Uelen

Uelen is a rural locality (a selo) in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of Russia. It lies on the eastern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula, on the shores of the Bering Sea near Cape Dezhnev, across the strait from Alaska. It is one of Russia’s easternmost inhabited settlements and has historically served as a center for the local Yupik community.

Administratively, Uelen is part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

The population is predominantly indigenous, mainly Yupik-speaking, with Russian as a second language. The community maintains traditional practices such as subsistence fishing and hunting, and is known for craftwork, including walrus ivory carving and bone work.

The local economy centers on fishing and subsistence hunting, complemented by crafts and small-scale commercial fishing. Access is by sea in the ice-free season and by air through a small rural airstrip; road connections are limited.

Climate and geography: Uelen has an Arctic to subarctic climate, with long cold winters, brief thaw periods in summer, and a short growing season. The terrain is coastal tundra, with rugged coastlines and nearby wetlands.