ИСТИНА

Single-industry cities are the model cities of the times when Soviet Union planned the wider exploration of natural resources, industrialization and urbanization of its Arctic territory. Since 30’s of the last century these cities along with other northern settlements played a significant role in exploration and development of the Arctic. Murmansk region is one of the regions within the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation; and is one of the most heavily industrialized territories. Among other Arctic territories of Russia, region holds the first place by the number of single-industry cities (8: Polyarnie Zory, Kirovsk, Nikel, Zapolyarniy, Tumanniy, Monchegorsk, Revda, Kovdor). At present 23% of the region’s population (over 150000 people) live and work in single-industry cities and set up the greatest industrial potential for further socioeconomic and sustainable development of this area. The most part of regions’ single-industry cities has a mining profile. An ineffective governmental strategy for social services, urbanization planning and protection of the environment is a milestone for sustainable development of the region and the mining communities of single-industry cities. All the mentioned above challenges should be investigated as a single and listed in agendas of all Arctic actors from decision-makers to Northern residents.