How long will the decisive role of the Volga in the life of the region remain?

What are the features of the economic and geographical position?

The Volga River serves as the main region-forming axis of the Volga region, giving it a peculiar, almost 1.5 thousand km long configuration. The Volga region has an advantageous economic and geographical position, primarily transport and geographical, as it occupies a busy intersection of the Volga and an extensive network of railways between the developed European Center and the North Caucasus on the one hand, the Urals, Siberia and Kazakhstan on the other. The Volga-Kama waterway has access to the Caspian, Azov, Black, Baltic and White Seas.

What is the peculiarity of natural conditions?

The relief of the Volga region is generally flat with a general drop in altitude from north to south towards the Caspian Sea. The natural conditions of the Volga region are determined not only by the geographical location of the region, but also by the Volga itself. The right bank, up to Volgograd, is occupied by the Volga Upland, strongly dissected by ravines and gullies and in many places ending in steep slopes to the river. The Volga Upland reaches its maximum height of 370 m above sea level in the Zhiguli Ridge, located in the bend ("bow") of the Volga opposite the city of Samara.

Rice. 101. Zhiguli

Zhiguli break off to the Volga with an unusually picturesque steep slope, dotted with ravines and gorge-like valleys (gullies) and dotted with a bizarre accumulation of chalk and limestone ribbed rocks. Due to the steep slopes of the Zhiguli, from the Volga side, they look like a real mountain range stretching along the right bank for 75 km. Many peaks of the Zhiguli (Lysa Gora, Sheludyak cliff and others) have long been legends and traditions. For a long time, the Zhiguli were a favorite place of the Volga robbers. Unique landscapes with deciduous forests, rocky steppes and areas of mountain pine forests with many relic species listed in the Red Book have been preserved here. It is no coincidence that the Zhigulevsky Nature Reserve and the Samarskaya Luka National Park were formed in this area.

The left bank of the Volga (Low Trans-Volga) for many tens of kilometers is occupied by its flat floodplain terraces. From the Caspian lowland lying to the south, these plains are separated by hilly ridges - syrts, which make up the Common Syrt upland, extending far to the east into the Western Urals. From the west, the Caspian lowland is bordered by the Ergeni upland. At the foot of its steep eastern slope, dissected by a dense network of gullies, a chain of freshwater Sarpinsky lakes stretches.

The position in the east - southeast of the Russian Plain and the elongation of the region also affect the climate. The climate here is continental with significant temperature fluctuations.

In the Volga region, especially in its trans-Volga part, there are frequent droughts that are detrimental to agriculture.

The Volga also serves as a local climatic boundary. So, on the right-bank territory in relation to the Volga, winter is moderately cold and relatively snowy. Beyond the Volga, in the left-bank part, it is cold and has little snow.

What are the modern landscapes of the Volga region like?

The large extent of the Volga region also determined a wide range of natural zones. The extreme north of the region is occupied by landscapes of zones of mixed and broad-leaved forests with soddy-podzolic and gray forest soils. Due to massive felling and subsequent continuous plowing, these landscapes have become almost indistinguishable from the more southern, also intensively developed, forest-steppe landscapes.

In the Middle Volga region, the forest-steppe already in the region of Samarskaya Luka passes into the steppe. Now all this is entirely agricultural landscapes. Forests are confined exclusively to river valleys. On the other hand, shelter belts are widespread, in which many fruit trees, especially apricot trees, grow.

Most of the Lower Volga region (it includes the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and Kalmykia) is occupied by dry (southern) steppes and semi-deserts. The farther south, the more arable land is replaced by pastures. In the coastal strip of the Caspian Sea, you can also find real desert landscapes.

