What is naukan?

Naukan is a former Chukchi village located on the coast of the Chukotka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The village was settled more than 2,000 years ago by the Indigenous Chukchi people. At its height, Naukan had a population of over 700 people, but due to various factors, including the forced relocation of indigenous people during the Soviet era, the village was abandoned in the 1950s. Today, the village is a ghost town and can only be accessed by helicopter or boat. The remains of traditional Chukchi homes and other structures can still be seen, as well as a memorial dedicated to the villagers who were forced to leave. The area is also an important archaeological site, with numerous artifacts and structures dating back to ancient times. The Naukan language, spoken by the village's original inhabitants, is considered critically endangered, with only a handful of speakers still living.