Zhigansk

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Zhigansk is a small rural town (a selo) in Russia. It is the administrative center of Zhigansky District in the Sakha Republic, and sits on the left bank of the Lena River near where it is joined by the Nuora (Strekalovka). It is about 600 kilometers northwest of Yakutsk, the republic’s capital.

History and status
Zhigansk was founded in 1632 as a fort by Cossacks led by Pyotr Beketov. It became a town in 1783 and served as the district seat in Yakutsk Oblast. It lost town status in 1805 and remained the northernmost town on the Lena until 1917, when it became a rural locality again. In 1930 it became the administrative center of Zhigansky District, created as an Evenk National District because many Evenks lived there.

Population
The town had about 3,420 residents in the 2010 census and around 3,382 in 2021. In 2002, Evenks made up about 47% of the population and Yakuts about 34%.

Transport
Zhigansk has an airport. There is no year-round road connection to the town. In summer, you can reach Yakutsk by boat along the Lena; in winter, a frozen Lena allows a winter road.

Climate
Zhigansk has a very cold subarctic climate with long winters and short, mild summers. It is not as extremely cold as Verkhoyansk or Oymyakon, which are farther to the east.