Agricultural specialization changes as the landscape changes. In the Middle Volga region, especially on the right bank, a grain economy is developed with the dominance of winter wheat and rye, in some places - with sugar beets, with meat and dairy cattle breeding and pig breeding. In the drier Trans-Volga and Lower Volga regions, crops of cereals (spring wheat, corn, millet) and industrial (sunflower, mustard) crops and diversified animal husbandry (dairy-meat and beef cattle breeding, sheep breeding, poultry farming) are common. Sheep breeding is developed in the southern part of the region on dry steppe and semi-desert pastures. In the Volga-Akhtuba Valley, they specialize in melon growing, vegetable growing, horticulture and rice growing.

Rice. 102. Modern landscapes of the Volga region

What natural resources are rich in the Volga region?

Land resources are the main wealth of the Volga region. About 60% of agricultural land falls on fertile chernozem and chestnut soils. The provision of arable land per inhabitant is much higher than the average for Russia. However, there are no vacant lands left in the region, almost the entire land fund is involved in economic turnover. The main problem of land resources is their susceptibility to water and wind erosion.

The Volga region is a large region of irrigated agriculture. The area of ​​irrigated land is about a third of the total irrigation fund of Russia. The bulk of irrigated land is occupied by fodder and grain crops; there are few such lands for potatoes, vegetables and gourds.

Significant water and hydropower resources of the Volga region. The development of hydropower resources has already exceeded 70%.

The area has rich resources of valuable sturgeon and partial fish.

Among the mineral resources, the main ones are fuel and energy - oil and gas condensate; lakes Elton and Baskunchak are pantries of table salt.

One of the wealth of the region is excellent recreational resources. The picturesque banks of the Volga, a favorable climate, many historical and natural monuments attract tourists and vacationers to the Volga region.

findings

The Volga region has an exceptionally favorable economic and geographical position, which is primarily determined by the presence and convenient location of numerous transport routes. The natural conditions of the Volga region are determined not only by the geographical location of the region, but also by the Volga itself. In terms of the totality of natural factors, the Volga region is one of the most favorable regions of Russia for the integrated development.

Questions and tasks

1. How did the favorable transport and geographical position of the region historically change? Does the importance of a particular mode of transport change over time?
2. What natural areas could you single out on the territory of the Volga region? Justify your answer.
3. How did the meridional configuration of the region affect the specialization of agriculture?
4. Recall the features of growing winter and spring wheat. How are the areas where these crops are grown related to climatic differences in the Volga region?
5. Name and briefly describe natural monuments that are characteristic only for the Volga region.

Russia is an incredibly huge country with wonderful and diverse nature. In each part of it you can see truly unique climatic conditions. The Volga region is no exception. The natural resources located here amaze with special richness. For example, these places are distinguished by some of the most favorable conditions for farming and growing various crops. The article will discuss what the Volga region is, where it is located and what resources it is rich in.

General characteristics of the area

To begin with, it is worth defining the Volga region. This word can be heard quite often, but not everyone knows exactly where it is. So, this is a geographical area that includes several large territories. Generally speaking, it includes territories that are adjacent to the Volga River. Thus, it can be noted that several parts are distinguished in the Volga region - the middle and lower reaches of the river. These areas are highly dependent on the river economically. From the point of view of natural zones, the Volga region also includes territories that are located in the upper reaches of the river. This is indeed a significant part of Russia, which makes a huge contribution to the economy and industry of the whole country, largely due to its favorable climate. and the resources of the Volga region help this area to produce a large amount of livestock and agricultural products.

Where is this area located?

Now it is worth more precisely telling about where these wonderful territories are located. as already mentioned, significantly contributes to the development of many sectors of the economy. It is interesting to know which regions are included in its composition. Among them stand out:

• Upper Volga (this includes regions such as Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and others);
• Middle Volga (includes Ulyanovsk and Samara regions, and others);
• Lower Volga (includes the Republic of Tatarstan, several regions: Ulyanovsk, Saratov and others).

Thus, it becomes clear that this area really covers a vast territory. So, we have examined the geographical position of the Volga region, and now it is worth talking about its natural and climatic conditions.

