View source for Okha, Russia

{{About|a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia|the town in India|Okha, India}}
{{Infobox Russian inhabited locality
|en_name=Okha
|ru_name=Оха
|image_skyline=
|image_caption=
|coordinates={{coord|53|35|20|N|142|56|57|E|display=inline,title}}
|map_label_position=right
|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Okha (Sakhalin oblast).png
|coa_caption=
|image_flag=Flag of Okha (Sakhalin oblast).png
|flag_caption=
|anthem=
|anthem_ref=
|holiday=
|holiday_ref=
|federal_subject=[[Sakhalin Oblast]]
|federal_subject_ref=<ref name="Ref407" />
|adm_district_jur=[[Okhinsky District]]
|adm_district_jur_ref=<ref name="Ref407" />
|adm_ctr_of=Okhinsky District
|adm_ctr_of_ref=<ref name="Ref407" />
|inhabloc_cat=Town
|inhabloc_cat_ref=<ref name="Ref407" />
|inhabloc_type=
|inhabloc_type_ref=
|urban_okrug_jur=Okhinsky Urban Okrug
|urban_okrug_jur_ref=<ref name="Ref882" />
|mun_admctr_of=Okhinsky Urban Okrug
|mun_admctr_of_ref=<ref name="Ref882" />
|leader_title=
|leader_title_ref=
|leader_name=
|leader_name_ref=
|representative_body=
|representative_body_ref=
|area_km2=
|area_km2_ref=
|pop_2010census=23008
|pop_2010census_ref=<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref>
|pop_density=
|pop_density_as_of=
|pop_density_ref=
|pop_latest=
|pop_latest_date=
|pop_latest_ref=
|established_date=1880
|established_title=
|established_date_ref=
|current_cat_date=1938
|current_cat_date_ref=
|prev_name1=
|prev_name1_ref=
|postal_codes=69449x
|postal_codes_ref=
|dialing_codes=42437
|dialing_codes_ref=<ref>[http://www.sakhalin.biz/info/ Телефонные коды Сахалина - Dialing codes of Sakhalin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014146/http://www.sakhalin.biz/info/ |date=December 17, 2017 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
|website=http://www.okhacity.ru
}}
'''Okha''' ({{langx|ru|Оха́}}) is a [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|town]] and the [[administrative center]] of [[Okhinsky District]] of [[Sakhalin Oblast]], [[Russia]]. Population: {{ru-census|p2010=23,008|p2002=27,963|p1989=36,104}}

==Geography==
Okha is located on the east coast of the far north of [[Sakhalin]] island, just south of the isthmus of the [[Schmidt Peninsula (Sakhalin)|Schmidt Peninsula]], approximately {{cvt|850|km|sp=us}} north of [[Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk]], near the shoreline of the [[Sea of Okhotsk]].

==History==
It was founded shortly after the discovery of [[petroleum]] in the area in 1880, initially under the name ''Okhe''.{{citation needed|date=June 2010}} The name is derived from an [[Ainu language|Ainu]] word meaning ''Bad Water''.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} Industrial exploitation of the petroleum reserves began in 1923, during [[Nikolayevsk incident|the Japanese occupation of Sakhalin from 1920 to 1925]]. During this time the town was called {{Nihongo|'''Okutan'''|奥端町|Okutan-chō}} or {{Nihongo|'''Okuhan'''|奥哈町|Okuhan-chō}} depending on Kanji used. Town status was granted to it in 1938.{{citation needed|date=June 2010}}

