Prof. DSc. Sergei V. RYANZHIN
ILRAS - Institute of Limnology,
The RussianAcademy of Sciences,
Sevastyanova 9, St.Petersburg, 196105 RUSSIA
Phone/Fax 7 812 2221181/388 7327,
E-mail:
SOCIAL-ECONOMIC PECULIARITIES OF RUSSIAN BLACK SEA COASTAL TERRITORY
Content
1. Introduction
2. Krasnodarskiy kray
2.1. Geography and climate
2.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
2.3. Capital and main cities
2.4. Mineral and natural resources, deposits and reserves
2.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
2.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
3. Rostovskaya oblast
3.1. Geography and climate
3.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
3.3. Capital and main cities
3.4. Mineral and natural resourcesand reserves
3.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
3.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
4. References
1. Introduction
From the territorial-administrative point of view, the territory of the modern Russian Federation is subdivided into 11 territorial-administrative subjects – so called, Federal Territorial Administrative Okrugs (FTAO). FTAO consists of traditional USSR’s territorial-administrative units, such as Republic, Kray, Autonomic Oblast, Oblast, and Autonomic Okrug. In turn, each of the listed territorialsubjects consists of smaller units - Rayons. Totally there are 21 Republics, 5 Krayes, 1 Autonomic Oblast, 49 Oblasts, 10 Autonomicand 1868 Rayons in the Russian Federation (2006).
The Russian Black Sea coastal territory is included into the North-Caucasian FTAO.The FTAO is characterized by total surface area 355,100 sq.km, population 17.707 millions; relatively high population’s density 49 inh/sq.km(2006). For comparison, an average population density in Russian Federationequals approx. 9 inh/sq.km (2006). Two territorial-administrative units of FTAO have the coastal line at the Black Seaand the Sea of Azov– KrasnodarskiyKray and RostovskayaOblast (Fig. 1). General geographical and social economic features of Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast are shown in Table 1.
Fig. 1. Russian territorial-administrative subjects - Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast –have a marine coastline and contain the Black Sea coastal territory
Fig. 2. Russian Krasnodarskiy Kray borders with the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (RUSMAP 2005)
2. Krasnodarskiy kray
2.1. Geography and climate
Krasnodarskiy Kray (KK), having a surface area of 79,000 sq. km, is the most southern territory of the Russian Federation (Fig. 1 and 2). KK partly occupies the coastal regions of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. KK, having a coastal line up to 740 km (of its total border length of 1540 km), borders with the Georgian Republic Abkhazia (through River Psou inflowing the Black Sea) and the Russian Stavropolskii Krayin the east, with the Ukraine (through narrow Kerch Straight connecting the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea) in the west, with the Russian Rostovskaya Oblast in the north and the Russian Republic Adigeya. The latest has been administratively included into KK till 1991.
River Kuban, inflowing the Sea of Azov and originated in Caucasus Mountains (Caucasian Elbrus Mt. area; Krachayevo-CherkessRepublic of the Russian Federation), subdivides KK into lowland northern and mountain southern parts (approx. 2/3 and 1/3 part of total KK territory respectively). The climate of the lowland northern part is mainly moderate continental (boreal) with long-term monthly average January and July temperatures -2-6 Co and +22-24 Co respectively, and annual rainfall 400-600 mm. In contrast, the climate is mainly moderate subtropical in the southern part of KK (to the south of Tuapse city): with mild winter and high annual rainfall up to 3400 mm and even higher in the mountains.
Table 1. Summary of general features of Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast
Krasnodarskiy Kray / Rostovskaya OblastArea (sq.km) / 79,000 / 100,800
Population
(millions) / 5.090 / 4.404
Population density
(inh/sq.km) / 66 / 44
Population content by
nationality / Approx. 100 nationalities: Russian (>80%, prevailing), Ukrainian,
Belarusian, Tatars, Armenian,
Chechen etc. / Approx. 100 nationalities: Russian (90%, prevailing), Ukrainian (3.4%), Belarusian
(0.9%), Tatars, Chechen, Armenian (1.8%)
etc.
Length of marine
Border (km) / 740 / 300
Main rivers / Kuban / Don, Severnii Donetz, Manich
Mineral and natural
resources, deposits and reserves / Oil, gas, iron, marble, limestone, salt,
sand etc. deposits (totally more than 60 types ofmineral deposits). Extensive groundwater resources of mineral and thermal waters. Forests’ reserves(18,000 sq.km). Fertile agricultural
soils(chernozem) / Coal, oil and gasmineral deposits. Fertile agricultural soils (chernozem).
