Salekhard, Administrative center in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Salekhard is the administrative center of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and sits at the mouth of the Polui River where it flows into the Ob at 15 meters (49 feet) elevation. The town spreads along the northern banks of both rivers, with the Arctic Circle passing directly through the urban area and dividing the southern districts from the northern neighborhoods.
The settlement was founded in 1595 as Obdorsk and served as a rest stop for traders and travelers passing through northern Siberia. In the 20th century the settlement took the name Salekhard and became the center of the newly created autonomous district.
The regional museum carries the name of ethnographer Shemanovsky and preserves objects used by the Nenets, who still lead reindeer herds across the tundra today. The natural specimens on display show the wildlife of the region, including a mammoth calf named Lubya found nearby in 2007.
The Ob freezes solid for nine months and allows vehicles to cross directly on the ice, while in summer you need to take ferries. The cold season lasts long and requires warm clothing even during the transition months.
The town center sits one kilometer (half a mile) south of the Arctic Circle, while the northern suburbs already lie beyond this line. A stele with a globe marks the exact course of this geographic boundary within the built-up area.
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