Dudinka is a Russian town in Krasnoyarsk Region, 2021 km to the north of Krasnoyarsk. Located on the bank of Yenisei River, on Taimyr Peninsula, it is the most northern town on the Earth. Dudinka is the capital of Taymyr (Dolgano-Nenets) Autonomous Area. The city stands on the right bank of Yenisei River by the inflow of Dudinka River that gave its name to the town.

The town’s population makes 24 thousand people (as of 2009). Its area is 105 square km.

Dudinka seaport is the world’s only seaport annually flooded during spring ice drift.

The globe’s most northern electrified railway and automobile highway connect Dudinka with Norilsk (96 km) and Airport Alykel.

Just like Norilsk, Dudinka does not bear the status of a Closed town, but its visiting by foreign citizens (except citizens of Belarus) since November, 25th 2001 has been made possible only under the permission of the authorities. For ten years before that (since 1991) entrance to the city had been free for foreigners. However, Dudinka seaport is not a territory with a restricted visiting by foreign citizens.

History of Dudinka

Dudinka was based in 1667 as winter quarters by riflemen’s chief Ivan Sorokin.

Its name is derived from the nickname of Duda, known since the 15th century. Another version is that it comes from Nenets word Tutin where tu means “fire” and tin is “barn” and originally indicated “a warehouse where powder and other stocks are stored”.

From 1930 Dudinskoe Village was the center of Taymyr Autonomous Area.

In 1936 the first sea mooring was constructed. The year 1937 saw the beginning of building of the railway Dudinka - Norilsk.

During the Great Patriotic War the seaport serving Norilsk mountain-metallurgical industrial complex and other objects was expanded.

Dudinka became a town in 1951. In 1969 gas pipeline of Messoyakha - Dudinka - Norilsk was laid through Yenisei River.