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Krasnodar Territory
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Krasnodar Territory is located in the western part of the Greater Caucasus and on the Kuban-Azov (Kuban) Plain. It is the southernmost Russian region. The territory was formed on September 13, 1937. It has an area of 76 000 km2 and a population of over 5 million. It is divided into 38 administrative districts and includes 26 cities and 24 urban communities. The capital is Krasnodar. The Republic of Adygea is also part of Krasnodar Territory.
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Krasnodar Territory is one of the most attractive parts of Russia, with its boundless steppes and high forest-covered mountains. Russia's two southernmost seas wash the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. The mountains are the source of the many rivers that carve their paths through deep gorges and canyons.
The territory borders on Rostov Region in the north and northeast, Stavropol Territory in the east, and Abkhazia in the south. The southern and western boundaries follow the coasts of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The border is 1540 km long, including 740 km of coastline. The territory extends a maximum of 372 km from north to south and 380 km from west to east.
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The climate varies from temperate continental to subtropical. Average January temperatures range from -8 °C in the mountains (above 2000 m) and -4 °C on the plains to +5 °C on the seacoast; average July temperatures vary from +13 °C in the mountains to +23 °C on the plains and coast. Precipitation ranges from 400 to 3200 mm annually.
The territory is a nature conservation zone distinguished by diverse plant and animal life. The Caucasus State Biosphere Reserve is located here. This natural research complex covers an area of 263 500 hectares and is part of the international national park system. Mineral springs are of great interest and form the basis of health resorts in Goryachy Klyuch [the name means "hot spring"], Khadyzhensk, and Maikop and the Krasnodar Hydropathic Center. The mineral waters of Goryachy Klyuch and Maikop have a well-deserved reputation as table waters. The territory's hotel business is expanding. A favorable climate, warm seas, mineral and mud springs, and scenic mountain and coastal landscapes have combined to make Krasnodar Territory one of the most important tourist regions of Russia and the CIS.
The historical coat of arms of Kuban Region forms the basis of the coat of arms of Krasnodar Territory.
A gold serrated wall with two round towers of the same sort with an open gate and black jointing is depicted on a green shield; above the wall is a gold feathered club between two silver horsetails with gold spikes on gold poles. An eagle with a Caucasian cross on its breast emerges in the gold upper part of the shield. The shield is crowned with the ancient coronet of sovereignty, above which rises a Russian standard with a crest in the form of an eagle and with the letters RF in the center. The shield is embellished with golden oak leaves joined by a scarlet ribbon. Outside the shield are four crosswise azure banners fringed with gold, with identical monograms surrounded by oak and laurel branches.
The flag of Krasnodar Territory is a rectangular banner consisting of three horizontal stripes of dark blue (upper), crimson (middle), and green (lower). The width of the two end stripes equals the width of the middle stripe. A gold monochrome version of the coat of arms of Krasnodar Territory is positioned in the center of the flag. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2 : 3.
(The law of Krasnodar Territory "On the Symbols of Krasnodar Territory" was adopted by the Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Territory on March 24, 1995, chapter 2, article 7.)
Krasnodar Territory is the most ancient Russian habitation of humans who arrived here from the Transcaucasus as early as the Paleolithic period. Many tribes lived here at various times, and the ancient Greeks and Sinds built cities. The wealthy merchant Republic of Genoa had colonies here in the Middle Ages. During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the territory was a subject of the Golden Horde. The first Russian settlers, mainly Cossacks, began arriving in the Northern Caucasus in the 16th century during the period of expansion of the Russian state.
Today, Krasnodar Territory has great demographic and labor potential. It has a population of 5.076 million (54% urban, 46% rural), or 3.2% of the population of the Russian Federation. The average population density is 66.7 people per km2, which is eight times higher than the Russian national average.
