Dunay
Дунай
Dunay is located in Russia
Dunay
Dunay
Location of Dunay
Dunay is located in Primorsky Krai
Dunay
Dunay
Dunay (Primorsky Krai)
Coordinates: 42°52′49″N 132°20′15″E / 42.88028°N 132.33750°E / 42.88028; 132.33750
CountryRussia
Federal subjectPrimorsky Krai
Population
 • Estimate 
(2009)
7,805
 • Urban okrugFokino Urban Okrug

Dunay (Russian: Дунай, pronounced [dunɐj]) is an urban-type settlement situated in Primorsky Krai, Russia. It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Peter the Great and is under the jurisdiction of the closed city of Fokino.

As of 2009 the population of Dunay is 7805 with a ratio of 50.3% male and 49.7 female.[1] The settlement contains two high schools. The main business in the area is shiprepairing, and due to the lack of commissions, the city is currently approaching bankruptcy. The historical part of the settlement, known as Stariy Dunay (Old Dunay), is home to dachas where local villagers live.

History edit

The village of Dunay was formed in 1907 when several families from Moldova arrived at the maritime village of Petrovka. However, these families were not accepted at Petrovka and were advised to move to a small Korean settlement at the bay of Konyushkov. The advice was taken, and the first clay huts were built by these families in a location that is now home to a railroad station. According to the recollections of those who have been living there for a long time, the village of Dunay received its name because when the first settlers saw a small but deep river after arriving at the bay of Konyushkov, they said "We left one big Dunay and arrived at another small one." The word Dunay in Russian refers to the Danube, which flows through Moldova and many other European countries.

During the first year the settlers did not manage to grow anything as the month of July was already ending, and for an entire year they had to rely on what the nearby Korean farmers were selling. The settlers began to grow soy, wheat, beans, and corn during the spring of the following year. During the fall the wheat was ground at a private mill, but it turned out to be too bitter to be eaten - a result of the fog and humidity in the region. Due to this incident, the settlers did not continue to grow wheat, and to this day wheat is not grown in this region. The settlers eventually moved to the sea and caught fish, trawled chilim (a type of shrimp), and gathered scallops, mussels and sea cucumbers from the bottom of the sea. These goods were shipped to Vladivostok on sailboats to be sent to restaurants and bazaars, and the settlers received in exchange sugar, salt, matches and other materials.

During the civil war a partisan detachment headed by Fyodor Usatiy fought on the territory of the settlement. This group defended the island of Putyatin from attacks by the Whites and by Japanese interventionists. The island was home to a stud farm, a porcelain factory and a brick factory.

In 1929 a fishing guild was established at the bay of Konyushkov. Herring, flounder, and perch were caught at the guild as well as salmon during the fall. The fish were salted and then sent to Vladivostok.

In 1934 a diving facilities was established on the coast. Crabs, scallops, mussels and sea cucumbers were gathered. Production was developed at a fish factory located in this region. Everything that was produced was sent to be exported across the border.

In 1937 a railroad linked the settlement of Dunay with the settlement of Smolyaninovo, however it was not until 1940 when the first passenger train traveled between the two settlements.

References edit