Average air temperature:
January / -2-6 Co / -2-8 Co
July / +22-24 Co / +22-26 Co
Annual precipitation
(mm) / 400-3400 / 280-400
Climate / From moderate continental (boreal) to
moderate subtropical / Moderate continental (boreal)
Capital (population) / Krasnodar (former Ekaterinodar, until 1920),(831,000), founded in 1793 / Rostov-na-Donu (1,186,000) founded in
1749
Main cities
(population) / Sochi (360,000),
Armavir (232,000),
Novorossiysk (223,000),
Kropotkin (171,000),
Eysk (95,000),
Tikhoretsk (88,000),
Anapa (85,000) / Taganrog (292,000),
Shchakhty (230,000),
Novocherkassk (190,000),
Volgodonsk (183,000),
Bataysk (100,000),
Novoshchakhtinsk (107,000)
Main ports / Novorossiysk (the biggest Russian port at the Black Sea), Tuapse, Sochi (passenger) / Rostov-na-Donu (one of the biggest Russian river-port), Taganrog, Azov.
International
Airports / Krasnodar, Adler / Rostov-na-Donu, Taganrog
Resorts / Sochi, Anada, Gelendjik, Adler,
Khosata, Krasnaja Polyana (mountain) / Azov
Industry / Agricultural production processing,
machinery, fishery, road construction,
oil and gas processing, transportation and related industries, producing of chemicalfertilizers, tourism / Coal mining exploitation, developing, transportation and related industries. Agricultural productionprocessing, agricultural machinery, equipment for nuclear power plants, fishery
Agriculture / Meat and milk production, growing of
vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, beans,
corns etc.), fruits (apples, perches, grape, watermelons, etc.), berries, and elite seeds (including rice).
In 2006 gross annual agricultural production was estimated as 50 billion Rubles (approx. 2 billion USD), and ranks 1stamong agricultural regions of Russian Federation. / Meat and milk production, growing of
vegetables (potatoes, sunflowers, tomatoes
etc.), tea and fruits (apples, perches etc.)
Principal largest enterprises / “Novorossiysk Port”, “Rosneft-Kranodar-Neftegaz”, “Priazov-Neft”, “Novorossmetall”, “Priboy”, “Kaskad” / “Rostugol”, “Rostselmash”, “Azovstal”, “Krasniy Sulin”
Culture / 6 professional dramatic theaters and
many museums / 7 professional dramatic theaters, many
museums (including memorial Anton Chekhov’sand Mikhail Sholokhov’s museums situated in Taganrog and Stanitsa
Veshenskaya respectively.
Scientific and
Educational Centers / More than 1450 primary (regular) schools, 12 universities. The main universities are Krasnodar State University, Armavir Pedagogical University, Novorossiysk MarineAcademy, Sochi Resort Institute / More than800 primary schools and 75 colleges. 23 universities (including 2 military and 1 police universities), The main university is Southern Federal University (Rostov-na-
Donu)
Sports / Football team “Kuban” (Krasnodar)
successfully plays in the Russian Prime
League / Handball team “Rostov” was a winner of
the European League Cup. Football team
“Rostov” (Rostov-na-Donu) successfully
plays in the Russian Prime League
governor / Alexander Tkachov (2007; / Vladimir Chub (2007).
2.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
KK (population 5.090 millions – 3.4% of total Russian population; population’s density 66 inh/sq.km, rural population – 47%; 2006) was officially established in 17 September 1937. Population consists of almost 100 nationalities: Russian (>80%, predominate), Ukrainian, Belarusian, Tatars, Armenian, and Chechen etc. Mainly due to mild climate, KK is attractive region for immigrants. Therefore, KK is characterized with annual grows of population (+0.8%) that ranks 3d in the Russian Federation after Republic Ingush (6.9%) and Republic Dagestan (2.2%). KK is subdivided into several territorial-administrative rayons (Fig. 2). Alexander Tkachov is a governor of the KK (2007;
2.3. Main cities
The capital of KK, Krasnodar (former Ekaterinodar until 1920; 831,000 population, 2006), situated at River Kuban’ was founded in 1793 first as a castle. Main cities of KK are Sochi (360,000), Armavir (232,000), Novorossiysk (223,000), Kropotkin (171,000), Eysk (95,000), Tikhoretsk (88,000), Anapa (85,000) and others (Table 1 and 2, Fig. 2 and 3).
Table 2. Main cities of Krasnodarskiy Kray (2006; descending by population)
City / Population(thousand)
Krasnodar / 831
Sochi / 360
Armavir / 232
Novorossiysk / 223
Kropotkin / 171
Eysk / 95
Tikhoretsk / 88
Anapa / 85
Tuapse / 66
Fig. 3. Population of main cities of Krasnodarskiy Kray (2006; descending by population)
2.4. Mineral and natural deposits, resources and reserves
Natural deposits of oil, gas, iron, marble, limestone, salt, sand etc. (totally more than 60 types of mineral deposits) of industrial scale are available at KK territory. Extensive deposits have been found in regions mainly located close to the mountains. Recently, large natural reserves of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) were found at the shelf of the Sea of Azov. Extensive groundwater reserves of mineral and thermal waters were found in 1980th.
