Prof. DSc. Sergei V. RYANZHIN
ILRAS - Institute of Limnology,
The Russian Academy of Sciences,
Sevastyanova 9, St.Petersburg, 196105 RUSSIA
Phone/Fax 7 812 222 1181/388 7327,
E-mail: ryanzhin@peterlink.ru
SOCIAL-ECONOMIC PECULIARITIES OF RUSSIAN
BLACK SEA COASTAL TERRITORY
Content
1. Introduction
2. Krasnodarskiy kray
2.1. Geography and climate
2.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
2.3. Capital and main cities
2.4. Mineral and natural resources, deposits and reserves
2.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
2.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
3. Rostovskaya oblast
3.1. Geography and climate
3.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
3.3. Capital and main cities
3.4. Mineral and natural resources and reserves
3.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
3.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
4. References
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1. Introduction
From the territorial-administrative point of view, the territory of the modern Russian
Federation is subdivided into 11 territorial-administrative subjects – so called, Federal Territorial
Administrative Okrugs (FTAO). FTAO consists of traditional USSR’s territorial-administrative
units, such as Republic, Kray, Autonomic Oblast, Oblast, and Autonomic Okrug. In turn, each of
the listed territorial subjects consists of smaller units - Rayons. Totally there are 21 Republics, 5
Krayes, 1 Autonomic Oblast, 49 Oblasts, 10 Autonomic and 1868 Rayons in the Russian Federation
(2006).
The Russian Black Sea coastal territory is included into the North-Caucasian FTAO. The
FTAO is characterized by total surface area 355,100 sq. km, population 17.707 millions; relatively
high population’s density 49 inh/sq.km (2006). For comparison, an average population density in
Russian Federation equals approx. 9 inh/sq.km (2006). Two territorial-administrative units of
FTAO have the coastal line at the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov – Krasnodarskiy Kray and
Rostovskaya Oblast (Fig. 1). General geographical and social economic features of Krasnodarskiy
Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast are shown in Table 1.
Fig. 1. Russian territorial-administrative subjects - Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast –
have a marine coastline and contain the Black Sea coastal territory
2
Fig. 2. Russian Krasnodarskiy Kray borders with the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (RUSMAP
2005)
2. Krasnodarskiy kray
2.1. Geography and climate
Krasnodarskiy Kray (KK), having a surface area of 79,000 sq. km, is the most southern territory of
the Russian Federation (Fig. 1 and 2). KK partly occupies the coastal regions of the Black Sea and
the Sea of Azov. KK, having a coastal line up to 740 km (of its total border length of 1540 km),
borders with the Georgian Republic Abkhazia (through River Psou inflowing the Black Sea) and
the Russian Stavropolskii Kray in the east, with the Ukraine (through narrow Kerch Straight
connecting the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea) in the west, with the Russian Rostovskaya Oblast
in the north and the Russian Republic Adigeya. The latest has been administratively included into
KK till 1991.
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River Kuban, inflowing the Sea of Azov and originated in Caucasus Mountains (Caucasian
Elbrus Mt. area; Krachayevo-Cherkess Republic of the Russian Federation), subdivides KK into
lowland northern and mountain southern parts (approx. 2/3 and 1/3 part of total KK territory
respectively). The climate of the lowland northern part is mainly moderate continental (boreal) with
long-term monthly average January and July temperatures -2-6 Co and +22-24 Co respectively, and
annual rainfall 400-600 mm. In contrast, the climate is mainly moderate subtropical in the southern
part of KK (to the south of Tuapse city): with mild winter and high annual rainfall up to 3400 mm
and even higher in the mountains.
Table 1. Summary of general features of Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostovskaya Oblast
Krasnodarskiy Kray
Area (sq.km)
Rostovskaya Oblast
79,000
100,800
(millions)
5.090
4.404
Population
density
(inh/sq.km)
66
44
Population
content by
nationality
Approx. 100 nationalities: Russian
(>80%, prevailing), Ukrainian,
Belarusian, Tatars, Armenian,
Chechen etc.
Approx. 100 nationalities: Russian (90%,
prevailing), Ukrainian (3.4%), Belarusian
(0.9%), Tatars, Chechen, Armenian (1.8%)
etc.
