Tambov Region
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Tambov Region was formed on September 27, 1937. It is located in the central part of the Oka-Don Plain and the western part of the Volga Uplands and borders on Penza, Saratov, Ryazan, Lipetsk, and Voronezh regions. The region has a total area of 34 300 km2 and a population of 1 202 100. It consists of 23 administrative districts, 8 cities, 12 towns, and 308 rural administrations.
 |
|
| Emblem |
Tambov Region has a favorable geographical location. The Michurinsk-Tambov-Saratov railway line passes through the city of Tambov with a branch line to Kamyshin. The region has connections to Moscow and other industrial cities of central Russia, as well as to Ukraine, the Northern Caucasus, and western regions of Russia.
The region is located within the steppe and forest steppe zones. It has a temperate continental climate that becomes increasingly continental from northwest to southeast. Prevailing winds are from the south, southwest, and to some extent from the northwest. The warm period lasts from 175 to 185 days. The average summer temperature is +22°C, and the average winter temperature is -11.5°C. The temperature conditions are favorable for growing all temperate zone crops, including heat-loving crops such as wheat, corn, sunflowers, and sugar beets. Average annual precipitation is about 500 mm. Droughts occur one year in every three; therefore, the region belongs to the high-risk agricultural zone.
The plain is hilly; flat watersheds (maximum elevation 200-250 m above sea level) are cut by broad river valleys, ravines, and ridges of the Kerensk-Chembar Uplands. The meandering Tsna River flows northward for 286 km within the region. Precipitation, and to a much lesser extent, groundwater, is the main source of supply for the drainage system. More than 70% of annual flow occurs during the spring high-water period. Subsurface water is abundant everywhere, which facilitates water supply to communities.
Favorable natural and climatic conditions and the presence of mineral resources have contributed to the development of a diversified economy in the region. The main industrial sectors are engineering and the chemical, light, and food industries. Horticulture and livestock breeding (cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry) are well developed.
The regional center is the city of Tambov (pop. 318 400), founded on April 17, 1636. It is an important historical center and one of the leading cities of the Central Black Earth district. Today, Tambov is an industrial center with well-developed chemical engineering, electrical, and car- and tractor component sectors. The region maintains trade and economic relations with 50 countries.
Several research institutes, higher educational institutions, and a large number of general education and vocational schools operate in Tambov. The names of many famous Russians are associated with Tambov territory, for example, Sergei Rachmaninov, whose name is borne by the Tambov Music School, poet Gavriil Derzhavin, who was once governor of Tambov Province, Evgeny Baratynsky, Aleksei Zhemchuzhnikov, and many others. Materials on them are kept in the local history museum. One of the country's first museums of the history of medicine has operated in Tambov for many years. The drama theater, regional philharmonic, and art gallery are very popular with residents and visitors alike. Modern-day Tambov is a beautiful clean city where former mansions of the nobility, old churches, and modern buildings stand side by side.
HISTORY
The first mention of the city of Tambov is found in the Old Tambov Chronicler and dates to 1636, when construction of the city began on the left bank of the Tsna River by decree of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich.
Tambov was built as a fortress city to protect the southern borders of the Russian state against nomad raids. The construction was supervised by nobleman Roman Babarynkin and was completed by October 1, 1637. A wall 6 m high and 1245 m long surrounded the fortress city, and a stockade surrounded by a wall 1776.6 m long abutted on the city in the southwest. The two walls were united into one common wall, turning the city and stockade into a single fortress. The Studenets and Tsna rivers protected it on the north and east sides, respectively, and a water-filled ditch protected it on the south and west sides. The city was initially called Tonbov (meaning "whirlpool" in the Moksha dialect of the Mordvin language).
By the early 18th century, Tambov lost its significance as a border fortress as a result of expansion of the Russian state and became the economic and administrative center of an agricultural district.
