Scientific publications(articles and monographs) related to the region North Caucasian federal district(NCFD) published by the Creative Economy Publishing House (found: 27 for the period from 2008 to 2017).

1.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (№ 4 / 2017).
The subjects of the North Caucasian Federal District are among the regions with the most difficult agricultural production. The food and processing industry here is a vital area that has a direct and profound impact on the economy as a whole. Needs rebuilding and organizational structure interaction between food and processing industry enterprises, the main forms of which can be the use of integration forms such as cluster, holding and other structures.

Dokholyan S.V., Vartanova M.L. Analysis of the state of the food and processing industry in the subjects of the North Caucasian Federal District // Russian Journal of Entrepreneurship. - 2017. - Volume 18. - No. 4. - p. 483-500. – doi: 10.18334/rp.18.4.37536 .

3. Dokholyan S.V., Vartanova M.L.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (No. 22 / 2016).
Opportunities fundamental improvement agriculture are due to the need to modernize the industry, the accelerated development of technical and technological conditions for conducting production. The dynamic socio-economic development of the macroregion will, in our opinion, create conditions for the development of related sectors of the economy and for the formation of new high-performance jobs in competitive industries, ensure a decrease in unemployment and an increase in real money incomes of the population, and increase the volume of goods own production and the volume of investments in fixed capital in the North Caucasus Federal District, as well as the volume of tax and non-tax revenues transferred to the budget system.

Dokholyan S.V., Vartanova M.L. Prospects for the development of agriculture in the subjects of the North Caucasian Federal District // Russian Journal of Entrepreneurship. - 2016. - Volume 17. - No. 22. - p. 3107–3128. – doi: 10.18334/rp.17.22.36986 .

13. Anokhina M.E., Mochalnikov V.N., Korostelev D.G.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (No. 9 / 2014).
The article presents the results of a study of the impact of cluster technologies on the process of social economic development region. The main advantages of cluster structures are shown, providing an increase in the competitiveness of regions and innovative development territories. On the example of the creation and development of the North Caucasian tourism cluster, the problems of using cluster technologies in the management of regional development are revealed, and the problem of staffing is identified as the main one. To solve this problem, based on the forecast of the number of human resources and the existing educational potential of the region, the authors developed a model of an industry educational cluster in the field of tourism and service, recommended the organizational and functional structure of a corporate university, and formed a model of interaction between the assessment and certification center and authorities executive power, educational institutions and interested organizations.

Anokhina M.E., Mochalnikov V.N., Korostelev D.G. Cluster technologies in the regional development management system // Russian Journal of Entrepreneurship. - 2014. - Volume 15. - No. 9. - p. 62-74. - url: .

16. Glaz Yu.A., Salpagarov R.U.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (No. 5 / 2013).
Of all the regional labor markets of the North Caucasian Federal District, the instability of functioning is most characteristic of the labor market of the Stavropol Territory. In the article, the labor market of this region is assessed according to the "objective" criterion of segmentation: from the position of the distribution of the labor force by type economic activity, the number of jobs occupied by industry, the size wages workers.

Glaz Yu.A., Salpagarov R.U. Segmentation of the labor market of the Stavropol Territory according to the object criterion // Russian Journal of Entrepreneurship. - 2013. - Volume 14. - No. 5. - p. 131-135. - url: .

17. Abdulzhalilov M.M., Gadzhieva S.A.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (No. 3 / 2013).
The growing differentiation of levels of regional economic development is one of the most serious threats to the national and economic security. In the article we are talking about the North Caucasian Federal District. According to the authors, a rational tax policy in this region can help reduce the differentiation of the level of its socio-economic development, compared with other territories of Russia.

Abdulzhalilov M.M., Gadzhieva S.A. North Caucasian Federal District: taxation and the economic growth// Russian entrepreneurship. - 2013. - Volume 14. - No. 3. - p. 137-140. - url: .