Length of marine
Border (km)
740
300
Main rivers
Kuban
Don, Severnii Donetz, Manich
Mineral and
natural
resources,
deposits and
reserves
Oil, gas, iron, marble, limestone, salt,
sand etc. deposits (totally more than 60
types of mineral deposits). Extensive
groundwater resources of mineral and
thermal waters. Forests’ reserves
(18,000 sq.km). Fertile agricultural
soils (chernozem)
Coal, oil and gas mineral deposits. Fertile
agricultural soils (chernozem).
Population
Average air temperature:
January
-2-6 Co
-2-8 Co
July
+22-24 Co
+22-26 Co
Annual
precipitation
(mm)
400-3400
280-400
4
Climate
From moderate continental (boreal) to
moderate subtropical
Moderate continental (boreal)
Capital
(population)
Krasnodar (former Ekaterinodar, until
1920), (831,000), founded in 1793
Rostov-na-Donu (1,186,000) founded in
1749
Main cities
(population)
Sochi (360,000),
Armavir (232,000),
Novorossiysk (223,000),
Kropotkin (171,000),
Eysk (95,000),
Tikhoretsk (88,000),
Anapa (85,000)
Taganrog (292,000),
Shchakhty (230,000),
Novocherkassk (190,000),
Volgodonsk (183,000),
Bataysk (100,000),
Novoshchakhtinsk (107,000)
Main ports
Novorossiysk (the biggest Russian port
at the Black Sea), Tuapse, Sochi
(passenger)
Rostov-na-Donu (one of the biggest Russian
river-port), Taganrog, Azov.
International
Airports
Krasnodar, Adler
Rostov-na-Donu, Taganrog
Resorts
Sochi, Anada, Gelendjik, Adler,
Khosata, Krasnaja Polyana (mountain)
Azov
Industry
Agricultural production processing,
machinery, fishery, road construction,
oil and gas processing, transportation
and related industries, producing of
chemical fertilizers, tourism
Coal mining exploitation, developing,
transportation and related industries.
Agricultural production processing,
agricultural machinery, equipment for nuclear
power plants, fishery
Agriculture
Meat and milk production, growing of
vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, beans,
corns etc.), fruits (apples, perches,
grape, watermelons, etc.), berries, and
elite seeds (including rice).
In 2006 gross annual agricultural
production was estimated as 50 billion
Rubles (approx. 2 billion USD), and
ranks 1st among agricultural regions of
Russian Federation.
Meat and milk production, growing of
vegetables (potatoes, sunflowers, tomatoes
etc.), tea and fruits (apples, perches etc.)
Principal largest
enterprises
“Novorossiysk Port”, “RosneftKranodar-Neftegaz”, “Priazov-Neft”,
“Novorossmetall”, “Priboy”, “Kaskad”
“Rostugol”, “Rostselmash”, “Azovstal”,
“Krasniy Sulin”
Culture
6 professional dramatic theaters and
many museums
7 professional dramatic theaters, many
museums (including memorial Anton
Chekhov’s and Mikhail Sholokhov’s
museums situated in Taganrog and Stanitsa
Veshenskaya respectively.
Scientific and
Educational
Centers
More than 1450 primary (regular)
schools, 12 universities. The main
universities are Krasnodar State
University, Armavir Pedagogical
University, Novorossiysk Marine
Academy, Sochi Resort Institute
More than 800 primary schools and 75
colleges. 23 universities (including 2 military
and 1 police universities), The main university
is Southern Federal University (Rostov-naDonu)
5
Sports
Football team “Kuban” (Krasnodar)
successfully plays in the Russian Prime
League
Handball team “Rostov” was a winner of
the European League Cup. Football team
“Rostov” (Rostov-na-Donu) successfully
plays in the Russian Prime League
governor
Alexander Tkachov (2007;
http://admkrai.kuban.governor.ru)
Vladimir Chub (2007).
2.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
KK (population 5.090 millions – 3.4% of total Russian population; population’s density 66
inh/sq.km, rural population – 47%; 2006) was officially established in 17 September 1937.
