View source for Biography:Yakutia

{{short description|First-level administrative division of Russia}}
{{Infobox Russian federal subject
|en_name=Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
|ru_name=Республика Саха (Якутия)
|loc_name1=Саха Өрөспүүбүлүкэтэ
|loc_lang1=Yakut
|image_map=Map of Russia - Sakha (Yakutia) (Crimea disputed).svg
|coordinates={{coord|66|24|N|129|10|E|type:adm1st_region:RU|display=inline,title}}
|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Sakha (Yakutia).svg
|coa_caption=Coat of arms
|image_flag=Flag of Sakha.svg
|flag_caption=Flag
|anthem=National Anthem of the Sakha Republic<br /><center>[[File:Anthem of the Sakha Republic.ogg]]
|anthem_ref
|holiday
|holiday_ref
|political_status=Republic
|political_status_link=Republics of Russia
|federal_district=Far Eastern
|economic_region=Far Eastern
|adm_ctr_type=Capital
|adm_ctr_name=Yakutsk
|adm_ctr_ref=<ref name=Min2002 />
|official_lang_list=[[Social:Yakut language|Yakut]]
|official_lang_ref=<ref name="Languages">[http://sakha.gov.ru/node/17668 Constitution of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic], Article&nbsp;46</ref>
|pop_2010census=958528
|pop_2010census_rank=55th
|urban_pop_2010census=64.1%
|rural_pop_2010census=35.9%
|pop_2010census_ref=<ref name="2010Census" />
|pop_density
|pop_density_as_of
|pop_density_ref
|pop_latest
|pop_latest_date
|pop_latest_ref
|area_km2=3083523
|area_km2_rank=1st
|area_km2_ref=<ref name="area" />
|established_date=April&nbsp;27, 1922
|established_date_ref=<ref name=Min2002>{{cite book|last=Minahan|first=James|title=Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z|year=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|pages=1630ff}}</ref>
|license_plates=14
|ISO=RU-SA
|gov_as_of=May 2018
|leader_title=Head
|leader_title_ref=<ref name="HeadLegis">[http://sakha.gov.ru/node/17668 Constitution of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic]&nbsp;53.1</ref>
|leader_name=Aysen Nikolayev
|legislature=State Assembly (''Il Tumen'')
|legislature_ref=<ref name="HeadLegis" />
|website=http://sakha.gov.ru/
|website_ref
|date=May 2018
| timezone1               = see Time zones
|utc_offset1 = 
}}
'''Yakutia''' or '''Yakutiya'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sakha-republic-Russia|title=Sakha {{!}} republic, Russia|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref> ({{lang-rus|Якутия|r=Yakutiya|p=jɪˈkutʲɪjə}}; {{lang-sah|Саха Сирэ|r=Saqa Sire|p=saˈxa sɪrjə}}), officially known as '''Sakha Republic (Yakutia)''' ({{lang-rus|Республика Саха (Якутия)|r=Respublika Sakha (Yakutiya)|p=rʲɪsˈpublʲɪkə sɐˈxa jɪˈkutʲɪjə}}; {{lang-sah|Саха Өрөспүүбүлүкэтэ|Sakha Öröspüübülükete}}, {{IPA-all|saˈxa øɾøsˈpyːbylykete}}), is a federal Russian republic. 

It had a population of 958,528 at the 2010 Census,<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref> mainly ethnic Yakuts and Russians.

Comprising half the Far Eastern Federal District, it is the largest subnational governing body by area in the world at {{convert|3083523|km2|sp=us}}.<ref name="area">[http://www.gks.ru/bgd/free/b10_107/IssWWW.exe/Stg//%3Cextid%3E/%3Cstoragepath%3E::%7Ctab1-01-09.xls Rosstat (Russian Statistical Service), 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018030426/http://www.gks.ru/bgd/free/b10_107/IssWWW.exe/Stg//%3Cextid%3E/%3Cstoragepath%3E::%7Ctab1-01-09.xls|date=October 18, 2012}} (xls). Retrieved June 15, 2012.</ref> Its capital is the city of Yakutsk. It is also known for its extreme and severe climate, with the lowest temperatures in the [[Earth:Northern Hemisphere|Northern Hemisphere]] being recorded in Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon, and regular winter averages commonly being below {{convert|-35|C|F}} in Yakutsk. The hypercontinental tendencies also result in very warm summers for much of the republic.

==Geography==
[[File:Sakha Republic Fauna.jpg|thumb|Fauna of the Sakha Republic: Ross's gull, the Siberian crane, polar bear, horse and reindeer. Russian post miniature sheet, 2006.]]
* ''Borders'':
** ''internal'': [[Earth:Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Chukotka Autonomous Okrug]] (660&nbsp;km)(E), Magadan Oblast (1520&nbsp;km)(E/SE), Khabarovsk Krai (2130&nbsp;km)(SE), Amur Oblast (S), Zabaykalsky Krai (S), Irkutsk Oblast (S/SW), [[Place:Krasnoyarsk Krai|Krasnoyarsk Krai]] (W).
** ''water'': Arctic Ocean (including Laptev Sea and Eastern Siberian Sea) (N).
* ''Highest point'': Peak Pobeda (3,003&nbsp;m), Mus-Khaya Mountain Peak (2959&nbsp;m or 3,011&nbsp;m)
* ''Maximum N->S distance'': {{convert|2500|km|abbr=on}}
* ''Maximum E->W distance'': {{convert|2000|km|abbr=on}}
<!--*''Average elevation'':-->
Sakha stretches to the Henrietta Island in the far north and is washed by the Laptev and Eastern Siberian Seas of the Arctic Ocean. These waters, the coldest and iciest of all seas in the Northern Hemisphere, are covered by ice for 9–10&nbsp;months of the year. New Siberian Islands are a part of the republic's territory.  After [[Earth:Nunavut|Nunavut]] was separated from Canada's [[Earth:Northwest Territories|Northwest Territories]], Sakha became the largest subnational entity (statoid) in the world, with an area of {{convert|3083523|km2|sp=us}},<ref name="area" /> slightly smaller than the territory of {{wipe|India}} (3.3&nbsp;million km<sup>2</sup>).