19. Gichiev N.S., Surakatov N.S.
// Russian entrepreneurship. (No. 19 / 2012).
In the article, the foreign economic activity of the region is considered in the context of the country's accession to the WTO, the need for participation separate territories, in particular the North Caucasus region, in world economic relations. The authors suggest using statistical accounting as a tool to identify and increase the role of foreign trade factors in accelerating the economic dynamics of the region.

Gichiev N.S., Surakatov N.S. Foreign economic activity in North Caucasus region// Russian entrepreneurship. - 2012. - Volume 13. - No. 19. - p. 145-150. - url: .

20. Tatuev A.A., Nagoev A.B., Gergova Z.Kh.
/ 2012. - url: .
The book discusses the theoretical and methodological foundations regional economy, as well as the problem of forming the prerequisites for its comprehensive modernization. The features of the formation of the Russian market economic space in modern conditions, trends and contradictions in the development of the North Caucasian Federal District are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the main directions and effective organizational and economic tools for the modernization of the regional economy.
The monograph is intended for researchers, teachers, graduate students, students, practitioners and heads of entities interested in the issues of modernization of the regional economy.

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North Caucasian Federal District(NCFD) - a federal district in the south of the European part of Russia; one of the eight federal districts of the Russian Federation. Administrative center- Pyatigorsk.

The north of the district is located on the Stavropol Upland, passing in the east into the Tersko-Kuma lowland. In the south - the slopes of the Greater Caucasus, stretching from northwest to southeast for almost 1000 km. Here are the highest peaks of Russia - Elbrus and Kazbek. Modern glaciation is developed in the mountains of the Caucasus.

The territory of the district is 170,439 km 2, the population (as of January 1, 2017) is 9,718,001 people.

The district includes 6 republics (Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia-Alania and Chechnya) and 1 region (Stavropol).

Surface water resources

The flow of the rivers of the North Caucasian Federal District is regulated by numerous reservoirs and ponds in the interests of energy, water supply and watering of the territories. The largest reservoirs districts are the reservoirs of the Don River basin in the Stavropol Territory - the reservoirs of the Manych cascade (Chograyskoye and Proletarskoye) and the Yegorlyksky water tract (Sengileevskoye and Novotroitskoye). Large ones also include the Dagestan Irganai and Chirkey reservoirs and the Kuban reservoir in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

The largest lakes of the district and, in general, the world are the Caspian Sea. Another large lake in the district is Manych-Gudilo on the border of the Rostov Region and the Stavropol Territory.

The territory of the North Caucasian Federal District is covered with a dense network of canals of irrigation and watering systems, here are the largest main canals Russia - Bolshoy Stavropol, Alkhanchurtsky, Pravoegorlyksky, Terek-Kumsky, the October Revolution Channel and others.

On the territory of the federal district is part of one of the largest in Russia

North Caucasus is a historical and cultural region of the Russian Federation and is part of it under the name of the North Caucasian Federal District. It is located on the territory of Ciscaucasia, as well as in the northern part of the slope of the Greater Caucasus Range (without the eastern part, which is under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan) and western part to the Psou River (the border of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia passes along it). It is one of the most multinational regions of Russia, most the territory of which is occupied by agricultural land (more than 70%).

The North Caucasus includes the following subjects of the Russian Federation: 2 autonomous regions (Krasnodar and Stavropol), 7 republics (Adyghe, Dagestan; Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Ingush and Chechnya).

Population of the North Caucasus

The North Caucasus is one of the most densely populated regions of Russia, the population according to the latest statistics is 9.7 million people, which is 6.6% of the total population of the Russian Federation. Population density - 52 people per 1 km 2 (second place in density after the Central Federal District), urban population - 49.1%.

The North Caucasian Federal District is the only one in the country where not the Russian and Slavic population prevails, but the titular nation, which includes a large number of nationalities at once several ethno-linguistic families, which in turn are divided into groups. For example, in Ingush Republic Ingush and Chechens predominate in the population, Russians are the third largest, in the Dagestan Republic Russians are the eighth. According to the latest census data in this region of Russia, Russian nationality amounted to 9.4% of the total population. Chechens are in the first place, then Avars, Dargins, Kabardians, Ossetians, Kumyks, Ingush, Lezgins, etc. come in descending order.

