there have been found, tested and estimated ore fields of manganese, chrome, titanium, poly metals (bauxites, copper), rear (wolfram, molybdenum, bismuth, niobium, tantalum), precious metals (gold, platinum, silver) as well as diamonds.
Non ore minerals of the Republic of Komi may be used for chemical production (phosphorites, salts, barites), as construction materials (lame stone, clay, dolomites, gypsum, marbles, quarts, sands, gravel), technical and optical (fiber quarts, piezo quarts, mount crystal), for jewelry.
The barite deposits of the Polar Urals are estimated at 80-100 mln tons. Khoylin barite field is the biggest and best tested (its stock exceeds 2 mln tons), there is no similar deposit in Russia and in the CIS. Zhelannoye field contains 80% of all Russian transparent fiber quarts. The extracted stock of Seregovo kitchen salt field is 700 mln tons, estimated more than 2 bln tons.
Construction raw materials are represented by multiple deposits of carbonates, construction and decoration stones, construction and glass sands, clays for bricks and ceramics, cement raw materials, gypsum. There are more than 200 fields of them, the majority of which has been developed.
The Republic of Komi is rich in industry waters, mainly on the territory of the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province. In the underground waters of oil fields brome, iodine, lithium, magnesium, strontium, etc. are concentrated. Besides, the republic possesses considerable resources of drinking and mineral waters.
Fuel sector of the Republic of Komi is represented by oil-extracting, oil-processing, gas, coal, power sectors. It predominates in the industry of the Republic of Komi and produces 65.9% of the republic industrial output.
Recently oil-extracting sector of the republic of Komi is rapidly developing. This can be explained by setting in exploitation new deposits, reactivating of idle wells, carrying out of many geological and technical activities. Also gas and oil collection system have been refitted and new technologies of oil-extraction implemented.
The main production volume (about 60%) is provided by enterprises included into LUKOIL-Komi Group (LUKOIL-Komi Ltd., JSC Teboukneft, JSC Ukhtaneft, Closed SC RKM Oil, Closed SC Bitek-Silour, AmKomi Ltd., JSC Yarega NTK), as well as JSC Severnaya Neft and a few others. The share of oil extraction constitutes 33.6 % in the total industrial output.
According to an expert forecast an oil extraction, gas condensate included, on the territory of the Republic of Komi wouldreach in 2005 10-10.3 mln tons, in 2006-2007 10-11 mln tons per year. The development of oil refining in the republic is stipulated by the existence of a vast market for oil products in the Northern economic region. JSC LUKOIL-Ukhtaneftepererabotka is the key player in the oil refining.
Komi is one of the leading timber industry regions of Russia
The total forest area is more than 30 mln hectares or 3.5% of Russian forests and 40% of Russia European North forest area.
More than 75% of the forests can be harvested with the stock of 3 bln cubic m (3.2% of Russia North-West forest stock). Mature and over mature forests constitute 72.3%, 80% of them are coniferous.
A half of paper goes for export to 80 countries of the world.
Reserves account for 15% of Komi’s area. It is these forests that produce oxygen for the whole of Europe. A unique territory is the Pechoro - Ilych Reserve. There are hardly any other such forests in Europe which have not been subjected to the influence of man or technology. That is why the reserve was included in the list of biospheric reserves in 1985. Ten years later, upon the resolution of UNESCO, the Pechoro-llych Reserve with its reserved and buffer zones, and the Yugud-Va National Park – all united under the name Komi Virgin Forests – were included in the list of Universal Cultural and Natural Heritage. The reserve has been cooperating with scientists from the Komi scientific Center (the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science) for over 40 years. Biologists from Sweden, Norway and Finland came here (to the area between the Pechora and the llych) more than once in the 1990s. They paid special attention to primeval forest ecosystems, which are now rarely found in Scandinavian countries. The area of the reserve totals 3.3 million hectares. This is the largest primeval forest in Europe.
The territories adjacent to the Urals are unique. There are many protected nature reserves here, each unique in its own way. However, the Pechoro-llych Reserve has a special place among them. Mountains, plains, and very old undisturbed forests co-exist here in harmony, together with the richest flora and fauna of European and Siberian species, many of which are included in the Red Books of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Russian Federation and the Komi Republic. And here you can find the world’s first moose farm.
On April 23, 1994 a decree was passed with regard to the creation of the Yugyd-Va National Park. It comprises 1.9 million hectares on the western slopes of the Pre-Polar and Southern Urals and the Pechora Lowlands adjacent to the right bank of the Pechora.
Additionally, there are 170 game reserves and 106 nature reserves protected by the government within the Komi Republic.