The territory's population as a whole is homogeneous: the overwhelming majority are Russians (85.1%), followed by Armenians (5%). The once numerous Ukrainians are now mostly assimilated. Other sizable groups include Greeks, Meskhetian Turks, Crimean Tatars, and Germans. The various ethnic groups are unequally distributed throughout the territory: most residents of the central and northern districts are Russian-speaking, whereas the foothill, mountain, and coastal areas are multiethnic. One of the territory's ethnocultural features is the presence of Cossack settlements throughout the region. Cossacks make up an estimated one-fifth of the population and live mainly in Bryukhovetsky, Kushchevsky, and Slavyansky districts and in the vicinity of Novorossiysk and Krasnodar.
The territory's demographic characteristics are another specific feature. It has the fourth-largest population (not counting the sizable number of unregistered persons) among Russian regions after Moscow, Moscow Region, and St. Petersburg, and federal programs for relocating retired military personnel and pensioners from the Far North are being implemented here. As result, the territory has a high percentage of elderly people. The territory's birth rate is 10%, which is somewhat higher than the Russian average; but the death rate is 15.3%, which is higher than the average figure for the North Caucasus. This trend will probably continue in future owing to both demographic (the high percentage of elderly residents) and socioeconomic (a drop in living standards) factors. Life expectancy has also markedly decreased and now stands at 59.43 for men and 72.66 for women, which is nevertheless higher than in Russia as a whole. Due to the high death rate, the population is undergoing a natural decline, although it is offset by migration from other Russian regions. The territory is one of the most attractive regions for migrants, as well as being one of the most densely populated members of the Russian Federation.
HISTORY
Every city and village has its own history. Thus, Krasnodar has its own unique history and its own memorable events that have influenced the development of both city and territory.
People have chosen this territory since Paleolithic times, obviously drawn by its beauty, fertile soils, warmth, abundant rivers, and of course, the seas. These places were always of great interest to many states. Virtually every tribe lived here in ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Sinds built cities here in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. and united into the Bosporus state, which was destroyed at the end of the 4th century. It was later followed by the Khazar Kaganate and then by the old Russian principality of Tmutarakan in the 10th century A.D. As has already been mentioned, the Republic of Genoa established colonies here in the Middle Ages. Then, during the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the territory was a subject of the Golden Horde. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, a number of khanates were split off from the Golden Horde, including two in Krasnodar Territory: the Nogai Horde, which broke up into the Great and Small Nogai hordes at the end of the 15th century, and the Crimean Khanate, which was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire from 1443 to 1783.
Construction of the Caucasian fortification line began in 1735, and as the line advanced southward, relations between the people of the Kuban and the Ottoman Empire became increasingly strained, finally leading to war between Russia and Turkey for control of the Black Sea and adjoining regions. With the signing of the Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji in 1774, the right bank of the Kuban River went to Russia, but Turkey recognized the independence of the Transkuban tribes only after the signing of the Treaty of Jassy in 1791.
On January 16, 1778, Field Marshal Aleksandr Suvorov arrived in the Kuban and under his leadership 5 large fortresses and 20 redoubts were quickly built on the right bank of the Kuban River. Between 1792 and 1798, the Black Sea and Kuban cordon lines were set up along the Kuban River, with the simultaneous abolition of the Caucasus governorship in 1796.
On February 29, 1792, a Cossack delegation led by judge Anton Golovaty went to St. Petersburg to request permission to resettle in the Kuban. After obtaining a charter, Head Ataman [Cossack military commander] Zachar Chepiga sent a Black Sea detachment of 3847 men from Bug to Taman. A year later, construction of the city of Ekaterinodar as the administrative center of the Black Sea Cossack forces began near the fortification. Thus began the history of the military town of Ekaterinodar [now Krasnodar].
In 1817, the Caucasian war began, and many events occurred before it ended in 1864. The Caucasus line force was established in 1832, but in 1861, the Caucasus line force and Black Sea Cossack force were divided into the Kuban and Terek forces. Kuban Region was formed in 1861, renamed Black Sea (Chernomorsky) District with its center in Novorossiysk in 1867, and renamed again to Black Sea Province in 1896.
