Khanty Mansiysk and Yamalo Nenets

Khanty Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (area) is a part of Russian Federation in the district of Ob river in West Siberia of Asia.  In the north there is Yamalo Nentets Okrug, in the east Krasnojarsk region, in the east west Tomsk region, in the south Omsk, Tymen and Sverdlovsk regions and in the west Komi Republic.

The capital is Khanty Mansiysk, which locates by the river Irtysh only 10 km from its confluence to Ob river.  This town has been newly built in last ten years. The new culture buildings such as culture center of khanites with theatre and library, museum of Fine Arts, Historical museum e.g. There is also World Championship of Biathlon every year in this town. 

The center of khanty literature and language is publishing researches, books, grammers e.g in the original language to keep alive khanty culture. In the town of  Khanty Mansiysk there live many original khanty people where they have founded Open Air Museum and own fishing enterprice supported by the local authorities. 

The original khanty settlements are by the river Ob and its tributaries.  Reindeer breeding and fishing are still the main source of livelihood among khanties. 

Salekhard is the capital of  Yalamo-Nenets Okrug, which locates in the Polar Circle, bytthe river Ob on the oppodste shore of the river and the harbour town Labitnang. In Yamalo area there is the largestreservere  of natural gas in the whole world. New rail road sare built and towns are established which concerns khanty people and their future livelihood of reindeer breeding.