---
title: "Cuohpajálla Territory"
nativeTitle: [Jääkuoppasaarten hallintoalue (Routan), Cuohpajálla hálddašanguovlu (Saamit)]
type: "subdivision"
nation: "karjania"
infobox: (22 rows)
---
**Cuohpajálla** [ˈt͡suo̯h.pa.jaːl.la] (*Jääkuoppasaari)*[ˈjæː.kuopːɑˌsɑːri], officially the Cuohpajálla Territory (*Jääkuoppasaarten hallintoalue*) is a subdivision of the [[united-socialist-states-of]] [[karjania]] located in the Arctic sea within the Bear Isles (*Guovžasuolut*). The territory borders the nation of [[skjarnland]] to the west, its only land border. It consists of 5 islands fully owned by Karjania, as well as the eastern third of the island of Spetsbergen (*Spitzbergen* / *Spitsbergen*), where the capital settlement of Jieknaluokta (*Jiekɲaluokta*)is located. The territory is known for its harsh climate and arctic wildlife, as well as its industrial settlements. It includes the 5 islands of *Njourjusuul*, *Moršasuolu*, North and South *Fálissåål*and *Uusromaasuolut*.
## Etymology
The name Cuohpajálla comes from the Saamit terms *Cuohppa*and *jálla*, meaning a ridge or cleft, relating to a mountainous landscape. Cuohpajálla can be roughly translated as “The pass through the ridge”. The Routan name Jääkuoppasaari comes from the Routan term for ice, *jää*, and *kuoppa* from the original Saamit name, as well as *saari*, meaning island. Jääkuoppasaari can be roughly translated as “Icy Kuoppa Island”. Historically, the territory had other names, such as Eastern Bear Isles (Routan: *Itäiset Karhusaaret*) (Saamit: *Nuorta Guovžasuolut*) and Karjanian Spetsbergen (Routan: *Karjanmaalainen* *Spitzbergen*). In 1921, a proposal to officially rename the territory to *Karhusaaret*was rejected. The island of *Njourjusuul* can be roughly translated as “Seal Island”, *Moršasoulu* means “Walrus Island” and Fálissåål very roughly means “Whale Isle”. The meaning or origin of *Uusromaasuolut* is uncertain. The capital city, *Jiekɲaluokta*can be translated as “Icy Bay”. The name of the main island, *Spitzbergen* comes from the Skjarnish Spetsbergen.
## History
### Discovery and Colonization
The Bear Isles were first discovered in the 1400s, and the 1st settlement was established on Uusromaasuolut in 1529, by Saamit explorers, who hunted seals, walrus and fish. Karjania officially took ownership of the 5 islands in 1623, with Skjarnland taking the island of Spetsbergen and its surroundings. The Karjanian side of the archipelago was home to roughly 750 people in 1700.
### Whaling
[Whaling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling) became the main industry in the Bear Isles, especially in Fálissåål. They were hunted mainly for their blubber, and state-sponsored whaling expeditions became common on both sides of the archipelago. By 1800, it's estimated over 5,000 whales were killed in and around the Bear Isles, meaning more whales were killed than people born in this 100 year period. Whaling was banned in 1919, causing heated debate within the local community.
### Coal-based economy
The first coal mine was opened on the Skjarnish side, with Karjania only beginning its mining in 1879. The 3 largest mines are all on the island of Spitzbergen, with Uusromaasuolut and Njourjusuul also having coal mines. The archipelago produces over 2 million tonnes of coal annually, and over 50% of the Karjanian population work in the mining industry. After the creation of the USSK, coal mining became the absolute priority of the islands. The Jieknaluokta Coal Mine is the largest in the archipelago.
### Conflicts
Ever since its discovery, Skjarnland and Karjania fought over the Isles. During [[great-war|the Great War]], Karjania attempted several times to conquer the island of Spitzbergen, all unsuccessfully. Despite this, the eastern third of the island, including the 2nd largest city in Jieknaluokta was given to Karjania following the end of the war, its largest territorial gain.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-3.jpg" alt="Coal mining in the early 1900s"><figcaption>Coal mining in the early 1900s</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-4.jpg" alt="Whale in Walrus Bay, Moršasuolu"><figcaption>Whale in Walrus Bay, Moršasuolu</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-5.jpg" alt="Jieknaluokta in 1932"><figcaption>Jieknaluokta in 1932</figcaption></figure>
## Government
Like other subdivisions of Karjania, Cuohpajálla holds elections and sends delegates to Congress. Cuohpajálla sends 1 delegate, as the lowest populated subdivision of Karjania. The Bear Isles Council (Karhusaarten Neuvosto) is made up of 49 seats, and is the main legislative body of the territory. The most popular party is the Karjanian Communist Party, with 37 seats. The Red Bear party controls 11 seats, while the remaining seat is taken by the Moršasuolu Socialist Party. The council building is located in the city of Jieknaluokta, near the coast. Cuohpajálla has 2 officially recognized languages, Routan and Saamit, made official in 1920. The archipelago banned whaling in 1919, an unpopular decision within the local community of Northern and Southern Fálissåål, which was reliant on whaling for its economy.