After the February and October revolutions in 1917, the territory became a center of resistance to the Soviet regime; it was headed by the Kuban Council (Rada), which lasted until 1920. During this period, the short-lived Kuban (April 13 to May 29, 1918), Kuban-Black Sea (May 30 to July 6, 1918), and North Caucasus (July 7 to December 5, 1918) Soviet republics existed apart from the Belokazatskaya Rada. Following the end of the Civil War in 1921, Kuban Region and Black Sea Province were formed into Kuban-Black Sea Region, in which the Adygean Automonous Region appeared in 1922. In 1924, the entire North Caucasus except for Dagestan was transformed into the Southeastern Region of the RSFSR, renamed that same year to North Caucasus Territory, which included the area of present-day Krasnodar Territory under the name of Kuban District. The district was abolished in 1930; then in 1934, the Azov-Black Sea Territory was separated from North Caucasus Territory and then split into Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Region on September 13,1937.
The territory was under German occupation during the Second World War but was liberated as a result of an offensive in the battle for the Caucasus lasting from January 1 to October 9, 1943. Thousands of soldiers were awarded military orders and medals, including 262 awards of Hero of the Soviet Union, for valor in the battles against the enemy. Seven Caucasian corps and 17 Caucasian divisions won the status of guards. Cossack units marched with victorious Red Army troops in the Victory Parade in Red Square on June 24, 1945. There are 1556 memorials and memorial sites commemorating military actions in Krasnodar Territory in the Second World War. The Kuban was the site of bloody battles; and it was here that the southward advance of Hitler's forces was halted. One of the greatest aerial battles of the war took place in Kuban skies. After the end of the war, Kuban residents restored the ruined economy, rebuilt cities and factories, and opened up new lands in the warm, fertile territory.
RESOURCES
Krasnodar Territory is unique in its geographical location and climatic resources, as well as in its diverse natural landscapes and wealth of plant and animal life. The main influences on the climate are the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the dry Asian continent in the east.
The soils of the plains are mainly chernozems (black earths), and mountain-forest and mountain-meadow soils predominate in the mountains. The chernozems of the Caucasian plain are further divided into carbonate, slightly leached, leached, and compacted types.
The territory has a wide variety of mineral resources. Minerals produced here include oil, fuel gas, salt, hard coking coal, manganese ores, nickel, tin, copper ores, cement marl, volcanic muds, refractory clays, and lithographic stone. There are also huge deposits of construction and road-building materials, such as facing stone, shell rock (coquina), limestone, granite, marble, and gravel.
The transparent colorless crystals of Iceland spar are a variety of calcite mainly used in making optical devices. The Iceland spar crystals found in Krasnodar Territory are in the form of nests in moist gray-green clay or veins in marls and limestones.
Among the many and varied mineral springs of Krasnodar Territory, the springs of Soleny Yar and the "Cherkessian wells" of Orlinaya Rift in Goryache-Klyuchevsky District deserve special attention for their high salt, iodine, and bromine contents. Iodine crystals can easily be obtained from these springs by installing low-power electric motors and a minimum amount of laboratory equipment.
Thin seams of copper ore-bearing sandstones are interbedded in red rock strata on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range. A number of lead, silver, and zinc deposits are also found in similar thin seams in other locations. Pyrite is encountered in river sediments of the Black Sea coast. Gold is found on both the northern and southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus.
Dolomites and dolomitic rocks occur in many mountain areas, sometimes forming entire mountain masses. Dolomite is a source of high-quality lime and caustic calcined magnesite.
Graphite is found in the form of coaly-graphite shales along the Mzymta River and quartz-graphite schists in the vicinity of Krasnaya Polyana. Graphite is a pure natural form of carbon used for crucibles for metal smelting and for making pencils, paints, and other products. Krasnodar Territory also has enormous reserves of serpentine, a mineral widely used in industry and agriculture. It contains magnesium sulfate required in the production of high-quality artificial fiber. Magnesium compounds are also used in medicine.
Iron ore strata are found at Taman (kerchenite) and along the northeastern slopes of the mountains as far as Kholmskaya Station (siderite and limonite). Chromite (chromic iron) is prevalent along the Bolshaya Laba and Armovka rivers and on Mt. Bombak.