In 1708, the city became part of Azov Province, and 11 years later became the center of Tambov District of the same province. Tambov District became a separate governorship in 1779, and 15 years later received the status of a province that included 13 cities.
Industry was still relatively undeveloped in Tambov in the early 19th century, consisting only of railway workshops and several dozen small factories; however, the city was a major grain-trading center. After the Revolution, a large number of educational institutions, factories, apartment houses, and cultural facilities were built in the region.
In 1928, the Soviet government included Tambov in the Central Black Earth Region, where it remained for nine years until September 27, 1937, when it became the center of Tambov Region, which also included part of Penza Region. In 1939, the region's borders were modified but remained almost unchanged.
In fall 1941, the German Air Force bombed Tambov and the region. Several evacuation hospitals were opened in the city during the Second World War. More than 400 000 Tambov residents went to the defense of their homeland; 77 000 of them went missing and 102 000 were killed.
After the war, Tambov began to rebuild, and within a short time the factories, hospitals, and apartment buildings were restored. The regional economy also began to revive. On April 25, 1961, by Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet, Tambov received the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for the great contribution of its citizens during the Second World War.
At the end of the 20th century, Tambov was a major industrial center with well-developed chemical engineering and electrical industries.
RESOURCES
Land is one of the region's most important natural resources. Rich black earth (chernozem) soils have humus contents of 8-9%, and the gray forest and alluvial-meadow soils that have formed along the rivers are rich in organic matter as a result of luxurious vegetation and plenty of moisture. The region has 3 446 200 hectares of available land, 78.7% (2 714 400 hectares) of which is designated as agricultural land.
Forests cover 374 000 hectares or about 10% of Tambov Region. They consist mainly of mixed forests of pine, oak, birch, aspen, alder and a number of other species, along with shrubs like mountain ash, rose, and filbert. Blackberries and hops grow among the trees and shrubs. Moose, wild boar, foxes, raccoons, wolves, and brown bears are sometimes encountered in the forests. Other forest inhabitants include hares, weasels, martens, and squirrels. Altogether, there are 55 species of woody plants, 110 species of vascular plants, 60 species of mammals, and 161 species of nesting birds (e.g., grouse, woodpeckers, thrushes, blue tits, skylarks, and quail). Fish belonging to the carp, perch, pike, cod, catfish, and other families are abundant in the rivers and lakes. Specially protected areas, including nature preserves, cover 10 700 hectares.
Tambov Region is situated on the watershed of the Volga and Don rivers, which have a total drainage area of 34 300 km2. The region has a rather strained water-resource balance. The main rivers are the Tsna (Volga River basin) and the Voronezh and Vorona (Don River basin); the remaining rivers are shallow. The Tsna River is Tambov Region's largest waterway. It has its origin in the confluence of the Bakharevskaya and Verkhotsenskaya Tsna rivers in Sampursky District. It flows for 286 km through the region, eventually flowing into the Moksha River (Oka-Volga basin) after 446 km. The Tsna and its numerous tributaries, e.g., the Karian (48 km long), Lipovitsa (52 km), Lesnoi Tambov (89 km), Chelnovaya (121 km), Kersha and Khmelina (86 and 49 km, respectively), and other rivers, form a large river system with a drainage area of 14 200 km2 (42.8% of the region).
Potential usable subsurface water resources are estimated at 6 191 000 m3/day. Total water recovery in the region as a whole is about 675 600 m3/day. Altogether there are 52 explored subsurface freshwater accumulations in the region with reserves of 1 015 000 m3/day.
In addition, there are eight explored accumulations of subsurface mineral water with varying degrees of mineralization; total reserves are 1200 m3/day. The mineral waters of the Inzhavinskoe and Morshanskoe deposits are especially well known. They are classified as sodium chloride water in their chemical composition; they also contain microelements such as iodine, bromine, and fluorine. This type of mineral water is currently used in the treatment of certain cardiovascular, skin, and gynecological diseases, as well as chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system and central and peripheral nervous systems, among others. There are long-term plans to produce and bottle mineral water for delivery to treatment facilities. Sapropel mud from Lake Ilmen (Uvarovsky District) can also be used to treat a number of diseases.
