Russian Far East

In the Wake of Bering
Exploring the Anadyr River
Sea of Okhotsk
Chukotka faces + landscapes
Birding the Far East
Anadyr City
A memorable journey in 2009 with Heritage Expeditions began in Petropavlovsk-Kamchtka (PK), via Commander  and Kuril Islands,  Wrangel Island – and ended in Anadyr, Chukotka.  An unexpected opportunity to explore by boat the Anadyr River enabled Alison and 4 companions to glide through the most awe-inspiring, pristine wilderness for 10 days…to revel in the unique character of the tundra fauna, flora and migrating species of birds, as well as the constant changing light and colour….They met the friendliest Chukchi and Evenki people in their isolated “yarangas” and villages where they enjoyed  the most extraordinary hospitality and generosity.  Surprisingly – they discovered that they were the first non-Russian visitors to those remote villages and yarangas – only accessible by helicopter or by boat.  Lack of transport between villages seemed a real challenge for the scattered population of Chukotka.
 

Furthermore, as they proceeded up the Anadyr river – all were concerned by the rusting detritus/environmental degradation (from the Soviet era) in certain settlements of this fragile, tundra region. Another concern was also the fragility of the Chukchi language and how the cultural identity of this ethnic minority seemed to be teetering on the edge…

Long may our Chukchi and Evenki friends prosper and flourish in their unique and fragile environment…! 

 
Dosing polar bear, Wrangel Island, Arctic Ocean (watercolour) 19 x 29cm - 2012
Kittiwake (watercolour) 17 x 23cm – 2012
Arctic tern (pen & wash) 12 x 17cm – 2012
Sea-otter with pup, Kuril Islands (watercolour) 19 x 29cm – 2012
Solitary gull, Kolyuchin Island, Chukotka (pen & wash) 14 x 20cm – 2009
Spoon-billed sandpiper (summer plumage), Chukotka (watercolour/pastel) 19 x 29cm - 2012
Nesting birds on cliffs at Kolyuchin Island, Chukotka (pen & wash) 9 x 13cm – 2009
Nesting birds of Verkhoturova Island – Chukotka – 2012 –19 x 29 cm
Steller eagle landing – 2012 – 16,8 x 22,7 cm
Hunting Polar Bear – Wrangel Island, Arctic Ocean – 2012 –17 x 23 cm

A memorable journey in 2009 with Heritage Expeditions  that began in Petropavlovsk-Kamchtka (PK), via Commander  and Kuril Islands,  Wrangel Island – and ended in Anadyr, Chukotka.  An unexpected opportunity to explore by boat the Anadyr River enabled 5 of us to glide through the most awe-inspiring, pristine wilderness for 10 days…  to revel in the unique character of the tundra fauna, flora and migrating species of birds, as well as the constant changing light and colour….We met the friendliest Chukchi and Evenki people in their isolated “yarangas” and villages where we enjoyed  the most extraordinary hospitality and generosity.  Surprisingly – we discovered that we were the first non-Russian visitors to those remote villages and yarangas – only accessible by helicopter or by boat.  Lack of transport between villages seemed a real challenge for the scattered population of Chukotka .

Furthermore, as we proceeded up the Anadyr river – we were concerned by the rusting detritus/environmental degradation (from the Soviet era) in certain settlements of this fragile, tundra region. Another concern was also the fragility of the Chukchi language and how the cultural identity of this ethnic minority seemed to be teetering on the edge…

Long may our Chukchi and Evenki friends prosper and flourish in their unique and fragile environment…!