The Ulyanovsk Region, formed in 1943, is part of the Volga Federal District. It borders with Mordovia and the Penza region. (in the west), Saratov (in the south), Samara (in the east), with Tatarstan and Chuvashia (in the north). The administrative center is Ulyanovsk.
Each region as a subject of the Russian Federation officially has its own symbols - a coat of arms and a flag, which are approved by law and entered into the heraldic register under a registration number. This article is about the symbols of the Ulyanovsk region and its cities.
About the coat of arms
The history of the coat of arms of the Ulyanovsk region begins 03.03.2004. Later, additions and changes were made to it in accordance with the requirements of heraldry. The new emblem of the Ulyanovsk region was approved on December 26, 2013 by the Law of UO No. 247-ZO.
The composition of the symbol is based on the historical shield of the Simbirsk province, approved on 05.07.1878. As well as the emblem of the Ulyanovsk region, which was approved 03.03.2004. In addition, the symbol was supplemented by the motto, which reads: “Support of the soul and power.”
Details of the full coat of arms:
- crown;
- french shield;
- golden lions holding a shield;
- golden oak branches located at the base;
- motto.
The full emblem of the Ulyanovsk region consists of a shield of blue color, it depicts a silver column with a carved capital, which is crowned by the imperial crown, executed in yellow, white and purple colors, with azure ribbons. The shield is crowned with a golden earth crown with three large teeth in the form of leaves, two small teeth with pearls between them and gems.
The shield is held by golden lions. The right lion has a golden sword in his right paw, three ears of gold in the left lion in his left paw. The base of the lions is the golden oak branches. Under the shield is a silver gull, which touches the wings of the shield and flies to the right.
The motto is written on a gold ribbon in blue letters.
What do the details of the coat of arms mean?
The crown crowning the column is not only a symbol of the state, but also the historically established symbol of this region - the Simbirsk province, now the Ulyanovsk region.
A column means reliability, support, support. And her jewelry indicates the industriousness, skillful hands and spirituality of the inhabitants of the region. The figured capital speaks of prosperity and development.
Azure (as well as blue, cyan) color in heraldry means peace, devotion, sublimity. Silver is a symbol of justice, truth, purity. Gold represents power, grandeur, grace, warmth and light, as well as fertility and abundance.
The crown above the shield shows the state status of the region - a subject of the Russian Federation, and also speaks of the glorious history and traditions of the region.
Lions - the holders of the shield - symbolize virtues and all possible virtues. The lion was depicted on the first seal of Simbirsk.
Ears of corn talk about the prosperity and developed agricultural sector of the economy, and also about cohesion. A sword is protection, power, justice, selflessness.
Oak branches are a sign of steadfastness, strength, courage, which the inhabitants of the region showed during the years of popular uprisings and wars.
The Seagull is a flight sign and a symbol of the highly developed aviation industry of the Ulyanovsk Region, the emblem of a large UAZ automobile plant.
The motto on the coat of arms, which is its explanation, was selected based on the results of a competition held in the region in 2012. It expresses the importance of the region and its features.
The heraldic symbols of the coat of arms of the Ulyanovsk Region reflect the history of the region, its features and the main activities of the inhabitants.
About flag
The history of the flag of the Ulyanovsk region begins on 04/03/2004. It was then that the first flag was approved by the law of the Ulyanovsk region No. 10-ZO “On the emblem and flag of the UO”. At that time it was a white panel in the shape of a rectangle with a ratio of length to width of 3 to 2. In the center of the flag was the coat of arms of the region, below, along the entire length, a blue wavy strip and a red strip, which were separated by a narrow white strip. The need to develop a new symbol was due to the fact that it did not comply with the rules of vexillology, it could not be entered in the heraldic register.
After the new flag was developed, the previous one continued to operate and could be used during the established transition period until 01/01/2016.
This flag is valid from 12/26/2013. His banner looks like a rectangle with a ratio of length to width of 3 to 2. On a blue background in the center of the flag is a white column standing on a pedestal and crowned with the emperor’s crown with blue ribbons extending from it. The colors of the crown are yellow, purple and white. The height of this composition is nine tenths of the width of the flag. The flag is based on the image of the shield, which can be seen on another symbol of the region - the coat of arms.
The flag of the Ulyanovsk region, according to the law, is constantly raised on the following regional buildings:
- government;
- legislative assembly;
- Accounts Chamber;
- chambers of justice and public control;
- executive bodies of state power, headed by the government of MA;
- territorial MHIF;
- election commission.
City Ulyanovsk
The largest city in the region is its adm. center of Ulyanovsk. On the map, it can be found on the banks of the Volga, on the Kuibyshevskoye inland military district. The city was founded in 1648. The former names are Sinbirsk (until 1780) and Simbirsk (until 1924). Ulyanovsk, he is named in honor of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Ulyanov), who was born here.
The population of the city, according to 2017, reached 624,518 people. The bulk of them are Russians - about 78%. In addition, Tatars (about 11%), Chuvashs (about 7%) and other nationalities live on its territory.
The city of Ulyanovsk is located on a hilly plain. On the map you can see that it is located on the Volga Upland. The natural zone is forest-steppe, the climate is temperate continental.
The most developed industries in Ulyanovsk are metalworking and mechanical engineering. Of the large enterprises can be called aircraft manufacturing, automobile and motor plants.
Ulyanovsk is an important transport hub on the Kuibyshev railway. This city has become the only settlement in the world with a population of less than 1 million inhabitants, where there are as many as two international airports - Central and Eastern.
Ulyanovsk is also a river port, which is located on the right bank of the Volga. Large Russian highways pass through the city.
The city of Ulyanovsk is rich in cultural traditions. There is a drama theater, a puppet theater, youth theater and a philharmonic society.
Of the higher educational institutions - university, technical and pedagogical university, agricultural academy, aviation institute.
The most famous sights are associated with the names of Ulyanov (Lenin), Minaev, Goncharov.
Dimitrovgrad
The second largest city in the Ulyanovsk region is Dimitrovgrad with a population of 116,055 inhabitants, which is the administrative center of the Melekessky region. It was founded in 1698, transformed into a city in 1926, until 1972 it was called Melekess.
It stands on the left bank of the Kuibyshev reservoir, 85 km from Ulyanovsk.
The main industry is nuclear energy. At the initiative of Kurchatov, a large research institute of nuclear reactors was created here. In addition, engineering and construction industries are represented.
The city has a train station and a bus station. Since 1970, navigation on the shallowed Bolshoi Cheremshan River was discontinued. From city transport only buses.
In Dimitrovgrad there are 17 comprehensive schools, 4 vocational schools, 3 specialized secondary schools, three branches of state universities, a music choral school and 2 music schools. There is a drama theater named after Ostrovsky A.N., a cinema, a museum of local lore, 11 libraries, a scientific and cultural center.
Other cities of Ulyanovsk region
These are the regional centers:
- Inza (population 17,714 people);
- Barysh (16,147);
- Novoulyanovsk (14 164);
- Sengiley (6568).
The glorious history of the Ulyanovsk region and its cities is reflected in its updated symbolism.