Markovo, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

Markovo is situated in the middle reaches of the Anadyr River, the largest waterway in Chukotka, in a lowland region with a unique microclimate, surrounded by the Shchuchy Range in the north, the east ridge of the Pekulney Range in the east, the Penzhinsky Range in the south, and the Russkiye mountain range in the west. Within this lowland tundra zone, deciduous forest is located around the floodplain of the Anadyr River, although the tundra covers the majority of this environment with a great number of lakes, rivers, and swamps. Unlike many other areas in Chukotka, comparably warm and lengthy summers create favorable conditions for the growth of all kinds of deciduous forests and vegetation. There is a very diverse world of animals, birds, and insects to be found. The absence of permafrost near Markovo gives the inhabitants an opportunity to grow open field vegetable crops.

The date of Markovo's foundation is not known, although it is believed to be one of the first Russian-speaking settlements in Chukotka.[12] Some sources state that Markovo was established in 1649.[3] It is known that the crew from Semyon Dezhnev's expedition wintered close to the site of modern Markovo and that Anadyrsk was founded around this area at a later date as a base for exploring Chukotka and potential routes to Kamchatka. The Cossacks were followed by others looking for business opportunities and those who did not wish to continue being serfs. It is thought that modern Markovo evolved in the mid-18th century and was named either after an early settler with the last name Markov or after local Saint Mark, who consecrated the spot on which Markovo was to be established.[13]

In 1862, the construction of the first parochial school in Chukotka started in Markovo; the school opened in 1883.[12] People from Markovo were the founders of Ust-Belaya around the beginning of the 20th century, also located along the banks of the Anadyr River.[12] In the 20th century, Markovo was the cultural center of Markovsky District (which was split into Anadyrsky and Bilibinsky Districts in 1958).[13] Markovo's cultural significance continues today, as it is home to the Markovskiye Vechyorki Chorus, who specialize in old Cossack songs.[12]

Russian Orthodox Church, Markovo, 1901

Markovo played a key role in the establishment of the Soviet rule in Chukotka in the early 20th century. When Soviet attempts to gain a foothold in the region were foiled in Anadyr, the revolutionary activities centered on Markovo. Mikhail Mandrikov and August Berzin were the first Bolsheviks sent to Anadyr by the Kamchatka Revkom to set up an underground organization to undermine and eventually overthrow the resident White Army forces.[14] These two, along with a small group of other Russian immigrants and a handful of Chuvans, established the First Revolutionary Committee of Chukotka.[14] Their presence initially went undetected, although it did arise suspicion. However, just before they were about to be discovered by the resident White Army troops, they launched an attack against them on the night of December 16, 1916, with the intention to free the local indigenous people from their debts to the Russian incomers and to begin the dismantling of the capitalist infrastructure.[14] Their attempt at seizing the property of the merchant class in Anadyr was successful, although they failed to capture the armory and the ammunition supplies.[14] The merchants used this opportunity to reassert themselves, and by January 30, 1920, they surrounded the Revkom offices and attacked. One of the leaders, Vasily Titov, was killed and a number of others were wounded. Mikhail Mandrikov himself surrendered.[14] Although the survivors were initially imprisoned, the merchants decided to eliminate them permanently. Under the pretense of transferring them to another site, they executed them out in the tundra.[14] The merchants' and White Army's success had been aided by the fact that a number of the Revkom members had been out the town visiting Markovo. When these people returned, they were ambushed and all survivors eventually killed.[15] The merchants set about to re-establish the status quo, all the while pretending to be socialists when inquiries came from the Kamchatka Revkom as to the whereabouts of their colleagues, going as far as to set up a fake Anadyr branch of the Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks.[14] This scheme, however, did not succeed, as the members of the first Revkom had already managed to establish branches in Markovo and Ust-Belaya,[16] so the Kamchatka Revkom sent a party to investigate.[14] A number of those involved in the overthrow of the First Revolutionary Committee either ceased their political activity in the hope of blending into the background or fled Chukotka for Alaska.[17] Struggles continued for some time after this, and it took until early 1923 before all White Army forces in Chukotka had been eliminated.[18]

During World War II, an airfield was built here for the Alaska-Siberian (ALSIB) air route used to ferry American Lend-Lease aircraft to the Eastern Front.[19]

In 1998, Markovo was demoted in status to that of a rural locality.[20]

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Markovo is subordinated to Anadyrsky District.[2] Within the framework of municipal divisions, Markovo is a part of Markovo Rural Settlement within Anadyrsky Municipal District.[7]

Markovo's size is comparatively large for Chukotka, with a population of 809 as of the 2010 Census,[4] although it has been decreasing over the years: in June 2005, it was estimated to be 865,[21] the 2003 estimate was 1,170,[12] and the 1993 estimate was around 2,000.[22]

In 2000, the ethnic groups in Markovo were as follows:

Source:[22]

Markovo Airport

Of all the families in Markovo in 2000, regardless of ethnicity, only 5% had a regular monthly income, with most families living below the poverty line.[22] The economy is driven mainly by subsistence reindeer herding[12] and fishing—a result of the large proportion of indigenous people.[22]

Markovo's infrastructure includes a boarding secondary school and a cultural center, with a new hospital being under construction in the 2000s.[12]

• List of inhabited localities in Anadyrsky District

• Panorama of the settlement
• Markovo photo gallery