There are 317 explored deposits of various mineral resources, including building materials, phosphorites, mineral pigments, peat, gold, silver, natural gas, coal, and sulfur. Deposits currently in production are worked by strip mining and quarrying.
The region has 70 peat deposits with total area of 5505.8 hectares and 11 sapropel deposits with a total area of 239.3 hectares and 1.476 million tons of reserves. In addition, there are mineral pigment deposits with 1.150 million tons of reserves, two explored phosphorite deposits with 248 million tons of reserves, and two foundry sand deposits with 7.981 million tons of reserves. Due to lack of funds, most of these deposits are not being worked at the present. Explored raw building material deposits that are of commercial interest (out of a total of 170 deposits) include limestone used to make lime (49.901 million m3 of reserves), crushed rock (29.937 million m3 of reserves), sand (116.193 million m3 of reserves), and clay loam (62.774 million m3 of reserves). Clay and clay loam are used to make expanded clay aggregate, ceramic and clinker brick, and drain and sewer pipe.
In addition to the mineral deposits listed above, shows of colored sand, glauconites, bentonite clays, diatomite, and silica clay have been found in Tambov Region. Colored sand can be used to make colored plasters, while diatomite and silica clay are raw materials for making foam glass, crystal, liquid and silicate glass, heat insulating materials, and other products.
There is also potential for discovering nickel deposits in the Tambovsko-Buturlinovskaya metallogenic zone: five tentatively identified deposits and more than 20 shows of copper-nickel sulfide ores have been discovered in this zone of the Voronezh nickel-bearing province. Furthermore, large sea-beach and volcanic-sedimentary placers, which are the main commercial geological type of titanium and zirconium deposits, have been discovered in the region (Tsentralnoe deposit). Reserves of the Tsentralnoe zirconium-rutile-ilmenite placer deposits are estimated at 887 million m3; however, due to lack of funds, the deposit is not being developed at present.
ECONOMY
The region's diversified industry, in which engineering, metalworking, and the light, food, and chemical industries figure prominently, has a determining role in the present-day output profile. Production volumes have increased over the last few years. The main industrial centers in Tambov Region are Tambov, Michurinsk, Morshansk, Kotovsk, Rasskazovo, Uvarovo, Kirsanov, Zherdevka, and Pervomaisky. More than 2400 industrial companies and facilities manufacturing products worth about $1 billion and employing 97 500 people operate in the region.
A relatively large group of tractor and agricultural machinery companies has formed in Tambov Region. Products of these companies are shipped to many of the country's economic districts, either as assembled machinery or as components. This group of companies occupies a leading place in the region's engineering industry. An automotive parts factory in Tambov is one representative of this complex. As the tractor and agricultural machinery sector developed, new, highly specialized companies were set up to manufacture components, parts, and units for the main plants. However, production in this sector has decreased significantly in recent years as a result of low product competitiveness, underequipment, a lack of internal funds, a lack of investment in reequipping the industry, and decreased product demand on the domestic market.
In addition to tractors and agricultural machinery, Tambov Region also produces process equipment for the chemical, food, and light industries, electrical equipment, railway equipment, and equipment for the building material industry. Factories producing chemical industry equipment operate in Tambov and Morshansk. Tambov is also known as a major producer of personal safety equipment, e.g., gas masks, much of which is exported. Tambov companies supply their products to many Russian regions and abroad.