Sakha can be divided into three great vegetation belts. About 40% of Sakha lies above the Arctic circle and all of it is covered by [[Earth:Permafrost|permafrost]] which greatly influences the region's ecology and limits forests in the southern region. Arctic and subarctic [[Earth:Tundra|tundra]] define the middle region, where [[Biology:Lichen|lichen]] and [[Biology:Moss|moss]] grow as great green carpets and are favorite pastures for [[Biology:Reindeer|reindeer]]. In the southern part of the tundra belt, scattered stands of dwarf Siberian pine and [[Biology:Larch|larch]] grow along the rivers. Below the tundra is the vast taiga forest region. Larch trees dominate in the north and stands of [[Biology:Fir|fir]] and pine begin to appear in the south. Taiga forests cover about 47% of Sakha and almost 90% of the cover is larch.

The Sakha Republic is the site of [[Earth:Pleistocene Park|Pleistocene Park]], a project directed at recreating Pleistocene tundra grasslands by stimulating the growth of grass with the introduction of animals which thrived in the region during the late [[Earth:Pleistocene|Pleistocene]]&nbsp;— early [[Earth:Holocene|Holocene]] period.

In recent years, global warming has caused the melting of previously frozen soils. Thousands of homes are in danger of collapsing in the mud in summer, while northern villages are overwhelmed by floods.<ref>https://www.lemonde.fr/big-browser/article/2019/03/28/aux-etats-unis-des-centaines-de-villes-croulant-sous-leurs-dechets-ne-recyclent-plus_5442790_4832693.html</ref>

===Time zones===
[[File:Sakha Yakutia rep.png|right|thumb|250px|Map of Sakha (Yakutia).]]
Sakha Republic is the only subject of Russia which uses more than one time zone. Sakha spans three time zones (no Daylight Saving Time in summer)
# [[File:Map of Russia - Yakutsk time zone.svg|left|75px]] [[Yakutsk Time|Yakutsk Time Zone]] (YAKT, UTC+9). Covers the republic's territory to the west of the Lena River as well as the territories of the districts located on both sides of the Lena River.{{clear|left}}
# [[File:Map of Russia - Vladivostok time zone.svg|left|75px]] [[Vladivostok Time|Vladivostok Time Zone]] (VLAT, UTC+10). Covers most of the republic's territory located between 127°E and 140°E [[Earth:Longitude|longitude]]. Districts: Oymyakonsky, Ust-Yansky, Verkhoyansky.<ref name="timezones">[http://www.worldtimezone.com/dst_news/dst_news_russia36.html New Russian Time Zones as of August 31, 2011 according to Decree 725 of the Government of the Russian Federation], World Time Zone, August&nbsp;31, 2011.</ref>{{clear|left}}
# [[Magadan Time|Magadan Time Zone]] (SRET, UTC+11). Covers most of the republic's territory located east of 140°E longitude. Districts: Abyysky, Allaikhovsky, Momsky, Nizhnekolymsky, Srednekolymsky, Verkhnekolymsky.
[[File:UTC hue4map RUS-SA 2011-09-01.svg|thumb|right|Detailed map of the three time zones in the Sakha Republic (as of September 2011).]]

===Rivers===
[[File:120 На стоянке в устье реки Ура.jpg|thumb|Ura River.]]
[[File:Olyokma river.jpg|thumb|Olyokma River.]]
[[File:Ленские столбы 2015 (121).JPG|thumb|Lena Pillars.]]
The largest river is the navigable Lena River (4,400&nbsp;km). As it moves northward, it includes hundreds of small [[Earth:Tributary|tributaries]] located in the Verkhoyansk Range.
* Lena River
** Vilyuy River (2,650&nbsp;km) Lena River tributary
*** Markha River (1,181&nbsp;km) Vilyuy River tributary
**** Morkoka River (812&nbsp;km) Markha River tributary
*** Tyung River (1,092&nbsp;km) Vilyuy River tributary
** Aldan River (2,273&nbsp;km) Lena River tributary
*** Amga River (1,462&nbsp;km) Aldan River tributary
*** Maya River (1,053&nbsp;km) Aldan River tributary
*** Uchur River (812&nbsp;km) Aldan River tributary
** Olyokma River (1,320&nbsp;km) Lena River tributary
** Linde River (804&nbsp;km) Lena River tributary
** Nyuya River (798&nbsp;km) Lena River tributary
* Olenyok River (2,292&nbsp;km)
* Kolyma River (2,129&nbsp;km)
* Indigirka River (1,726&nbsp;km)
** Selennyakh River (796&nbsp;km) Indigirka River tributary
* Alazeya River (1,590&nbsp;km)
* Anabar River (939&nbsp;km)
* Yana River (872&nbsp;km)

===Lakes===
There are over 800,000&nbsp;lakes in the republic.<ref>[http://sakha.gov.ru/main.asp?c=2305] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103011518/http://sakha.gov.ru/main.asp?c=2305|date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> Major lakes and reservoirs include:
* Lake Mogotoyevo
* Lake Nedzheli
* Lake Nerpichye
* Vilyuyskoye Reservoir

===Mountains===
Sakha's greatest mountain range, the Verkhoyansk Range, runs parallel and east of the Lena River, forming a great arc that begins in the Sea of Okhotsk and ends in the Laptev Sea.

