Vorkuta, city, Komi republic, northwestern Russia, on the Vorkuta River. Coal mining began in the area in 1932, but the industry and city did not grow significantly until World War II. Initially the coal exploitation used penal labour. The area subsequently became the site of some of Stalin’s forced-labour camps for political prisoners, most of whom perished there from the harsh climate. Pop. (2006 est.) 79,205.