What is included in the southern region. Southern Federal District. Industry of the South of Russia. Administrative-territorial structure of the federal district
Southern federal district- this is one of the components Russian Federation, if I may say so. It is interesting that for some time (to be more precise, from 05/13/2000 to 06/21/2000) it was called the North Caucasus Federal District. But, as you can see, this did not last long - a little more than a month. Then, however, on January 19, 2010, the North Caucasus Federal District was separated from the Southern Federal District. But this is a slightly different topic.
general information
The Southern Federal District is the smallest in all of Russia. Its area is 447,821 sq.m. - this is only 2.61% of the notorious North Caucasian Federal District (170,439 km²). For comparison, the Siberian Federal District has an area of 5,145,000 km². Although it includes only 12 subjects. But only one Krasnoyarsk region occupies 2,366,797 km².
So, the Southern Federal District includes 8 subjects. And its population is 16,367,949 people, according to the latest statistics. This is about 11.17%. The average density is low - 36.5 people per square kilometer. By the way, the center of the Federal District is the city of Rostov-on-Don.
Compound
Which cities the Southern Federal District includes should be noted with special attention. The Southern Federal District has a small composition. As mentioned above, there are only 8 subjects.
The smallest in area is the hero city of Sevastopol. Total 864 km². It is home to about 420,000 people. This city is good for many things, but the most important thing is that it is here that the main naval base Black navy Russian Navy.
The Republic of Adygea, located as if inside Krasnodar region, has an area of 7,800 km². A special feature of this region is its forest resources. They occupy more than 1/3 of the entire republic. There are also a lot of mineral resources concentrated here.
Crimea is no different in size - about 27,000 km². But it’s more than twice as big as it. Its area is 49,024 km². rich in deserts used as pastures. serves as a spawning ground for beluga, stellate sturgeon and sturgeon.
The next largest republic in terms of area is Elista. Interestingly, in this region the official language is not only Russian. But also Kalmyk (at the legislative level).
And the largest three regions are Krasnodar region, Rostov region and Volgograd region.
Economy
The Southern Federal District attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. Because it includes the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. And these are regions rich in resorts. Sochi, Tuapse, Gelendzhik, Anapa, Sevastopol, Yalta - for the economy of these cities (and, accordingly, the entire district), the most profitable time is the end of spring, summer and beginning of autumn. This is the specificity of the climate; it is at this time that there is no end to visitors in the resort areas of the Southern Federal District.
But besides tourism industry, the agro-industrial and transport complexes, as well as trade, are still well developed here. True, this is not the case throughout the entire district. Transport complexes of interregional and international importance, for example, are concentrated in the Astrakhan region and the notorious Krasnodar region.
Production percentage
But these are not all the industries that the Southern Federal District can boast of. The cities of this federal district are good targets for the development of light industry. It really exists here, and it is aimed at supplying products to other federal districts of Russia. It is in this district that 1/10 of all knitwear in our country and about 28% of shoes are produced.
But that's not all. Also, the Southern Federal District, the map of which is provided above, is the region of the country in which about 21% of the all-Russian volume of steel pipes, 13% of metal-cutting machines, about 19% of tractors, 7% of passenger cars and 9% of excavators are produced.
In addition, the Southern Federal District produces approximately 18% of cement, 10% of prefabricated reinforced concrete structures and 15% of building bricks.
Addition
If you look at the Southern Federal District (map provided above), you can see that it also includes the Republic of Crimea and the hero city of Sevastopol. Back in March 2014, these subjects returned to the Russian Federation. But their territorial status was approved quite recently - in the middle of summer of this year 2016.
After Crimea was included in the Southern Federal District, the district increased by 27,000 km². The population also increased - approximately 2,300,000 people. By the way, it is precisely because of the situation that occurred in November 2015 associated with the explosion of power line supports in Kherson that the Southern Federal District is called an energy-deficient region. Because this incident completely deprived the entire Crimea (a large part of the district) of electricity. But, as you know, if everything is bad in one place and good in another, then the indicators are still summed up. That is why the Southern Federal District is now considered to be in deficit.
Agro-industrial complex
The center of the Southern Federal District, like all its other regions, boasts favorable natural and climatic conditions. In other federal districts they are different, and are not so conducive to the development of the agricultural industry. And this is the main significance of the South for our entire huge country. It is the Southern Federal District, whose composition is not very large, that provides Russia with food security. It is here that almost 1/6 of the cultivated area of the entire country is concentrated. And they grow more than a quarter (!) of the total Russian volume of grain crops, 50% of sunflower seeds, and approximately 1/5 of vegetables.
On average, the Southern Federal District produces 1/7 of all agricultural products. And this is a lot. This also includes 33% sugar, 46% vegetable oil, approximately 11% dairy products and eggs, about 12.5% meat products. In general, the list could take a long time, but the fact that the Southern Federal District is very important for Russia is clear and undeniable.
The Southern Federal District was formed in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated May 13, 2000 No. 849.
The Southern Federal District includes 13 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Adygea (Adygea), the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, the Chechen Republic, the Krasnodar Territory, the Stavropol Territory , Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov regions. The center of the Southern Federal District is the city of Rostov-on-Don (population as of January 1, 2007 - 1.1 million people).
The area of the Southern Federal District is 591.3 thousand km2 (3.5% of the territory of Russia), the population is 22.8 million people. (15.8% of the country's population). The share of the urban population is only 57.5%. By share rural population The Southern Federal District occupies a leading position in Russia. The district ranks second among federal districts - 36.4 people. per km2.
The largest cities of the Southern Federal District are Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Astrakhan, Stavropol, Sochi, Makhachkala, Vladikavkaz. The population of other cities does not exceed 300,000 people. In total, there are 132 cities in the district.
The possibility of discovering large oil and gas reserves exists in the Caspian region.
The Southern Federal District is the most important supplier of agricultural products for Russia. Grain, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, grapes, melons, fish, and products are exported outside the district.
The electric power industry plays a primary role in the economy of the Southern Federal District. Thermal (Krasnodar, Grozny, Novocherkassk, Nevinnomyssk) and hydroelectric power stations (Tsimlyanskaya, Gizeldonskaya, Baksanskaya, Chirkeyskaya, Irganayskaya, etc.) have been built in many areas. The oil and gas industry is developed in the Southern Federal District. Moreover, the oil industry is the oldest in the region. The chemical industry is developing on its basis. Sectors of specialization are also ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, agricultural engineering and the production of drilling equipment. The sectors of specialization of the Southern Federal District also include the resort industry North Caucasus.
The main industrial potential of the Southern Federal District is concentrated in the Rostov, Volgograd regions and the Krasnodar Territory. The Rostov region specializes in heavy industry: ferrous (metal powder, steel pipes) and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (grain combines, electric locomotives, steam boilers, equipment for nuclear power plants, press-forging machines), and coal mining. Plays an important role food industry(meat and dairy, oil and fat, confectionery, tobacco, fruit and vegetable canning). Electric power industry, ferrous metallurgy (steel, rolled products, steel pipes), mechanical engineering, including shipbuilding, chemical etc. are developed in the Volgograd region. The basis of the industry of the Krasnodar region is the food industry (wine making, fruit and vegetable canning, oil processing, meat), mechanical engineering (instrument making, machine tool building, agricultural engineering), oil refining, etc.
The tense social situation in the district is emphasized by the lowest level of monetary income of the population in the country and the highest level of unemployment. Thanks to the agricultural specialization of the district, here is the lowest cost of the food part of the consumer basket in Russia and the lowest consumer price index in Russia, although the growth rate of producer prices exceeded the Russian average level.
The territory area is 589,200 km², which is 3.5% of the entire territory of the Russian Federation.
Administrative center Southern Federal District - Rostov-on-Don
The Southern Federal District includes 13 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including:
8 republics:
2. Dagestan
3. Ingushetia
4. Kalmykia
5. Kabardino-Balkaria
6. Karachay-Cherkessia
8. North Ossetia
1. Stavropol
2. Krasnodar
3 areas
1. Volgogradskaya
2. Astrakhan
Among the 132 cities, the largest are:
Astrakhan
Vladikavkaz
Volgograd
Volzhsky
Krasnodar
Makhachkala
Nazran
Nalchik
Novorossiysk
Rostov-on-Don
Stavropol
Taganrog
According to the 2002 All-Russian Population Census, there are 22,835,216 people in the Southern Federal District, which is 16.08% of the total population of the Russian Federation. The Southern Federal District occupies a leading position in terms of rural population. This is the most multinational region of the country. About 30 nationalities live in Dagestan alone. In total, there are more than 100 nationalities in the district.
The region has large natural resources. The subsoil of the Southern Federal District contains up to 73% of Russian thermal waters, about 41% of tungsten-molybdenum ores (Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia), and over 30% of mineral water reserves. The Southern Federal District ranks first in Russia in the production of mineral waters, second in the production of tungsten raw materials, and third in the production of cement. Non-ferrous and rare metals are also represented by deposits of lead-zinc ores (North Ossetia), copper (Karachay-Cherkessia) and mercury (North Ossetia and Krasnodar Territory). The Volgograd region is rich in magnesium, potassium, sodium salts, and phosphorites. The Southern Federal District has large reserves of raw materials for the production of building materials: Novorossiysk cement marls, quartz sandstones, refractory clays, chalk, granites, marble in the Teberda region. Among the non-metallic minerals: sulfur, barite and rock salt, which lies in the largest deposit in Russia - in lakes Elton and Baskunchak.
One of the main prospects for the development of the region is the fuel and energy resources of the Southern Federal District (oil, natural gas, coal). The Volgograd and Astrakhan regions, Krasnodar Territory, Ingushetia and Chechen Republic. The largest gas field is located in the Astrakhan region. Almost all coal resources are located in the Rostov region (eastern part of Donbass). But, despite the presence of large ones, the share of the Southern Federal District in oil refining volumes is low - 7.6%.
The Southern Federal District is one of the most important suppliers of agricultural products (grain). The main grain crop is wheat, grown in the vast expanses of the Stavropol Territory. In addition, the cultivation of corn and rice is widespread. Industrial crops are grown in the region: sugar beets, mustard, sunflowers, and tobacco. All vineyards in Russia are located in the Southern Federal District, and fruit and berry plantings in the region account for over 30% of Russian volumes.
Food industry enterprises successfully operate in the region: meat and fish, sugar and fat-and-oil industries, flour-milling and canning of fruits and vegetables, and others. Among the most famous are the fishing concern "Kaspryba" of the Astrakhan region, and "Abrau-Durso" - a champagne wine factory.
Astrakhan region: JSC Astrakhan Machine Tool Plant (lathes), AMZ AKMA (forging and pressing machines), Shipbuilding Plant "Lotos", JSC Shipbuilding Plant "Red Barricades", JSC Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant named after. III International", JSC "Astrakhan Shipbuilder";
Stavropol Territory - “Trailer-Kamaz” (trailers);
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic - OJSC "Stankostroitel" (woodworking machines);
Republic of Dagestan - JSC Dagdizel Plant (diesels and electric diesels);
On industrial enterprises The Southern Federal District also produces products for the military-industrial complex. The military-industrial complex of the Southern Federal District consists of 90 enterprises that produce amphibious aircraft and basic helicopters for the army, and repair aircraft various types and armored vehicles. In the Southern Federal District, the production of ground equipment units for the Iskander-E and Topol-M missile systems (PO Barrikady), as well as the launcher for the Shtil ship-based anti-aircraft missile system, has been established. In addition, oil refineries produce fuel for ballistic missiles. The Akhtuba plant produces echolocation devices, the Volgograd Tractor Plant - combat vehicle landing (including its newest modification BMD-4), the Meteor enterprise produces elements for the radio-electronic industry, IVT (Volzhsky) - measuring instruments for the radio-electronic industry.
In terms of production volume, the leaders are the Volgograd and Rostov regions, as well as Dagestan. Over 50% of the region's defense industry enterprises operate in the Don. It is worth noting that the development of production in the defense industry stimulates the development of metallurgy, transport, and civil engineering in the Southern Federal District.
Administrative-territorial composition of the Southern Federal District: Republics of Adygea, Kalmykia. Krasnodar region. Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov regions. The administrative center is Rostov-on-Don.
