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Vladimir Region
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Vladimir Region was formed on August 14, 1944. It is located in central European Russia on the Moscow Uplands, the Vladimir Opolye [an area of fertile open fields], and the Meshchera Lowlands. The region covers an area of 29 000 km2 and extends 170 km from north to south and 280 km from west to east. It borders on Yaroslavl and Ivanovo regions in the north, Moscow Region in the west and southwest, Nizhny Novgorod Region in the east, and Ryazan Region in the south. The climate is moderate continental (+17°C in July and -11°C in January); annual precipitation is about 500 mm.
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The region is part of the Central economic district and is favorably located both geographically and with respect to transport. The important Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow-Yaroslavl, and Moscow-Kazan railway lines pass through its territory, and there are hundreds of rivers, both large and small (the largest are the Oka and Klyazma rivers).
Vladimir Region does not have abundant resources; nevertheless, it is one of Russia's most economically developed regions. There are sand and clay deposits that can be used to produce building materials, as well as deciduous and coniferous forests.
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Industry is highly diversified. The most important industries are engineering and metalworking, light industry, food, glass, forestry and woodworking, building materials, and chemicals and petrochemicals.
The region also has high scientific and technical potential as a result of its diversified economy and a significant concentration of defense industry companies. Thirty-nine organizations and companies are involved in research and development; they include research institutes and design offices (60% of the total), industrial companies that carry out research and development work (20%), and institutes of higher education (20%).
Vladimir Region is divided into 16 districts and includes 22 cities, 36 towns, and 2477 villages. This relatively small territory has a population of 1 644 700 people, more than 60% of whom are urban residents.
The city of Vladimir with a population of 370 000 people is the regional center. It is located 190 km east of Moscow on the left bank of the Klyazma River. This ancient picturesque Russian city was founded by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (Red Sun) of Kiev in 990.
At present, the city is made up of three administrative districts (Leninsky, Oktyabrsky, and Frunzensky) and two local municipalities (the villages of Yurevets and Energetik). The village of Lesnoi and the Lunevo tract (Frunzensky District) are strip-farming territories of Vladimir.
Vladimir is quite rightly called a museum city. Both Russian and foreign visitors come to admire the beautiful architecture. Here you can visit the many ancient churches and museums and the 12th -century Golden Gate. Another attraction is the still-functioning Bogolyubovsky Monastery of Serafim Sarovsky located in the village of Bogolyubovo on the outskirts of Vladimir. The white stone Church of Pokrova-on-Nerl, a Russian architectural monument built in 1165, is also located here.
Vladimir is also a center with a rich history and cultural traditions. Many famous people lived and worked here, including Andrei Bogolyubsky, Vsevolod "Big Nest" (Bolshoe Gnezdo), and Alexander Nevsky; Russian metropolitans Aleksii and Maksim; the Taneev brothers (the composer and the philosopher); the Stoletov brothers; Admiral M.P. Lazarev; the writers and poets A.I. Gertsen, I.S. Shmelev, and K.D. Balmont; and many, many more. Vladimir residents take great care of their city's cultural wealth, thus making their contribution to the cultural heritage. Today, celebrated artists, musicians, writers, and recognized creative groups work here.
HISTORY
Vladimir Region is one of the oldest historical and artistic centers of Russia. Its lands have always been considered the core of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, which became Vladimir Province in the second half of the 18th century.
The Grand Princedom of Vladimir (1157-1362) was formed after Grand Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal princedom to the city of Vladimir on the Klyazma River.
There are a number of assumptions about the city's founding date. According to one version, it was founded in 990 by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, while another version claims it was founded in 1108 by Prince Vladimir Monomakh. However, it was not until the time of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky and his successors that the city developed economically and politically.
In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, the Grand Princedom of Vladimir was a major economic, political, and cultural center. However, in 1238, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality's political and economic influence was seriously undermined by the Mongol-Tatar invasions.
The culture of the Grand Princedom of Vladimir left a deep imprint on the history of all of Northeastern Rus. The Vladimir school of architecture had enormous influence on the stone architecture of Moscow and other old Russian cities. The best known monuments of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries are the Golden Gate, the white stone Uspensky and Dmitrievsky cathedrals and the Church of Pokrova-on-Nerl.