Population consists of almost 100 nationalities: Russian (>80%, predominate), Ukrainian,
Belarusian, Tatars, Armenian, and Chechen etc. Mainly due to mild climate, KK is attractive region
for immigrants. Therefore, KK is characterized with annual grows of population (+0.8%) that ranks
3d in the Russian Federation after Republic Ingush (6.9%) and Republic Dagestan (2.2%). KK is
subdivided into several territorial-administrative rayons (Fig. 2). Alexander Tkachov is a governor
of the KK (2007; http://admkrai.kuban.governor.ru).
2.3. Main cities
The capital of KK, Krasnodar (former Ekaterinodar until 1920; 831,000 population, 2006), situated
at River Kuban’ was founded in 1793 first as a castle. Main cities of KK are Sochi (360,000),
Armavir (232,000), Novorossiysk (223,000), Kropotkin (171,000), Eysk (95,000), Tikhoretsk
(88,000), Anapa (85,000) and others (Table 1 and 2, Fig. 2 and 3).
Table 2. Main cities of Krasnodarskiy Kray (2006; descending by population)
City
Krasnodar
Sochi
Armavir
Novorossiysk
Kropotkin
Eysk
Tikhoretsk
Anapa
Tuapse
Population
(thousand)
831
360
232
223
171
95
88
85
66
6
population (thousand)
900
831
800
700
600
500
360
400
300
232
223
171
200
95
100
88
85
66
e
a
ap
s
Tu
na
p
A
or
et
sk
ys
k
Ti
kh
n
Ye
k
ro
po
tk
i
K
si
ys
ir
ov
o
ro
s
i
rm
av
A
So
ch
N
K
ra
s
no
d
ar
0
city
Fig. 3. Population of main cities of Krasnodarskiy Kray (2006; descending by population)
2.4. Mineral and natural deposits, resources and reserves
Natural deposits of oil, gas, iron, marble, limestone, salt, sand etc. (totally more than 60 types of
mineral deposits) of industrial scale are available at KK territory. Extensive deposits have been
found in regions mainly located close to the mountains. Recently, large natural reserves of
hydrocarbons (oil and gas) were found at the shelf of the Sea of Azov. Extensive groundwater
reserves of mineral and thermal waters were found in 1980th.
Total area of forests in KK reaches 18,000 sq.km. 49% and 19% of forests constitute of oak and
beech woods respectively. KK is also reach in fertile agricultural soils (chernozem).
2.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
Meat and milk production, growing of vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, beans, corns etc.), fruits
(apples, perches, watermelons, grape etc.), berries, elite seeds (including rice) predominate in
agriculture of KK. In 2006 gross annual agricultural production was estimated as 50 billion Rubles
(approx. 2 billion USD). KK ranks the first among the most advanced agricultural regions of
Russian Federation.
KK is important logistic-transport center of the Southern Russia. International airports are
available in Krasnodar and Adler. Cities Novorossiysk, Tuapse and Sochi are important
international cargo and passenger sea ports, situated at the Black Sea. The port of Novorossiysk
7
making full capacity annual overturn over 7 million tons (crude-oil terminal, terminals for general
cargo etc.), is the biggest Russian port at the Black Sea, and ranks 5th by overturn (after sea ports of
St.Petersburg, Vladivostok, Murmansk and Ust’-Luga) in the Russian Federation. Total annual
turnover in KK’s transportation business exceeds 52 billion Rubles (approx. 2 billion USD).
Oil exploitation in KK was started in 1864 (the earliest oil exploitation in Russia). Since 2004
annual oil and gas exploitations in KK exceed 840,000 tons and 1.2 billion cub.m respectively. In
2006 the annual processing of crude-oil at enterprises located in KK exceeded 3.7 million tons.
Main industrial activity of KK is focused at agricultural production processing, machinery,
fishery, road construction, oil and gas processing and transportation, producing of chemical
fertilizers etc. Principal and largest industrial enterprises located in KK are “Novorossiysk Port”,
“Rosneft-Kranodar-Neftega”, “Priazov-Neft”, “Novorossmetall”, “Priboy”, “Kaskad” etc.
