| a city N of the Arctic Circle, in the Komi Republic, in NE European Russia. 84,900. |
Vor·ku·ta  (vôr-kōō'tə, vôr'kōō-tä) A city of extreme northeast Russia above the Arctic Circle. It was founded in 1932 to accommodate extensive penal-labor camps. The camps were reportedly closed after the death of Stalin in 1953. Population: 82,000. |
Vorkuta
city, Komi republic, northwestern Russia, on the Vorkuta River. Coal mining began in the area in 1932, but the industry and city did not grow significantly until World War II. Initially the coal exploitation used penal labour. The area subsequently became the site of some of Stalin's forced-labour camps for political prisoners, most of whom perished there from the harsh climate. Pop. (1991 est.) 117,400
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