Composition: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk regions. Republics: Kalmykia and Tatarstan.
Area - 536.4 thousand km 2.
Population - 16 million 787 thousand people.
The area is located in a wide strip along the great Russian Volga River at the junction of the European and Asian parts of Russia.
Benefits of economic geographic location the region is connected with the fact that the Volga region borders on the highly developed Volgo-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Ural, North Caucasian economic regions, as well as Kazakhstan. Dense network of rail, road and river routes ensures close economic ties between the Volga region and other regions. A significant volume of traffic falls on the Volga-Kama basin, which is the "transport frame" of the region. Favorable natural conditions for the development of agriculture and rich minerals (oil, gas) create the basis for the development of the economic complex.
Natural conditions and resources
The Volga region has favorable conditions for the life of people, which has long attracted immigrants here from other regions of Russia. The area is located within the ancient Russian platform and partly a young plate submerged to a considerable depth under the sedimentary cover. The relief of the lower eastern part is weakly wavy, the western part occupies a higher hypsometric position, on its territory the outlier Privolzhskaya Upland is located. The relief of the western part is hilly.
The climate of the region is moderately continental, in the south it is arid. A large amount of active temperatures, fertile chernozems of forest-steppe, gray forest soils, chernozems of steppes and chestnut soils of dry steppes create a powerful agricultural potential of the region. Its plowed lands make up about 20% of Russian arable land. But the southern parts of the region are deficient in moisture; brown semi-desert soils are widespread here.
The main part of the territory is occupied by steppe and forest-steppe zones. Mixed coniferous-broad-leaved and broad-leaved forests once grew in the north; due to centuries of cutting, they have hardly survived in their natural form; in the south, the steppe gives way to semi-desert.
The area has a variety of mineral resources... But the oil reserves, which made the Volga region one of the first in oil production, are severely depleted; oil production is declining. The main oil resources are concentrated in Tatarstan, the Samara region, gas - in the Saratov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. There are also significant reserves of salt in the lakes Baskunchak and Elton and various raw materials for the production of building materials.
Population
The modern population of the region was formed as a result of the centuries-old complex history of the colonization of the region. Indigenous population- Chuvash, Mari, Mordovians. Then the Bulgars, Polovtsians, Mongols, Nogais settled here. From the end XV- beginning XVI centuries, the conquest of the Volga areas was one of the main goals of the Russian, and then The Russian state... Many of the largest cities in the region (Volgograd, Samara, Saratov) emerged as fortresses on a natural boundary (Volga) that protected Russia from nomadic tribes.
The modern Volga region is one of the most densely populated regions of the Russian Federation. The average population density is 31 people. per 1 km 2, the Samara region is especially densely populated. Tatarstan, Saratov region.
In the national structure today, Russians predominate almost everywhere (except for Kalmykia and Tataria). There is also a significant share of the compactly living Tatars (16%), Chuvash and Mordovians (2 and 3%, respectively).
The level of urbanization in the Volga region is about 73%, and the population is concentrated mainly in the capitals of the national republics and in large industrial cities... The region has significant labor resources. Its population is growing, and mainly due to a significant influx of migrants.
The industrial base of the region received an impetus to development during the Great Patriotic War, when more than 300 enterprises were relocated here.And today, in many respects, the Volga region is not inferior to such industrially developed regions as the Central and Ural regions located in the neighborhood.
The main branches of specialization of the region: oil, oil refining, gas industry, chemical industry working on their raw materials, as well as highly qualified mechanical engineering, electric power industry and production of building materials.
The leading role belongs to mechanical engineering. In the structure of mechanical engineering, the automotive industry stands out, first of all. The region produces 70% of passenger cars (Ulyanovsk, Togliatti), 10% of freight (Naberezhnye Chelny) and a significant number of trolleybuses (Engels). In Elabuga, it is planned to build a new automobile plant in cooperation with foreign companies. The Volga region also specializes in instrument and machine tool construction (Penza, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Saratov, Volzhsky, Kazan), aircraft construction (Samara, Saratov, Kazan), (tractor construction (Volgograd). chemical industry... First of all, it is mining chemistry (sulfur extraction - Samara region, salts - Lake Baskunchak), organic synthesis chemistry, polymer production. The chemical industry is developing on the basis of processing local and Western Siberian oil in Nizhnekamsk, Samara and other petrochemical complexes. The main centers are: Nizhnekamsk, Samara, Kazan, Syzran, Sara-. comrade, Volzhsky, Togliatti.