The chemical industry in Tambov Region specializes mainly in production of synthetic materials, such as asbestos and general rubber goods, dyes, varnishes, plastic goods, enzymes, and fertilizer. The largest company in this sector is the Tambov Asbestos Rubber Plant (Tambovsky kombinat rezinoasbestovykh izdelii). Almost all companies operate on imported feedstock. A few companies manufacture aniline dyes using byproduct coke from Novolipetsk Iron and Steel Corporation (NLMK). Nitrogen fertilizers are produced on the basis of coke-oven gas. The Uvarovo Chemical Plant (Uvarovsky khimichesky zavod) manufactures phosphorite flour.
The construction industry generally meets domestic market requirements. The light and forest industries are represented by only a few companies and partially meet domestic requirements. Light industry production has decreased drastically in recent years, whereas several years ago, it accounted for 1/5 of total industrial output. This sector includes companies in the knitting, wool, leather shoe, and fur industries.
Agriculture and the food industry are among the region's main economic sectors. Fertile soils and long warm summers favor the development of crop cultivation, horticulture, and livestock breeding.
Grains, sugar beets, sunflowers, feed crops, and potatoes are grown in Tambov Region, and nearly all private plots produce potatoes, vegetables, and fruit. Processing companies manufacture alcohol, starch, and molasses from grain and potatoes. Winter wheat is the most important grain crop, and large areas of cropland are sown in sugar beets, the primary industrial crop. Other industrial crops include sunflowers, essential oil crops, and tobacco.
Agricultural enterprises grow 90% of the grain, sugar beets, and sunflowers in the region. Nearly all potatoes and vegetables are grown on people's private plots (99.4% of all potatoes and 93.2% of all vegetables). Farms produce 5.6% of the grain, 6.3% of the sunflowers, 5.6% of the sugar beets, and about 1% each of vegetables and potatoes.
Livestock farming specializes in raising beef and dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry. Production of all basic animal products except eggs has fallen off in recent years as a result of a significant decrease in productive livestock populations. People's private holdings produce 83% of the meat in the region, 59% of the milk, and 37% of the eggs.
The region attaches great importance to developing the processing industry. Eleven companies produce food products, beer and nonalcoholic drinks, and wine (4.16 million l of beer, 1.174 million l of nonalcoholic drinks, 1.405 million l of wine, 276 000 bottles of mineral water, and 8210 tons of confectionery). Five sugar refineries produce more than 151 000 tons of sugar, 53% of it from sugar beets. Flour mills produce 4718 tons of flour and bread-baking plants and small bakeries annually produce 79 282 tons of bread and baked goods and 2622 tons of pasta.
Dairies annually produce 2682 tons of butter, 2102 tons of cheese, 1184 tons of dried skim and whole milk, and 9555 tons of whole milk products. There are 12 meat-processing plants in the region that annually process 6646 tons of meat and produce about 6500 tons of sausage. Canning plants produce 11.467 million standards cans of products annually, including vegetables (30% of production), fruit (14.2%), and baby food (0.4%).
The region's six alcohol plants manufacture 6.83 million l of raw alcohol. Distilleries produce 7.755 million l of vodka and other alcoholic beverages. The Morshansk Tobacco Factory (Morshanskaya tabachnaya fabrika) manufactures 7145 million cigarettes per year.
AUTHORITIES
City, district, and regional administrations exercise executive authority in Tambov Region. The Administration of Tambov Region is the region's highest executive body.
Legislative authority resides in the Tambov City and Regional Dumas. The Tambov Regional Duma is the region's highest legislative body.
CULTURE AND ART
Tambov is one of Russia's main cultural and intellectual centers with a rich and interesting history. It was awarded the status of historic city in 1989. Architecturally, Tambov combines modern buildings and old buildings dating from the 18th and 19th century, which have been restored after many years of work and are now the city's pride and adornment. City authorities attach great importance to preserving cultural, historical, and architectural monuments; for example, the city administration has a multi-year program for preserving monuments of the past.
