Krasnokamensk is a town (since July 16 1969) in the Zabaikalye Territory of Russia; it is the administrative center of the Krasnokamensk municipal district.

With the population of 57.5 thousand people (as of 2010) and the total area of 428 sq.km, Krasnokamensk is the second-largest town of Zabaikalye Territory after the regional center.

The town is located in Transbaikalia, at the foothills of Argunsky ridge, 535 km to the southeast of Chita.

According to assumptions of journalists, the city suffers continuous radiation due to a uranium-mining enterprise. Mortality in the city exceeds birth rate.

The principal employer and mainstay of the entire town — Priargunsky Mining and Chemical Works - is Russia’s largest uranium-mining enterprise and one of the world's largest suppliers of natural uranium.

History of Krasnokamensk

In May, 1963 Streltsovsky uranium field was discovered. One of the rocks of bright red color especially bright at sunrise, served as a reference point for geologists, who called it the Red Stone (Krasny Kamen’). Hence is the name of the settlement and subsequently town.

Initially in winter of 1963-64 the temporary settlement Oktyabrsky started to be built. Later, however, it turned out that it was founded over one of ore-bearing sites. (In 2000 the residents of the settlement got apartments in Krasnokamensk and moved.)

In July, 1967 the first landing of military builders landed in the Daursky Steppe for construction of the town and the mining works. On 19.10.1967 the town uner construction was named Krasnokamensk. In January, 1968 the first house was occupied by new settlers. Krasnokamensk became a town in 1969.