Total area of forestsin KK reaches 18,000 sq.km. 49% and 19% of forestsconstitute of oak and beech woods respectively. KK is also reach in fertile agricultural soils (chernozem).
2.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
Meat and milk production, growing of vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, beans, corns etc.), fruits (apples, perches, watermelons, grape etc.), berries, elite seeds (including rice) predominate in agriculture of KK. In 2006 gross annual agricultural production was estimated as 50 billion Rubles (approx. 2 billion USD). KKranks the first among the most advanced agricultural regions of Russian Federation.
KK is important logistic-transport center of the Southern Russia. International airports are available in Krasnodar and Adler. Cities Novorossiysk, Tuapse and Sochi are important international cargo and passenger sea ports, situated at the Black Sea. The port of Novorossiyskmaking full capacity annual overturn over 7 million tons (crude-oil terminal, terminals for general cargo etc.), is the biggest Russian port at the Black Sea, and ranks 5thby overturn (after sea ports of St.Petersburg, Vladivostok, Murmansk and Ust’-Luga) in the Russian Federation. Total annual turnover in KK’s transportation business exceeds 52 billion Rubles (approx. 2 billion USD).
Oil exploitation in KKwas started in 1864 (the earliest oil exploitation in Russia). Since 2004 annual oil and gas exploitations in KK exceed 840,000 tons and 1.2 billion cub.m respectively. In 2006 the annual processing of crude-oil at enterprises located in KK exceeded 3.7 million tons.
Main industrial activityof KKis focused at agricultural production processing, machinery, fishery, road construction, oil and gas processing and transportation, producing of chemical fertilizers etc. Principal and largest industrial enterprises located in KK are “NovorossiyskPort”, “Rosneft-Kranodar-Neftega”, “Priazov-Neft”, “Novorossmetall”, “Priboy”,“Kaskad” etc.
2.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
Krasnodar is important scientific, educational and cultural center of the Southern Russia. There are 1450 primary (regular) schools in KK (2006). 3 professional dramatic theaters,many museums, several universities and scientific-research centers are located in Krasnodar.Totally,6 professional dramatic theaters and 12 universities situated in KK. The main universities are KrasnodarStateUniversity, ArmavirPedagogicalUniversity, NovorossiyskMarineAcademy andSochiResortInstituteetc.
Cities Sochi, Anapa, Adler, Khosta, Gelenjik and others, situated at the Black Sea shore, are wide-known international marine resorts. Krasnaja Polyana located in Caucasus Mountains is famous mountain resort and sport-center (skiing, ski slalom etc.). Totally, KK’s recreation business makes 8.5 billion Rubles (approx. 350 millions USD) full capacity annual overturn.
Popular football team “Kuban” (Krasnodar) successfully plays in the Russian Prime League.
3. Rostovskaya oblast
3.1. Geography and climate
Rostovskaya oblast (RO), having a surface area of 100,800 sq.km, is one of the southern territories of the Russian Federation (Fig. 1 and 4). RO partly occupies Azov lowland and the coastal territories of the Sea of Azov.RO borders with the Ukraine in the west, and with the Russian Krasnodarskii and Stavropolskii Krayes in the south, Voronezhskaya Oblast in the north, Volgogradskaya Oblast and Republic Kalmik in the east (Fig. 4).
River Don, one of the longest in European part of Russia, flows through ROand discharges into TaganrogBay of the Sea of Azov. One of the largest Russian river-dam reservoirs, Tsimlyansk Reservoir (surface area 2,700 sq.km), was constructed at the river in 1952. Other principal rivers of RO are Severnii Donetz and Manich. Lakes occupy 0.4% of RO territory.
RO enjoys moderate continental (boreal) climate characterized by annual rainfall 280-400 mm, relatively mild winter and hot summer (long-term monthly average January and July air temperatures are -2-8 Co and +22-26 Co respectively).
3.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
RO is characterized with population 4.404 millions, population’s density 44 inh/sq.km, rural population – 33%(2005). Population constitutes from approx. 100 nationalities: Russian (90%, predominate), Ukrainian (3.4%), Armenian (1.8%), Belarusian (0.9%), Tatars, and Chechen etc. RO includes 43 territorial-administrative rayons, 23 cities and 25 big villages (Fig. 4). Vladimir Chub is a governor of RO (2007).
Fig. 4. Russian Rostovskaya Oblast has a marine coastline and contains coastal territory of the Sea of Azov (RUSMAP 2005)
3.3. Main cities
The capital of RO, Rostov-na-Donu (1,186,000 population, 2006), founded in 1749 as a river port, situates at River Don. Unofficially, Rostov-na-Donu is considered as an ancient capital of the Southern Russia (so called Malo-Russia). Main cities of RO are Taganrog (292,000), Shchakhty (230,000), Novocherkassk (190,000), Volgodonsk (183,000), Novoshchakhtinsk (107,000), Bataysk (100,000) and others (Table 1 and 3, Fig. 4 and 5).
