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Astrakhanskaya Oblast

Astrakhan region is placed in the South-West of the European part of Russia, in the South part of the East-European plain. In the West it borders with the Kalmykya-Halm Tangch Republic, in the North - with the Volgograd region, in the East - with the Kazakhstan Republic, in the South it's washed by the Caspian sea.

The first written references to Astrakhan go back to the 13th century, when the Astrakhan Khanate emerged in the lower reaches of the great river after the Golden Horde disintegrated. For several centuries, Astrakhan prospered on the crossing of trade routes which linked Europe and Asia. Today, Astrakhan is a major industrial and cultural centre of the Volga country with a multi-ethnic population of 700,00. Every visitor is sure to be greeted here as a welcome guest.

The length of the low stream of Volga in the limits of the region is more than 40 km. Volga-Akhtuba poima, Volga delta and the neighboring semi-deserts and deserts of the pre-Caspian lowland are placed here. The bigger part of the territory of the region is 15-20 meters lower than the ocean level in the North, the Caspian sea coast is 28 meters lower.

The climate of the Astrakhan region is sharp continental, drought. It is characterized by the big differences of the temperature: from +40 C in summer to - 34 C in winter (though such a low temperature happens rather rarely). The average annual quantity of the precipitations is not significant - 244 mm in the North of the region and 175 mm in the South. The duration of the vegetation period with the temperature higher than +5 C is 201 days in the North and 216 days in the South.

The area of the region is 44 thousand square kilometers, the population - 1024900 people. The region consists of six towns and eleven rural areas. The regional center of the Astrakhan region is the city of Astrakhan with the population 485.300 p. The second in size town in the region is Akhtubinsk (50.000 p.).

Astrakhan region is rich with natural resources among which large resources of oil and gas, pooch, construction materials (clay, gypsum, ceramics, Crystal sand, salt saturated with bromium and chlorine. The resources of fish are unique.

Astrakhan deposit of gas condensate is the largest in Europe, mining exploitation of which has promoted the region to one of the first places in Russia in oil made, gas and sulphur products. The acting deposit of natural gas and oil is unique because of the volume of gas and carbonic hydrogen ( from 3,6 till calculated 6.0 thousand billion of cube m.) what is in 2-2.5 times large then the Orenburg resource ( 1.6-1-8 thousand billion of cube m.) and also in complexity of the composition. Except sulphurhydrogen average content of which is 24%, there is carbonic gas ( 12-16%), oxide of carbonic and sulphur.

On the comprehensive level of mining, the deposit will be enough for centuries. Nowadays, 5 billion of cube m. is mined every year. JSC Gasmining Company 'Astrakhangasprom' is exploring the deposit.

Oil-gas complex is the leading branch in Astrakhan region economy. Part of this branch of industry in the total volume of production is constantly increasing. If in 1990 it was 6,2%, in 1997 - 34,2%. Fuel industry based on the main famous oil-gas deposits and on exploring the new ones, even larger than previous becomes the main branch of local industry. This branch is presented by several companies: 'Astrakhangasprom', 'Lukoil-Astrakhanmorneft', 'Astrakhanenergo', 'Astrakhanoblgas', 'Lukoil-Astrakhannefteproduct', 'Astrakhangasservice', 'Astrakhantopproduct', 'Astrakhanneft' (founded in 1998), 'Right Bank'(founded in july 1999).

Favorable climatic conditions, presence of rich water resources have determined the Astrakhan area as a zone of heat-loving melons and gourds and rice cultivation.

The Astrakhan region occupies leading positions in rice collection among other regions of Russian Federation (Rostov region, Primorye Territory), specializing on rice cultivation.

Gross crop of rice, basic grain culture of region, makes about 133 thousand tons per one year. It is 12 % of a whole crop of rice in Russian Federation and 83 % of total volume made in the Volga river regions.

The areas, engaged under vegetable culture, are largest in the Volga river regions. Astrakhan vegetable and melons differ by high flavoring qualities. The water-melons on flavoring, healing and dietary qualities have no equivalents neither in Russia, nor in Europe, and tomatoes are sources valuable vitamins and mineral substances. As for the content of vitamin C tomatoes do not concede to a lemon. The area has unique genetic potential of fine-wool, astrakhan fur and meat sheeps ensuring the large opportunities on manufacture of wool.

Despite of affinity to " to hot points " and multinational structure of the population the Astrakhan area always was and remains one of most politically stable areas of Russia. Here there are no national conflicts. The officials of the Astrakhan Administration have good relations with the federal Authorities. There are no tendencies of separatism in the region.

The investment-financial policy of regional Administration is directed on creation of conditions for activization of investment process in region, on creation of legislative base for increase of investment activity of the individual investors and reliable protection of putting means. Special attention is given to creation of economic conditions for increase of a share of long-term investments in private sector of economy to mobilize them for structural and technological reorganization of manufacture.

The Astrakhan region is known for contrasts - boundless steppes and shrub-grown banks, the north Caspian ice-bound for half a year, and lush lotuses in the Volga estuary. With it inimitable beauty, eventful past and age-old hospitality, this land attracts tourists by the thousand.
REGIONS OF RUSSIA