The climate of the Volga region

If we consider such a large geographical area, of course, it is necessary to talk separately about its climate, since it can vary greatly in different parts. As for the relief, plains and lowlands prevail here. The climate in some parts of the region is temperate continental, in others - continental. Summer is usually warm, in July the average temperature reaches about +22 - +25 C. Winter is relatively cold, the average January temperature ranges from -10 C to -15 C.

It is also interesting to consider the natural zones in which the Volga region lies. They also vary greatly from north to south of the region. This includes mixed forest, forest-steppe, steppe and even semi-deserts. Thus, it becomes clear what climatic and natural zones the Volga region covers. Natural resources are also in abundance here. It is worth talking about them in more detail.

What natural resources are rich in the Volga region: water, agricultural, oil

Since the area covers a large number of natural zones, we can safely talk about the diversity of resources in it. Of course, first of all, it is worth noting that the Volga region is rich in water resources. With the help of them, the district receives a significant amount of electricity. There are many hydroelectric power stations on the Volga, among them one can especially note the hydroelectric power stations in Dubna, in Uglich and in Rybinsk, in Cheboksary. You can also often hear about Zhigulevskaya, Saratovskaya and Thus, we can say that water resources make up a significant share in this area.

Also, the Volga region is rich in fertile soils, which are also represented here by black soil, which favors the cultivation of crops. If we talk about the economy of the region as a whole, then most of it is occupied by fodder crops (almost 70%), as well as cereals (more than 20%). You can also often find vegetables and gourds (about 4%).

It is necessary to note the oil resources in the Volga region. Oil was found here a very long time ago, but its production in the area began in the middle of the 20th century. Now there are about 150 deposits that are actively developed. The largest number of them is located in Tatarstan, as well as in the Samara region.

Other natural resources

It is worth telling other things that the Volga region is rich in. Natural resources here, as already mentioned, are very diverse. Many people like to relax on the Volga, and this is not surprising at all. The area is well saturated with recreational resources. Rest in these places has always been popular, the local nature is great for relaxation. Such popularity of tourism in the Volga region is due to the favorable climate, as well as a large number of cultural monuments and attractions in these places.

Among natural resources, biological resources should be singled out separately. In the Volga region there is a huge number of animals, both fodder and wild. There are many kinds of birds here. In the reservoirs of the Volga region, you can also find various types of fish. There are even rare sturgeon breeds here.

So, now we know what you can see when going to the Volga region. Natural resources here amaze with their abundance and diversity.

District population

Now it’s worth talking about separately and conditionally, the region can be divided into several parts, among which it stands out. It includes Mordovia, Bashkiria, the Penza Region and the Perm Territory. The population here is about 30 million people. Most of the people live in cities.

Volga-Vyatka economic region. There are significantly fewer people living here than in the previous area. The population is about 7.5 million people. Most of them also live in large cities.

The population of this region is about 17 million people. More than 70% of them live in cities.

Now it becomes clear that the Volga region is really a large region, the population of which is extremely large. In addition, there are many large settlements here, some of them are million-plus cities. Thus, we examined in detail the Volga region, the population, natural resources and economy of this region. It is indeed of great importance for the whole country.

In the Volga region, the crystalline basement underlying the Russian platform is strongly omitted. The depth of its immersion is not the same: under the Central Russian Upland, it lies closer to the surface (200-500 m below sea level) than in the Low Trans-Volga region (2000-6000 m) and especially in the Caspian Sea (over 6000 m).

The elevated regions of the Volga region in their modern form were formed as a result of uplifts of the earth's crust that occurred at different times, but mainly in the Cenozoic, and the Low Trans-Volga region corresponds to the zone of young Tertiary subsidence. The Caspian lowland was also a depression in remote geological times.

