Primorsky Krai is the most populated and developed part of the Russian Far East. About two million people live here. Like any other region of the country, it has its own official symbols. Flag and coat of arms of Primorsky Krai - what are they and what do they mean? When were the state symbols of Primorye approved?
Primorsky Krai (Russia): a brief description of the region
Primorye on the political map of the USSR arose in 1938. The administrative center of the newly formed region was the city of Vladivostok. The Primorsky Territory with an area of 165 thousand square kilometers is bordered by China and the DPRK, and also has access to the Sea of Japan.
In most of the region, an atypical monsoon climate for Russia has formed with humid and fairly warm summers and dry winters with frequent thaws on the coast. Huge damage to the economy of the region is caused by typhoons that rage here quite often.
About 2 million people live in Primorye. The largest settlement of the region is the city of Vladivostok. He, by the way, is recognized as one of the best cities in the Russian Federation for doing business according to the authoritative magazine Forbes. In economic terms, the Primorsky Territory is actively developing due to its access to the World Ocean, as well as the geographical proximity of the leading countries of the Asia-Pacific region (primarily Japan and South Korea).
What is the official coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory? What is its history and significance? This will be discussed later.
Coat of arms of Primorsky Krai: history and description
The main symbol of the region was established on February 2, 1995. Its predecessor is the coat of arms of 1878, which, however, is not much similar in appearance to the current one. The only thing in common is the golden oak leaves surrounding the shield.
The modern coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory is a traditional green shield with a blue Andreevsky cross. In the lower field of the shield is a golden tiger going to the left.
The front coat of arms of Primorye is additionally crowned with a crown and is bordered on both sides by oak branches with blue ribbons woven into the leaves. Under the shield is the inscription "Primorsky Territory", which contradicts the generally accepted laws of heraldry. According to the rules, it should be placed on the motto tape.
Semantics of the coat of arms of Primorye
What does the coat of arms of Primorsky Krai mean? What is the meaning of its elements? Let's try to figure it out.
The main symbol of Primorye successfully reflects the geographical features of this region. The main element of the coat of arms is the Ussuri tiger. It is not accidentally depicted here, because the Primorsky Territory is the main natural habitat of this animal on Earth. The golden color of the tiger represents the richness of the natural resource potential of the region. By the way, the Ussuri tiger is also present on the city emblem of Vladivostok .
The blue St. Andrew's Cross emphasizes the special coastal position of the region, focusing on the important historical role of its ports. The green color of the heraldic shield symbolizes the dense forests of the Ussuri taiga. In addition, this shade is a symbol of abundance and hope.
History and symbolism of the flag of Primorye
The symbol was approved on February 22, 1995. True, the flag pattern was finally developed a little later. The author of the project is considered V. A. Obertas, professor at the Institute of Architecture at FESTU. The flag of Primorye contains all the colors of the main state symbol of Russia: red, white and blue. In 2002, the flag of the Primorsky Territory underwent some changes. In particular, the initial azure (blue) color of the panel was replaced by blue.
A non-wide white stripe diagonally divides the flag canvas into two triangular regions of the same size - red (left) and blue (right). In the upper left corner, near the pole, you can see the golden Ussuri tiger. The height of the figure, according to the approved sample, should be 1/4 of the height of the rectangular canvas.
The colors of the flag emphasize the region’s affiliation to the Russian Federation. In the corresponding annex to the Regulation on the flag of the Primorsky Territory, a full justification of all its symbols is given. What do its colors mean?
So, red is the color of military feats, heroic history and important victories. It symbolizes the courage and courage of the inhabitants of the region, which they repeatedly showed in different periods of their history. Blue is the color of fidelity, honesty, as well as greatness and beauty. In addition, this shade once again focuses on the coastal position of the region.
Ussuri tiger as one of the main symbols of the region
The Amur tiger is the northernmost and one of the least numbered subspecies of this representative of the world fauna. In the wild, the area of its distribution covers open spaces in the Far East of Russia, along the banks of the Ussuri and Amur rivers . Moreover, every sixth Ussuri tiger lives within the Lazovsky district of the Primorsky Territory.
As of 2015, about 450 individuals of the Amur tigers live in the Far East of Russia. Predators hunt mainly in the dark, occasionally attack dogs or livestock. The animal is listed in the International and Russian Red Book.
Conclusion
The flag and coat of arms of Primorsky Krai were approved at the official level in February 1995. The key element of these symbols is the Ussuri (Amur) tiger, whose habitat is within the region. It should be noted that the animal here is made in gold at all by chance. It symbolizes the abundance and wealth of natural resources of the region.