The Far North, the Arctic, the Russian North—these concepts have much in common, although there are semantic differences. The Far North refers to everything located geographically north of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic is typically defined by the northern boundary of the tundra. Administratively, the Arctic zone includes the entirety of the Murmansk region and Chukotka, the northern half of Yakutia, and three districts in Karelia bordering the White Sea—Arkhangelsk and the cities within the Arkhangelsk region, Severodvinsk and Novodvinsk, as well as the Onega, Primorsky, and Mezen districts, all islands in the region, and the city of Vorkuta in Komi, the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets autonomous districts, Norilsk, Igarka, and the Taimyr district of the Krasnoyarsk region. The term "North" is the most general and broadest of all terms associated with the region in question, but at the same time, it lacks clearly defined geographical or cultural boundaries. "We're heading to the North," "Northward expansion," "Northern allowances," "Northern coefficients"—for those living in Russia, there's no need to explain the meaning of these phrases. It's similar to how Americans understand the concept of the "Wild, Wild West." The North is an immense, harsh, powerful, and breathtakingly beautiful yet dangerous and ruthless land. A land of brave people, great opportunities, and enormous risks. One cannot approach the North lightly or with indifference. It won't forgive that. In the North, nothing is simple or optional. Mistakes here come at the highest price. The North is incredibly rich but shares its treasures only with the most worthy and very reluctantly. In exchange, it demands a hefty tribute, taking the health of its people, and often their lives as well. To explore, study, and develop the vast northern "continent," the efforts of a strong, numerous people, a powerful, well-organized state, and a growing industry are needed. Surviving here alone is impossible. This is why the history of the development of the Russian North has been so complex and uneven. As the state strengthens, expeditions are sent to the North, settlements, cities, factories, mines, ports, and airfields appear... When turmoil begins, the vast expanses become deserted. Only the howling black blizzard and the Northern Lights illuminate the polar darkness. For the USSR, the development of the North was an essential part of the country's overall growth. The Arctic attracted with its primitive romance, freedom, the opportunity to test oneself to the fullest, and to achieve a personal feat. Geologists, polar explorers, sailors, and polar pilots were heroes. The entire country envied them and wanted to follow their example. Alongside this, in a parallel world, millions of repressed individuals, under inhumane conditions, built factories and mines, ports, and workers' settlements on their own bones, frozen into the permafrost. The era of the Gulag was replaced by Komsomol construction projects. Working in the North became profitable and prestigious. Thousands of young enthusiastic Komsomol volunteers arrived in the North in the 1970s and 1980s. "I will take you to the tundra... you will learn that the North is not called extreme in vain, you will see that it is boundless, and I will give it to you," sang the country, and headed North for the fog and the Northern coefficients. By the mid-1980s, the North had ceased to be a "borderland of the Comanches," where hundreds of thousands of Soviet people lived, worked, raised children, and made plans for the future. The peak of prosperity came in 1987. The collapse of the USSR hit the North mercilessly. Much of what had been created over decades, with immense sacrifices and tremendous effort, was lost in a matter of years. The Northern Sea Route became deserted, and settlements, weather stations, military towns, and border posts were abandoned. Where people once lived, desolation and decay set in. And now, a new turn in history. Major Russian companies have arrived in the North, and together with the state, they will have to restore lost positions and move forward. Because if we don't do it, others will... The Arctic zone covers an area of about 3.1 million square kilometers, accounting for 18 percent of the Russian Federation's territory. More than 90 percent of Russia's gas, nickel, and cobalt, over 80 percent of its gold, silver, platinum, and other rare earth elements are extracted here. Altogether, this region contributes 12-15 percent of the country's gross domestic product. It's clear that Russia's economy cannot do without utilizing the resources of the Arctic zone, and according to forecasts, in the 21st century, these resources will become one of the primary raw material bases for the entire planet, as the region contains approximately 20-25 percent of the world's total hydrocarbon resources. At the same time, the North has been and remains a challenging place to live and, as a result, is a sparsely populated region of the country. The population of Russia's Arctic regions is only 2 million 89 thousand people.