A large gas-chemical complex is being created on the basis of the Astrakhan gas condensate field.
The fuel and energy complex is highly developed. The region is fully provided with its own fuel, and despite the fact that the share of the Volga region in Russian oil production is falling, the region ranks second in Russian Federation after the West Siberian economic region for oil and gas production.
In the Volga region, about 10% of the all-Russian electricity production, part of it is transmitted via power lines to other regions of Russia. A cascade of 11 HPPs with a total capacity of 13.5 million kW was created on the Volga and Kama rivers. But the reservoirs of these lowland hydroelectric power plants are very shallow, although they occupy huge areas, so the cost of electricity is very high. The environmental problems caused by the construction of hydropower plants are enormous. First, the great Russian river Volga no longer exists in its natural form- only a system of reservoirs. Secondly, such regulation of its flow led to a slowdown in the flow and, consequently, a decrease in the river's ability to self-purify. Hundreds of thousands of tons of pollutants (nitrates, oil products, phenols, etc.) get into the Volga every year. Great amount(up to 600 thousand tons) of suspended particles in conditions of a changed runoff contribute to its siltation, shallowing. The rise in the level of groundwater in the Volga basin has led to a catastrophic situation in the remnants of the Volga forests, which are the natural protection of the Volga. Hydroelectric dams are an almost insurmountable obstacle for fish, including valuable sturgeon, whose unique, largest in the world, herd is under threat of extinction. Third, the flooding of fertile, once densely populated areas led to the loss of a significant land fund, flooding of about 100 cities and urban-type settlements, 2.5 thousand villages, villages, thousands of historical and cultural monuments. Now the situation is only getting worse, because the old sewage treatment plant(only about 40% filtered Wastewater) fall into disrepair, funds for their repair and the construction of new ones are not enough. In addition, the USSR that existed one system regulation (management) of water resources is practically destroyed, and the Volga crosses the territory of many administrative-territorial units. Therefore, the very existence of the Volga river system is under threat, and this can only be solved by the combined efforts of all constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the Volga basin.
TPPs, which provide 3/5 of electricity, operate on local raw materials - fuel oil and gas. They are mainly located in cities where oil refining and petrochemicals are developed.
The Balakhovskaya (Saratovskaya) NPP also operates in the region.
Afopromyshleyny complex. In terms of agricultural land area (more than 40 million hectares), the Volga region is the leader among all economic regions of the country. Up to 50% of the area is plowed up. Here, 1/2 of the gross harvest of valuable durum wheat varieties in Russia is grown, a significant part of mustard, cereals (millet, buckwheat), technical (sugar beets, sunflowers). Meat and dairy farming is well developed. Large sheep-breeding farms are located south of the latitude of Volgograd. In the interfluve of the Volga and Akhtuba, vegetables and melons and rice are grown.
Many areas of the Volga region are covered by soil erosion processes, which were the result of centuries of agricultural pressure. This as well as unstable weather and droughts require constant reclamation.
The developed transport network of the district largely determined its modern appearance. The Volga served as the district-forming artery of the region. Great importance there are also roads and railways crossing it, a dense network of power transmission lines and pipelines. The Druzhba oil pipeline system is of international importance.
Volga region
Upper Volga landscape
The relief is flat, lowlands and hilly plains prevail. The climate is temperate continental and continental. Summer is warm, with an average monthly air temperature in July + 22 ° - + 25 ° С; the winters are rather cold, the average monthly air temperature in January and February is -10 ° - -15 ° С. Average annual precipitation in the north is 500-600 mm, in the south 200-300 mm. Natural areas: mixed forest (Tatarstan), forest-steppe (Samara, Penza, Ulyanovsk regions), steppe (Saratov and Volgograd region), semi-deserts (Kalmykia, Astrakhan region). The southern part of the territory is characterized by dust storms and dry winds during the warm half-year (from April to October).
Volga economic region
The area of the territory is 537.4 thousand km², the population is 17 million people, the population density is 25 people / km². The share of the population living in cities is 74%. The Volga economic region includes 94 cities, 3 million-plus cities, 12 federal subjects. It borders in the north with the Volgo-Vyatka region (Central Russia), in the south with the Caspian Sea, in the east with the Ural region and Kazakhstan, in the west with the Central Black Earth region and North Caucasus... The economic axis is the Volga River.
Volga Federal District
Center - Nizhny Novgorod. The territory of the district is 6.08% of the territory of the Russian Federation. The population of Privolzhsky federal district as of January 1, 2008 - 30 million 241 thousand 581 people. (21.3% of the population of Russia). The majority of the population are city dwellers. For example, in Samara region this figure is more than 80%, which is generally slightly higher than the all-Russian indicator (about 73%).