The [[Earth:Chersky Range|Chersky Range]] runs east of the Verkhoyansk Range and has the highest peak in Sakha, Peak Pobeda (3,147&nbsp;m).  The second highest peak is Peak Mus-Khaya reaching 3,011&nbsp;m.

The Stanovoi Range borders Sakha in the south.
[[Image:Udachnaya pipe.JPG|thumb|Udachnaya pipe diamond mine.]]

===Peninsulas===
The Republic's extensive coastline contains a number of peninsulas; from west to east the most prominent are:
* Uryung-Tumus Peninsula
* Nordvik Peninsula
* Terpyay-Tumsa Peninsula
* Bykovsky Peninsula
* Buor-Khaya Peninsula
* Manyko Peninsula
* Shirokostan Peninsula
* Merkushina Strelka Peninsula
* Lopatka Peninsula

===Islands===
From west to east the main islands of Sakha are:
* Preobrazheniya Island
* Bolshoy Begichev Island
* Maliy Begichev Island
* Peschany Island
* Salkay Island
* Orto Ary
* Daldalakh
* Dyangylakh Island
* Dunay Islands
* Leykina Island
* Islands of the Lena Delta
* Brusneva Island
* Muostakh Island
* Ulakhan Ary Island
* Yarok Island
* Shelonsky Islands
* Makar Island
* Stolbovoy Island
* New Siberian Islands (by far the largest group)
* De Long Islands
* Medvezhyi Islands
* Kolesovsky Island
* Kolesovskaya Otmel
* Gabyshevskiy Island
* Kamenka Island
* Markhayanovskiy Island
* Gusmp Island
* Sukhanyy Island

===Natural resources===
Sakha is well endowed with raw materials. The soil contains large reserves of [[Chemistry:Petroleum|oil]], gas, [[Earth:Coal|coal]], [[Chemistry:Diamond|diamond]]s, [[Chemistry:Gold|gold]], [[Chemistry:Silver|silver]], [[Chemistry:Tin|tin]], [[Chemistry:Tungsten|tungsten]] and many others. Sakha produces 99% of all Russian diamonds and over 25% of the diamonds mined in the world.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Yakovleva|first1=Natalia P.|title=Natural resource use in the Russian North: a case study of diamond mining in the Republic of Sakha|journal=Environmental Management and Health|date=2000|volume=11|issue=4|pages=318–336|doi=10.1108/09566160010372743}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bohlen|first1=Celestine|title=Poor Region in Russia Lays Claim to Its Diamonds|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/01/world/poor-region-in-russia-lays-claim-to-its-diamonds.html|accessdate=18 March 2018|work=New York Times|date=1992}}</ref>

===Climate===
Sakha is known for its [[Earth:Climate|climate]] extremes, with the Verkhoyansk Range being the coldest area in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the lowest natural temperatures ever recorded have been here. The [[Earth:Northern Hemisphere|Northern Hemisphere]]'s [[Physics:Pole of Cold|Pole of Cold]] is at Verkhoyansk, where the temperatures reached as low as {{convert|−67.8|C}} in 1892, and at Oymyakon, where the temperatures reached as low as a merciless {{convert|−71.2|C}} in January 1924.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:60%;"
|+'''Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Yakutiya Russia'''<ref>{{cite web|title=CLIMATE Olyokminsk|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/24944.htm|website=pogodaiklimat.ru|accessdate=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CLIMATE Oimjakon|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/24688.htm|website=pogodaikilmat.ru|accessdate=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CLIMATE Verkhoyansk|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/24266.htm|website=pogodaiklimat.ru|accessdate=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CLIMATE Yakutsk|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/24959.htm|website=pogodaiklimat.ru|accessdate=June 12, 2017}}</ref>

|-
!City
!July (°C)
!July (°F)
!January (°C)
!January (°F)
|-
| Aldan || 22.6/10.9 || 72.7/51.6 || −21.9/−30.6 || −7.4/−23.1
|-
| Neryungri || 21.8/10.9 || 71.24/51.62 || -26.8/-33.9 || -16.24/-29.02
|-
| Olyokminsk || 24.8/12 || 75.2/53.6 || −26.2/−34.6 || −15.2/−30.28
|-
| Oymyakon || 22.7/6.1 || 72.9/43 || −42.5/−50 || −44.5/−58
|-
| Verkhoyansk || 23.5/9.7 || 74.3/49.5 || −42.4/−48.3 || −44.3/−54.9
|-
| Yakutsk || 25.5/12.7 || 78/54.9 || −35.1/−41.5 || −31.2/−42.7
|-
| Saskylakh || 16.8/7.7 || 62.2/45.9 || −29.2/−36.7 || −20.6/−34.1
|-
| Tiksi || 12.1/3.9 || 53.8/39 || −26.7/−33.8 || −16.1/−28.8
|}

''Average annual precipitation'': 200&nbsp;mm (central parts) to 700&nbsp;mm (mountains of Eastern Sakha).

