About the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is the largest region on the territory of the Russian Federation; over 40% of it lies beyond the Arctic Circle. The depth of permafrost, which occupies almost the entire territory of the Republic, reaches 1.5 km in some areas.

Yakutia is by right called the treasury of Russia. Yakutia accounts for 26% of the world’s diamonds, 5% of tin resources, 4.5% of antimony resources, 3.4% of uranium resources, 2% of iron ore resources and 2.5% of the world’s forests. The overall natural resources of Yakutia are estimated at 3 trillion USD. Over 30% of Russia’s wild nature and over 10% of the world’s wild nature fall on Yakutia. This is the largest reserve of the planet’s biosphere, global ecological reserve and one of the climatic controllers of the entire planet.

With absolute value of minimal temperature dropping down to −70°C and with up to 9 months of annual subzero temperatures, Yakutia is the only place in the world that in such low temperatures is a home for multinational peoples, each of which has their own authentic traditions and culture.

Our northern land became known all over the world not only due to diamonds. Its main wealth is strong-spirited, warm and open-hearted people.

Achievements of Yakut people in sports are well-known all around the world. Yakut sportsmen won six Olympic medals. Gold – Pavel Pinigin (freestyle wrestling, Montreal, 1976), Roman Dmitriev (freestyle wrestling, Munich, 1972), Maria Pinigina (athletic, Seoul, 1988). Silver – Roman Dmitriev (freestyle wrestling, Montreal, 1976), Alexander Ivanov (freestyle wrestling, Montreal, 1976), Bronze – Georgiy Balakshin (boxing, Beijing, 2008).

Paralympic Games silver medal – Anastasia Diodorova (swimming, Beijing, 2008). Deaflympic Games gold medal – Sergey Nikolaev (freestyle wrestling, Taipei, 2009), silver and bronze medals – Ekaterina Katorgina (shooting, Taipei, 2009).