## Economy
The main economic sectors of the archipelago are coal mining and tourism. Coal mining makes up a majority of the archipelago’s production and employment. Tourism to Cuohpajálla is fairly restricted, but many people, especially from Southern Karjania visit the islands yearly. The main sights are the natural landscape and arctic wildlife. Several accidents and deaths due to polar bears have caused the hunting of the predator to near extinction in the 1800s. Administratively, Cuohpajálla is divided into 7 districts, with each island being its own district, while Spetsbergen is divided into 2, the Jieknaluokta and Spitzbergen districts. The Southern Fálissåål District is the lowest populated in Karjania with a permanent population, at 27 people in 1930. The city of Jieknaluokta is further divided into 5 boroughs.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-6.jpg" alt="Map of the Guovžasuolut Archipelago and Cuohpajálla"><figcaption>Map of the Guovžasuolut Archipelago and Cuohpajálla</figcaption></figure>
## Geography
Cuohpajálla is well known for its unique land formations, including glaciers and fjords. The archipelago has several large mountains, the largest located on the Skjarnish side. Cuohpajálla is over 63% covered in ice. Some fjords can reach over 100 Km in length, some of the largest in [[avium]]. The island of Spitzbergen is where White Bear Peak, the highest point of Cuohpajálla is located, north of Jiekaluokta. Cuohpajálla is located in the Arctic Sea, north of Karjania and East of Thule, bordering Spetsbergen, a territory of Skjarnland to the west.
### Climate
Cuohpajálla is infamous for its harsh, arctic climate, with temperatures being -15 to -20 degrees Celsius in winter and 5-10 degrees Celsius in summer. The archipelago experiences little rainfall. Snow and ice cover the islands year round, however, strong ocean currents mean the archipelago is still inhabitable, unlike parts of Thule at similar altitudes.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-7.jpg" alt="Summer in Cuohpajálla"><figcaption>Summer in Cuohpajálla</figcaption></figure>
### Ecology
The ecology of Cuohpajálla, due to its harsh climate, is not as diverse as other parts of Karjania, such as the [[frederikka]] [[islands]]. However, there are still countless species endemic to the archipelago. In the coastal waters are baleen whales, seals, walruses and many types of fish, making these waters the perfect hunting ground for polar bears, the official animal of Cuohpajálla. Other native mammals include reindeer and foxes. There are over a 100 birds native to Couhpajálla, including auks, puffins and geese. Native plants include moss, lichen and poppies.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-8.jpg" alt="The polar bear is the official animal of Cuohpajálla"><figcaption>The polar bear is the official animal of Cuohpajálla</figcaption></figure>
## Demographics
Cuohpajálla is made up of mostly Saamit people, who were brought to the islands by whaling expeditions. Other significant ethnicities are Routans and Skjarnish people, as well as a small Thulean minority. Most of the archipelago are non religious, the most followed religion is Nazarism. The median age is 21.7 and the archipelago is 61% male to 39% female. The GDP per capita is 39,141, below that of Mainland Karjania, but above both Karjanian colonies.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-9.jpg" alt="Saamit people make up over half the population"><figcaption>Saamit people make up over half the population</figcaption></figure>
## Culture
The culture of Couhpajálla mixes Saamit, Routan and Skjarnish elements, giving it a unique cuisine, folklore, music and architectural style. The official symbols of the territory are the Bear Cross flag and the Emblem, which were both designed in 1920. The previous flag featured a white bear on a light blue field. The archipelago has one singular football team, Jieknaluokta Polar Bears, whose biggest success is playing in a Karjanian Cup final.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/cuohpajalla-10.jpg" alt="Flag of Cuohpajálla flying in the wind"><figcaption>Flag of Cuohpajálla flying in the wind</figcaption></figure>