Industry of the North Caucasus

AT economic terms economy this region refers to the North Caucasian economic region of the Russian Federation. The leading sectors of its market specialization are the machine-building complex, the food and light industry, coal and petrochemical production, the cement industry, the developed Agriculture, as well as unique recreational resources, which became the main base for the development of the resort economy.

The electric power complex is the basis of the economy of this region. Basically, thermal and hydraulic power plants operate here, the largest thermal power plants operate in the Krasnodar Territory, in Nevinnomyssk, Grozny, hydroelectric power stations - Tsimlyanskaya, Belorechenskaya, Baksanskaya, etc.

The oil refining complex is one of the oldest on the territory of the Russian Federation, traditional oil refining areas are concentrated in Grozny, Tuapse, Krasnodar, and Ciscaucasia is among the new ones. Gas production - Stavropol and Krasnodar region, Chechnya and Dagestan - extraction of gas condensate, a very valuable raw material for the chemical industry. Coal is mined on the territory of the Rostov region, where the spurs of the Donbass Ridge, rich in fuel minerals, want to.

Due to the presence raw material base for the development of the metallurgical complex in the region there are such ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises as an electrozinc plant in Vladikavkaz, a mining and processing plant in the Urup region of Karachay-Cherkessia, a tungsten-molybdenum plant in Tyrnyauz, various metallurgical enterprises manufacturing steel, pipes and steel castings.

The machine-building complex is represented by the following industries: the production of agricultural machinery (the largest enterprise is OAO Rostselmash in Rostov-on-Don), technological and drilling equipment for oil and gas fields, the manufacture of electric locomotive transport (in Novocherkassk), shipbuilding engineering (river and sea direction) . Branches of precision engineering that are completely new for this region are growing and developing, such as instrument making, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering (JSC EMK-Atommash in Volgodonsk, a boiler plant in Taganrog). Production of helicopters, airplanes and hydroplanes - Rostvertol OJSC, TANTK im. G. M. Beriev”, automotive engineering - JSC “TagAz” in Taganrog.

The construction industry is dominated by cement production, the North Caucasus is the leading producer and exporter of cement in the region.

AT light industry such industries as footwear, leather (enterprises in Rostov-on-Don, Nalchik, Shakhty, Vladikavkaz) and textile production stand out. The production of knitted goods and the garment industry, the manufacture of washed wool and fabrics and carpets based on it are well developed (Makhachkala, Krasnodar Territory).

The unique natural resources of the region (a large number of mineral springs, deposits of therapeutic mud, the mild climate of the foothills and beautiful landscapes) provided the basis for the development of the resort industry, which is one of the leading industries. There are two resort groups: Mineral and Black Sea. Here are the most famous Russian resorts such as Anapa, Sochi, Gelendzhik, 150 boarding houses and rest houses. In the Stavropol Territory there are a group of resorts with healing mineral water springs, these are Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk. A large number of skiers and climbers annually visit the areas of Dombay and Teberda in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as well as the Baksan Gorge in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Agriculture of the North Caucasus

The products of the agro-industrial complex account for about 50% of all products manufactured in the North Caucasus region. Its basis is a sufficiently developed agriculture, which has favorable climatic conditions for this.

Grain farming is the leading branch of agriculture; winter wheat is mainly grown here (Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, western Stavropol Territory). large areas agricultural land is occupied by crops of corn, rice (Kuban plavni, irrigated lands of Rostov land and Dagestan). A large number of industrial crops are grown in the region: sunflower, sugar beet and tobacco; horticulture and viticulture are also developed here. The Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory is the only region of the Russian Federation where such subtropical crops as tea, persimmon, figs, and citrus fruits are grown.