Administrative and territorial composition of the North Caucasus Federal District: republics: Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkarian, North Ossetia - Mania, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Chechen. Stavropol region.
Territory— 589.2 thousand km 2
Population— 22.9 million people.
Administrative center- Pyatigorsk.
The North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD) is a new district of the Russian Federation, created on January 19, 2010 by special Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 82 of January 19, 2010 “On amendments to the list of federal districts approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 13, 2000 . No. 849, and in the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 12, 2008 No. 724 “Issues of system and structure federal bodies executive power".
In fact, the North Caucasus was separated from the Southern Federal District. The creation of the North Caucasus Federal District should contribute to accelerated development southern territories of Russia and solving economic and ethnopolitical problems.
It should be noted that upon its formation, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 of May 13, 2000, the district was named North Caucasian, but already on June 21 of the same year, by Decree No. 1149 it was renamed Southern. The renaming was motivated by geographical reasons: the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and Kalmykia do not belong to the North Caucasus. The Rostov region is classified conditionally.
Currently, the Southern Federal District includes subjects of the Federation belonging to the North Caucasus economic region, as well as the territory of the Lower Volga region (Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan and Volgograd regions), which, according to the current zoning grid, belongs to the Volga economic region.
The territory of the North Caucasian Federal District is included according to the economic zoning grid into the North Caucasus economic region.
Let us characterize the features of the location and development of the productive forces of these districts according to certain territories: North Caucasus economic region and Lower Volga region.
Southern Federal District
Southern Federal District (center - Rostov-on-Don) occupies the south of the East European Plain, the Ciscaucasia and the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, accounting for approximately 3.5% of the country's territory. The landscapes of the territory are varied - semi-desert and steppe plains, mountain ranges, stormy mountain (Terek) and calm lowland (Don, Kuban) rivers, subtropical oases, snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains.
The Southern Federal District is one of the most densely populated in Russia. It concentrates 15% of the country's population. The district is one of the most multinational. More than 40 peoples live here, belonging mainly to the Slavic, Nakh-Dagestan and Turkic groups. The clash of dissimilar cultures belonging to different civilizations, the administrative-territorial division of the republics, deportation(forced relocation) of many North Caucasian peoples, military operations in the region for two centuries - all this, of course, influenced the severity of interethnic conflicts in the region.
By natural features The territory of the district can be divided into four parts: flat steppe, foothill, mountain and lower Volga.
Plain steppe territory extends from the Don River to the valleys of the Kuban and Terek rivers. This is the main agricultural region, the main granary of Russia. There are virtually no natural landscapes preserved in this area. Natural and anthropogenic agricultural landscapes, in which natural vegetation has been largely replaced by crops.
The plowed area of steppe landscapes reaches 90%. Mainly grains and industrial crops are grown here.
Due to the fact that the forest cover of agricultural land is slightly more than 3% instead of 5-6% according to accepted standards, the agricultural landscapes of the steppe zone of the district have become very unstable, i.e., susceptible to active soil erosion (destruction), siltation of small rivers, and pollution of water bodies.
The agro-industrial complex of the Southern District occupies a leading role in the country's economy, determines the specialization of mechanical engineering - the production of agricultural machinery (Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Millerovo, Krasnodar), technological equipment for the agro-industrial complex (Krasnodar, Stavropol), as well as the chemical industry - production nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and pesticides (Nevinnomyssk, Belorechensk).
Food industry has also developed everywhere and specializes in the processing of various agricultural raw materials, vegetables and fruits, the production of meat, butter, flour, cereals (Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Stavropol, Novocherkassk, etc.).
Shipbuilding development in the district is associated with the implementation of the “Revival of the Russian Fleet” program, which provides for the construction of river-sea vessels, tankers, and dry cargo ships (Astrakhan, Volgograd).
Fuel and energy complex specializes in the oil (Dagestan, Grozny, Stavropol, Krasnodar fields), gas (Kubano-Priazovskoye, Stavropol fields, as well as fields in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions) and coal industry (eastern ring of Donbass in the Rostov region) (see atlas map).
Oil refineries are located in Krasnodar, Maikop, Tuapse.
Transport engineering(Novocherkassk) specializes in the production of electric locomotives.