Notes (edit)
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Synonyms:See what "Volga region" is in other dictionaries:
1) the territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga and economically gravitating towards it. The uplifted right bank (from the Volga Upland) and the low-lying left bank (the so-called Trans-Volga region) are distinguished. 2) B natural attitude sometimes referred to the Volga region ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
POVOLZHE, territory along the middle and lower reaches of the Volga. Within the Volga region, a relatively elevated right bank with the Volga Upland and a low-lying left bank are distinguished, the so-called. Trans-Volga region. In a natural relation to the Volga region, they sometimes include ... ... Russian history
Ex., Number of synonyms: 1 territory (20) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary
Geogr. region in the bass. R. Volga, subdivided into Verkh. (to Kazan), Wednesday. (Kazan - Saratov) and Nizh. (below Saratov) Volga region. On the right bank of the Volga Upland, on the left bank of the terraced low. Trans-Volga region. Dictionary of modern geographical ... ... Geographical encyclopedia
1) the territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga and economically gravitating towards it. The raised right bank (with the Volga Upland) and the low-lying left bank (the so-called Trans-Volga region) are distinguished. 2) In a natural relation to ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
The territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga or located close to it and economically gravitating towards it. Within P., a relatively elevated right bank with the Volga Upland is distinguished (See. Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Volga region- Volga region, I (to Volga) ... Russian spelling dictionary
Volga region- Volga region, territory along the middle and lower reaches of the Volga. Within the boundaries of P., the relatively elevated right bank from the Volga Upland and the low-lying left bank, the so-called Trans-Volga region, are distinguished. In a natural relation to P., sometimes they also include ... Dictionary "Geography of Russia"
Volga region- POVULZHE, includes the Tatar, Kalmyk ASSRAvn Ulyanovsk, Penza, Kuibyshev, Saratov, Volgograd (until 1961 - Stalingrad), Astrakhan region. During the pre-war years. five-year plans (1929–40), a powerful industrial base was created in P. Great Patriotic War 1941-1945: encyclopedia
Train number 133A / 133G "Volga region" ... Wikipedia
Astrakhan, Volgograd, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk regions. Republics of Tatarstan and Kalmykia.
Economic and geographical location.
The Volga region stretches for almost 1.5 thousand km along the Volga from the confluence of the left tributary of the Kama to the Caspian Sea. Territory - 536 thousand km 2.
The EGP of this area is extremely beneficial. The Volga region directly borders on the highly developed Volgo-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Ural and North Caucasian economic regions of the Russian Federation, as well as Kazakhstan. A dense network of transport routes (rail and road) contributes to the establishment of wide interdistrict industrial relations Volga region. Volga-Kama river route - gives access to the Caspian, Azov, Black, Baltic, White seas. The presence of rich deposits of oil and gas, the use of pipelines passing through this region also confirms the profitability of the region's EGP.
Natural conditions and resources.
The Volga region has favorable natural conditions for the population and the management of the economy. The climate is temperate continental. The area is rich in land and water resources... However, in the lower Volga region there are droughts, accompanied by dry winds that are destructive for crops.
The relief of this area is varied. Western part(the right bank of the Volga) - elevated, hilly (the Volga Upland turns into low mountains). The eastern part (left bank) is a slightly hilly plain.
Natural and climatic conditions, terrain relief and the great length of the region in the meridional direction determine the diversity of soils and vegetation. In the latitudinal direction from north to south, natural zones successively replace each other - forest, forest-steppe, steppe, then replaced by sultry semi-deserts.
The area is rich in minerals. They extract oil, gas, sulfur, table salt, raw materials for the production of building materials. Until the discovery of oil fields in Western Siberia, the Volga region held the first place in terms of oil reserves and production in the country. At present, the region ranks second in the extraction of this type of raw material after the West Siberian one. The main oil resources are located in Tatarstan and the Samara region, and gas - in the Saratov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions.
Population.
The population of the Volga region is 16.9 million people. The average population density is 30 people per 1 km 2, but it is distributed unevenly. More than half of the population is in the Samara, Saratov regions and Tatarstan. In the Samara region, the population density is the highest - 61 people per 1 km 2, and in Kalmykia - the minimum (4 people per 1 km 2).