==Administrative divisions==

==History==
{{Further|History:History of Siberia}}

===Pre-history===
Siberia, and particularly Yakutia is of [[Biology:Paleontology|paleontological]] significance, as it contains bodies of [[History:Prehistory|prehistoric]] animals from the [[Earth:Pleistocene|Pleistocene]] [[Earth:Epoch (geology)|Epoch]], preserved in ice or [[Earth:Permafrost|permafrost]]. In 2015, the frozen bodies of Dina and Uyan the cave lion cubs were found. The region was also the location the bodies of [[Biology:Yuka (mammoth)|Yuka]] and another [[Biology:Woolly mammoth|Woolly mammoth]] from Oymyakon, a [[Biology:Woolly rhinoceros|Woolly rhinoceros]] from the Kolyma River, and [[Biology:Bison|bison]] and [[Biology:Horse|horse]]s from Yukagir.<ref name=Thesiberiantimes2015>{{Cite web|title = Meet this extinct cave lion, at least 10,000 years old – world exclusive|url = http://siberiantimes.com/science/others/news/n0464-meet-this-extinct-cave-lion-at-least-10000-years-old/|website = siberiantimes.com|accessdate=January 30, 2016}}</ref>

Ymyakhtakh culture (c. 2200–1300 BC) was a Late Neolithic culture of Siberia, with a very large archaeological horizon. Its origins were in Sakha, in the Lena river basin. From there it spread both to the east and to the west.<ref>Kicki Näslund, [https://www.academia.edu/10336011/ Short summary of Siberian pre-history and cultures] – Academia.edu</ref>

===Early history===
The Turkic Sakha people or ''Yakuts'' probably settled in the area in the 13th and 14th centuries, migrating north from the [[Earth:Lake Baikal|Lake Baikal]] area to the middle Lena. From their new center along the middle Lena, they gradually expanded northeast and west beyond the Lena basin towards the [[Earth:Arctic Ocean|Arctic Ocean]].

The name ''Sakha'' is of Turkic origin, "saqa-saha" meaning "cue" or "bat". The term ''Yakut'' is a corruption of ''zhaqut – yakut'' "precious stone", referring to the [[Chemistry:Ruby|ruby]]. It comes from Persian and Arabic یاقوت (Yaqut) which in turn is borrowed, via Greek, from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language.<ref>"Hyacinth | Origin And Meaning Of Hyacinth By Online Etymology Dictionary". 2020. Etymonline.Com. Accessed January 17 2020. [https://www.etymonline.com/word/hyacinth?ref=etymonline_crossreference].</ref>

The Sakha displaced earlier, much smaller populations who lived on hunting and reindeer herding, introducing the pastoralist economy of Central Asia. The indigenous populations of Paleosiberian and Tungusic stock
were mostly [[Social:Cultural assimilation|assimilated]] to the Sakha by the 17th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/resources/rfn/sakha.html |title=Scott Polar Research Institute — Republic of Sakha|publisher=Spri.cam.ac.uk|date=|accessdate=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

===Russian conquest===
{{Main|History:Russian conquest of Siberia}}

The [[Place:Tsardom of Russia|Tsardom of Russia]] began its conquest of the region in the 17th century, moving east after the defeat of the [[History:Khanate of Sibir|Khanate of Sibir]]. Tygyn, a king of the Khangalassky Yakuts, granted territory for Russian settlement in return for a military pact that included war against indigenous rebels of all North Eastern Asia (Magadan, Chukotka, Kamchatka and Sakhalin). Kull, a king of the Megino-Khangalassky Yakuts, began a Sakha conspiracy by allowing the first stockade construction.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}
[[File:Map of Yakut oblast.jpg|thumb|right|1821 map of Yakutsk Oblast.]]

In August 1638, the Moscow Government formed a new administrative unit with the administrative center of Lensky Ostrog (Fort Lensky), the future city of Yakutsk, which had been founded by [[History:Pyotr Beketov|Pyotr Beketov]] in 1632.

The arrival of the Russian settlers at the remote Russkoye Ustye in the Indigirka delta likely also dates to the 17th century.<ref>А. И. Гоголев. "История Якутии: (Обзор исторических событий до начала ХХ в.)". (A. I. Gogolev. [http://www.ysu.ru/facultet/kfi/books/HistoryOfYakutiya.htm History of Yakutia: Review of Historical Events to the beginning of the 20th century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050527010736/http://www.ysu.ru/facultet/kfi/books/HistoryOfYakutiya.htm |date=May 27, 2005 }}) Yakutsk, 1999.</ref> The [[History:Siberian Governorate|Siberian Governorate]] was established as part of the Russian Tsardom in 1708.

Russian settlers began to form a community in the 18th century, which adopted certain Yakut customs and was often called ''Yakutyane'' (Якутя́не) or Lena Early Settlers (ленские старожилы). However, the influx of later settlers assimilated them into the Russian mainstream by the 20th century.

===Russian Empire===
In an administrative reform of 1782, Irkutsk Governorate was created. In 1805, [[History:Yakutsk Oblast|Yakutsk Oblast]] was split from Irkutsk Governorate.

Yakutsk Oblast in the early 19th century marked the easternmost territory of the Russian Empire, including such [[Place:Russian Far East|Far Eastern]] (Pacific) territories as were acquired, known as Okhotsk Okrug within Yakutsk Oblast. With the formation of Primorskaya Oblast in 1856, the Russian territories of the Pacific were detached from Yakutia.
[[File:Члены Сибирской областной Думы 1917.jpeg|thumb|right|Members of the Siberian Regional Duma from Yakutsk, 1917.]]

The Russians established agriculture in the Lena River basin. The members of religious groups who were exiled to Sakha in the second half of the 19th century began to grow [[Biology:Wheat|wheat]], [[Biology:Oat|oat]]s, and [[Biology:Potato|potato]]es. The fur trade established a cash economy. Industry and transport began to develop at the end of the 19th century and in the beginning of the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet]] period. This was also the beginning of geological prospecting, mining, and local [[Chemistry:Lead|lead]] production. The first steam-powered ships and barges arrived.