2.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
Krasnodar is important scientific, educational and cultural center of the Southern Russia. There are
1450 primary (regular) schools in KK (2006). 3 professional dramatic theaters, many museums,
several universities and scientific-research centers are located in Krasnodar. Totally, 6 professional
dramatic theaters and 12 universities situated in KK. The main universities are Krasnodar State
University, Armavir Pedagogical University, Novorossiysk Marine Academy and Sochi Resort
Institute etc.
Cities Sochi, Anapa, Adler, Khosta, Gelenjik and others, situated at the Black Sea shore, are
wide-known international marine resorts. Krasnaja Polyana located in Caucasus Mountains is
famous mountain resort and sport-center (skiing, ski slalom etc.). Totally, KK’s recreation business
makes 8.5 billion Rubles (approx. 350 millions USD) full capacity annual overturn.
Popular football team “Kuban” (Krasnodar) successfully plays in the Russian Prime League.
3. Rostovskaya oblast
3.1. Geography and climate
Rostovskaya oblast (RO), having a surface area of 100,800 sq. km, is one of the southern territories
of the Russian Federation (Fig. 1 and 4). RO partly occupies Azov lowland and the coastal
territories of the Sea of Azov. RO borders with the Ukraine in the west, and with the Russian
Krasnodarskii and Stavropolskii Krayes in the south, Voronezhskaya Oblast in the north,
Volgogradskaya Oblast and Republic Kalmik in the east (Fig. 4).
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River Don, one of the longest in European part of Russia, flows through RO and discharges into
Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov. One of the largest Russian river-dam reservoirs, Tsimlyansk
Reservoir (surface area 2,700 sq. km), was constructed at the river in 1952. Other principal rivers of
RO are Severnii Donetz and Manich. Lakes occupy 0.4% of RO territory.
RO enjoys moderate continental (boreal) climate characterized by annual rainfall 280-400 mm,
relatively mild winter and hot summer (long-term monthly average January and July air
temperatures are -2-8 Co and +22-26 Co respectively).
3.2. Territorial-administrative division and population
RO is characterized with population 4.404 millions, population’s density 44 inh/sq.km, rural
population – 33% (2005). Population constitutes from approx. 100 nationalities: Russian (90%,
predominate), Ukrainian (3.4%), Armenian (1.8%), Belarusian (0.9%), Tatars, and Chechen etc. RO
includes 43 territorial-administrative rayons, 23 cities and 25 big villages (Fig. 4). Vladimir Chub is
a governor of RO (2007).
Fig. 4. Russian Rostovskaya Oblast has a marine coastline and contains coastal territory of the Sea
of Azov (RUSMAP 2005)
9
3.3. Main cities
The capital of RO, Rostov-na-Donu (1,186,000 population, 2006), founded in 1749 as a river port,
situates at River Don. Unofficially, Rostov-na-Donu is considered as an ancient capital of the
Southern Russia (so called Malo-Russia). Main cities of RO are Taganrog (292,000), Shchakhty
(230,000), Novocherkassk (190,000), Volgodonsk (183,000), Novoshchakhtinsk (107,000), Bataysk
(100,000) and others (Table 1 and 3, Fig. 4 and 5).
Table 3. Main cities of Rostovskaya Oblast (2006; descending by population)
City
Population
(thousand)
Rostov-na-Donu
Taganrog
Shchakhty
Novocherkassk
Volgodonsk
Novoshakhtinsk
Bataysk
Azov
Kamensk-Shchakhtinskiy
Gukovo
Sal’sk
1.186
292
230
190
183
107
100
97
80
68
65
population (thousand)
1400
1200
1186
1000
800
600
400
292
R
os
t
190
183
107
100
97
80
Ta
ov
-n
a
-D
on
u
0
230
ga
n
Sh rog
ch
N
a
ov
o c kh t
y
he
rk
a
ss
Vo
k
N
ov lgo
do
os
n
hc
h a sk
kh
tin
sk
B
K
a
am
ta
ys
en
k
sk
-S
hc A z
ha ov
kh
tin
sk
ii
200
city
Fig. 5. Population of main cities of Rostovskaya Oblast (2006; descending by population)
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3.4. Mineral and natural deposits, resources and reserves
Natural deposits of coal, oil, gas etc. of industrial scale are available at RO territory. Particularly,
extensive natural deposits of coal and oil are estimated as large as 6.5 billion and 485 million tons
respectively.
