The flag and the coat of arms of the Komi Republic: description and semantics of the province's symbols

The symbols of the republics most often display their main natural or historical features. The flag and the coat of arms of the Komi Republic are no exception.

Republic of Komi: general characteristic

This republic was founded in 1921. Today it is part of the North-West Federal District of Russia.

The territory of the republic from the north is bordered by the Pai-Khoi Range, from the south by the Northern Uvaly, and from the east by the Ural Mountains. On the open spaces of this region there are many rivers, both mountainous and lowland. The largest among them are Pechora, Usa, Vychegda, Izhma, Vashka, Mezhen and others.

The Republic of Komi can also be called the lake edge. About 78 thousand lakes of different sizes are within its limits. In addition, about 8% of the territory of the province is occupied by bogs.

The huge expanses of Komi are covered with virgin forests, which are no longer analogous in Europe. They occupy over 30 thousand square kilometers! In 1995, these forests were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Flag of the Republic: description and semantics

The flag and the coat of arms of the Komi Republic in their modern form were adopted in the 90s of the last century. The flag is presented in the form of a rectangular cloth of traditional dimensions, consisting of three equivalent horizontal bands: blue (top), green (middle) and white (bottom). It is curious that originally this flag was Bashkir (since 1917). However, the parliament of the Republic of Komi turned out to be more nimble and managed to "stake out" it earlier. As a result, the Republic of Bashkortostan had to assert for itself another flag.

The colors of this flag successfully reflect those natural features of the Komi Republic, which were described above. The upper blue band symbolizes the vast expanses of the North, the green one - huge tracts of taiga forests, and white - beautiful and crystal white snow. Thus, the virgin purity and severity, the two main features of this region, are successfully embodied in the flag of the republic.

In occasion of the bottom white strip there is also other interpretation. So, the white color in the symbolism means complete agreement and mutual understanding among all cultures that peacefully coexist on this territory.

Coat of arms of the Komi Republic

On the coat of arms in gold color is depicted a bird of prey, which is on the red standard shield. On the chest of this bird is placed the humanized face of the Sun, surrounded by six moose heads.

What kind of semantics carries the coat of arms of the Komi Republic?

A bird is nothing more than a symbol of supreme power and the image of the Sun. But the moose on the coat of arms symbolizes strength and nobility at the same time. Also, the image of an elk carries the meaning of a harmoniously aligned world.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Komi combines golden and red tones, which are closely related to the ancient folklore of the local Komi people. These colors symbolize sunlight, as well as the process of the birth of a new life. It is not accidental that the bird on the coat of arms is depicted in such a way that it repeats with its body the shape of a cross. This can be interpreted as a symbol of power, state and spiritual.

It should be noted that images of moose and the sun also contain many emblems of districts of the Komi Republic. Also often there are drawings of firs or taiga forests.

Emblems of the cities of the Komi Republic

In the Republic of Komi there are ten cities, each of which has its own coat of arms and a flag. Consider the arms of the largest settlements of this region.

• Syktyvkar. The coat of arms of the administrative center of the republic depicts a bear of golden color, lying in a den. The background of the heraldic shield is blue-green. Above the bear hangs an unusual star - an element of the national Komi ornament. The main semantics of this coat of arms is as follows: the bear represents the guardian of urban culture and local traditions, and the star above it means the sun.

• Vorkuta. In the arms of this city, authored by Nikolai Zhilin, reflects the whole identity of Vorkuta. So, it depicts a mine keeper and a waste tank, as well as a silver deer imprints in its jump. As you know, it is the discovered deposits of coal that the city owes its appearance. Therefore, such images on the city coat of arms are not at all accidental. The color design of the Vorkuta emblem is dominated by blue and silver tones, which symbolize the northern expanses and natural riches of the northern edge.

Finally

Symbols of any territory should carry in itself its geographical identity, that is those features that are key for a particular region. The Republic of Komi is first of all the richest folklore and vivid folk traditions. The coat of arms of the Komi Republic was framed not without reason in the form of elk heads, as the elk in the culture of the Komi people was always equated with the solar deity.

In turn, the flag of the republic, its colors show the main natural features and richness of this amazing land.