The Grand Princedom of Moscow assimilated the cultural and political traditions of the Grand Princedom of Vladimir during the period when a centralized Russian state was forming.
Vladimir Province, consisting of 14 districts, was formed in 1778 and then reorganized into a governorship in the same year. The province was one of the most industrially developed regions of European Russia. A textile industry began developing in a number of districts in the 17th century, and the Botashev ironworks started up in Melenkovsky district. The Maltsov glass factories were founded in Sudogodsky District (now Gus-Khrustalny District) in the late 18th century. The main industrial facilities were located in suburban towns and villages.
In the 19th century, Vladimir Province was a major center of the textile industry, producing 31% of the cotton cloth manufactured in Russia. Weaving was also a key industry, and handicrafts were widespread. The work of Suzdal and Vladimir stonemasons and Gorokhovetsk and Pokrova carpenters was in demand. Icon painting appeared in Palekh, Mstera, and Shuya in the late 17th century.
By the second half of the 19th century, Vladimir Province had an area of 42 800 square versts [1 verst = 1.06 km], a population of 1 570 000, and more than 1350 factories employing nearly 150 000 people.
The Revolution of 1917 and the civil war barely touched Vladimir Region.
Major changes began during the period of industrialization, when engineering, textile, glass, and instrument-making plants were built.
Vladimir Province was abolished in 1929, and its territory was split among Gorki, Moscow, and Ivanovo regions.
Defense industry plants, particularly the Kovrovsky factory with its famous armament design office headed by V.A. Degtyarev, contributed greatly to the victory in the Second World War.
Vladimir Region with the city of Vladimir as its center was formed on August 14, 1944, by decree of the Supreme Soviet Presidium of the USSR. Then in 1945 the first phase of the Vladimir Tractor Plant (Vladimirsky traktorny zavod) was opened and began operating. The largest industrial facilities were reconstructed or built between the 1950s and 1970s.
Today Vladimir Region is one of Russia's most important industrial regions.
RESOURCES
Vladimir Region is not large, but it is very favorably located right in the center of the East European Plain. It has its own unique natural features such as Meshchera National Park, the scenic hilly Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya Ridge, the Kovrovo- Kasimovskoe Plateau, Opolye, Prinerlinsky District, and the Florishcheva Lowlands. The soils are typical of the northern and southern taiga: podzolic, sandy, sandy loam, boggy, and soddy podzolic (the predominant type). The black earth Opolye in Suzdalsky District is the most fertile part of the region.
Vladimir Region's subsurface resources include peat, limestone, refractory and brick clays, building sand, quartz sand and rock, fluxing materials, iron ore, and gypsum. The region's peat reserves of 59 million tons are the largest in Russia. Limestone deposits are located in the area of the Oksko-Tsninsky rampart; reserves are estimated at 30 million tons. The limestone is used to make building stone and lime. The largest deposits of pure quartz sand used to produce glass and crystal are located in Gus-Khrustalny and Melenkovsky regions. The region also has small phosphorite deposits and mineral springs.
Forests cover half of Vladimir Region (1 520 900 hectares) and are its principal natural resource. The forests are divided into three main types: hardwood deciduous, softwood deciduous, and mixed coniferous and deciduous. The hardwood forests consist mainly of oak, although sycamore maples are sometimes encountered in river valleys and on terraces. Softwood forests consist primarily of birch. The Patakinskaya grove is famous for its century-old white birches. Aspen forests are much less common. Black alder is occasionally encountered on stream banks and river floodplains. Mixed forests are made up mainly of fir and pine groves with small stands of oak.
The region also has rich plant life in addition to forests. Forest species predominate over less varied meadow, marsh, woodland border, aquatic, and streamside species. Certain species, such as floating salvinia, Fries' pondweed, few-flowered sedge, Siberian iris, and a few others, are considered rare.
