The European South contains the lands of two federal districts of Russia: the Southern (Southern Federal District) and the North Caucasus (North Caucasian Federal District). Almost 1/7 of the Russian population lives here. This area of the state is densely populated and multinational. Its significance in the life of Russia can hardly be overestimated.
Geography
Its territories are located in the southern part of European Russia and have an advantageous geographical position, which is ensured by long sea borders along the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, as well as by land borders with the regions of Central Russia.
The natural relief is surprisingly diverse. It includes plains, gradually turning into foothills and mountains. In the north is the southern part of the Russian Plain, which passes into the Ciscaucasia, which includes the Caspian and Prikubansk lowlands. Next, the Prikubanskaya Upland follows, smoothly transforming in the foothills, and then into the mountain ranges of the Caucasus.
What are the subjects of the European South
This region, according to the number of constituent entities of Russia, is the most numerous. The European South includes the following lands:
- SFD. The center defined Rostov-on-Don. It consists of 8 entities: the city of federal subordination Sevastopol, Krasnodar Territory, Adygea, Kalmyk Republics, the Republic of Crimea, as well as the regions of Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov.
- North-Caucasian Federal District with a center in Pyatigorsk. It consists of 6 republics: Dagestan, Ingush, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkess, North Ossetia, Chechen and Stavropol Territories. The center of North-Caucasian Federal District determined Pyatigorsk. It is not the center of administration of any territory. In addition, this is the only federal district where there are no regions, and the ethnic majority is not the Russian-speaking population.
As we see, the number of entities that make up the European South is 15 units. Before the annexation of Crimea, there were 14. In 2016, the Crimean peninsula, which was included in the Southern Federal District, was included in its number. The total area of the European South is 618 thousand square meters. kilometers.
Population
The number of residents is about 26.5 million people, which is 18.9% of the total population of the country. Most of it is made up of Russian-speaking residents. In addition, the ethnic composition of the European south of Russia is very diverse. Different peoples live on this territory: Chechens, Dagestanis, Ossetians, Avars, Kabardins, Ingush, Ukrainians, Armenians, Kalmyks, Kazakhs, Tatars and others.
In rural areas, most residents prefer to live. The cities of this region have the highest population density, and the steppe northern regions are sparsely populated. The average population density is 37 people per kilometer.
Big cities
The European South includes 36 major cities of Russia, two of which are the million-plus cities of Rostov on the Don and Volgograd, which are large industrial megalopolises. Krasnodar has a population of more than 881 thousand people, Astrakhan and Makhachkala have a population of more than 500 thousand people. Sevastopol has the status of a city of federal subordination, its population is 428 thousand people.
Major industrial cities include Sochi, Simferopol, Novorossiysk, Volzhsky, Taganrog, Mines, Stavropol, Grozny, Vladikavkaz, Nalchik and other cities.
Industry
The Caucasus Mountains are a young growing massif rich in minerals. In the territories that make up the European South of Russia, iron ore, oil, gas, non-ferrous and rare metals, sulfur, barite, marble, granite and other minerals that are used for the manufacture of building materials are mined.
In the largest industrial centers, such as Krasnodar, Rostov- on-Don, Volgodonsk, Taganrog, Millerovo, Novocherkassk, they produce agricultural equipment, machine tools and equipment for the oil and petrochemical industry, for other industrial enterprises and power plants. In Grozny, Krasnodar, Tuapse and Maykop, oil refineries operate.
Agriculture
Here are parts of the European South, rich in chernozem. No wonder the Kuban and the Stavropol Territory are called the "breadbasket of Russia." Agricultural production is focused on the cultivation of wheat, sugar beets, sunflowers, rice, tobacco. Particular attention is paid to viticulture. This crop is grown throughout the Black Sea coast. Dairy and beef cattle breeding is developed.
Russian health resort
Territories that are part of the European South are considered a health resort in Russia. On the Black Sea and Azov coast are the best resort cities of Russia. Sochi, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Yalta, Theodosius, Alushta, Saki and many other cities and towns have long attracted millions of vacationers.
The marine subtropical climate, excellent beaches, combined with developed infrastructure, transport interchange, with hundreds of resorts and pensions made the European South a popular holiday destination.
In addition, the cities of Crimea and the North Caucasus are considered one of the best world balneological resorts. Unique mineral waters, mud and brine have returned health to more than one generation of the country. Not only the coast, but also cities located far from the sea, such as Pyatigorsk, Mineralnye Vody, Zheleznovodsk, are rich in world-famous healing mineral waters.