The Kuban borders on two seas: the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The Sea of Azov is classified as a large lake because of its relatively small area and shallowness. It is of great economic significance due its rich fisheries. The most valuable species are members of the sturgeon family (beluga, Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon); there are also a number of other species including vimba [a member of the carp family] and sea roach. A large number of fish hatcheries on the shores of the Sea of Azov raise young roach, sturgeon, and other valuable species. The water of the Sea of Azov is of low salinity, because on the one hand, the water entering it from the Black Sea has a relatively low salt content, and on the other hand, the Kuban and Don rivers flow into it, bringing large quantities of fresh water. The picturesque shores and estuaries with their bird colonies complete the picture of the Sea of Azov as a rich sea.
The coastline from Adler to the Taman Peninsula is washed by the Black Sea, which joins with the Sea of Marmora in the south and the Sea of Azov in the north. Another large peninsula, the Crimea, should also be mentioned. The area not only has therapeutic mineral and mud springs and, but also a delightful foothills climate and beautiful scenery.
The territory's main river, the Kuban, is relatively short (906 km) but deep. It brings more than 12 billion m3 of water to the sea annually, although the discharge is extremely uneven; floods often occur during spring runoff and in summer, resulting in large-scale damage to the economy. Reservoirs and canals have been built in order to regulate water flows from the Kuban. One of these is the Nevinnomyssk Canal completed in 1949, which prevents diversion of water from the Kuban into the Bolshoi Egorlyk and Zapadny Manych (a tributary of the Don) rivers, and at the same time has formed a new 450-km-long waterway that supplies water to farms in dry areas. It also provides a possible new water flow for hydroelectric power plants and other waterworks.
The Kuban River forms a large swampy delta known as the Kuban Marshes where it flows into the Sea of Azov. The river is navigable from Ust-Labinskaya Station to its mouth. Its tributaries (the Laba, Belaya, and others) flowing from the forested mountains of the Western Caucasus are important log-floating rivers.
The Abishiro-Akubsky Range is the source of the Urup River, which flows into the Kuban. The Urup has many mountain tributaries.
The city of Labinsk and Novo-Labinskaya, Vladimirmirskaya, and other stations are located on the banks of the Laba River.
The Black Sea area and the foothills have an abundance of valuable therapeutic mineral springs. Two groups of resorts-Mineral Water (Mineralovodskaya) and Black Sea Coast (Prichernomorskaya)-are particularly outstanding. The Essentuki springs, the Narzans of Kislovodsk, and the hydrosulfuric springs of Matsesta are world-renowned.
Seven different springs known as the Zaporozhskie Springs are found along the Ubinka River.
Salt springs with medicinal properties are located on the bank of the Afibs River near Smolenskaya Station.
Krasnodar has few large lakes, but Khanskoe, Chemburskoe, and Ubezhenskoe lakes with their medicinal muds and the Primorsko-Akhtarsk mud pools are worth mentioning. The mineral mud on the Taman Peninsula contains salt, iodine, and bromine.
ECOLOGY
The ecology of Krasnodar Territory is a pressing issue. Like everywhere in the world, human activity has led to environmental changes and water and air pollution.
Protecting water bodies from pollution is one of the territory's most important problems. The adverse effect of dust and gaseous emissions is easier to ignore if there are many rivers, ponds, and other water basins. Unfortunately, in the period of the city of Krasnodar's existence, the number of water bodies has decreased and water quality has deteriorated. The city's location at the confluence of the Kuban and Karasun rivers has resulted in domestic and industrial pollution of these waterways. The landscape has also changed significantly to the extent that the Karasun River has been obliterated within the city limits. Up to 235.5 million m3 of urban waste water are dumped into the territory's water bodies, along with 4870 tons of organic matter, 3325.6 tons of biogenic matter, 80 tons of petroleum products, and 89 tons of heavy metal salts.
Most of the pollutants dumped into the Kuban River come from the cities of Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, and Tuapse. Moreover, 130 of the 181 operating water treatment plants do not meet the established norms for purification.