The forests of Vladimir Region are the habitat of nearly 60 animal species, which include wolves, foxes, raccoon dogs, squirrels, stoats, weasels, varying hares, and the occasional brown bear. Beavers build their lodges along riverbanks. There is seasonal hunting of wild boar and moose. Brown hares, forest polecats, American mink, martens, and badgers are less common. The Russian muskrat and several bat species are specially protected. The common grass snake and adder, slowworm [a small snakelike lizard], and sand and viviparous lizards are among the reptiles encountered here.
The 177 species of birds inhabiting the region include such rare species as the red-footed falcon, black-throated (Arctic) loon, white stork, gray heron, bittern, gray goose, widgeon, greater spotted eagle, hoopoe, black woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, and nutcracker. Several species of birds of prey, owls, and woodpeckers are under special protection, and the lesser white-fronted goose is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Water covers only 9% of Vladimir Region. The region's 746 rivers and streams are an extension of the great Volga basin. The two main rivers are the Oka, which extends 157 km in the region, and its tributary the Klyazma (457 km). Eighty percent of the region is in the Klyazma basin and the remaining 20%, in the Oka basin. The Klyazma's larger tributaries include the Sherna, Koloksha, Nerl, Udov, Lukh, Bolshoi Kirzhach, Peksha, and Vorsha. Lake Kshara is the region's deepest lake (65 m). Sink lakes are normally 20-25 m deep, and the remaining lakes are no more than 5 m deep. There are many small water bodies with a surface area of no more than 2 km2. More than 30 species of fish are found in the region's rivers and lakes, the most common being pike, carp, perch, and common loach and roach.
NATIONAL PARKS
Fifteen district forest administrations protect and preserve the forests. One of the most progressive is the Kovrovsky administration, which gathers the best seeds and carries out grafting to create high-quality forests. Nurseries raise many species of fruit trees and ornamental plants and grow seedlings in greenhouses. There is also a 30-hectare plot artificially planted with 88 pine species, 117 species of shrubs, Siberian cedar, and black, balsam, and silver poplars.
Meshchera National Park and the Gusevskoi No. 1 game preserve have been established in order to preserve and partially restore plant life and animal habitats in Vladimir Region.
Gusevskoi No. 1 Game Preserve
On July 27, 1998, the Governor of Vladimir Region signed a decree establishing the Gusevsky No. 1 game preserve. The preserve has an area of 14 276 hectares and includes the lands of the Gusevsky, Kurlovsky, and Andreevsky forest administrations, AO Lesnikovskoe, and TOO Banner of Labor (Znamya truda) and Friendship (Druzhba). Most of the area (11 866 hectares) is forested, and the remainder consists of agricultural land (2400 hectares) and rivers (10 hectares).
Meshchera National Park
Meshchera National Park was established on April 9, 1992, on 118 900 hectares of land in the southeastern part of the region. Forests cover more than half the park (81 600 hectares, or 68.6% of the total area), including forests in bogs and hayfields (2% each) and along rivers, lakes, and back roads (1% each). The south side of the park adjoins Meshchersky National Park in Ryazan Region. Both parks are situated in the Meshchera Lowlands and thus share the same flora and fauna.
Twenty-six percent of the park's area is strictly protected, while 66 200 hectares (56%) have been set aside for restoration of the natural environment. Another 3600 hectares (3%) have been reserved for hiking trails.
The park is located in the Shilovsko-Vladimirsky Trough in the center of the Meshchera Lowlands situated on the Russian Plateau. The relief is flat with small hills up to 35 m high. Deep blue lakes and rivers with birch, oak, pine, and fir groves growing on their banks enhance the landscape. The climate is temperate continental moderated by the large number of bogs.
The Buzha and Pol rivers and Svyatoe Lake are the most important water bodies in the park. The lake is shallow and covers an area of 500 hectares, only 200 hectares of which are in Meshchera Park. The rest of the lake is in adjoining Meshchersky Park.
The numerous bogs in Meshchera Park are divided into three types: lowland, upland, and transition. Lowland bogs are the most common type (half of the swampy area), followed by transition (30%) and upland (20%) bogs.