Table 3. Main cities of Rostovskaya Oblast (2006; descending by population)
City / Population(thousand)
Rostov-na-Donu / 1.186
Taganrog / 292
Shchakhty / 230
Novocherkassk / 190
Volgodonsk / 183
Novoshakhtinsk / 107
Bataysk / 100
Azov / 97
Kamensk-Shchakhtinskiy / 80
Gukovo / 68
Sal’sk / 65
Fig. 5. Population of main cities of Rostovskaya Oblast (2006; descending by population)
3.4. Mineral and natural deposits, resources and reserves
Natural deposits of coal, oil, gas etc. of industrial scale are available at RO territory. Particularly, extensive natural deposits of coal and oil are estimated as large as 6.5 billion and 485 million tons respectively.
Total area of forests reaches only 2.8% of RO territory. However, RO is very reach in fertile agricultural soils (chernozem). Particularly, fertile chernozem, reaching 1.5 m in width, constitutes 65% of total area of agricultural fields of RO.
3.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
Meat and milk production, growing of vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers etc.), tea and fruits (apples, perches etc.) predominate in agricultural activity. In 2006 gross annual agricultural production of ROwas estimated as 45 billion Rubles (approx. 1.8 billion USD) ranking the 2nd(after Krasnodarskiy Kray) among the most advanced agricultural regions of the Russian Federation.
RO is an important large logistic-transportation center of the Southern Russia. Network consisting from 7 federal railways and 6 federal highways cross Rostov-na-Donu. International airports are located in Rostov-na-Donu and Taganrog.Rostov-na-Donu is one of the biggest Russian river-ports. Large sea ports are reconstructed in Taganrog and Azov (the Sea of Azov).
Industry and agriculture constitute approx. 36% and 34% of RO’s economy respectively. Traditionally, coal miningexploitation, developing and transportation are highly developed in RO. Others industries are focused at agricultural production processing, machinery (agricultural machinery and equipment for nuclear power station), fisheryetc.
Before and just after the WW-2 the Sea of Azov was one of the most fishery productive seas of the world. However, after the WW-2, due to anthropogenic effects (particularly, over-fishing), its productivity steadily falls down. Correspondingly, annual fish yields also sharply decrease.
Annual exploitation of mining coal exceeds 20 million tons. Main coal mines locate in Shchakhty, Novocherkassk, Novoshakhtinsk, Kamensk-Shchakhtinskiy etc.
“Rostugol”, “Rostselmash”, “Azovstal”, “Krasniy Sulin” etc. are among principal industrial enterprises of RO.
3.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
RO is an important scientific, educational and cultural center of the Southern Russia. There are 9 universitiesand several scientific-research centers in RO. Southern Federal Universityfounded in 1915, is the biggest university (more than 14,000 students) in the Southern Russia.Southern ScientificCenter of the RussianAcademy of Sciences is situated in Rostov-na-Donu (the head Prof. Gennady Matyushov). Totally there are 23 universities (including 2 military and 1 police universities) and 75 colleges host in RO. More than 800 primary schools and 2786 public libraries (with total book capacity over 35 million copies) locate in RO (2006).
There are 7professional dramatic theaters in RO (4 in Rostov-na-Donu). The most famous theaters are Maxim Gorky Dramatic Theaterat Rostov-na-Donu (founded in 1863) and Taganrog Anton Chekhov Dramatic Theater (founded in 1827).
RO is a motherland of two wide-known Russian writers: Anton Chekhov (Taganrog, 1860-1904; the most famous novels are “Three Sisters”, “The Gull”, “Uncle Vanya”) and Mikhail Sholokhov, the Nobel Prize Winner-1965, (Stanitsa Veshenskaya, 1905-1983; the most famous novelsare “Quiet Flows Don”, “They Fought for Motherland”). Extensive Anton Chekhov’s and Mikhail Sholokhov’smemorial museums are situated in Taganrog and Stanitsa Veshenskaya respectively.
Handball team “Rostov” was a winner of the European League Cup. Popular football team “Rostov” (Rostov-na-Donu) successfully plays in the Russian Prime League.
4. References
Atlas of Modern Russia. 2006. Moscow: Ima Press Publ. House (in Russian).
Data on Modern Russia. 2005. Moscow: MAIK-Nauka Publ. House (in Russian).
Kuban Data 2007. available online at (in Russian).
Modern Russia: Figures, Statistics and Facts. 2005. Moscow: MAIK-Nauka Publ. House (in
Russian).
RUSMAP 2005. available online at Russian).
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