Yakutia's remoteness, even compared to the rest of Siberia, made it a place of exile of choice for both Tsarist and Communist governments of Russia. Among the famous Tsarist-era exiles were the democratic writer [[Biography:Nikolay Chernyshevsky|Nikolay Chernyshevsky]]; Doukhobor [[Social:Conscientious objector|conscientious objector]]s, whose story was told to [[Biography:Leo Tolstoy|Leo Tolstoy]] by Vasily Pozdnyakov; the Socialist Revolutionary and writer Vladimir Zenzinov, who left an interesting account of his Arctic experiences; and Polish socialist activist Wacław Sieroszewski, who pioneered in ethnographic research on Yakut people.

===Soviet era===
On April 27, 1922, former Yakutsk Oblast was proclaimed the Yakut ASSR, although in fact the eastern part of the territory, including the city of Yakutsk, was controlled by the White Russians (see Yakut revolt).

In 1992, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Yakutia was recognized in Moscow as the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation.

Yakutia is historically part of Russian Siberia, but since the formation of the Far Eastern Federal District in 2000, it is administratively part of the [[Place:Russian Far East|Russian Far East]].
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==Tourism==
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==Demographics==
'''Population''': {{ru-census|p2010=958,528|p2002=949,280|p1989=1,081,408}} Population density is 0.31 per km<sup>2</sup> (2019), which is one of the lowest between Russian districts. Urban population - 65,45% (2018). <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/doc_2018/bul_dr/mun_obr2018.rar|title=Population of Russian Federation on 1 January 2018|website=GKS|url-status=}}</ref>

===Settlements===
{{Largest cities
| name         = Largest cities
| country      = the Sakha Republic
| stat_ref     = 2010 Russian Census
| list_by_pop  =
| class        = nav
| div_name     =
| div_link     = Administrative divisions of the Sakha Republic{{!}}Administrative division
| city_1 = Yakutsk
| div_1 = Yakutsk{{!}}City of republic significance of Yakutsk
| pop_1 = 269,601
| img_1 = Якутск. Вид на центральную часть города (2).JPG
| city_2 = Neryungri
| div_2 = Neryungrinsky District
| pop_2 = 61,747
| img_2 = Нерюнгри. Проспект Дружбы народов.JPG
| city_3 = Mirny, Sakha Republic{{!}}Mirny
| div_3 = Mirninsky District
| pop_3 = 37,188
| img_3 = Center square in Mirny (Yakutia, Russia).jpg
| city_4 = Lensk
| div_4 = Lensky District, Sakha Republic{{!}}Lensky District
| pop_4 = 24,966
| img_4 = Ленск2.jpg
| city_5 = Aldan, Russia{{!}}Aldan
| div_5 = Aldansky District
| pop_5 = 21,275
| city_6 = Aykhal
| div_6 = Mirninsky District
| pop_6 = 13,727
| city_7 = Udachny
| div_7 = Mirninsky District
| pop_7 = 12,613
| city_8 = Vilyuysk
| div_8 = Vilyuysky District
| pop_8 = 10,234
| city_9 = Nyurba
| div_9 = Nyurbinsky District
| pop_9 = 10,157
| city_10 = Suntar (rural locality){{!}}Suntar
| div_10 = Suntarsky District
| pop_10 = 10,034
}}

===Vital statistics===
[[File:Sakha graph pop.png|thumb|right|Breakdown of population changes, 1939–2002.]]
[[File:Vladimir Putin 24 May 2001-1.jpg|thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin with local residents in Lensk.]]
[[File:Ил Күнэ - День государственности Республики Саха 27.jpg|thumb|Statehood Day celebrations in Yakutsk.]]
[[File:234 Поселок Витим.jpg|thumb|Vitim, Sakha Republic.]]
[[File:078 Деревня Даппарай, Олекминский район.jpg|thumb|Dapparay.]]
[[File:Ленские столбы 2015 (025).JPG|thumb|Cruise on the Lena River.]]
:Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20150527224330/http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/cbsd/dbinet.cgi Russian Federal State Statistics Service]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! style="width:70pt;"|Average population (x 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Live births
! style="width:70pt;"|Deaths
! style="width:70pt;"|Natural change
! style="width:70pt;"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Natural change (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Fertility rates
|-
| 1970
| style="text-align:right;"| 674
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,899
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,700
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,199
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.2
|-
| 1975
| style="text-align:right;"| 775
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,636
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,242
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,394
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.1
|-
| 1980
| style="text-align:right;"| 887
| style="text-align:right;"| 18,132
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,501
| style="text-align:right;"| 10,631
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.0
|-
| 1985
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,002
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,823
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,266
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,557
| style="text-align:right;"| 22.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.5
|-
| 1990
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,115
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,662
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,470
| style="text-align:right;"| 14,192
| style="text-align:right;"| 19.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.46
|-
| 1991
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,110
| style="text-align:right;"| 19,805
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,565
| style="text-align:right;"| 12,240
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.32
|-
| 1992
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,090
| style="text-align:right;"| 17,796
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,710
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,086
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.17
|-
| 1993
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,072
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,771
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,419
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,352
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.08
|-
| 1994
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,051
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,434
| style="text-align:right;"| 10,371
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,063
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.07
|-
| 1995
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,029
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,731
| style="text-align:right;"| 10,079
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,652
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.01
|-
| 1996
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,015
| style="text-align:right;"| 14,584
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,638
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,946
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.88
|-
| 1997
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,003
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,909
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,094
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,815
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.81
|-
| 1998
| style="text-align:right;"| 986
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,640
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,856
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,784
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.80
|-
| 1999
| style="text-align:right;"| 970
| style="text-align:right;"| 12,724
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,480
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,244
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.71
|-
| 2000
| style="text-align:right;"| 960
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,147
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,325
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,822
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.77
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:right;"| 954
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,262
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,738
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,524
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.78
|-
| 2002
| style="text-align:right;"| 950
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,887
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,700
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,187
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.85
|-
| 2003
| style="text-align:right;"| 949
| style="text-align:right;"| 14,224
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,660
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,564
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.86
|-
| 2004
| style="text-align:right;"| 950
| style="text-align:right;"| 14,716
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,692
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,024
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.91
|-
| 2005
| style="text-align:right;"| 950
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,591
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,696
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,895
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.74
|-
| 2006
| style="text-align:right;"| 950
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,713
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,245
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,468
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.73
|-
| 2007
| style="text-align:right;"| 951
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,268
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,179
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,089
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.92
|-
| 2008
| style="text-align:right;"| 953
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,363
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,579
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,784
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.92
|-
| 2009
| style="text-align:right;"| 955
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,970
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,353
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,617
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.00
|-
| 2010
| style="text-align:right;"| 958
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,109
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,402
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,707
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.02
|-
| 2011
| style="text-align:right;"| 957
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,402
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,992
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,410
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.06
|-
| 2012
| style="text-align:right;"| 956
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,998
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,918
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,080
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.17
|-
| 2013
| style="text-align:right;"| 955
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,704
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,351
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,353
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.17
|-
| 2014
| style="text-align:right;"| 956
| style="text-align:right;"| 17,010
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,209
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,801
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.25
|-
| 2015
| style="text-align:right;"| 958
| style="text-align:right;"| 16,459
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,233
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,226
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.19
|-
| 2016
| style="text-align:right;"| 961
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,424
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,052
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,372
| style="text-align:right;"| 16.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.08(e)
|-
| 2017
| style="text-align:right;"| 963
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,954
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,817
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,137
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.4
| style="text-align:right;"|
|}