Against the background of slow movements of the earth's crust, which created large features of ancient tectonics, movements subsequently occurred in the Volga region, which formed separate ramparts, uplifts, troughs and other structures. They are partly buried under loose sediments, and partly expressed in the relief. These swells and uplifts are of great importance for the search for oil and gas.

Many features of the surface structure of the south-east of the region are associated with the formation of salt domes, both underground and visible on the surface. They are widespread in the south of the General Syrt and in the Caspian lowland, especially in its eastern part. Domes appear where significant masses of rock salt lie at great depths in the Permian deposits (Kungurian stage). Salt, as you know, has plasticity.

Under the weight of the overlying rocks, underground salt layers begin to deform, bumps and “wrinkles” appear on their surface - shafts separated by depressions. Growing mounds swell the surface of the overlying layers and bend them, which is often accompanied by the collapse of the layers, their breaks and deflections. In those cases when oil-bearing deposits lie above the salt layers, hillocks bring them closer to the surface, which facilitates the search for and production of oil.

The strata of sedimentary rocks that make up the Volga region were created over a long geological history, over many millions of years. In the depths of centuries, during the Devonian and Carboniferous periods, the sea was repeatedly replaced by marshy coastal land; at this time, sediments rich in fossil fuels accumulated. Chief among them are oil and gas, the abundant reserves of which have given the Volga region the glory of the Second Baku.

At the beginning of the next, Permian period, most of the Volga region was covered by the sea, the outlines of which often changed, and many salt lakes and semi-enclosed lagoons formed on the draining territory. At this time, strata of dolomites and limestones with deposits of gypsum and rock salt were deposited here.

During the entire Late Permian epoch, the sea gradually dwindled and receded to the south. In the end, it turned into a huge bitter-salty lake, which occupied the territory of the current Caspian depression. Layers of rock salt of enormous thickness, which are of great industrial importance, were deposited in it. Salt dome tectonics is connected with them. On the land that bordered the Permian Sea, a series of continental red-colored deposits formed, making up most of the High Trans-Volga region, which geologists usually call the Permian Plateau.

In the subsequent, Triassic period, most of the Volga region remained dry land, and in the Jurassic period, the sea, gradually penetrating from the south, again flooded almost the entire territory, with the exception of the Permian plateau, and deposited a huge thickness of bluish, phosphorite-containing clays, oil shales, sandy-argillaceous rocks and limestones. The northern and western parts of the Common Syrt finally became land after the Jurassic, at the foot of which the waters of younger seas lapped.

In the Cretaceous period, ending the Mesozoic era, a vast warm sea flooded the surface of the Volga region and accumulated here powerful strata of interbedded marls, white chalk, sandstones, sands, phosphorites and all kinds of dark clays. The Serpent Mountains near Volsk are composed of marls and chalk, which serve as the main raw material for cement plants. Above the surface of the Cretaceous Sea in the areas of ancient uplifts - Dono-Medveditsky, Saratov and others - islands rose, the surface of which, as the sea waters retreated to the south and east, expanded. Gradually, the land expanded in the north and west of the Volga Upland, which did not yet exist at that time.

In the first half of the next, Tertiary period, the sea again advances on land, but in the northern and western parts of the region, elevated spaces still remain unoccupied by the sea. Deposits of the Paleogene Sea - siliceous dark clay-flasks, diatomites, tripoli, sandstones and sands are widely used as building materials.

Echoes of powerful mountain-building movements in the Alpine folding zone affect the Volga region in the form of uneven uplifts and subsidence of the earth's crust. At the same time, the main features of the modern relief are formed. First of all, the eastern strip of the Volga Upland and the northwestern part of the Common Syrt rose and dried up, and in the middle of the Tertiary period (Miocene) they were completely freed from sea waters. Fresh flowing waters rushed into the deep lowering-depression of the ancient bed of the Volga, washing it away. At the same time, the watersheds of the Volga region were furrowed by a dense network of deeply incised ancient rivers, now already dead and partially buried under a layer of young sediments.

