town in the Komi Republic, Russia
Vorkuta is a coal mining town in Komi Republic.
The town of Vorkuta is closely associated with Vorkutlag, one of the most notorious forced labour camps of the Gulag. It was established in 1932 after massive depots of coal was found in the vicinity. By the early 21st century many mines had closed as problems with the high costs of operation plagued the mine operators. This has resulted in a decline in population.
Vorkuta has subarctic climate, with very cold winters. Temperatures can easily reach −40 °C (−40 °F) during January and February. Summers are short and cool, with an average high of 10–15 °C (50–59 °F).
There are flights several times each week with Moscow and Syktyvkar, the capital of Komi Republic.
Train connections are available daily from Moscow, taking two nights. Long-distance services with Saint Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod are more irregular, usually departing 1–2 times per week. Regional night trains also link Vorkuta with Pechora and Syktyvkar. During holiday season sporadic services from the Black Sea appear, serving mostly domestic tourists.