Despite the construction of powerful thermal power plants and the presence of hydroelectric power stations, the region experiences a constant shortage of electricity.
Recreational complex North Caucasus uses unique natural conditions and regional resources.
On Black Sea coast famous resorts are located: Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi. The subtropical climate, abundance of sun, sea bathing, mud and hydrotherapy, and vegetation brought here from all corners of the globe attract many tourists and vacationers.
Caucasian [Mineralnye Vody] region unites the balneological resorts of Essentuki, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk and is famous for such attractions as the “Castle of Cunning and Love”, “Temple of the Air”, “Blue Lakes”, “Dombay”, “Blue Stones”, the State Museum-Reserve M. Yu. Lermontov.
Environmental problems of the lower Volga. The Volga is the longest river in Europe. Its length from the source to the Caspian Sea is 3530 km.
The modern Volga is actually a chain of huge reservoirs, turning into one another. It is regulated by cascades of eight hydroelectric power stations. Only from Volgograd to the Caspian Sea has the Volga retained its natural flow.
The construction of hydroelectric power stations and the creation of reservoirs hampered the natural processes of self-purification of water in the river. You can find petroleum products, lead salts, and sulfur compounds in it. The way out of this situation - limiting industrial wastewater, installing filters, building treatment facilities - has not yet given the desired results. This problem is especially acute in the lower reaches of the Volga.
Ecological situation in Volga delta is assessed by experts as catastrophic. In its lower reaches they accumulate harmful substances from the entire river drainage basin. 8-9 km 3 of untreated industrial and domestic wastewater is discharged into the Volga annually, which is almost equal to the volume of the Tsimlyansk reservoir.
Of all the hydroelectric power stations, only the Volgograd and Saratov hydroelectric power stations have devices for fish passage. However, they are low-power and require reconstruction. Cascades of hydroelectric power stations reduce water flow, which leads to the death of fish. IN last years control over enterprises discharging harmful substances into the river has been tightened. However, the content of heavy metals, petroleum products, pesticides, and detergents in Volga water still exceeds the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). This is especially alarming because the waters of the lower Volga are rich in fish (sturgeon, perch, herring, smelt, carp, pike).
Caspian Sea- the most large lake in the world (368 thousand km 2). It received its modern name in honor of the ancient Caspian tribes (horse breeders) who lived in the 1st century. BC e. on its coast. Most low level Caspian Sea (-29 m) was registered by scientists in 1997. Since 1998, the water level began to rise, currently it has reached -27 m.
Many scientists are studying the problem of water level fluctuations in the Caspian Sea. According to a number of experts, main reason- climatic, and it is associated with a decrease in solar activity and, as a consequence, a decrease in the evaporation of water from the surface of the lake. Average salinity water in the lake is 11‰, i.e. each liter of water contains 11 g of salt (in the Sea of Azov - 10-12 g, in the Black Sea - from 17 to 22 g).
The flora of the lake is represented by more than 700 species of algae, including green and blue-green. The wealth of the Caspian Sea is sturgeon and salmon species of fish.
To restore stocks of especially valuable sturgeon fish in the lower reaches of the Volga, eight sturgeon hatcheries were built, where sturgeon fry are grown from eggs (Aleksandrovsky, Volgogradsky, Lebyazhiy).
North Caucasus economic region
Composition of the district(ten subjects of the federation) - republics: Adygea, Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkarian, North Ossetia - Alania, Ingushetia, Chechen, Dagestan; Krasnodar, Stavropol territories; Rostov region.
The area stands out among others due to the presence maximum quantity republics in its composition (seven republics).
Conditions of a developed economy. The main wealth of the region is its agroclimatic potential. Here there are optimal combinations of climatic and soil conditions for growing most cultivated plants of the temperate zone, as well as for the development of almost all branches of livestock farming.
The region provides itself with coal from the deposits of the eastern wing of Donbass. There are oil reserves good quality, gas, non-ferrous metal ores (lead, zinc, tungsten and molybdenum, copper, mercury). There are also significant resources of non-metallic raw materials (barite, rock salt, gypsum, marls, dolomites).
Combination climate resources With mountainous terrain, the warm sea creates conditions for the development of resorts and different types tourism.
