Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra is part of the Tyumen region of Russia. Permafrost, huge oil deposits, severe and in its own way rich Siberian nature - these are the associations that this region causes. And what is depicted on the emblem of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra? What features of the region are displayed in its symbolism?
Autonomous Okrug
Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug is located between the Urals and the Ob-Yenisei watershed. Its main part is occupied by low-lying landscapes of the West Siberian Plain and only in the west are mountain ranges. The climate of the region is quite severe, the conditions of some areas are comparable with the Far North.
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra is an autonomous region, whose name reflects the names of two indigenous ethnic groups: Khanty and Mansi. These are Finno-Ugric peoples, formed in the vastness of Western Siberia. Many of them have long rebuilt to Russian life, but about 3,000 people still maintain their traditional way of doing hunting, reindeer herding, fishing, believing in spirits and the power of shamans. The name Ugra has been preserved since the Middle Ages, then all the peoples living beyond the Urals were named after it.
The region is home to about 40 species of commercial animals; large rivers such as the Irtysh and Ob flow through it, but its main natural resources are minerals. Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra is one of the largest oil and gas regions not only in Russia, but also in the world.
County flag
The flag and coat of arms of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra are the official symbols of the district. They were approved in 1995 and have not changed dramatically since then. The flag is usually oriented horizontally, but sometimes, in the unofficial version, use the vertical version. Its width refers to the length in a ratio of 2: 1.
The flag canvas is divided into two horizontal stripes. The top is painted in blue and blue. It symbolizes the waters of the region, and this is about 300 thousand lakes and 30 thousand rivers and streams. The lower strip is colored green, which means taiga Siberian forests, covering more than half of the district.
In the upper corner near the pole there is an element of ornament typical of the indigenous inhabitants of the region. It depicts the deer horns - the main animal for the Khanty and Mansi. They have long bred deer, eat them, use their skins to escape from the cold. On the opposite side of the flagpole, the flag is bordered by a narrow vertical white stripe. It symbolizes the local winter and snow.
Emblem of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra
The emblem of the district has elements similar to the flag, for example, ornaments and colored stripes. However, in composition he is very different from him. So, the coat of arms of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra is two shields superimposed on one another. The bottom is painted red and is almost invisible. On top of it is a figured shield with a yellow border, divided into two vertical parts of blue and green.
Above the emblem of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra there is an element of ornament in the form of deer horns. From the sides it is framed by green branches of cedar. Below they are intertwined with a blue ribbon on which the motto is written: “Ugra”.
The central figure of the coat of arms of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra is an ornament that is located inside a smaller shield. It depicts two birds connecting with their tails. Their wings support the rising sun, which is revered in the cults of local peoples.
Coats of arms of cities
About 1.6 million people live in the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug - Ugra. It has approximately 105 municipalities, of which 26 are urban settlements. The administrative center of the district is Khanty-Mansiysk with a population of almost 100,000 people. Among the centers of all autonomous regions of Russia, it is the largest.
The coats of arms of the cities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra are very different, but they also have common elements. They practically do not affect the history of the region, but are focused on its natural features and resources. Among the symbols, images of animals, mountains, water and forests predominate. In the color scheme there is almost no red color, but white, yellow, blue and green are quite common. Consider examples of the most interesting emblems:
- Khanty-Mansiysk. Its emblem depicts a blue sky with three snowflakes, a yellow sun and spruce. Green color fills the bottom of the shield, which depicts a flying crane.
- Megion. Against a white-green background, symbolizing forests and snow, a black sable is depicted, showing the richness of the animal world. Its tail is curved in the shape of a drop, hinting at the main branch of the economy - oil production.
- Langepas. It also depicts a blue sky, and zigzag lines represent green spruces and white snow caps on them. In the center of the coat of arms is a yellow squirrel.
- Urai. In the emblem of this city, the main symbol is the mythological bird of suri, depicted on a blue-green background. Its wings are open and form a circle resembling the sun. On top of the bird is a black drop symbolizing oil.
These are the emblems of only some settlements of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra.