Yaroslavl Oblast (Яросла́вская о́бласть) is located in the Central Federal District of Russia, surrounded by the Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda Oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of a close proximity to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Additionally, the administrative center of the oblast — the city of Yaroslavl — is an intersection of major highways, railroads and waterways.

Basic facts

Yaroslavl Oblast was established on March 11, 1936.

• Oblast territory: 36,400 km&sup2
• Population (2002): 1,368,000
• Governor: Anatoly Ivanovich Lisitsyn
• Administrative center: Yaroslavl
• Distance from Yaroslavl to Moscow: 282 km
• Number of cities under the oblast's jurisdiction: 6
• Number of cities under the districts jurisdiction: 5
• Number of districts: 17
• Urban population: over 80%
• Number of historical and architectural monuments: over 5,000
• Number of tourists (1997): 272,500

Nature

The climate is moderate continental, with snowy winters and a short but rather hot summer. Formely almost all territory was covered with thick conifer forest (fir, pine), but now a large portion of it has been replaced with birch-and-aspen secondary forests and crop fields. Swamps also take considerable areas.

Large animals have been much reduced in numbers, but there are still some bears, wolfs, foxes, elks, and wild boars.

A great number of wild birds live and nests in the Oblast.

In cities, most common birds are pigeons, jackdaws, hooded crows, rooks, house sparrows and great tits.

The Volga River flows through the Yaroslavl region, with two major dams constructed at Uglich and Rybinsk. The Rybinsk artificial lake is really large.

Mineral resources are limited to construction materials (such as sand, gravel, clay) and peat. There are also some mineral water springs and wells.

Population

These are population figures according to the census of 2002:

• Total population: 1,368,000
• Males: 618,000
• Females: 750,000
• Urban population: 1,107,000
• Rural population: 261,000

There are 11 towns, 13 townlets, 6,024 villages.

Life expectancy: average — 63 years, males — 57 years, females — 71 years.

98% of residents are citizens of Russia.

Economic characteristics

• Total volume of output for 12 months of the year 1997: 15,933.1 billion roubles¹⁾
• Total balance profit of enterprises for 12 months of the year 1997: 1,227.4 billion roubles²⁾
• Total tax collection for 12 month of the year 1997: 4,781.8 billion roubles (including Federal budget accruals in the amount of 1,999.3 billion roubles)
• Unemployment level: 2.4% of total workforce

¹⁾ large and medium-sized enterprises.
²⁾ including industry, agriculture, construction, transport.

Twin towns

• Yaroslavl is twinned with Exeter in the United Kingdom and Besançon in France.

Administrative Division

Districts

Yaroslavl Oblast consists of the following districts (Russian: райо́ны):

• Bolsheselsky (Большесе́льский)
• Borisoglebsky (Борисогле́бский)
• Breytovsky (Бре́йтовский)
• Danilovsky (Дани́ловский)
• Gavrilov-Yamsky (Гаври́лов-Я́мский)
• Lyubimsky (Люби́мский)
• Myshkinsky (Мы́шкинский)
• Nekouzsky (Некоу́зский)
• Nekrasovsky (Некра́совский)
• Pereslavsky (Пересла́вский)
• Pervomaysky (Первома́йский)
• Poshekhonsky (Пошехо́нский)
• Rostovsky (Росто́вский)
• Rybinsky (Ры́бинский)
• Tutayevsky (Тута́евский)
• Uglichsky (У́гличский)
• Yaroslavsky (Яросла́вский)

Cities and towns

• Danilov
• Gavrilov-Yam
• Lyubim
• Myshkin
• Pereslavl-Zalessky
• Petrovsk
• Poshekhonye
• Rostov
• Rybinsk
• Tutayev (former Romanov-Borisoglebsk)
• Uglich
• Yaroslavl

The oldest town is Rostov.

The town of Mologa (known since the 13th century) has been engulfed by the Rybinsk artificial lake in 1940s.

Other settlements

• Berendeyevo
• Bolshoye Selo
• Borisoglebsky
• Borok
• Breytovo
• Burmakino
• Greshnevo
• Itlar
• Karabikha
• Krasnyye Tkachi
• Krasny Profintern
• Kubrinsk
• Kurba
• Nekouz
• Nekrasovskoye
• Pesochnoye
• Prechistoye
• Semibratovo
• Tolbukhino
• Tunoshna
• Varegovo

External link

• Official website of Yaroslavl Oblast