Salekhard, city (1989 pop. 32,300), capital of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, NW Siberian Russia, on the lower Ob River. It is a river port and has fish canneries, lumber mills, and shipyards. The population is mainly Russian. Founded as Obdorsk in 1595, the city was renamed in 1930. It is also spelled Salegard.