===Ethnic groups===
According to the 2010 Census, the ethnic composition was:<ref name="2010Census" />
* 466,492 Yakuts (49.9%)
* 353,649 Russians (37.8%)
* 21,080 Evenks (2.2%)
* 20,341 Ukrainians (2.2%)
* 15,071 Evens (1.6%)
* 8,122 Tatars (0.9%)

Historical population figures are shown below:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan="2" | 1926 Census
! colspan="2" | 1939 Census
! colspan="2" | 1959 Census
! colspan="2" | 1970 Census
! colspan="2" | 1979 Census
! colspan="2" | 1989 Census
! colspan="2" | 2002 Census
! colspan="2" | 2010 Census<sup>1</sup>
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Yakuts
|235,926
|81.6%
| rowspan="2"| 233,273
|rowspan="2"| 56.5%
| rowspan="2"| 226,053
|rowspan="2"| 46.4%
| 285,749
|43.0%
| 313,917
|36.9%
| 365,236
|33.4%
| 432,290
|45.5%
| 466,492
|49.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Dolgans
| 0
| 0.0%
| 10
|0.0%
| 64
|0.0%
| 408
|0.0%
| 1,272
|0.1%
| 1,906
|0.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Evenks
| 13,502
|4.7%
| 10,432
|2.5%
| 9,505
|2.0%
| 9,097
|1.4%
| 11,584
|1.4%
| 14,428
|1.3%
| 18,232
|1.9%
| 21,008
|2.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Evens
|738
|0.3%
| 3,133
|0.8%
| 3,537
|0.7%
| 6,471
|1.0%
| 5,763
|0.7%
| 8,668
|0.8%
| 11,657
|1.2%
| 15,071
|1.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Yukaghir
|396
|0.1%
| 267
|0.1%
| 285
|0.1%
| 400
|0.1%
| 526
|0.1%
| 697
|0.1%
| 1,097
|0.1%
| 1,281
|0.1%
|-
|align="left"| Chukchis
|1,298
| 0.4%
| 400
|0.1%
| 325
|0.1%
| 387
|0.1%
| 377
|0.0%
| 473
|0.0%
| 602
|0.1%
| 670
|0.1%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Russians
|30,156
|10.4%
| 146,741
|35.5%
| 215,328
|44.2%
| 314,308
|47.3%
| 429,588
|50.4%
| 550,263
|50.3%
| 390,671
|41.2%
| 353,649
|37.8%
|-
|align="left"| Ukrainians
|138
|0.0%
| 4,229
|1.0%
| 12,182
|2.5%
| 20,253
|3.0%
| 46,326
|5.4%
| 77,114
|7.0%
| 34,633
|3.6%
| 20,341
|2.2%
|-
|align="left"| Tatars
| 1,671
|0.6%
| 4,420
|1.1%
| 5,172
|1.1%
| 7,678
|1.2%
| 10.976
|1.3%
| 17,478
|1.6%
| 10,768
|1.1%
| 8,122
|0.9%
|-
|align="left"|  Others
|5,260
|1.8%
| 10,303
|2.5%
| 14,956
|3.1%
| 19,770
|3.0%
| 32,719
|3.8%
| 59,300
|5.4%
| 48,058
|5.1%
| 46,124
|4.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="17"| <sup>1</sup> <small>23,864 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.</small><ref>http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936</ref>
|}

===Languages===
The official languages are both Russian and Sakha, also known as Yakut, which is spoken by approximately 40% of the population. The Yakut language is a member of the [[Social:Turkic languages|Turkic]] language family.