The ethnic structure of the population is dominated by Russians. Tatars and Kalmyks live compactly. The share of Chuvash and Mari among the inhabitants of the region is noticeable. The population of the Republic of Tatarstan is 3.7 million people. (among them Russians - about 40%). About 320 thousand people live in Kalmykia. (the share of Russians is more than 30%).
The Volga region is an urbanized area. 73% of all residents live in cities and urban-type settlements. The overwhelming majority of the urban population is concentrated in regional centers, capitals of national republics and large industrial cities. Among them are the millionaire cities Samara, Kazan, Volgograd.
Household.
In terms of the level of development of a number of industries, the region is not much inferior to highly industrial regions, such as the Central and Ural regions, and in some cases even surpasses them. It is one of the leading regions of the oil production, oil refining and petrochemical industries. The Volga region is the largest region of diversified agriculture. The district accounts for 20% of the gross grain harvest. The Povolzhsky economic region is very active in foreign economic relations of Russia.
The main branches of specialization of the Volga region industry are oil and oil refining, gas and chemical, as well as electric power engineering, complex mechanical engineering and production of building materials.
The Volga region ranks second in Russia after the West Siberian economic region in oil and gas production. The amount of extracted fuel resources exceeds the needs of the region. The favorable transport and geographical position of the region has led to the emergence of a whole system of oil trunk pipelines running both in the western and eastward, many of which are of international importance today.
The formation of a new oil base in Western Siberia changed the orientation of the main oil flows. Now the pipelines of the Volga region are "turned" entirely to the west.
The region's oil refineries (Syzran, Samara, Volgograd, Nizhnekamsk, Novokuibyshevsk, etc.) process not only their own oil, but also the oil of Western Siberia. Refinery and petrochemicals are closely related. Along with natural gas, associated gas is extracted and processed, which is used in the chemical industry.
The chemical industry of the Volga region is represented by mining chemistry (extraction of sulfur and table salt), chemistry of organic synthesis, and the production of polymers. The largest centers: Nizhnekamsk, Samara, Kazan, Syzran, Saratov, Volzhsky, Togliatti. In the industrial hubs Samara - Togliatti, Saratov - Engels, Volgograd - Volzhsky, energy and petrochemical production cycles have developed. The production of energy, petroleum products, alcohols, synthetic rubber, and plastics is geographically similar in them.
The development of energy, oil and gas and chemical industries has accelerated the development of mechanical engineering in the area. Developed transport links, the availability of qualified personnel, and the proximity to the Central Region necessitated the creation of instrument and machine-tool factories (Penza, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Saratov, Volzhsky, Kazan). The aircraft industry is represented in Samara and Saratov. But the automotive industry stands out especially in the Volga region. The most famous factories are Ulyanovsk (UAZ cars), Togliatti (Zhiguli), Naberezhnye Chelny (KAMAZ trucks), Engels (trolleybuses).
The value is stored food industry industry. The Caspian and the Volga estuary are the most important inland fishing basin in Russia. However, it should be noted that with the development of petrochemistry, chemistry and the construction of large machine-building plants, the ecological state of the Volga River has deteriorated sharply.
Agro-industrial complex.
On the territory of the district, located in the forest and semi-desert natural zones, the leading role in agriculture belongs to animal husbandry. In the forest-steppe and steppe zones - crop production.
It is the regions of the Middle Volga region that have the highest plowed area (up to 50%). The grain region is located approximately from the latitude of Kazan to the latitude of Samara (rye and winter wheat are grown). Sowings of industrial crops are widespread, for example, mustard sowings make up 90% of the sowings of this crop in Russia. Meat and dairy cattle breeding is also developed here.
Sheep farms are located to the south of Volgograd. In the interfluve of the Volga and Akhtuba, vegetables and melons and gourds are grown, as well as rice.
Fuel and energy complex.
The region is fully supplied with fuel resources (oil and gas). The power industry of the region is of republican importance. The Volga region specializes in the production of electricity (more than 10% of the total Russian production), which supplies other regions of Russia as well.
The basis of the energy economy is the hydroelectric power station of the Volga-Kama cascade (Volzhskaya near Samara, Saratov, Nizhnekamsk, Volzhskaya near Volgograd, etc.). The cost of energy generated at these HPPs is the lowest in the European part of the Russian Federation.
Numerous thermal stations located in cities where oil refining and petrochemistry are developed use local raw materials (fuel oil and gas). In the total electricity production, the share of thermal power plants is approximately 3/5. The largest thermal power plant in the region is the Zainskaya GRES in Tatarstan, which runs on gas.
The Balakovo (Saratov) NPP is also in operation.
Transport.