In the Pliocene, the Caspian basin completely separated from the Black Sea, and the size of the Caspian Sea approached the modern one. Later, as a result of uplifts of the earth's crust, the boundaries of the Caspian Sea were reduced so much that the delta of the ancient Volga reached the modern Apsheron Peninsula. The Volga and other rivers that flowed into the ancient Caspian accumulated here a thick layer of oil-rich sediments, which geologists call the productive suite.

The main event in the further geological history of the Volga region was the trough of the earth's crust, as a result of which the Late Tertiary (Late Pliocene) Akchagyl Sea invaded the lower region of the Syrt Trans-Volga region from the south. Its deep cold waters flooded the Caspian lowland, including the slopes of the Ergeni, and the entire Low Trans-Volga region, up to modern Kazan. Through narrow bays along the valleys of ancient rivers, the sea entered the surrounding land and left a stratum of blue-gray clays, in the sandy layers of which there are salty waters, and in some places healing sulfuric springs.

During the retreat of the Akchagyl Sea, ancient streams flowing into it from the north accumulated sandy-loamy sediments in the south of the Volga Upland, in the place of modern Yergepey and in the Trans-Volga region.

The Akchagyl Sea was replaced by the Apsheron Sea, the northern coast of which almost coincided with the boundaries of the modern Caspian lowland. Then it retreated.

During the Quaternary period, the Lower Volga region gradually acquires a modern look. The Caspian lowland and the Ergeni bordering it from the west are separated; the slopes of the Volga Upland and the Common Syrt are dissected by river valleys and furrows of temporary streams. The new network of Volga flows uses tectonic furrows and troughs, as well as the beds of ancient rivers.

In the valley of the ancient Volga, the channel of which continuously moves to the west during the Quaternary, strata of river sediments accumulate and wide terraces form. The formation of each of them is associated with major events: with the great glaciations of the north of the Russian Plain and with fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

Continental ice from the north did not penetrate into the territory of the Volga region. Only the "Don tongue" of the glacier, moving south along the Oka-Don plain in the era of maximum "Dnieper" glaciation, reached the western slope of the Volga Upland, where moraine deposits were preserved in places along the river valleys. But the melting of the edge of the glacier periodically increased the flow of water from the north, and due to the general humidification of the climate, the rivers became more abundant. In the northern part of the Volga region, ancient streams left powerful sand accumulations. Such is the nature of the Sursky, Alatyrsky and other sands.

The area is 536 thousand km2.
Composition: 6 regions - Astrakhan, Volgograd, Penza, Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk and 2 republics - Tataria and Kalmykia.

Natural conditions are favorable: (right bank, more elevated), soft, large array. But uneven moisture supply is characteristic - there are droughts and dry winds along the lower Volga.

The Volga region ranks second after oil and gas production; large oil refineries and a large one are concentrated in the region. Powerful petrochemical units in Samara, Kazan, Saratov, Syzran produce a variety of chemical products (plastics, polyethylene, fibers, rubber, tires, etc.). The Volga region also specializes in diversified, primarily transport. The area is called the automobile "workshop" of the country: Togliatti produces Zhiguli cars, Ulyanovsk - UAZ all-terrain vehicles, Naberezhnye Chelny - heavy-duty KAMAZ trucks. The Volga region produces ships, airplanes, tractors, trolleybuses, machine tools and instrumentation are also developed. Major centers are Samara, Saratov, Volgograd. Of great importance is the energy complex, which includes cascades of hydroelectric power stations on the Volga and Kama; Thermal power plants using their own and imported fuel and nuclear power plants (Balakovskaya and Dmitrovradskaya).

The Volga region is the most important in Russia. The northern part of the region is a supplier of durum wheat, sunflower, corn, beets, and meat. Rice, vegetables, melons and gourds are grown in the south. Volga and are the most important fishing areas.