Livestock breeding is dominated by cattle breeding, pig breeding and poultry farming. Importance in the economy of the region has a developed sheep breeding, especially its fine-wool direction. Half of all Russian fine wool is produced in the North Caucasian region.

The district was formed by separation from the Southern Federal District by the Decree of the President of Russia dated January 19, 2010. The district includes seven subjects of the Federation, including one region - Stavropol and six republics: the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Karachay-Cherkess Republic Republic North Ossetia- Alania, Chechen Republic (Table 5.9).

Table 5.9

Composition of the North Caucasian Federal District

		Population thousand people	The largest cities
The Republic of Dagestan			Makhachkala, Khasavyort, Derbent, Kaspiysk
The Republic of Ingushetia			Magas, Nazran, Malgobek, Karabulakh
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic			Nalchik, Prokhladny, Baksan
Karachay-Cherkess Republic			Cherkessk, Ust-Dzheguta, Kara-chaevsk
Republic of North Ossetia - Alania			Vladikavkaz, Mozdok, Beslan
Chechen Republic			Grozny, Urus-Martan, Shawls
Stavropol			Stavropol, Pyatigorsk, Nevin-nomyssk, Kislovodsk

The North Caucasus Federal District is the only federal district in which there is not a single region, and the only one in which ethnic Russians do not have absolute majority the population of the district. It is considered the most multinational region of the Russian Federation. The administrative center of the district - the city of Pyatigorsk-V is neither the administrative center of the subject included in the district nor the largest city of the district, but is part of the large Caucasian-Mineralovodsk agglomeration.

Geographical location, borders and natural resources of the NCFD.

The district is located in the southern part European Russia, in the central and eastern parts of the North Caucasus. From the south it is protected by the Main Caucasian Range, in the east it is washed by the Caspian Sea.

The North Caucasus Federal District borders on such countries as Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and South Ossetia, Kazakhstan, as well as with such subjects of the Russian Federation as the Republic of Kalmykia, the Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory. The administrative center of the district is the city of Pyatigorsk.

The region has large reserves natural and mineral resources are oil, gas, coal, copper, non-ferrous metals, polymetals, iron ore and building materials.

In addition, it has a unique complex of balneological resources, which includes mineral drinking water, thermal waters and therapeutic mud. Approximately 1/3 of all Russian resources mineral waters and more than 70% of reserves thermal waters countries.

Economic indicators of the development of the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District. From the end of the 20th century the main part of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which are now part of the North Caucasian Federal District, ended up in the groups of regions most prone to the economic crisis. To began XXI in. volumes of industrial production in this district decreased to 17-24% (compared to 1990), while the average for Russia was 48%! . In the 2000s there is economic growth in some subjects of the North Caucasus Federal District, but the improvement of their social economic situation reached very slowly. At the same time, the main contribution to the creation of VRI is made by such areas as wholesale and retail trade - 21.1%, agriculture - 13.1%, construction - 12.2%, public administration- 11.6%. The share of manufacturing in GRP is 9.1%.

The unemployment rate in the North Caucasus Federal District is characterized as high. In the whole district, its value is 13%, and in some republics it reaches 44%. Hidden unemployment and a significant proportion of the population working in low-paid sectors of the economy are noted.

In the main part of the sectors of the economy of the NCFD, labor productivity is below the national average. These circumstances are combined with the low standard of living of the population.

The budgets of the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Chechen Republic are characterized as highly subsidized. The share of federal budget funds transferred to assist the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District reaches 70-80% in some regional budgets.

Administrative-territorial composition of the Southern Federal District: republics of Adygea, Kalmykia. Krasnodar region. Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov regions. The administrative center is the city of Rostov-on-Don.

Administrative-territorial structure of the North Caucasian Federal District Republics: Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Mania, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Chechen. Stavropol region.

Territory- 589.2 thousand km 2

Population— 22.9 million people

Administrative center- Pyatigorsk.

The North Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) is a new district of the Russian Federation, created on January 19, 2010 by a special Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 82 of January 19, 2010 “On Amending the List of Federal Districts approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 13, 2000 No. 849, and in Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated May 12, 2008 No. 724 “Issues of the system and structure federal bodies executive power".