Population. This is the only region of the country where the population tends to stabilize. In many republics of the region, a fairly high natural increase has been maintained, and the territories of the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories and the Rostov region are the main regions for receiving migrants not only from the national republics of the region, but from the entire post-Soviet space. The average population density is relatively high - 50 people/km 2 .
The national composition is very diverse; for example, it is believed that more than 130 nationalities live in Dagestan. Representatives of the North Caucasus stand out language family(Adygs, Circassians, Kabardians, Ingush, Chechens, Avars, Laks, Dargins, Lezgins, etc.). Representatives of the Turkic group of the Altai language family (Karachais, Balkars, Nogais, Kumyks) also live in the republics. Ossetians belong to Iranian group Indo-European language family. Russians are predominant in the region as a whole (62%), but their share in the national republics decreases from the west (Adygea - 68%) to the east (Dagestan - 9%). Among Slavic peoples the percentage of Ukrainians is high.
The urban population is approaching 10 million people, or more than 55% of the total (the lowest in the Russian Federation). Largest cities: Rostov-on-Don (1 million people), Krasnodar (640 thousand people). Rural settlements numerous. Lowland areas are characterized by very large villages (more than 25-30 thousand people).
The North Caucasus region as a whole is provided with labor resources.
Farming. The role of the North Caucasus region in the country's economic complex is determined by the agro-industrial complex and the recreational complex.
Agro-industrial complex. The region occupies a leading position in the country as the largest producer of rice, sunflowers, corn, grapes, tea, fruits and berries, and wool. It stands out for the production of grain crops (Krasnodar region produces more than 10% of Russian grain) and sugar beets (2nd place in the country), vegetables (4th place), milk (5th place), meat (4th place) . Almost all agricultural products are processed locally. In some cases, enterprise capacity Food Industry so large that they allow the use of not only local raw materials (for example, the sugar industry processes imported raw sugar).
Industry. IN Soviet time the district was one of the largest in the country in terms of agricultural engineering(Rostov, Taganrog, Krasnodar), but the economic crisis sharply reduced the performance of this industry. Among other areas of mechanical engineering, the production of electric locomotives (Novocherkassk), nuclear reactors (Volgodonsk), and steam boilers (Taganrog) should be highlighted. Equipment for the food and chemical industries is produced in small numbers.
Currently the leading position is occupied by chemistry(fertilizers - Nevinnomyssk, Belorechensk, organic chemistry- Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Budennovsk, Volgodonsk).
The electric power industry is mainly represented by large thermal power plants. In connection with the commissioning of the Rostov NPP in 2001, the importance of nuclear energy has sharply increased.
Transport. The transit position of the area determines the development of almost all types of transport. The largest oil loading port in Russia, Novorossiysk, is located in the region. Roads and railways pass through the area, connecting the country with the south of Ukraine, Georgia, and via a ferry with Turkey.
Basic problems and development prospects. An analysis of the current economic situation in Russia shows a clearly expressed trend of declining production volumes in most sectors of the economy. In the North Caucasus, this trend, common to all regions, is exacerbated by the complex political situation, armed conflicts. The cessation of hostilities in the region, the establishment of peace and stability in the region is the main task of further economic and social development North Caucasus economic region.
Development prospects include the most effective use of favorable natural and climatic factors of the region’s balneological resources for development resort areas and turning them into resorts of world importance, zones of domestic and foreign tourism.
Lower Volga region
This is the northern part of the Southern Federal District, covering the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan and Volgograd regions. The region has access to the Caspian Sea. The main industries of specialization are oil production, oil refining, and gas industries. In addition, the Volga region is the main region for catching valuable sturgeon fish, one of the most important regions for growing grain crops, sunflowers, mustard, vegetables and melons, and a major supplier of wool, meat, and fish.
. Natural resource potential differs in variety. A significant area is occupied by the Volga Valley, which passes into the Caspian Lowland in the south. A special place is occupied by the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, composed of river sediments, favorable for agriculture.