The excessive concentration of petrochemical industries and other industrial enterprises, the overregulation of the Volga created an extremely difficult environmental situation in the Volga region.

Volga region

Upper Volga landscape

The relief is flat, dominated by lowlands and hilly plains. The climate is temperate continental and continental. Summer is warm, with average monthly air temperature in July +22° - +25°С; winter is quite cold, the average monthly air temperature in January and February is −10° - −15°С. The average annual rainfall in the north is 500-600 mm, in the south 200-300 mm. Natural zones: mixed forest (Tatarstan), forest-steppe (Samara, Penza, Ulyanovsk regions), steppe (Saratov and Volgograd regions), semi-deserts (Kalmykia, Astrakhan region). The southern part of the territory is characterized by dust storms and dry winds in the warm half of the year (from April to October).

Volga Economic Region

The area of ​​the territory is 537.4 thousand km², the population is 17 million people, the population density is 25 people / km². The share of the population living in cities is 74%. The Volga economic region includes 94 cities, 3 million-plus cities, 12 subjects of the federation. It borders in the north with the Volga-Vyatka region (Central Russia), in the south with the Caspian Sea, in the east with the Ural region and Kazakhstan, in the west - with the Central Black Earth region and the North Caucasus. The economic axis is the Volga River.

Volga Federal District

Center - Nizhny Novgorod. The territory of the district is 6.08% of the territory of the Russian Federation. The population of the Volga Federal District as of January 1, 2008 is 30 million 241 thousand 581 people. (21.3% of the population of Russia). The basis of the population are the townspeople. For example, in the Samara region, this figure is more than 80%, which is generally slightly higher than the national figure (about 73%).

Notes

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See what "Volga region" is in other dictionaries:

1) the territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga and economically gravitating towards it. The elevated right bank (from the Volga elevation) and the low left bank (the so-called Trans-Volga region) stand out. 2) In a natural relation, the Volga region is sometimes referred to ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

VOLGA, the territory along the middle and lower reaches of the Volga. Within the Volga region, a relatively elevated right bank with the Volga Upland and a low left bank, the so-called. Zavolzhye. In natural terms, the Volga region is sometimes referred to ... ... Russian history

Exist., number of synonyms: 1 territory (20) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

Geogr. region in bass R. Volga, subdivided into Upper. (to Kazan), Sred. (Kazan - Saratov) and Nizh. (below Saratov) The Volga region. On the right bank Privolzhskaya vozv., on the left bank terraced low. Zavolzhye. Dictionary of modern geographical ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

1) the territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga and economically gravitating towards it. There is an elevated right bank (with the Volga Upland) and a low left bank (the so-called Trans-Volga region). 2) In natural relation to ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

The territory adjacent to the middle and lower reaches of the Volga or close to it located and economically gravitating to it. Within P., a relatively elevated right bank with the Volga Upland is distinguished (See Privolzhskaya ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Volga region- Povolzhye, I (to Volga) ... Russian spelling dictionary

Volga region- The Volga region, the territory along the middle and lower reaches of the Volga. Within P., a relatively elevated right bank from the Volga Upland and a low-lying left bank, the so-called Trans-Volga region, stand out. In natural terms, P. is sometimes also referred to ... Dictionary "Geography of Russia"

Volga region- LEG REGION, includes Tatar, Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics of Ulyanovsk, Penza, Kuibyshev, Saratov, Volgograd (before 1961 - Stalingrad), Astrakhan region. In the years before the war. five-year plans (1929–40), a powerful industrial base was created in P. Great Patriotic War 1941-1945: Encyclopedia

Train number 133A / 133G "Volga" ... Wikipedia

Books

• The Volga region in the 15th and 16th centuries, G.I. Peretyatkovich. Essays on the history of the region and its colonization. Research by G. Peretyatkovich. Reproduced in the original author's spelling of the 1877 edition (Moscow publishing house, type. Grachev and ...