The territory has an overall land area of 7.5 million hectares, of which 4.7 million hectares are designated as agricultural land. A total of 535 400 hectares of degraded lands have been identified, including 54 600 hectares of severely washed land and 48 200 hectares of scoured land. Water erosion over the last 20 years has washed away 275 million tons of soil, which has led to silting of water bodies and damage to crops and plantations. The humus content of the soil has decreased to 3.9% in recent years.
By early 1998, about 8.4 million tons of industrial wastes had accumulated in the territory. A total of 1.24 million tons were being generated annually, including 0.14 million tons of toxic industrial wastes, 1.1 million tons of solid domestic wastes, about 300 tons of mercuric wastes (nearly 1 million fluorescent lamps), and about 9000 tons of lead-bearing wastes (mainly discarded batteries). Only about 30 tons of lamps and 1000 tons of batteries have been recycled. The problems of processing accumulated phosphogypsum wastes of AOOT Minudobreniya of Belorechensk and oil-bearing wastes of OAO Rosneft, OAO Termneft Scientific and Production Association (NPO Termneft), the Tuapse Oil Refinery (Tyapsinsky NPZ), and other companies have still not been solved.
Pesticides are another major environmental pollutant in the territory. More than 1000 tons of worthless and banned pesticides have accumulated over the past 12 years. A lack of funds has prevented them from being withdrawn from use in Volgograd Region.
The Krasnodar public organization Ekomir and the Kubangeologiya scientific institution are working jointly on compiling an ecological map of Krasnodar Territory showing cities and districts with an unfavorable ecological situation. According to information from Ekomir, 30 cm of quartz sand wash into the Black Sea from the beaches every year. Toxic substances are buried in the sea, in Kerch Strait, and in Novorossiysk Bay.
Atmospheric emissions have decreased slightly in Krasnodar Territory due to a drop in production in recent years. The main sources of atmospheric pollution in the territory are the Krasnodar Thermoelectric Power Plant (Krasnodarskaya TETs) and AO Novorostsement in Novorossiysk.
Car exhausts are currently the main source of atmospheric pollutants in the city. The average car annually burns about 200 kg of oxygen and emits more than 2 kg of sulfuric oxide and 100 kg of unburned hydrocarbons and nitric oxides. Emissions from motor transport are being reduced by monitoring the operating condition and emissions of various kinds of transport, as well as by reducing fuel demand. The effect of polluted air on the human organism poses the greatest hazard. In the last few years, previously unknown forms of air pollution, for example, electromagnetic and radiation pollution, have become widespread.
AUTHORITIES
The highest executive body is the Administration of Krasnodar Territory.
The Administration of Krasnodar Territory is formed to support the Governor as the highest official and to exercise the state powers he entrusts to it. The Legislative Assembly is the highest legislative body.
ECONOMY
Krasnodar Territory is part of the North Caucasus economic region. The territory's agroindustrial complex is one of the largest in Russia and is the foundation of its economic potential. The fuel and energy complex (e.g., the oil, oil-refining, gas, and power industries), engineering, instrument-making, the chemical and light industries, the resort and recreation industry, forestry, woodworking, and furniture manufacturing are all developed here as well. Local industrial enterprises annually turn out products worth more than 5 billion rubles, or one-quarter of all industrial output in the territory. Receipts from industrial enterprises provide half of the city budget revenues.
The most important industrial centers are Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Armavir, Tikhoretsk, Eisk, and Kropotkin.
The fuel and energy complex accounts for more than 20% of the territory's industrial output. Krasnodar is considered an old oil-producing region of Russia. Oil has been produced there since 1864, and 68 oilfields are operating today. The main fields are in the western and central parts of the foothills (Abinsky, Seversky, and Apsheronsky districts). The refining industry is centered in Tuapse and Krasnodar.
More than 100 engineering and metalworking companies operate in the territory, producing metal-cutting and woodworking machines; instruments and automation devices; agricultural machinery, equipment, and spare parts; electric motors; pumps; oilfield and geological exploration equipment; compressors; refrigeration equipment; railway products; and consumer goods. The largest companies are located in Krasnodar, Armavir, Tikhoretsk, Novorossiysk, Eisk, and Kropotkin. Sea-going and river vessels are built in Novorossiysk. Production of agricultural machinery and oil and gas equipment is centered in Krasnodar. AO Avtokuban produces the popular Gazel minibuses; AO Krasnodar Spare Parts, Tools, and Accessories (Krasnodarsky ZIP) produces gas and water meters.
