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Vologda Region
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Vologda region was established on September 23, 1937. It is situated in northwestern Russia 500 Km (311 MI) from Moscow and borders on the Republic of Karelia, and Arkhangelsk, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Tver, Novgorod, and Leningrad regions. The region occupies the territory of 145.7 thousand square kilometres, which is equal to the territories of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland taken together. The Vologda territory is crossed by important ways connecting the central Russia with the Urals and Siberia. The rivers flowing through the region's territory carry their waters to the Baltic, White and Caspian seas.
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The administrative center of the region is Vologda. The city of Vologda is the largest in the region and one of the most important in the North of Russia junctions of railways, automobile roads and airways. It is a river port that stands on the river with the same name.
The city of Cherepovets is the first city in the region by its population and industrial value. It is one of the largest centers of steel and chemical production in the country.
The population of the region is about 1 324 000 people.
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The region's climate is moderate-continental: a cold snowy winter is followed by a short summer. During a year precipitation makes 650-800 mm. In summer it makes 3/5s of this amount. The modest colors of Vologda landscape, its epic spaciousness and almost primordial stillness have the charm of its own.
The region is famous for the number and significance of its historical and cultural monuments: the Vologda Kremlin; Spaso-Prilutsky, Kirillo-Belozersky, St. Ferapont, St. Michael and Archangel monasteries. Ancient towns of Vologda, Veliky Ustiug, Totma, Ustiuzhna, Belozersk and Kirillov are well known all over the country. Dionisy's frescos in the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral of St. Ferapont monastery are real treasure among the monumental fine art works. The largest region's museums are Vologda and Veliky Ustiug historical, state protected museums, the Region Picture Gallery, Cherepovets museum association, Kirillo-Belozersky state protected museums: Totma, Vytegra and Ustiuzhna museums of local lore.
The poet K. Batyushkov, artist A. Vereshchagin, "King of reporters" V. Gilyarovski, modern writers and poets: A.Yashin, V.Tendryakov, S. Orlov, V. Shalamov, V. Astafiev, V. Belov, N. Rubtsov, and O. Fokina have brought the fame to the Vologda land.
Vast territory, tremendous nature resources, skilled and cheap labor, big scientific and technical potential and advantageous geographical location are favorable conditions for profitable investments in Vologda Region.
HISTORY
According to some archaeological facts, the history of the region dates back to the paleolitic period. The first settlements were founded along the Mologa and Sukhona rivers and near the Beloe lake. One of the first towns of the Region is Beloozero (862). The town of Veliky Ustiug was founded in the middle of the XIIth century.The first reference to Vologda, the center of Vologda Region, dates back to 1147 the same year Moscow was founded. A saying goes that in the XVIth century the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible even intended to make Vologda the capital of Russia.
Peter the Great paid much attention to Vologda. However, after Petersburg had been laid Vologda's significance as a big transport juncture was considerably reduced.
Peter the Great favoured greatly the industrial development of Russia. In 1703 two metal working plants were commissioned in the region. Woodworking industry started to develop in the XVIIIth century. Wood processing enterprises of Vologda and Totma supplied timber products not only to local but also to Arkhangelsk and foreign consumers. Then two glass factories were set up in Vologda and near Kadnikov.
Since the end of the XVIIth century the importance of Cherepovets, the biggest industrial city in the region nowadays, started to grow dramatically, particularly after the construction of the Volga-Baltic canal.
One of the prior industries of the XIXth century was the flax spinning industry. In 1851 in Krasavino, near Veliky Ustiug, a flax spinning factory was commissioned producing scarves, napkins and tablecloths that became widely spread in Russia.
Towards the end of the XIXth century a pulp and paper and wood processing factories were set up in Sokol 40 Km (25 MI) off Vologda.
Butter making became popular at that period of time. Vologda butter, as well as Vologda lace, is nowadays known world-wide.
In post revolutionary time Vologda together with all Russian people suffered the tragedy and experienced the achievements of the social epoch of great experiments. On September 23, 1937, there appeared a Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, according to which Vologda Region was formed within its modern borders. The battles of World War II almost did not touch Vologda Region. The hostilities took place only in Prionezhye (near Onezh-skoye Lake). The front-line, established in 1941, almost did not change, till Russian troops broke through the Leningrad blockade. At that time Vologda stayed a front-line city, fatefully intended to give refuge to people evacuated from the western parts of the USSR and to recover wounded soldiers and commanders. Weakened by the horrors and hunger of blockade, the citizens of Leningrad were taken out of the city across ice-covered Ladozhskoye Lake. Great many people could not endure the burdens along the way. In honour of that tragic time a special monument was erected on the common grave of Leningradians who perished on the "road of life". For these three years of war Vologda remained one of the most important medical centres for three fronts. That period of the city's history is marked by numerous memorial boards attached to buildings where hospitals were situated in war-time.
Today Vologda Region is one of the important cultural and economic centers of Russia's North-West.
ECONOMY
Vologda Region is one of the developed industrial regions of Russia. It is sufficient to say that it takes the third place in Russia in the amount of industrial goods per head. The Region produces 17,2% of Russia's rolled metal, 16,1% of steel, 12,1% of mineral fertilizers, 13% of ball-bearings, 7,2% of timber, 7,4% of linen fabric. The products of the Region cover 1,3% of Russia's export. According to the journal "Expert", Vologda Region is among the ten leading regions with the least financial, investment, social and criminal risks.
The region is also characterized by a well-developed agroindustrial complex. Nowadays Vologda Region is one of the most important producers of milk, meat and eggs.
Vologda Region is highy integrated to the world economy. The products of ferrous metals metallurgy, chemical industry and mechanical engineering form the export structure of Vologda Region.
The main aim of the economic policy of Vologda Region Government is to raise living standards and provide stable economic development of all the branches of the Region's economy.
AUTHORITIES
According to the Charter of Vologda Region the Governor of the region and executive bodies that he forms constitute a system of the executive power of Vologda Region. Vologda Region Government carries out general management of the region, forms and executes the region's budget and development programs.
The Legislative Assembly is a permanent body representing various constituencies. It functions as a local law-making body. It consists of thirty-four deputies elected for a period of five years. The Legislative Assembly is headed by the Chairman elected by the deputies in a secret ballot.
For more information see the official site of Vologda region:
http://www.vologda-region.ru/
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