Softwood forests are the most common type of forest in the park (40% of the forested area). Slightly more than a third of these forests consist of mixed birch groves, with occasional poplar or black alder woods. Coniferous forests consist of pine (59%) and fir (41%). In the moist areas preferred by firs, you may encounter sawtooth sedge, false lily-of-the-valley, and chickweed wintergreen. Hardwood forests are found in the river valleys and on ravine slopes. They mainly consist of oak, with the occasional sycamore maple.
The flora of Meshchera Park is diverse (850 species) and includes a number of rare plants that need protection in addition to those mentioned above [see "Resources" section], such as bilberry willow, small-fruited cranberry, English sundew, and marsh helleborine [a member of the orchid family].
About 50 species of mammals inhabit the park, including wolves, foxes, varying hares, moose, wild boars, weasels, squirrels, brown bears, and beavers. Brown hares, forest polecats, American mink, martens, and badgers are rare. Bird life is also varied (170 species) and includes some rare protected species like the gray heron, bittern, common kestrel, ptarmigan, gray partridge, and gray crane.
The scenic natural landscapes of Meshchera Park attract large numbers of tourists. It is accessible by rail or road. Tourist centers operate within the park, and dozens of trails have been laid out. The water routes on the Buzha and Pol rivers and Svyatoe Lake are especially popular with tourists.
ECONOMY
Vladimir Region is one of the most economically developed areas of Central Russia. It is an old industrial region with a diversified economy. The region's industrial facilities and research institutes also make it a major scientific, technical, and industrial center.
Owing to the region's favorable economic and geographical situation, all forms of transport are well developed here. They include 995 km of main railway lines (361 km of which are electrified), 2517 km of paved roads, and shipping routes along the Oka River and the lower reaches of the Klyazma River.
The region's industrial potential consists of nine main economic sectors manufacturing products that are in high demand on both internal and external markets. These products are now exported to 70 countries, but there is still potential for expanding exports.
More than 30 000 different products are manufactured in Vladimir Region, which is among the top 20 Russian regions out of 89 in terms of production volumes. Six independent commercial banks operate here, along with nearly 30 branches of banks based in other regions (including 24 Moscow banks).
The most important sectors in terms of their proportion of total production are the power industry (10.6%), engineering and metalworking (44%), light industry (6.2%), the glass (5.7%) and food (15.6%) industries, building materials (2.6%), the chemical and petrochemical industries (4.8%), and forestry and woodworking (3.3%). Industry in the region is experiencing a gradual upturn in its development.
The region has no fuel or energy resources and therefore relies mainly on imported raw materials; more than 70% of the purchased electric power is used to ensure normal operation of the production complex.
Unlike most of the other regions of the Central economic district, there is no marked concentration of industrial facilities in the regional center of Vladimir Region.
Livestock raising for meat and milk is the leading agricultural sector. Cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats are all bred in the region, as well as the Vladimir breed of draft horses. Providing equipment for agriculture and ensuring its operation are the region's primary economic development objectives. Farmland occupies more than 2/5 of the region's total area.
OAO Elektrosvyaz supplies technical equipment for the region's telephone and telegraph system.
Industry
Vladimir Region's main economic sectors are production of science- and labor-intensive products of the engineering, light, chemical, construction, and especially the printing and textile industries. The porcelain, confectionery, and perfume and cosmetics sectors are also of some importance.
The engineering and metalworking industries account for 26.2% of all industrial output. The region is the country's top commodity producer, with the engineering industry accounting for 43% of total production.
The following engineering companies are located in the city of Vladimir:
- OOO Avtopribor;
- OAO Vladimir Electromotor Plant (VEMZ);
- OAO Vladimir Tractor Plant (VTZ);
- State Enterprise Tochmash Production Association (GP Vladimirskoe PO Tochmash);
- Etalon Russian State Unitary Enterprise (GUP RF Vladimirsky zavod Etalon);
- OAO Magneton Research and Production Association (NPO Magneton).
Various companies specialize in the production of electric motors with different modifications, automotive equipment, diesel engines, air conditioners, farm tractors, water and gas meters, magnets, and temperature measuring devices.
These products are in demand on both Russian and international markets. High scientific and technical potential, the presence of a research and development base, and the use of high technologies allow the production of complex, high-precision machinery and equipment.