More than 100 companies produce building materials, e.g., cement, wall and roofing materials, structural glass, and other building products. Cement factories in Novorossiysk operating with high-quality natural marls have been producing nearly 2 million tons of cement per year since the 1980s.
Thirty-five large and medium companies produce lumber, chipboard, parquet, and office and household furniture. Industrial wood exports are about 100 000 m3. Furniture companies are developing new products, mainly using whole hardwood timber. Upholstered furniture made by AO Krasnodar Furniture Company (Mebelnaya firma "Krasnodar"), cabinet furniture from AO Kuban Furniture (Mebel Kuban), and upholstered and cabinet furniture from the SBS furniture company is very popular both within the territory and beyond.
Textile, clothing, leather, fur, shoe, and porcelain companies of various forms of ownership constitute light industry in the territory. The largest companies are located in Krasnodar, e.g., AO Yugteks (high-quality cotton fabrics), AO Kubanteks (wool fabrics), AO Arkadiya (footwear), AO Aleksandr i Ya (a wide range of ready-made clothing), and AO Kubanfarfor (porcelain and glazed ceramic dishes). AO Yugteks exports wool fabrics to the United States, Germany, Greece, Taiwan, and other countries.
Companies in the chemical industry sector produce fertilizers, sulfuric acid, various paint products, iodine crystals, and general rubber goods.
The food industry has developed around agricultural production and is represented by the winemaking, oil-pressing, meat, dairy, and canning sectors. The territory's diversified agriculture has always required a high-capacity food industry. As a result, processing companies predominate in the territory's industrial structure, and their production amounts nearly 50% of total industrial output. Food industry companies operating in the territory today include 16 sugar refineries, 9 fruit- and vegetable-canning plants, 7 fish-canning plants, 41 dairies, 22 meat-processing plants, 7 fat and oil plants, 5 tobacco factories, 48 specialized wine-growing businesses, 25 wineries, 4 distilleries, 45 grain elevators, and 24 bakeries.
With the highest quality soils and a favorable climate Krasnodar region has always been the principal "breadbasket" of the Russian Federation. It has 3% of all ploughed lands in Russia. It also has Russia's only specialized agricultural university. The region produces approximately 6% of meat and dairy products, 10% of all-Russian grain, 30% of fruit production, 60% of oilseed production, 90% of rice production and 97% of wine production. It is always in the top few in terms of agricultural indicators, often leading the pack. The agricultural significance of the region has truly emerged with the break-up of the Soviet Union and the consequential loss of large agricultural belts of Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
Krasnodar Territory has a well-developed banking system. About 3% of the total number of Russian credit and banking institutions (not including branches) are located here. The territory's banking system consists of 28 Kuban commercial banks with 42 branches throughout the territory and 39 branches of banks with head offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Siberia, and Southern Russia, as well as 40 Sberbank of Russia divisions with branches and offices.
By virtue of its geographical location and climatic conditions, Krasnodar Territory is one of Russia's most attractive regions. Unique natural resources, rich mineral deposits, the Azov-Kuban basin (the largest in Europe) with its underground thermal and mineral springs, forests, fertile agricultural land, high industrial and agricultural potential, a construction industry base, and a developed port, rail, and road network all create the necessary conditions for profitable investment in the regional economy. Priority is given to investments in the fuel and energy complex, transport, agriculture, and processing. About 17% of the total investments in the territory are used in the social sphere, primarily in housing construction.
Foreign economic activity in Krasnodar Territory depends on many factors, the most important being the region's political and economic stability. The territory's administration is actively seeking to expand foreign economic ties by enlisting the participation of interregional and international organizations, thus improving the mechanism for foreign investment in the economy.