The transport network of the region is formed by the Volga and the roads and railways that cross it, as well as a network of pipelines and power transmission lines. The Volga-Don Canal connects the waters of the largest rivers of the European part of Russia - the Volga and Don (outlet to the Sea of Azov).
The region's oil and gas is transported through pipelines to the regions of Central Russia and to the countries of the “near” and “far” abroad. The system of oil pipelines "Druzhba" is of international importance - from Almetyevsk through Samara, Bryansk to Mozyr (Belarus), then the oil pipeline branches into 2 sections: the northern one - through the territory of Belarus, then to Poland, Germany and the southern one - through the territory of Ukraine, then to Hungary, Slovakia. The oil pipeline has a branch - Unecha-Polotsk-Ventspils (Lithuania), Mazeikiai (Latvia)
The area is 536 thousand km2.
Composition: 6 regions - Astrakhan, Volgograd, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk and 2 republics - Tataria and Kalmykia.
Natural conditions are favorable: (right bank, more elevated), soft, large massif. But uneven moisture supply is characteristic - along the lower Volga there are droughts and dry winds.
The Volga region ranks second after oil and gas production; large oil refineries and a large one are concentrated in the region. Powerful petrochemical centers in Samara, Kazan, Saratov, Syzran produce a variety of chemical products (plastics, polyethylene, fibers, rubber, tires, etc.). The Volga region also specializes in diversified, primarily transport. The region is called the country's automobile "workshop": Togliatti - produces Zhiguli cars, Ulyanovsk - UAZ all-terrain vehicles, Naberezhnye Chelny - heavy-duty KAMAZ trucks. The Volga region produces ships, airplanes, tractors, trolleybuses, machine-tool and instrument making is also developed. The major centers are Samara, Saratov, Volgograd. The energy complex, which includes cascades of hydroelectric power plants on the Volga and Kama rivers, is of great importance; TPPs using their own and imported fuel and nuclear power plants (Balakovskaya and Dmitrovradskaya).
Volga region - the most important of Russia. Northern part district - supplier hard varieties wheat, sunflower, corn, beet, and also meat. Rice, vegetables, melons and gourds are grown in the south. Volga and are the most important fishing areas.
Excessive concentration of petrochemical industries and others industrial enterprises, the regulation of the Volga created an extremely difficult ecological situation in the Volga region.
- Composition: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk regions, republics: Tatarstan and Kalmykia.
- Main cities: Samara - 1150 thousand people, - 1180 thousand people, Volgograd - 1005 thousand people, Saratov, Togliatti, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Astrakhan.
The Volga region is one of the three largest and most developed regions (Center - Ural - Volga region) that make up the economic basis of Russia. In its development, the region took a lot from these neighbors and occupies an intermediate position between them, both in terms of geography and economic profile. From the Center he adopted traditions, from the Urals he received metal for its development, and on his own oil and gas, hydropower and land resources he created a powerful energy, oil refining and chemical industry and a strong agricultural complex. Today, these industries determine the specialization of the region. Thus, the development of the region was determined by a favorable combination of a convenient geographical location and significant natural resources.
The geographical "core" of the region is the Volga, which has long connected north and south, west and east. European Russia and opened her way to south seas and the countries of the east. All are located on the Volga big cities district. Railways crossing it at several points, they connect with the Urals and the Asian part of the country.
In the 1930s, the agrarian Volga region in the past (along with the neighboring Volgo-Vyatka region) became the first region on the way of the shift of industry to the east. More than 300 factories evacuated from the front-line areas during the Second World War were located on its territory. These enterprises became part of the economic complex. The creation of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants on the Volga and the development of the oil and gas Volga-Ural province in the post-war years strengthened the region's energy sector and formed a powerful oil refining, petrochemistry, and organic synthesis industries. In the Volga region, qualified personnel were formed, which, in turn, began to attract here the industries of mass and high-tech mechanical engineering. This is how the production potential of this region gradually increased, which from the agrarian and commercial outskirts of old European Russia turned into one of the basic regions of the Russian economy.
The main branch of industry is mechanical engineering, which gives more than 1/3 of its industrial output and produces transport and military equipment, technological equipment... The leading place is occupied by the automotive industry - the only industry that during the period economic crisis 90s did not experience a strong collapse. The largest automobile plants in the country have been built in the Volga region - Volzhsky (VAZ), which now provides 70% of passenger cars in the country (in Togliatti), Kamsky (KAMAZ) for the production of trucks and diesel engines(in Naberezhnye Chelny), Ulyanovsk (UAZ), trolleybus plant in Engels, and others. In dozens of cities in the Volga region and other regions there are enterprises that produce parts, equipment, units for these machines.