Total area of forests reaches only 2.8% of RO territory. However, RO is very reach in fertile
agricultural soils (chernozem). Particularly, fertile chernozem, reaching 1.5 m in width, constitutes
65% of total area of agricultural fields of RO.
3.5. Agriculture, transportation and industry
Meat and milk production, growing of vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers etc.), tea and
fruits (apples, perches etc.) predominate in agricultural activity. In 2006 gross annual agricultural
production of RO was estimated as 45 billion Rubles (approx. 1.8 billion USD) ranking the 2nd
(after Krasnodarskiy Kray) among the most advanced agricultural regions of the Russian
Federation.
RO is an important large logistic-transportation center of the Southern Russia. Network
consisting from 7 federal railways and 6 federal highways cross Rostov-na-Donu. International
airports are located in Rostov-na-Donu and Taganrog. Rostov-na-Donu is one of the biggest
Russian river-ports. Large sea ports are reconstructed in Taganrog and Azov (the Sea of Azov).
Industry and agriculture constitute approx. 36% and 34% of RO’s economy respectively.
Traditionally, coal mining exploitation, developing and transportation are highly developed in RO.
Others industries are focused at agricultural production processing, machinery (agricultural
machinery and equipment for nuclear power station), fishery etc.
Before and just after the WW-2 the Sea of Azov was one of the most fishery productive seas of
the world. However, after the WW-2, due to anthropogenic effects (particularly, over-fishing), its
productivity steadily falls down. Correspondingly, annual fish yields also sharply decrease.
Annual exploitation of mining coal exceeds 20 million tons. Main coal mines locate in
Shchakhty, Novocherkassk, Novoshakhtinsk, Kamensk-Shchakhtinskiy etc.
“Rostugol”, “Rostselmash”, “Azovstal”, “Krasniy Sulin” etc. are among principal industrial
enterprises of RO.
3.6. Educations, science, culture etc.
RO is an important scientific, educational and cultural center of the Southern Russia. There are 9
universities and several scientific-research centers in RO. Southern Federal University founded in
11
1915, is the biggest university (more than 14,000 students) in the Southern Russia. Southern
Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences is situated in Rostov-na-Donu (the head Prof.
Gennady Matyushov). Totally there are 23 universities (including 2 military and 1 police
universities) and 75 colleges host in RO. More than 800 primary schools and 2786 public libraries
(with total book capacity over 35 million copies) locate in RO (2006).
There are 7 professional dramatic theaters in RO (4 in Rostov-na-Donu). The most famous
theaters are Maxim Gorky Dramatic Theater at Rostov-na-Donu (founded in 1863) and Taganrog
Anton Chekhov Dramatic Theater (founded in 1827).
RO is a motherland of two wide-known Russian writers: Anton Chekhov (Taganrog, 18601904; the most famous novels are “Three Sisters”, “The Gull”, “Uncle Vanya”) and Mikhail
Sholokhov, the Nobel Prize Winner-1965, (Stanitsa Veshenskaya, 1905-1983; the most famous
novels are “Quiet Flows Don”, “They Fought for Motherland”). Extensive Anton Chekhov’s and
Mikhail Sholokhov’s memorial museums are situated in Taganrog and Stanitsa Veshenskaya
respectively.
Handball team “Rostov” was a winner of the European League Cup. Popular football team
“Rostov” (Rostov-na-Donu) successfully plays in the Russian Prime League.
4. References
Atlas of Modern Russia. 2006. Moscow: Ima Press Publ. House (in Russian).
Data on Modern Russia. 2005. Moscow: MAIK-Nauka Publ. House (in Russian).
Kuban Data 2007. available online at http://admkrai.kuban.ru (in Russian).
Modern Russia: Figures, Statistics and Facts. 2005. Moscow: MAIK-Nauka Publ. House (in
Russian).
RUSMAP 2005. available online at www.rus.primorye.ru (in Russian).
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