In fact, the North Caucasian was separated from the Southern Federal District. The creation of the North Caucasian Federal District should contribute to the accelerated development southern territories Russia and the solution of economic and ethno-political problems.

It should be noted that when it was formed by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 dated 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 Yuzhny. The motives for the renaming were geographical reasons: Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and Kalmykia do not belong to the North Caucasus. The Rostov region belongs conditionally.

At present, the Southern Federal District includes the subjects of the Federation belonging to the North Caucasian Economic Region, as well as the territory Lower Volga(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 Caucasus Federal District is included in the grid economic zoning to North Caucasian economic region.

Let us characterize the features of the location and development of the productive forces of these districts in certain territories: the North Caucasian economic region and the Lower Volga region.

Southern Federal District

Southern Federal District (center — Rostov-on-Don) occupies the south of the East European Plain, 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 diverse - 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 county 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 implementation of the administrative-territorial division of the republics, deportation(forced resettlement) of many North Caucasian peoples, hostilities 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.

flat steppe territory extends from the Don River to the valleys of the Kuban and Terek rivers. This is the main agricultural region, the main breadbasket of Russia. In this area, almost no natural landscapes. Everywhere there are natural and anthropogenic agricultural landscapes, in which natural vegetation has largely been replaced by crops.

The plowed land of steppe landscapes reaches 90%. Mostly cereals and industrial crops are grown here.

Due to the fact that the forest cover of agricultural land is a little more than 3% instead of 5-6% according to the accepted norms, the agrolandscapes of the steppe zone of the district have become very unstable, i.e. subject to active erosion (destruction) of soils, silting of small rivers, pollution of water bodies.

APK 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 - the production of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and pesticides (Nevinnomyssk, Belorechensk).

food industry 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 connected with the implementation of the program "Revival of the Russian Fleet", which provides for the construction of river-sea vessels, tankers, dry cargo ships (Astrakhan, Volgograd).

Fuel and energy complex specializes in the oil (Dagestan, Groznenskoye, Stavropol, Krasnodar deposits), gas (Kubano-Priazovskoye, Stavropol deposits, as well as deposits in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions) and coal industry (the eastern ring of Donbass in the Rostov region) (see map of the atlas).

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 plants, the region is experiencing a constant shortage of electricity.

Recreational complex North Caucasus uses unique natural conditions and resources of the region.

On the Black Sea coast famous resorts are located: Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi. The subtropical climate, abundance of sun, sea bathing, mud and hydrotherapy, vegetation brought here from all over the world attract many tourists and vacationers.

Caucasian [Mineralnye Vody] region unites the balneological resorts of Essentuki, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk and is famous for such sights as the "Castle of deceit and love", "Temple of the Air", "Blue Lakes", "Dombay", "Blue Stones", the State Museum-Reserve M. Yu. Lermontov.

Ecological 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, passing one into another. It is regulated by cascades of eight HPPs. Only from Volgograd to the Caspian Sea, the Volga retained its natural course.

The construction of a hydroelectric power station and the creation of reservoirs made it difficult natural processes self-purification of water in the river. It can detect oil products, lead salts, sulfur compounds. The way out of this situation is the limitation of industrial effluents, the installation of filters, construction treatment facilities until they give the desired results. This problem is especially acute in the lower reaches of the Volga.

Ecological situation in Volga delta assessed by experts as catastrophic. In its lower reaches, harmful substances accumulate from the entire drainage basin of the river. 8-9 km 3 of untreated industrial and domestic wastewater is annually discharged into the Volga, which is almost equivalent to the volume of the Tsimlyansk reservoir.

