[yuh-kootsk] 
| the capital of the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the NE Russian Federation in Asia, on the Lena River. 187,000. |
| an autonomous republic in the NE Russian Federation in Asia. 1,081,000; 1,198,146 sq. mi. (3,103,200 sq. km). Capital: Yakutsk. |
| Ya·kutsk (yə-kōōtsk') A city of east-central Russia on the Lena River. It was founded as a fort in 1632. Population: 236,000. |
Yakutsk
city and capital of Sakha republic (Yakutia), in far northeastern Russia, on the Lena River. A fort was founded on the Lena's low right bank in 1632 and transferred 43 miles (70 km) upstream to the present site of Yakutsk in 1642. Long a small provincial centre of wooden houses where, beginning in the 19th century, dissidents were exiled, Yakutsk has grown in size and acquired light industries, up-to-date housing, and paved streets, but its functions remain primarily those of administration and of a river port. It has a university (founded 1956). Pop. (1994 est.) 194,400
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