Komi Republic, Russia (Komy)

The capital city of Komi republic: Syktyvkar.

Komi Republic overview

Komi Republic (also spelled Komy) is located in North-Western part of Russian Federation, part of North-Western Federal District. Komi is a multinational republic. The population consists of about one hundred nationalities including 23% of native Komi people. Administrative center and capital city of Komi republic is Syktyvkar.

Komi Republic population is about 959,000 (2009) on the land area of 415,900 sq. km.

Komi republic flag

Komi republic flag

Komi republic coat of arms

Komi republic coat of arms

Komi republic anthem

Komi republic map, Russia

Komi republic map of Russia

Komi Republic history

In Middle Ages the lands of Komi were a part of Novgorod Republic, at the end of 15th century - of Moscow state. The most important goods taken beyond the region was fur. Due to severe climate and absence of all-year round roads the territory remained weakly populated for a long time, although still in mid 18th century oil extracting began near the river Ukhta.

Commercial development of Komi and population growth began in 1930-1950s and was connected with GULAG and its branches (Ukhtpechlag and others). In early 1930s large deposits of coal were found in Komi region, it was mined during World War II to compensate the loss of Donbass. At that very time the imprisoned people built the railway “Ukhta-Pechora-Inta-Vorkuta” (1942) to carry coal, oil and timber. At the end of 1950s GULAG was abolished but a lot of prisons still exist on the territory of Komi Republic.

During post-Soviet period the industry in Komi was in crisis, a lot of inhabitants left the Republic (within 1990-2007 the Republic became 22% less populated). The most important dates in the modern history of Republic of Komi: May 26th, 1992 - Komi SSR was reformed into Republic of Komi; February 17th, 1994 - the Constitution of Republic of Komi was adopted; June 6th, 1994 - coat of arms, flag and hymn of the Republic of Komi were adopted.

Komi Republic nature sceneries

Komi republic nature view

Komi republic nature view

Author: Nikolay Alexandrov

Komi republic landscape

Komi republic landscape

Author: Nikolay Alexandrov

Komy Russia republic view

Komy Russia republic view

Author: Starokozhko Denis


Komi Republic natural resources

Komi Republic has unique stocks of mineral resources represented by combustible minerals, oil and natural gas, metal ores, minerals and balneological resources. The fuel resources are represented by oil and natural gas of Timano-Pechorsky oil field, coke and energetic coals of Pechorsky coal deposits, peat and timber resources.

About half of oil and gas stock of Russian European North is concentrated here (geological potential of oil and gas stocks exceeds 6 billion tons). The total coal stock is estimated at more than 213 billion tons. Titan deposits of Komi Republic are the largest in Russia and neighboring countries.

Nowadays Komi Republic is becoming one of the biggest and important suppliers of bauxite and manganese ores. Industrial supplies of sulfur, diamonds, rubies and amethysts can be found and explored on the territory of the region. About 65% of Komi republic territory is covered by forests.

Komi Republic economics

Present day Komi Republic is a well developed region of Russian Federation. Industrial and social infrastructure has transport communication, own electric power and heater supply, produced from own fuel.

Komi Republic industry is composed of more than 30 branches. Fuel and raw material branches dominate and produce about 80% of the total industrial products. Komi Republic is represented as big exporter of fuel, raw materials and other goods.

Komi Republic views

Komi Russia region view

Komi Russia region view

Author: E.Groshevik

Komy republic scenery

Komy republic scenery

Author: Parkhomenko Konstantin

Komi Russia republic scenery

Komi Russia republic scenery

Author: Alexander Zlobin


Komi Republic places of interest

In 2008 there were 95 officially mentioned nature sites on the territory of Komi Republic. Among them are:

  • “The ruins of ancient town” on plateau Torre-Porre-Iz.
  • “Karstic Iordan ravine” on the right bank of Malaya Pechora river, 16 km up from where Bolshoi Shezhim flows into it.
  • “Verkhniye Vorota (Upper Gates)” on the river Bolshaya Synya (located 55 km up the railway bridge).
  • “Koltso (Ring)” on the river Sharyu (30 km from Usinsk, “A Window to Usinsk oil”).
  • Caves: “Kaninskaya” 47 km up the mouth of the river Unya on the right bank of Pechora, “Unyinskaya” 110 km from Unya mouth, “Ledyanaya (Icy)”, “Tufovaya (Tuff)” and “Medvezhya peshera (Bear’s cavern)” in Iordan ravine, where one of the farthest northern site of Paleolithic man was found and the largest in European north whereabouts of mammoth’s bones, hairy rhinoceros and cavern bear.

These are the candidates for the title “Seven Wonders of Russia” from the Republic of Komi:

  • Bogatyr-Shelye, a rock, a geological monument, located on the river Bolshaya Synya 25 km from the farm Synya.
  • Shugor, a river. “Verkhniye Vorota (Upper Gates)” (located 73 km from the river mouth), “Sredniye Vorota (Middle Gates)” (9 km lower of Upper Gates), “Nizhniye Vorota (Lower Gates)” (the most picturesque place is 22 km from the mouth, on the right bank) and waterfalls “Veldor-Kyrta-El” in the rocks on the bank of Upper Gates, these are geological monuments.
  • Lyokiz, a number of rocks, a geological monument, is located on the right bank of the river Ilych, 4 km lower of a stream B.Sotchemyol, Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve.
  • Pillars on plateau Manpupunyor, a geological monument, is located between rivers Ichotlyaga and Pechora. The pillars are one of the winners of the contest “Seven Wonders of Russia”.
  • The city of Inta. Kozhimsky and Syvyusky geological monuments, “Golden baba”, a rock “Rif”, a rock “Monakh”, “Kayuk-Nyrd”, “Nortnicha-el”, a cedar monument “Vadcharty” - nature sites on the river Kozhim, Inta city soviet.
  • An old settlement Yb on seven hills (located 50 km to the south of Syktyvkar city), on the bank of Sysola river there are sites of Jurassic period. This geological monument is known for a long time. Local people often find the fossil remnants here. Due to hot and dry summers and low water level in Sysola the remnants of pre-historical animals - ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus became systematic, not sudden ones.

Komi republic of Russia photos

Komy Republic churches

Komy republic former church

Komy republic former church

Author: Kiyanovsky Dmitry

Komi Russia republic church

Komi Russia republic church

Author: S. Shumilov


Komi region winter view

Komi region winter forest

Komi region winter forest

Author: Ivan Pozdeev


The questions of our visitors

Oscar asks: Hi, I'm going to the Komi Republic for a summer internship this summer. The internship will be in Syktyvkar and I don't think I'll have time off except for the week-ends. Do you think that I'll have time to see the beautiful nature spots of the republic during the week-ends or are they too far away?
Expert's answer:
Komi Republic is rich in various beautiful nature spots so you will be able to visit several of them that are not far away from Syktyvkar but about all the details you should ask the local people of course.