Creation in the Volga basin large industry polluting its waters, intensive development of river transport, Agriculture, which uses large volumes of mineral fertilizers, a significant part of which is washed into the Volga, the construction of hydroelectric power stations has an impact negative impact on the river and creates an environmental disaster zone in this area. The region's water resources are significant, but unevenly distributed. In this regard, there is a shortage water resources in the interior regions, especially in Kalmykia. The region has oil and gas resources in the Volgograd region - Zhirnovskoye, Korobkovskoye, the largest gas condensate field is located in the Astrakhan region, on the basis of which a gas industrial complex is being formed.
In the Caspian lowland in lakes Baskunchak and Elton there are resources of table salt; These lakes are also rich in bromine, iodine, and magnesium salts.
Population. The population of the Volga region is distinguished by its diverse national composition. Kalmyks occupy a significant share in the population structure of the Republic of Kalmykia - 45.4%. In the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions, with a predominance of the Russian population, Kazakhs, Tatars, and Ukrainians live. The population of the Volga region is characterized by its high concentration in regional centers and the capital of the republic. The population of Volgograd exceeds one million inhabitants. Kalmykia has the lowest population density and the smallest share of the urban population.
Economy of the region. Oil and gas are produced in the region. The largest is the Astrakhan gas condensate field, where natural gas is extracted and processed.
Oil refineries and petrochemical plants are located in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. The largest enterprise is the Volgograd Oil Refinery. The Astrakhan region has significant prospects for the development of the petrochemical industry based on the use of hydrocarbon fractions from the Astrakhan field.
The region's electric power industry is represented by the Volgograd hydroelectric power station and thermal power plants.
The region has a developed engineering complex: shipbuilding centers - Astrakhan, Volgograd; agricultural engineering is represented by a large tractor plant in Volgograd; chemical and petroleum engineering is developed in the Astrakhan region.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy is developed in Volgograd, the largest enterprises are OJSC Volzhsky Pipe Plant and an aluminum plant. The enormous resources of the salt lakes have led to the development of the salt industry, which supplies 25% of the country's need for food-grade salt and other valuable chemical products.
The fishing industry is developed in the Lower Volga region, the main enterprise of the industry is the fishing concern "Kaspryba", which includes a caviar and balyk association, a number of large fish processing plants, a naval base, a fishing fleet ("Kasprybkholod-fleet"), which conducts expeditionary fishing in the Caspian Sea. The concern also includes a fish hatchery for the production of juvenile sturgeon and a net knitting factory. In agricultural production, areas of specialization are the cultivation of vegetables and melons, sunflowers; in livestock farming - sheep breeding.
Transport and economic relations. The Volga region exports crude oil and petroleum products, gas, tractors, fish, grain, vegetables and melons, etc. Imports timber, mineral fertilizers, machinery and equipment, and light industry products. The Volga region has a developed transport network that provides high-capacity cargo flows.
The region has developed river, railway and pipeline transport.
Intradistrictdifferences. The Lower Volga region includes the Astrakhan, Volgograd regions and Kalmykia. The Lower Volga region is a subregion of developed industry - mechanical engineering, chemical, food. At the same time, it is an important agricultural region with developed grain farming, beef cattle and sheep farming, as well as the production of rice, vegetables and melons, and fishing.
The main centers of the Lower Volga region are Volgograd (developed mechanical engineering, chemical industry), Astrakhan (shipbuilding, fishing industry, container production, various food industries), Elista (building materials industry, mechanical engineering and metalworking).
The most industrially developed is the Volgograd region, where mechanical engineering, ferrous metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical, food and light industries have the largest share in the diversified complex.
Main problems and development prospects. Degradation of natural forage lands, especially in Kalmykia with its system of transhumance livestock farming, is one of the main environmental problems region. Environmental damage is caused by industrial emissions and transport to the water and fish resources of the region. The solution to the problem is possible through the implementation of the targeted federal program “Caspian”, the main task of which is to clean up the Volga-Caspian water basin and increase the number of valuable fish species.
One of the main tasks is to equalize the levels of socio-economic development of the most backward regions of the Volga region and, first of all, Kalmykia, which has been granted a number of benefits in taxation and financing. The development prospects of this republic are associated with the expansion of oil and gas production, in particular on the shelf of the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Oil Company (COC) has been created, which will engage in exploration and development of oil fields in a number of promising areas of the sea shelf.