ИСТИНА

Socio-economic space of the Russian Arctic can be represented as a core concentration within urban settlements. These cities are the main target of the Arctic natural changes influence, including the strengthening of natural hazards. Residential areas of the Arctic cities do not exceed 200 thousand hectares. However, the region is characterized by the predominance of the mining industry, which allows us to estimate the area of activity in 200 thousand square kilometers. That is why, the methods of the demographic potential (based on gravity models) is the most appropriate. We studied the dynamics of urban settlements in the Russian Arctic from the 19th century. Several stages were allocated. Every stage of urbanization was accompanied by changes in industrial specialization. There was a shift of production activities to the east and the change in specialization from fishery and forest industry to mining and oil and gas production. During the whole period, Arkhangelsk remained the largest city with the most diversified economies. Nowadays, Arkhangelsk is the only one and the largest agglomeration in the world Arctic. In general, three the most developed regions (Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Yamalo-Nenetsk regions) accounted for about 3/4 of the total urban population. The main demographic and economic potential is still concentrated in the area of the White Sea-Barents Sea coast (about 55%), although it is a historic percentage minimum. In the last 40 years, the proportion of Yamalo-Nenetsk region in the urban population increased from 2 to 20%. The results of the analysis can determine the key priorities in the study of global and local natural processes influence on population and economy of the Russian Arctic, as well as the choice of strategy for its development.