The Volga region is distinguished by the production of aerospace equipment: planes are built in Kazan, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, helicopters - in Kazan, missile systems - in Penza and Ulyanovsk. Shipbuilding is developed in Astrakhan and, in which tractors are also produced. Machine tools, instruments, and equipment for the chemical and oil industries are produced in Samara, Volgograd, Saratov, Kazan, Penza, and other cities. Many factories produce military equipment.
The second place in the economy is occupied by the oil and gas chemical complex. The area gave in the 60-70s. more than 60% of the country's oil, now depleted reserves provide it with the second place in oil production in Russia. But the largest in Russia oil refining, petrochemistry, production of polymeric materials and their products - rubber, tires, plastics, fibers and many others - has been created here. Complexes of these interconnected industries have been created in Samara-Syzran, Saratov-Engels, Volgograd-Volzhsky, Nizhnekamsk, Astrakhan.
Among others, the production of basic chemistry (sulfur, salt, soda), cement and other building materials, fur and leather goods, footwear, woolen and cotton fabrics stands out. An important place belongs to the fishing industry, which provides the main catch of sturgeon and other valuable fish in the country (in last years the sturgeon catch has been temporarily suspended).
The Volga region is distinguished by its powerful energy industry: large thermal power plants are located in oil refining centers and generate 35 district energy, they are supplemented by the Balakovo NPP (Saratov region) and the Volga-Kama cascade of 4 large hydropower plants... Energy from here goes to the Center and to the Urals.
Agriculture in terms of production is at the level of North. Caucasus. Here, agriculture and animal husbandry are equally represented, each giving 15% of their production from the all-Russian level. Large land areas and fodder resources make it possible to maintain the largest livestock of cattle and sheep in Russia, to cultivate winter (in the Right Bank) and spring (in the Volga region) wheat. The Volga region also produces sugar beets, sunflowers, and millet. Melons, tomatoes and other thermophilic vegetables are grown in the lower reaches of the Volga. Around major cities there are complexes for growing poultry, pigs, early vegetables.
The large population of the region was largely formed due to its influx from Central Russia, which contributed to rapid growth cities. And today the Volga region is a region of large cities, among which Samara, Kazan, Volgograd have more than 1 million people, Saratov has approached them, and the number of cities with a population of over 400 thousand people. more than in the "city" itself - the Central region. The townspeople make up 3/4 of the total population of the district. Density rural population 10-15 people, which is significantly higher than the average Russian level. The population of the Volga region is mainly Russian, but other peoples also live here, incl. Tatars are the titular nation of the Republic of Tatarstan, whose republic occupies the driest, semi-desert region of Russia.
The Volga region, like other regions of Russia, was strongly affected by the economic recession of the 90s. However, in the Samara region. and Tatarstan, where the share of the automotive industry and the oil industry is high, the decline in production was significantly less, and they, while maintaining the profitability of production, became part of the 10-12 regions that provide the main revenues to the Russian budget.
The ecological situation of the Volga region is determined, first of all, by the Volga problems. Divided by dams into a series of reservoirs with a low flow rate, the Volga and its bottom are polluted with compounds of metals, nitrates, oil products, pesticides and other wastes. The number of sturgeon fish due to the construction of dams on the way of their migration and poaching. Contamination exceeds sanitary standards in all large cities of the Volga region. In such regions as Samara, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Saratov, half of the population lives with constantly increased pollution. Most of the arable land suffers from wind and water erosion caused by continuous plowing of land, strong winds from the Volga region and the hilly relief of the Right Bank. Long-term washout and blowing out of soils led to the loss of half of the soil humus reserves. This requires serious soil protection measures, "mosaic" land use, organic fertilizers etc.
In the future, we can expect a recovery in the production of transport and agricultural equipment with its serial production for different consumers - from individual and small-group to large ones. Shipbuilding can play a special role. In the tradition of the Volga residents - to live next to the river, to enjoy its benefits. This can be helped by the creation of medium and small vessels for sports, fishing, transport and tourism. It is expected the development of communication by vessels "river-sea" between the seas of the European region, in which the Volga will play the main role... Little is produced in the Volga region now household appliances and consumer goods, the tertiary sector is underdeveloped. It's all - possible points growth. In the interests of the Russian economy - the revival of the role of the Volga region as a trade and transport crossroads of Russia, the development of various infrastructure and services for these purposes.
