Aykhal

Aykhal (Russian: Айха́л; Yakut: Айхал, Ayxal) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) in Mirninsky District of the Sakha Republic, Russia, located 469 kilometers (291 mi) from Mirny, the administrative center of the district,^[2] in the basin of the Vilyuy River. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 13,727.^[3]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	5,386	—
1979	5,440	+1.0%
1989	11,552	+112.4%
2002	15,782	+36.6%
2010	13,727	−13.0%
2021	13,370	−2.6%
Source: Census data

Aykhal Айхал
Urban-type settlement[1]
Other transcription(s)
• Yakut	Айхал
Flag
Location of Aykhal
Aykhal Location of Aykhal Show map of Russia Aykhal Aykhal (Sakha Republic) Show map of Sakha Republic
Coordinates: 65°56′N 111°30′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Sakha Republic[2]
Administrative district	Mirninsky District[2]
Settlement	Settlement of Aykhal[2]
Founded	1961
Urban-type settlement status since	1962[2]
Elevation	514 m (1,686 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[3]
• Total	13,727
Administrative status
• Capital of	Settlement of Aykhal[2]
Municipal status
• Municipal district	Mirninsky Municipal District[4]
• Urban settlement	Aykhal Urban Settlement[4]
• Capital of	Aykhal Urban Settlement[4]
Time zone	UTC+9 (MSK+6 [5])
Postal code(s)[6]	678190, 678191
OKTMO ID	98631152051

Aykhal population

2010 Census	13,727[3]
2002 Census	15,782[7]
1989 Census	11,552[8]
1979 Census	5,440[9]

Etymology

The name derives from the Yakut word for fame.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Sokhsolookh stream is located in the Aykhal's vicinity. The name of the stream in the Yakut language means the river of death or the river of traps, in reference to a large number of reindeer who, according to local legend, have drowned while trying to cross the river ice.

Climate

Climate data for Yubileynaya (1991–2020, extremes 1936–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	−8.7 (16.3)	−2.2 (28.0)	2.4 (36.3)	9.4 (48.9)	26.6 (79.9)	33.2 (91.8)	35.3 (95.5)	30.7 (87.3)	22.6 (72.7)	6.9 (44.4)	0.5 (32.9)	−7.1 (19.2)	35.3 (95.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−30.8 (−23.4)	−30.0 (−22.0)	−21.6 (−6.9)	−10.0 (14.0)	0.9 (33.6)	13.6 (56.5)	17.2 (63.0)	14.3 (57.7)	5.8 (42.4)	−8.0 (17.6)	−21.9 (−7.4)	−29.1 (−20.4)	−8.3 (17.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−34.1 (−29.4)	−33.4 (−28.1)	−26.5 (−15.7)	−15.9 (3.4)	−3.6 (25.5)	8.0 (46.4)	11.7 (53.1)	9.5 (49.1)	2.3 (36.1)	−11.0 (12.2)	−25.3 (−13.5)	−32.4 (−26.3)	−12.6 (9.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−37.3 (−35.1)	−36.6 (−33.9)	−30.8 (−23.4)	−21.2 (−6.2)	−7.4 (18.7)	3.8 (38.8)	7.6 (45.7)	5.9 (42.6)	−0.3 (31.5)	−14.0 (6.8)	−28.6 (−19.5)	−35.6 (−32.1)	−16.2 (2.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−55.4 (−67.7)	−55.2 (−67.4)	−49.7 (−57.5)	−46.3 (−51.3)	−28.1 (−18.6)	−10.5 (13.1)	−1.8 (28.8)	−4.2 (24.4)	−15.0 (5.0)	−36.9 (−34.4)	−47.6 (−53.7)	−52.9 (−63.2)	−55.4 (−67.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	11 (0.4)	10 (0.4)	8 (0.3)	7 (0.3)	15 (0.6)	21 (0.8)	33 (1.3)	27 (1.1)	25 (1.0)	19 (0.7)	17 (0.7)	12 (0.5)	205 (8.1)
Source: pogodaiklimat.ru[10]

History

It was founded in 1961 with the beginnings of diamond extraction from the kimberlite pipe found here.^{[citation needed]} It was granted urban-type settlement status in the following year.^[2] In 1985, Yubileynaya diamond mine was opened 20 kilometers (12 mi) from Aykhal.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, the urban-type settlement of Aykhal,^[1] together with one rural locality (the selo of Morkoka), is incorporated within Mirninsky District as the Settlement of Aykhal.^[2] As a municipal division, the Settlement of Aykhal is incorporated within Mirninsky Municipal District as Aykhal Urban Settlement.^[4]

Economy and infrastructure

The local economy is reliant on diamond mining conducted by ALROSA at its Aykhal and Yubileynaya mines. It is served by the Aykhal Airport.