The chemical industry is the region's most important specialized sector; it accounts for 6.8% of all industrial output. Companies in this industry produce fertilizer, plastics, and synthetic rubber and fibers.
The principal chemical industry companies are OAO Vladimirsky Chemical Plant (Vladimirsky khimichesky zavod), OAO Film Materials Plant (Zavod plenochnykh materialov), OAO Profil, and companies set up during the reorganization of the All-Union Research Institute of Synthetic Resins (VNIISS), i.e., OOO Macromer Research and Production Company (NPP Makromer) and ZAO Membranes (Membrany).
These companies produce Dacron and polyethylene shrink films, plasticized and nonplasticized PVC materials, water purification membrane systems, laprol (polyether polyol), automotive chemicals, PVC structural building and sealing products, and epoxy resin compounds. The region also produces 10% of all fertilizer in the country.
Construction industry. Small private construction companies specializing in renovation work, contract construction of private homes, and small-scale building material production first appeared in the region in 1992. At present, residents and a number of private companies provide the financing for housing construction. Today, a large number of small construction projects are being implemented that will substantially change the architectural appearance of many of the region's cities.
Construction industry companies like OAO Vladimir Reinforced Concrete Product Plant (Vladimirsky zavod zhelezobetonnykh izdelii), OAO Industrial Plant Combine (Kombinat promyshlennykh predpriyatii), OAO Vladimir Reinforced Concrete Structure Plant (Vladimirsky zavod zhelezobetonnykh konstruktsii), and ZAO Stroidetal produce bricks, reinforced concrete structures, tiles, timber framing, cement admixtures, and a range of other products.
The following companies are some representatives of light industry:
- OAO Victoria Shoe Factory (Obuvnaya fabrika Viktoriya),
- OOO Vladimir Knitwear (Vladimirsky trikotazh),
- TOO Children's Clothes (Detskaya odezhda).
Agriculture
Agriculture is highly productive: yields per hectare are almost double the average Russian figure. The Central economic district is Russia's leading producer of milk, meat, potatoes, and flax fiber; however, due to the high population density, production of many food items is insufficient to satisfy demand.
The region supplies significant quantities of meat, milk, vegetables, grain, and fruit. It is suburban in nature and specializes in beef and dairy cattle, poultry and pig farming, and potato and vegetable growing. Large livestock and poultry farms and hothouse businesses are concentrated in the region.
The agroindustrial complex of Vladimir Region is in the process of restructuring into organizations of various forms of ownership, e.g., partnerships, joint stock companies, agricultural cooperatives, subsidiary holdings of companies and organizations, farm associations, and private farms. However, the country's economic crisis had a negative impact on the expansion of agricultural production. A lack of government funding and higher prices for fuel, electricity, metals, equipment, fertilizer, and feed have led to decreased agricultural output.
The food industry is the most developed and economically stable sector in the region. It accounts for 7.8% of total production and is in fourth place in importance. Production of certain products, particularly whole milk and meat products has fallen, but output of other products has remained at previous levels or in some cases has even increased. Food industry companies are well equipped with Russian- and foreign-manufactured machinery, most of it acquired in the last few years.
Small and medium business is a priority in the region. At present, there are approximately 5000 small and medium businesses and about 20 000 unincorporated individuals. Their activities provide 24% of the revenues to regional and city budgets. They have also created 50 000 jobs, which is an important factor in keeping unemployment rates down (currently 3.6%).
The region's administration believes that small business can help solve problems such as employment, expanding material production, broadening the tax base, increasing tax collection, and developing the consumer market and social sphere.
Small business should also play a special role in restructuring large-scale production and companies of the military-industrial complex.
An inflow of new investments is connected with the growth of small business in the region.
A technological innovation center has been set up to act as a so-called business incubator for companies that develop and introduce new products and technologies.
AUTHORITIES
The Vladimir Region Administration is the main executive body. It organizes and administers the region, draws up and implements the budget and development programs representing the interests of the population, works to solve existing problems, and concerns itself with the prospects for regional development.
The Legislative Assembly is Vladimir Region's highest legislative body.
Official site of the Administration of Vladimir Region: http://www.avo.ru/
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