Okha
Encyclopedia
Okha is a town in Sakhalin Oblast
, Russia
. Population: 29,000 (2003 est.); 27,963 (2002 Census
); 36,104 (1989 Census
).
, approximately 850 km north of the regional capital Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
, near the shoreline of the Sea of Okhotsk
.
in the area in 1880, initially under the name Okhe. The name is derived from an Ainu
word meaning Bad Water. Industrial exploitation of the petroleum reserves began in 1923, during the Japanese occupation of Sakhalin from 1920-25. Town status was granted in 1938.
The town suffered significant damage in an earthquake on May 28, 1995, with over 2,000 inhabitants killed. Another smaller earthquake hit the town on May 10, 2005, but there were no fatalities or significant damage.
, is the center of Sakhalin's petroleum
industry. An oil pipeline and gas main runs from Okha to Komsomolsk-on-Amur
on the Russian mainland.
A number of oil wells exist in close proximity to the town, mainly controlled by the company Rosneft
.
The town is the northern end point for the island's road system. There was a rail connection to the island's narrow-gauge rail network at Nogliki
, however this was closed in 2006.
Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast is a federal subject of Russia comprising the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.The oblast has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Population: 29,000 (2003 est.); 27,963 (2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
); 36,104 (1989 Census
Soviet Census (1989)
The 1989 Soviet census, conducted between January 12-19 of that year, was the last one conducted in the former USSR. It resulted in a total population of 286,730,819 inhabitants...
).
Geography
The town lies on the east coast of the far north of the island of SakhalinSakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
, approximately 850 km north of the regional capital Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
-Demographics:Most residents are ethnic Russians, but there also exists a sizable population of Koreans. Of the 43,000 Sakhalin Koreans, half are estimated to live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, comprising roughly 12% of the city's population...
, near the shoreline of the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
.
History
The present settlement was founded shortly after the discovery of petroleumPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
in the area in 1880, initially under the name Okhe. The name is derived from an Ainu
Ainu language
Ainu is one of the Ainu languages, spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō....
word meaning Bad Water. Industrial exploitation of the petroleum reserves began in 1923, during the Japanese occupation of Sakhalin from 1920-25. Town status was granted in 1938.
The town suffered significant damage in an earthquake on May 28, 1995, with over 2,000 inhabitants killed. Another smaller earthquake hit the town on May 10, 2005, but there were no fatalities or significant damage.
Economy and infrastructure
Okha, along with the oblast capital Yuzhno-SakhalinskYuzhno-Sakhalinsk
-Demographics:Most residents are ethnic Russians, but there also exists a sizable population of Koreans. Of the 43,000 Sakhalin Koreans, half are estimated to live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, comprising roughly 12% of the city's population...
, is the center of Sakhalin's petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
industry. An oil pipeline and gas main runs from Okha to Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur is a city in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, situated on the left bank of Amur River. It is located on the BAM railway line, northeast of Khabarovsk. Population: -Geography and climate:...
on the Russian mainland.
A number of oil wells exist in close proximity to the town, mainly controlled by the company Rosneft
Rosneft
Rosneft is an integrated oil company majority owned by the Government of Russia. Rosneft is headquartered in Moscow’s Balchug district near the Kremlin, across the Moskva river...
.
The town is the northern end point for the island's road system. There was a rail connection to the island's narrow-gauge rail network at Nogliki
Nogliki
Nogliki is an urban-type settlement and the administrative center of Nogliksky District of Sakhalin Oblast, Russia. Population: 10,854 ; -Geography:...
, however this was closed in 2006.