Of all the HPPs, only Volgogradskaya and Saratovskaya have devices for passing fish. However, they are weak and require reconstruction. Cascades of hydroelectric power plants reduce the flow of water, which leads to the death of fish. AT last years control over enterprises that discharge harmful substances into the river has been tightened. However, until now, in the Volga water, the content heavy metals, petroleum products, pesticides, detergents exceeds the maximum allowable concentration (MAC). This is especially alarming because the waters of the lower reaches of the Volga are rich in fish (sturgeon, perch, herring, smelt, carp, pike).

Caspian Sea- the largest lake in the world (368 thousand km 2). Own modern name it received in honor of the ancient tribes of the Caspians (horse breeders), who lived in the 1st century. BC e. on its coast. Most low level The Caspian Sea (-29 m) was registered by scientists in 1997. Since 1998, the water level has begun to rise, at present it has reached -27 m.

Many scientists are engaged in the problem of water level fluctuations in the Caspian Sea. According to some experts, main reason- climatic, and it is associated with a decrease in solar activity and, as a result, a decrease in water evaporation 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 ​​\u200b\u200bAzov - 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 (Alexandrovsky, Volgogradsky, Lebyazhy).

North Caucasian economic region

Composition of the district(ten subjects of the federation) - republics: Adygea, Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia - Alania, Ingushetia, Chechen, Dagestan; Krasnodar, Stavropol Territory; Rostov region.

The region stands out among others by the presence of the maximum number of republics in its composition (seven republics).

conditions for a developed economy. The main wealth area is its agro-climatic potential. Here there are optimal combinations of climatic and soil conditions for growing most cultivated plants. temperate zone, as well as for the development of almost all branches of animal husbandry.

The region provides itself with coal at the expense of 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, 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, and the territories of the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, the Rostov Region are the main regions for the reception of migrants not only from the national republics of the region, but from all over post-Soviet space. Average density of the population is relatively high - 50 people / km 2.

The ethnic composition is very diverse, for example, it is believed that more than 130 nationalities live in Dagestan. Representatives of the North Caucasian language family stand out (Adygs, Circassians, Kabardians, Ingush, Chechens, Avars, Laks, Dargins, Lezgins, etc.). Representatives also live in the republics Turkic group Altaic language family (Karachays, Balkars, Nogais, Kumyks). Ossetians belong to Iranian group Indo-European language family. Russians prevail in the region as a whole (62%), but their share in national republics decreases from the west (Adygea - 68%) to the east (Dagestan - 9%). Among Slavic peoples high percentage of Ukrainians.

The urban population is approaching 10 million people, or more than 55% of total strength(the lowest in Russia). Largest cities: Rostov-on-Don (1 million people), Krasnodar (640 thousand people). Rural settlements numerous. The flat territories are characterized by very large villages (more than 25-30 thousand people).

The North Caucasian region as a whole is provided with labor resources.

Economy. The role of the North Caucasian region in economic complex countries define agro-industrial complex and recreation complex.

Agro-industrial complex. The region occupies a leading position in the country as the largest producer of rice, sunflower, corn, grapes, tea, fruits and berries, and wool. It stands out for the production of grain crops (Krasnodar Territory provides more than 10% of Russian grain) and sugar beet (2nd place in the country), vegetables (4th place), milk (5th place), meat (4th place) . Almost all agricultural products are processed locally. In some cases, the capacity of enterprises 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 times, the district was one of the largest in the country in terms of agricultural engineering(Rostov, Taganrog, Krasnodar), but the economic crisis has sharply reduced the performance of this industry. Other areas of mechanical engineering include the production of electric locomotives (Novocherkassk), nuclear reactors (Volgodonsk), and steam boilers (Taganrog). Issued small numbers equipment for the food and chemical industries.

Now the leading position is 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 power increased sharply.

Transport. The transit position of the region determines the development of almost all types of transport. The largest oil loading port in Russia, Novorossiysk, is located in the region. Automobile and railway routes pass through the region, connecting the country with the south of Ukraine, Georgia, through the ferry with Turkey.

Main problems and development prospects. An analysis of the current economic situation in Russia shows a clearly expressed trend towards a decrease in production volumes in most sectors of the economy. In the North Caucasus, this trend, common to all regions, is exacerbated by a complex political environment, 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 Caucasian economic region.