The territory is involved in investment cooperation with more than 60 countries, and 773 companies with foreign capital are registered here. Forty percent of the total foreign capital attracted to the territory comes from investors in the United States and 32% comes from Germany.
Total investments in the territory amount to more than $2 billion, mainly in the fuel, woodworking, and food industries, agriculture, trade, and catering. Two large investment projects of federal significance are being implemented in the territory. One of these is construction of a 1580-km-long oil pipeline from the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan to a terminal in Novorossiysk on the Black Sea The total estimated cost of the project is $4 billion. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (KTK) was formed to implement the project.
Another large project is construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey along the bottom of the Black Sea (the Blue Stream project; completed in October 2002). The length of pipeline passing through the territory is 317 km. The pipeline's gas throughput capacity is expected to reach 16 billion m3 per year by 2007.
The largest foreign investor in the territory is the American corporation Philip Morris, which has invested more than $73 million US since 1993 in reconstructing and expanding a Krasnodar tobacco factory. The company has set up a new tobacco- and cigarette-manufacturing complex fitted out with modern equipment. A new investment program envisages further expansion of production facilities and the creation of more than 100 new jobs.
Tetra Pak in Timashevsk is an example of a company operating successfully with foreign capital. The German firm Tetra Laval Group GmbH has invested $55 million US in setting up production of packaging for the agricultural processing industry. Swedish and Finnish firms have invested $11 million since 1998 in rebuilding and reequipping factories to produce packaging for Tetra Pak-Kuban.
The world-class Lazurnaya Hotel was constructed in Sochi as a joint project with the Turkish firms Erna and Intes.
The Pepsi Cola joint venture in Sochi, with total foreign investments of more than $10 million, produces three kinds of internationally known soft drinks and sells them in Russia.
Strengthening intergovernmental ties with foreign countries is a position of principle of Krasnodar Territory.
CULTURE AND ART
Krasnodar Territory is a striking combination of historical monuments, modern housing complexes, and huge industrial facilities, as well as a center of culture, education and scientific research.
People have known about the lands of Krasnodar Territory for more than 2500 years. The cultures of many nations put down roots here. Ploughing Scythians began tilling the soil here, while Nomad Scythians glorified the sword [a short sword known as an akinak]. Royal Scythians refined the art of gold working. The catacomb and pit culture of the Caucasian foothills, the Taman dolmens, the petroglyphs of Makhoshkhush, Oshad copper and bronze, silver black enamel, Kubatshi blades, and the crystal, turquoise, chalcedony, and carnelians decorating the jewelry worn by the deceased all have their origins in these lands.
These times are long gone, but the territory remains a cultural center that has nurtured great talents. The Artists' Union alone has more than 250 members. Russia has always survived through its spirituality, and so every part of it had its talents, but none like those in the Kuban today.
The words "Krasnodar Territory" bring to mind different associations in different people: gentle seas, clean sea air, healing mud and mineral water, fabulous nature, sunshine, bright colors, orchards, and vineyards.
"Heaven on earth" is one way to characterize this amazing corner of Russia. The territory needs no advertising, since if you came here once in childhood, you will try to return at the first opportunity to spend the rest of your life here.
The Black Sea is above all a healthy place for people. Millions of people have come to the Black Sea coast not only to see the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, waterfalls, beautiful mountain lakes, and colorful alpine meadows, but also to improve their health and "recharge". The endless beaches are equipped with solariums, shower facilities, and stations for renting boats, water skis, and bicycles. The swimming season at Kuban resorts lasts from mid-May to the end of October, and there are 240 sunny days a year on average.
The moist temperate climate with mild winters and very warm summers makes it possible for tourists to visit this beautiful territory in any season. The renovated Intourist, Moskva, and Platan hotels offering international standards of service await them with open doors. Numerous recreation and health centers and children's health camps successfully blend into a single whole with the landscape. They are surrounded by magnolias, palms, cedars, cypress, pines, plane trees, laurels, hydrangeas, roses, and wisteria. A warm welcome, convenience, and comfort are all guaranteed if you decide to spend your vacation in Krasnodar Territory and stay at one of its hotels.
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