Ukhta

Ukhta (Russian: Ухта́; Komi: Уква, Ukva) is an important industrial town in the Komi Republic of Russia. Population: 99,591 (2010 Census); 103,340 (2002 Census); 110,548 (1989 Census).

History

Oil springs along the Ukhta River were already known in the 17th century. In the mid-19th century, industrialist M. K. Sidorov started to drill for oil in this area. It was one of the first oil wells in Russia. There was homecraft oil-field in 1920–1921 in Ukhta. Lying on the river of the same name, the settlement was founded as the village of Chibyu in 1929, but in 1939 it was renamed Ukhta. It was granted town status in 1943 when it was linked to the Pechora Railway. To the east of the town is Sosnogorsk, and to the southwest—Yarega. In addition to its rail link, Ukhta also has an airport.

The town expanded in the 1940s and 1950s by use of political prisoners' forced labor.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is, together with four urban-type settlements (Borovoy, Vodny, Shudayag, and Yarega) and thirteen rural localities, incorporated as the town of republic significance of Ukhta—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the town of republic significance of Ukhta is incorporated as Ukhta Urban Okrug.

Ukhta (disambiguation)

Ukhta is a town in the Komi Republic, Russia.

Ukhta may also refer to:

Ukhta (inhabited locality)

Ukhta (Russian: Ухта) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.

Modern localities

Renamed localities