===Religion===
{{Bar box
|title=Religion in Sakha Republic as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas">[http://sreda.org/en/arena "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia"]. Sreda, 2012.</ref><ref name="2012Arena-religion-maps">[http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps]. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg Archived].</ref>
|float=right
|bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Religion:Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]]|DarkOrchid|37.8}}
{{Bar percent|Protestantism|Navy|0.8}}
{{Bar percent|Other Christians|DeepSkyBlue|0.8}}
{{Bar percent|Islam|Green|1.4}}
{{Bar percent|Rodnovery and other native faiths|Red|13}}
{{Bar percent|[[Philosophy:Spiritual but not religious|Spiritual but not religious]]|DarkSlateGray|16.6}}
{{Bar percent|[[Philosophy:Atheism|Atheism]] and [[Religion:Irreligion|irreligion]]|Black|25.6}}
{{Bar percent|Other and undeclared|Gray|4}}
}}

Before the arrival of the Russian Empire, the majority of the local population was Tengrist, similar to the other Turkic people of Central Asia, or in Paleoasian indigenous [[Unsolved:Shamanism|shamanism]] with both 'light' (community leading) and 'dark' (healing through spirit journey) shamans. Under the Russians, the local population was converted to the [[Religion:Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox Church]] and required to take Orthodox Christian names, but in practice generally continued to follow traditional religions. During the Soviet era, most or all of the shamans died without successors.

In the 1990s, a neopagan shamanist movement called ''aiyy yeurekhé'' was founded by the controversial journalist Ivan Ukhkhan and a philologist calling himself Téris.<ref>[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rss/28-1_113.pdf Yakutia (Sakha) Faces a Religious Choice: Shamanism or Christianity]</ref> This group and others cooperated to build a shaman temple in downtown Yakutsk in 2002.<ref>[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rss/33-1_057.pdf Whose Steeple is Higher? Religious Competition in Siberia]</ref>

Currently, while Orthodox Christianity maintains a following (however, with very few priests willing to be stationed outside of Yakutsk), there is interest and activity toward renewing the traditional religions. As of 2008, Orthodox leaders described the worldview of the republic's indigenous population (or, rather, those among the population who are not completely indifferent to religion) as ''dvoyeverie'' (dual belief system), or a "tendency toward syncretism", as evidenced by the locals sometimes first inviting a shaman, and then an Orthodox priest to carry out their rites in connection with some event in their life.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taday.ru/text/135461.html
|title =В Якутии господствует двоеверие (Ч. 1) (Yakutia is dominated by a dual belief system)|author=Елена Дятлова (Yelena Dyatlova)
|date=October 1, 2008
|quote=Во многих случаях нам говорили, что при совершении тех или иных обрядов или просто действий приглашают сначала шамана, потом священника. Правда, именно в таком порядке, признавая христианство чем-то высшим по отношению к местной магической языческой традиции, но это соединяя. Даже среди тех представителей якутской интеллигенции, с которыми мы общались, это стремление к синкретизму было отчетливо приметно.
}} (An interview with Maxim Kozlov, a Moscow priest who had recently returned from a missionary trip down the Lena along with the Bishop of Yakutsk).</ref>

According to the Information Center under the President of Sakha Republic (Информационный центр при Президенте РС(Я)), the religious demography of the republic was as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religare.ru/2_43720.html |title=РЕЛИГАРЕ – Современная религиозная ситуация в Республике Саха (Якутия): проблемы и перспективы |publisher=Religare.ru |date= |accessdate=February 25, 2014}}</ref> Orthodoxy: 44.9%, Shamanism: 26.2%, Non-religious: 23.0%, New religious movements: 2.4%, Islam: 1.2%, Buddhism: 1.0%, Protestantism: 0.9%, Catholicism: 0.4%.

According to a 2012 survey,<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas"/> 37.8% of the population of Yakutia adheres to the [[Religion:Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox Church]], 13% to [[Religion:Tengrism|Tengrism]] or Yakut shamanism, 2% to [[Religion:Islam|Islam]], 1% are unaffiliated [[Religion:Christians|Christians]], 1% to forms of [[Religion:Protestantism|Protestantism]], and 0.4% to Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, 26% of the population deems itself [[Philosophy:Atheism|atheist]], 17% is "spiritual but not religious", and 1.8% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas"/>
{{clear}}

==Politics==
[[File:Russia Day in Mirny, Sakha Republic 20.JPG|thumb|Russia Day celebrations in Mirny, June 12, 2014.]]

The head of government in Sakha is the Head (previously President). The first Head of the Sakha Republic was Mikhail Yefimovich Nikolayev.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://sakha.gov.ru/main.asp?c=4115|title=Члены Совета Федерации Федерального Собрания РФ |chapter=Михаил Ефимович НИКОЛАЕВ |publisher=Government of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) |accessdate=February 18, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111050353/http://sakha.gov.ru/main.asp?c=4115|archivedate=November 11, 2007}}</ref> As of 2010, the president is Yegor Borisov, who took office on May&nbsp;31, 2010; his vice president is Yevgeniya Mikhaylova.

The supreme legislative body of state authority in Sakha is a unicameral State Assembly known as the ''Il Tumen''.  The government of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic is the executive body of state authority.

The republic fosters close cultural, political, economic, and industrial relations with the independent Turkic states through membership in organizations such as the [[Organization:Turkic Council|Turkic Council]] and the Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&newsId=259275&link=259275|title=Turkey seeks to institutionalize relations with Turkic republics – Today's Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news|publisher=Todayszaman.com|date=October 9, 2011|accessdate=February 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014233821/http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&newsId=259275&link=259275|archivedate=October 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3540/turkey-and-the-turkic-republics-is-there-a-new-vision-.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=May 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103034927/http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3540/turkey-and-the-turkic-republics-is-there-a-new-vision-.html |archive-date=January 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yakutiatoday.com/region/foreign.shtml |title=Foreign Relations of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) |publisher=YakutiaToday.Com |date=January 1, 2008|accessdate=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Gold-tuc1009a.jpg|thumb|upright|Unusual gold specimen from Bulun District, Lena River basin. Weight is about 6 grams.]]

