Dudinka (Russian: Дуди́нка; Nenets: Тут'ын, Tutꜧyn) is a town on the Yenisei River and the administrative center of Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It used to be the administrative center of Taymyr Autonomous Okrug, which was merged into Krasnoyarsk Krai on January 1, 2007. Population: 19,556 (2021 Census); 22,175 (2010 Russian census); 25,132 (2002 Census); 32,325 (1989 Soviet census).

History

It was founded in 1667 as a winter settlement connected to Mangazeya. In 1930 it was designated the administrative center of the Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets National Region. In 1935, the polar explorer Otto Schmidt recommended that the settlement be expanded into a town. By 1937, the port facilities and a railroad to Norilsk were completed. Town status was granted in 1951.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Dudinka serves as the administrative center of Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District. As an administrative division, it is, together with five rural localities, incorporated within Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District as the district town of Dudinka. As a municipal division, the district town of Dudinka is incorporated within Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky Municipal District as Dudinka Urban Settlement.

Economy

Dudinka processes and sends cargo via Norilsk railway to the Norilsk Mining and Smelting Factory and also ships non-ferrous metals, coal and ore. In 1969, the Messoyakha-Dudinka-Norilsk natural gas pipeline was laid.

Dudinka is home to a unique Arctic port, in the lower reaches of the Yenisey, which accessible to both sea and river ships. During the navigation season, from mid-June to October, the port can receive both seafaring ships and river vessels from Krasnoyarsk (about 2,000 km along the Yenisey). At this time, fresh food and essential goods are brought to Dudinka and then to Norilsk from the "mainland". As soon as the navigation is possible, fruit and vegetable stalls spring up in the streets and food prices in grocery stores drop drastically. And, when the Yenisey is icebound, Dudinka receives and dispatches ice-class vessels taking the Northern Sea Route. They take away the products of the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine and bring the fuel and raw materials that industrial plants rely on for their operation.The port operates every day apart from a couple of weeks a year, when it is flooded during the spring high water. It is the only port in the world that experiences such a nuisance. When, at the end of May, the ice starts breaking up on the Yenisey, the cranes are moved from the port to special holding areas, where they remain for the duration of the high water. All large cargoes are delivered exclusively by water.

The town is served by the Dudinka Airport.

Infrastructure

Near Dudinka there is a 462 m (1,516 ft) tall radio mast which was formerly used for the CHAYKA radio navigation system. It is a grounded mast with a rhombic cage antenna.

Geography

Climate

Despite lying more than two degrees above the Arctic Circle, Dudinka has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) with short, mild summers and severely cold winters. Average high temperature even in May is below freezing and short summer starts in mid June and lasts only 2 months. Precipitation is moderate; it falls mostly as rain in summer and mainly as snow throughout the rest of the year.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1939	3,568	—
1959	16,332	+357.7%
1970	19,701	+20.6%
1979	24,758	+25.7%
1989	32,325	+30.6%
2002	25,132	−22.3%
2010	22,175	−11.8%
2021	19,556	−11.8%
Source: Census data

Sports and entertainment

The Taymyr ice arena is the newly built ice hockey, figure skating and curling facility in Dudinka. It is the northernmost ice arena in the world that is fit for holding high-level, international events. The spectators capacity of the arena is 350 seats. The 2017 CCT Arctic Cup took place in the city of Dudinka at the Taymyr ice arena on May 18–22, 2017. It was the first-ever international curling tournament among women teams beyond the Arctic Circle. The event was held with participation of eight strongest teams from the northern countries, located at the 69th parallel. Participant teams included Russian National Team, Team Krasnoyarsk, Team Canada, Team USA, Team Finland. A wild card from the Organizing Committee was granted to Team Switzerland. Since 2017 Dudinka becomes the place where the international Arctic Curling Cup tournament takes place annually. The test event for this tournament was TAYMYR CURLING CUP 2016. The first-ever curling tournament among men teams beyond the Arctic Circle took place in Dudinka on May 26–30, 2016. The tournament was held as a test event for the Arctic Curling Cup. Six strongest Russian men teams took part in the event. In 2018 Dudinka held the final tour of the international Arctic Curling Cup. 10 strongest teams, three of which were Russian, were competing in double-mixed. Maria Komarova and Daniel Goryachov received bronze medals in this tournament.

Notable people

• Olga Martynova, poet

• Petr Yan, mixed martial artist, former UFC Bantamweight Champion

See also

• Chief Directorate of the Northern Sea Route
• Yenisei Gulf