One of the city's main points of interest is Transfiguration (Spaso-Preobrazhensky) Cathedral, built in 1694 in the likeness of Assumption (Uspensky) Church in the Ryazan Kremlin and reopened for attendance in 1993. Tregulyaevsky Predtechensky and Kazansky monasteries were built in 1685; and Ascension (Voznesensky) Convent, in 1690. Tambov's development as a spiritual center continued throughout the 18th century, and a large number of churches, monasteries, and other religious institutions were built here. Protection (Pokrovskaya) Church, built during this period, is one of the most-visited churches in Tambov. The church houses an icon of Our Lady of Tambov, which draws Christians from all over Russia. Another of Tambov's unique historical monuments that is well worth visiting is Kazanskaya Church, built in the late 18th century in the likeness of Uspensky Church of Sarovsky Monastery and located in the center of the old part of the city. Voznesenskaya Church and Kazansky Monastery School were built in the same period, and a seminary opened. The famous Russian poet Gavriil Derzhavin, who was governor of Tambov Province at the time, contributed to its opening. There were many positive changes during his four years as governor. There was great emphasis on improving the city and expanding education. In that same short period, a public school was opened, classes in grammar, arithmetic, dancing, and other subjects began, a provincial paper began publishing, and a printing press opened. Construction began on a theater, which had started with performances in Gavrila Romanovich's house.
Three professional theaters, a Regional Philharmonic, and more than 700 cultural and entertainment facilities operate in Tambov Region today. The Regional Drama Theater is Tambov's pride. Famous actors such as N.Kh. Rybakov, N.K. Miloslavsky, and P.N. Orlenev are associated with it, and other renowned artists such as Fedor Chaliapin, Maya Plisetskaya, and Dmitry Shostakovich have performed on its stage. In addition to professional theaters, there are theater studios for young people and musical groups.
The names of well-known composers, poets, writers, artists, and sainted priests are associated with Tambov. In 1890, celebrated pianist, composer, and conductor Sergei Rachmaninov visited Tambov Province, where he took up residence at the Satin family estate in Ivanovka. Ivanovka became Rachmaninov's favorite place for relaxation, and he composed many of his best works here. After coming to the estate for vacations for several years, Rachmaninov became its co-owner. Today, a Rachmaninov museum is located on the estate and a music school founded in 1900, which had started with music classes, is named after him. The school's concert hall is one of the finest in the city; music festivals dedicated to Rachmaninov are held here annually.
Tchaikovsky visited Tambov between 1871 and 1876; and the great Russian poet Evgeny Baratynsky was born and raised on the Mara estate in Tambov Province. Aleksei Zhemchuzhnikov, one of the authors of the poem Kozma Prutkov (Kozma Prutkov was also a joint pseudonym of writers Aleksei Tolstoy and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers Aleksei, Vladimir, and Aleksandr), wrote his works here.
The poetry and beauty of nature in Tambov Region has long been an inspiration for artists. A branch of the Association of Russian Artists was set up in Tambov in 1925 and now has more than 60 members. The works of painters exhibited in the Tambov Art Gallery (founded in 1961) depict nature in the territory and urban and rural landscapes. Its collection includes paintings from the reserves of the local history museum. The gallery is located in the former Popular Readers' Society building constructed in the late 19th century.
The territory's cultural and historical heritage is preserved in 12 regional museums, which have a total fund of 167 000 items. The best known museum of the Tambov Regional Local History Museum, which has a splendid fund of ethnographic and artistic materials, rare books from the 17th-19th centuries, unique collections of porcelain, weapons, and Russian medals, and information on outstanding people whose life and works were associated with Tambov Region. The G.V. Chicherin museum house and one the few museums of the history of medicine in the country are also of great interest.
In addition to museums, the region has an extensive network of libraries. One of the oldest is the Pushkin Pushkin Library, which opened in the early 19th century. Today, 711 public libraries with a stock of 11.1 million books operate in Tambov Region.
Official site of the Administration of Tambov Region:
http://www.regadm.tambov.ru
|