Industry generates slightly above 50%{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} of the gross national product of Sakha, stemming primarily from mineral exploitation. Industrial enterprises are concentrated in the capital Yakutsk, as well as in Aldan, Mirny, Neryungri, Pokrovsk, and Udachny. The diamond, gold, and tin ore mining industries are the major focus of the economy. Uranium ore is beginning to be mined. The Turkic-speaking Sakha people are engaged in politics, government, finance, economy, and cattle-breeding (horses and cows for milk and meat). The Paleoasian indigenous peoples are hunters, fishermen, and [[Biology:Reindeer|reindeer]] herders. As of 2008, Sakha Republic is the 19th most developed federal subject in Russia.

The largest companies in the region include Alrosa, Yakutugol, Yakutskenergo, Yakutia Airlines.<ref name="regioncompanies">{{cite web |script-title=ru:Выписки ЕГРЮЛ и ЕГРИП, проверка контрагентов, ИНН и КПП организаций, реквизиты ИП и ООО |url=https://sbis.ru/contragents?p=companies |website=СБИС |accessdate=20 October 2018 |language=ru}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Water transport ranks first for cargo turnover. There are six river ports, two seaports (Tiksi and Zelyony Mys). Four shipping companies, including the ''Arctic Sea Shipping Company'', operate in the republic. The republic's main waterway is the Lena River, which links Yakutsk with the rail station of Ust-Kut in Irkutsk Oblast.

Air transport is the most important for transporting people. Airlines connect the republic with most regions of Russia. Yakutsk Airport has an international terminal.

Two federal roads pass the republic. They are Yakutsk–Skovorodino (A360 Lena highway) and Yakutsk–Magadan (M56 Kolyma Highway).
However, due to the presence of permafrost, use of asphalt is not practical, and therefore the roads are made of clay.  When heavy rains blow over the region, the roads often turn to mud, sometimes stranding hundreds of travelers in the process.<ref>EnglishRussia.com – [http://englishrussia.com/?p=315 ''Russian Roads'']</ref>

The Berkakit–Tommot railroad is currently in operation. It links the Baikal Amur Mainline with the industrial centers in South Yakutia. Construction of the Amur Yakutsk Mainline continues northward; the railway was completed to Nizhny Bestyakh, across the river from Yakutsk, in 2013. Though this one track railroad from Tommot to Nizhny Bestyakh is under temporary operation (30% of its full capacity), the main customer – the Federal agency for railways declared that this railroad will be in full operation in fall of 2015.{{update inline|date=February 2016}} Also the private company is now{{when|date=February 2016}} constructing the transport and logistics center in Nizhny Bestyakh.

==Education==
The most important facilities of higher education include [[Organization:North-Eastern Federal University|North-Eastern Federal University]] (previously Yakutsk State University) and Yakutsk State Agricultural Academy.

==Culture==
[[File:Ohuokhai.jpeg|thumb|Yakut dance with traditional clothing.]]

The State Russian drama theatre named after A. S. Pushkin; the Sakha Theater named after P. A. Oiyunsky; the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after D. K. Sivtsev; and Suorun Omoloon, Young Spectator's Theatre are all points of interest in the city.

There are a number of museums as well. These include the National Fine Arts Museum of Sakha, the Museum of Local Lore and History named after E. Yaroslavsky, and the Khomus Museum and Museum of Permafrost.

==National days==
* April&nbsp;27: Republic Day
* June&nbsp;21: [[Religion:Yhyakh|Ysyakh festival also known as Yakut New Year]]

==Notable people==
*Pyotr Nikolayevich Toburokov, writer and poet 

==See also==
* Cuisine of Sakha
* Lena Pillars
* List of rural localities in the Sakha Republic
* Music in the Sakha Republic
* [[Engineering:Yakutian knife|Yakutian knife]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite Russian law
|ru_entity=Верховный Совет Республики Саха (Якутия)
|ru_date=4 апреля 1992 г.
|ru_title=Конституция (основной закон) Республики Саха (Якутия)
|ru_amendment_type=Конституционного закона
|ru_amendment_number=581-З 53-IV
|ru_amendment_date=22 июля 2008 г
|en_entity=Supreme Council of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic
|en_date=April&nbsp;4, 1992
|en_title=Constitution (Basic Law) of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic
|en_amendment_type=Constitutional Law
|en_amendment_number=581-Z 53-IV
|en_amendment_date=July&nbsp;22 2008
}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{in lang|ru}} [http://sakha.gov.ru/ Official website of the government of Sakha Republic]
* {{in lang|en|ru}} [http://www.sakhaexport.ru/ Official website of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Sakha (in development)]
* {{in lang|sah}} [http://doydu.sakhaopenworld.org/ Orto Doydu&nbsp;— Samples of music, songs and video in Sakha]
* {{in lang|sah}} [http://www.kyym.ru/ Kyym&nbsp;— weekly newspaper]
* {{in lang|ru}} [https://archive.is/20121028041101/http://www.ysu.ru/ Official website of the Yakutsk State University]
* [http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/resources/rfn/sakha.html Information on Sakha from Scott Polar Research Institute]
* {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20050527010736/http://www.ysu.ru/facultet/kfi/books/HistoryOfYakutiya.htm History of Yakutia]
* [http://sakha.gov.ru/node/198 Sakha's Anthem]
* [http://www.eyakutia.com/ eYakutia – English Yakutia – Blog about the life in Yakutia]


[[Category:East Siberian Sea]]

{{Sourceattribution|Yakutia|1}}