Komi villages, consisting for the most part of wooden houses, are usually situated on the banks of rivers; some of these are of a scattered nature, others have regular streets. In the north, the reindeer herders lead a nomadic way of life. The urban population is mostly Russian and Ukrainian. Today there are also a large number of Komi living in the cities, who, owing to altered living circumstances (industrial work) and the influence of the Russians, are slowly being assimilated by the latter.