Development prospects include the most effective use favorable natural and climatic factors of the balneological resources of the region for the development resort areas and turning them into resorts of world importance, zones of domestic and foreign tourism.

Lower Volga

This one 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 branches of specialization are the oil and gas industry. In addition, the Volga region is the main area for catching valuable sturgeon fish, one of the most important areas for growing grain crops, sunflower, mustard, vegetables and melons, and a major supplier of wool, meat, and fish.

. The natural resource potential is diverse. A significant area is occupied by the Volga valley, which passes in the south into the Caspian lowland. Special place occupies the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, composed of river sediments, favorable for agriculture.

Creation in the Volga basin of a large industry that pollutes its waters, intensive development river transport, agriculture, which uses large amounts of mineral fertilizers, a significant part of which is washed into the Volga, the construction of hydroelectric power plants has a negative impact on the river and creates an ecological disaster zone in this area. The region's water resources are significant, but unevenly distributed. As a result, there is a shortage water resources in the interior, especially in Kalmykia. On the territory of the region there are 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.

There are resources in the Caspian lowlands in the Baskunchak and Elton lakes table salt; these lakes are also rich in bromine, iodine, and magnesium salts.

Population. The population of the Volga region is diverse national composition. A significant share in the structure of the population in the Republic of Kalmykia is occupied by Kalmyks - 45.4%. In the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions, with the 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. The lowest population density in Kalmykia, here is the smallest share of the urban population.

Economy of the region. The region produces oil and gas. 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. Significant prospects for the development of the petrochemical industry has the Astrakhan region based on the use of hydrocarbon fractions of the Astrakhan field.

The electric power industry of the region is represented by the Volgograd hydroelectric power station and thermal power plants.

The region has a developed machine-building complex: shipbuilding centers - Astrakhan, Volgograd; agricultural engineering is represented by a large tractor plant in Volgograd; chemical and oil engineering is developed in the Astrakhan region.

In Volgograd, black and non-ferrous metallurgy, the largest enterprises - JSC "Volzhsky pipe plant”, aluminum plant. The vast resources of the salt lakes have led to the development of the salt industry, which provides 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 Kaspryba fishery concern, which includes a caviar and balyk association, a number of large fish processing plants, a navy, fishing fleet ("Kasprybkholod-flot"), leading expeditionary fishing in the Caspian Sea. The concern also includes a fish breeding plant for the production of sturgeon fry and a net knitting factory. In agricultural production, the branches of specialization are the cultivation of vegetable and gourd crops, sunflower; in animal husbandry - sheep breeding.

Transport and economic relations. The Volga region exports crude oil and oil products, gas, tractors, fish, grain, vegetables and gourds, etc. It imports timber, mineral fertilizers, machinery and equipment, light industry products. The Volga region has a developed transport network, which provides cargo flows of high power.

River, railway and pipeline transport is developed in the region.

Intra-districtdifferences. The Lower Volga region includes the Astrakhan, Volgograd regions and Kalmykia. The Lower Volga region is a sub-region of developed industry - mechanical engineering, chemical, food. At the same time, this is the most important agricultural region with a developed grain economy, beef cattle breeding and sheep breeding, as well as the production of rice, vegetables and gourds and fisheries.

The main centers of the Lower Volga region are Volgograd (engineering is developed, chemical industry), Astrakhan (shipbuilding, fishing industry, container production, various food industry), Elista (industry building materials, mechanical engineering and metalworking).

The most industrially developed is the Volgograd region, where machine building, 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 transhumant pasture system, is one of the main environmental problems in the 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 on the basis of the implementation of the target federal program"Caspian", the main task which - cleaning the Volga-Caspian water basin and increasing 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 prospects for the development of this republic are connected with the expansion of oil and gas production, in particular, on the shelf of the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Oil Company (CPC) has been set up to engage in exploration and development of oil fields in a number of promising areas of the sea shelf.