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location=Okha/Oha, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia (2005–2015) 
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
| width = auto
| Jan precipitation mm =38.0
| Feb precipitation mm =27.3
| Mar precipitation mm =49.4
| Apr precipitation mm =54.9
| May precipitation mm =52.8
| Jun precipitation mm =21.5
| Jul precipitation mm =36.6
| Aug precipitation mm =70.1
| Sep precipitation mm =84.2
| Oct precipitation mm =80.4
| Nov precipitation mm =57.5
| Dec precipitation mm =54.7
| Jan dew point C =-24
| Feb dew point C =-22
| Mar dew point C =-14
| Apr dew point C =-6
| May dew point C =2
| Jun dew point C =10
| Jul dew point C =14
| Aug dew point C =14
| Sep dew point C =8
| Oct dew point C =-1
| Nov dew point C =-12
| Dec dew point C =-20
| daily =Y
| Jan humidity =80
| Feb humidity =77
| Mar humidity =77
| Apr humidity =79
| May humidity =77
| Jun humidity =77
| Jul humidity =83
| Aug humidity =83
| Sep humidity =83
| Oct humidity =80
| Nov humidity =81
| Dec humidity =81
| Jand sun =1.6
| Febd sun =3.1
| Mard sun =3.6
| Aprd sun =4.3
| Mayd sun =8.3
| Jund sun =8.8
| Juld sun =8.7
| Augd sun =7.2
| Sepd sun =6.5
| Octd sun =4.5
| Novd sun =1.8
| Decd sun =1.0
|source 1 =Time and Date (2005–2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/russia/okha/climate |title=Climate & Weather Averages in Okha, Russia |publisher=Time and Date |access-date=10 January 2022 |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110101507/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/russia/okha/climate |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 =Weather Atlas (sun hours)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/russia/okha-climate#daylight_sunshine |title=Monthly weather forecast and climate in Okha, Russia |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=10 January 2022 |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110095032/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/russia/okha-climate#daylight_sunshine |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

The town suffered significant damage in the [[1995 Neftegorsk earthquake]] that occurred on May 28, and was used as pivotal base for rescuers deployed to [[Neftegorsk, Sakhalin Oblast|Neftegorsk]], which was destroyed to the extent that it was not rebuilt. A number of survivors of Neftegorsk were later transferred to Okha. Another smaller earthquake hit the town on May&nbsp;10, 2005, but there were no fatalities or significant damage.

==Administrative and municipal status==
Within the [[subdivisions of Russia#Administrative divisions|framework of administrative divisions]], Okha serves as the [[administrative center]] of [[Okhinsky District]] and is subordinated to it.<ref name="Ref407">Law #25-ZO</ref> As a [[subdivisions of Russia#Municipal divisions|municipal division]], the town of Okha and ten rural localities of Okhinsky District are incorporated as '''Okhinsky Urban Okrug'''.<ref name="Ref882">Law #524</ref>

==Economy==
Okha, along with the [[oblast]]'s [[administrative center]] [[Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk]], is the center of Sakhalin's [[petroleum]] industry. An oil pipeline and gas main runs from Okha to [[Komsomolsk-on-Amur]] on the Russian mainland. A number of oil wells exist in close proximity to the town, mainly controlled by the company [[Rosneft]].

In 1920, during the [[Siberian Intervention]], Japan [[:ru:Японская оккупация Северного Сахалина|occupied the northern part]] of Sakhalin Island, returning it to the Soviet Union in 1925 after the [[Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention|Treaty of Beijing]] was signed on January 20, 1925. However, Japan formed the state owned firm [[:ja:北樺太石油|North Sakhalin Oil]] ({{nihongo|Kita-Sakhalin Oil Co., Ltd.|北樺太石油}}) which extracted oil from the [[:ja:オハ油田|OKHA Oil Field]] ({{nihongo|Oha Oil Field|オハ油田}}) near Okha on North Sakhalin from 1926 to 1944.

===Transportation===
The town is the northern end point for the island's road system. There was a rail connection to the island's narrow-gauge rail network at [[Nogliki]]; however, this was closed in 2006.

There is an [[Okha Airport|airport in Okha]] with service to [[Khabarovsk]] and [[Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk]].

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|sak|adm|law}}
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|sak|mun|list}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage inline|Okha}}

{{Sakhalin Oblast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2012}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Sakhalin Oblast]]