Naukan

Naukan is an archaeological site located on Cape Dezhnev along the northeastern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula, near the settlement of Uelen in Russia's remote Arctic region.

The settlement was established around the 15th century and served as the easternmost inhabited location on the Eurasian continent until its forced evacuation and abandonment in November 1958.

Naukan was home to approximately 400 Yupik Inuit people who spoke the Naukan language and relied on traditional subsistence activities including seal hunting, walrus hunting, and fishing for survival.

The site is located at approximately 66 degrees north latitude and 170 degrees west longitude, accessible primarily through specialized transportation arrangements from nearby communities such as Uelen in the Chukotsky District.

The Soviet government forcibly relocated all inhabitants of Naukan in 1958 as part of a consolidation effort, displacing the indigenous community to settlements including Uelen, Lavrentiya, and Lorino across Chukotka.

Location: Chukotsky District

Location: Uelen

Inception: 14 century

GPS coordinates: 66.01790,-169.70886

Latest update: November 28, 2025 15:19