The territory of the Rostov region is an integral part of the Russian Federation. This region has its own weather and climate features, demographic indicators, infrastructure, and cultural traditions. Studying the nuances of the development of this subject of the Federation can contribute to the introduction of measures to improve the living standards of the inhabitants living in it. Let's determine the geographical location, find out the dynamics of demography, as well as the weather and climate of the Rostov region.
Geographic location
Rostov Region is located in the southwestern part of the Russian Federation. Its area is 100.9 square meters. km., which is the thirty-third indicator among all regions of the country. In the north, the Rostov region has a border with the Voronezh region, in the east - with Volgograd, in the south - with the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories. In the west passes the state border with Ukraine, and the southwestern territories of the Rostov region are washed by the warm Sea of Azov (Taganrog Bay).
The flat-hilly relief in this region has land. The Rostov region carries on its own the flow of the largest river in the region - the Don, the length of which exceeds 1.8 thousand km. The Tsimlyansk reservoir is located on it. The rest of the rivers of the Rostov Region are for the most part its tributaries, among which Manych and Seversky Donets should be distinguished . Lakes make up a negligible part of the total area of the region.
The administrative center of this subject of the federation is Rostov-on-Don, which at the same time is the main city of the Southern Federal District.
Climatic conditions
Now let's find out what the climate of the Rostov region is. The region is located in a temperate climate zone with a temperate continental type of climate. This means favorable conditions for the vegetation of many types of plants, because summer is characterized by rather warm, sometimes hot weather characteristics, and in winter the weather in the Rostov Region is moderately cold, and in the coastal part it is mild. Of course, this significantly contributes to the development of crop production in the region. The climate of the Rostov region is also characterized by winds, prevailing both in winter and in summer.
Most rainfall on the coast. Here, their average annual number exceeds 500 mm. But not all such Rostov region. The climate zone, while remaining moderately continental, acquires more arid features to the southeast. Here the total rainfall for the year is less than 350 mm. Also in the southeast, the average temperature in summer increases and frosts increase in winter. This suggests that in this region of the Rostov region continental features are more pronounced than in other parts of it. As we see, the climate of the Rostov region, despite the territorial proximity of its various regions, cannot be called completely homogeneous.
The average temperature of the coldest month of January is from –5 to -9 degrees. Although, the minimum can exceed 20 degrees of frost. But what temperature fluctuations does the Rostov Region have in summer? The time of the highest temperature refers to the month of July. Here the average fluctuations are from 22 to 24 degrees heat. But at the peak temperature can reach 30 and even 40 degrees of heat.
In general, the weather in the Rostov region is fully consistent with the moderate continental type of climate of the steppe natural zone in which this region is located.
Timezone
What time zone is Rostov Oblast in? The time of this region completely coincides with Moscow.
Thus, the time zone of the Rostov region corresponds to the encoding UTC + 3. Daylight saving time, as in other regions of Russia, is not made.
Natural resources
The natural resources of the Rostov region are distinguished by a wide variety of minerals.
The largest wealth of the Rostov region is coal. Here is the eastern part of one of the largest in the world Donetsk coal basin. Despite the fact that the coal of this basin is very high quality and ranks first in the world in terms of calories, it should be noted that the extraction of this fuel material in the region is almost frozen due to its low profitability. To generate revenue, the mines must be refurbished in accordance with modern standards. Many of them are in disrepair, require major repairs and modernization, for which there are no available funds. Currently, only a few mines are operating in the Rostov Region.
Among other fuel minerals, gas deposits should be distinguished. Its explored reserves in the region exceed 56,000 million cubic meters. Nevertheless, gas production has not yet been conducted.
On the territory of the Rostov region there are large deposits of iron ore. Among non-metallic minerals, table salt, fluxing limestones and other minerals used as building materials should be distinguished.
Forest resources, which occupy almost 3% of the region’s territory, can also be attributed to natural resources. Fertile chernozems, giving generous crops, are even more important. They make up the real wealth of the Rostov region.
Population size
The population of the Rostov region today is 4236 thousand inhabitants. This is the sixth indicator among all subjects of the federation.
The population density is about 42 people / sq. km
The dynamics of changes in the number of residents of the Rostov region
Now let's find out how the population of the Rostov region has numerically changed over the past few decades.
Until 1990, there was a steady population growth. In 1989, the population of the region exceeded 4,308.7 thousand inhabitants. The following year, there was a fall to the rate of 4,308.0 thousand inhabitants, but already in 1991 the growth resumed. This continued until 1998.
In 1997, the population of the Rostov Region reached its historical maximum, and amounted to 4495.5 thousand inhabitants. But then the decline in the number of residents in the region began, which continues to this day. For all this period, only in 2010 there was a short-term population growth.
The current population (4236 thousand people) roughly corresponds to the indicator of the mid-80s of the last century.
National composition
Now let's define what the ethnic composition of the population of the Rostov region is.
The vast majority of the region's inhabitants are Russians. At the moment, they make up 90.3% of the total population. Moreover, over the past hundred years, their share in the total number of residents has never been less than 89% and never exceeded 92%.
Among the Russians, it is worth highlighting the sub-ethnic community of the Don Cossacks, whose number at the moment is 0.7% of the total population, although in 2002 it was about 2%.
Among the national minorities, the Armenians are the most numerous in the region. Their percentage of the total population of the Rostov region is 2.6%. This is followed by Ukrainians with an indicator of 1.9% and Turks - 0.9%.
The number of other ethnic groups in the region is very small, and does not even reach 0.5% of the total number of inhabitants. Among the representatives of these minorities, it is necessary to single out Azerbaijanis, Belarusians, Gypsies, Tatars, Chechens. There is even such an exotic nationality in the region as Koreans. Their total number is 11.6 thousand people, which is 0.3% of the total number of people living in the region.
Religious composition
The dominant religion in the Rostov region is Orthodox Christianity. The Moscow Patriarchate in the region has 253 parishes.
Other Christian movements, mainly of the Protestant nature, are also quite common: Pentecostals (43 organizations), Seventh-day Adventists (34 organizations), Jehovah's Witnesses (18 organizations).
Significantly less Islamic organizations in the Rostov region. There are only 17 communities.
Among other religious movements with official status, Catholicism and Judaism should be mentioned. There are Mormons and Molokans. Among the Armenians living in the Rostov region, the majority are parishioners of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
There are representatives of other faiths, as well as religious movements. But they are so small that they are not able to conduct joint fees to acquire official status.
Urbanization rate
A significant impact on the indicators and directions of the economy, as well as the lifestyle of the region’s inhabitants, is provided by the level of urbanization, that is, the ratio of the population living in the city and in the village.
Today, about 68% of the region’s population lives in cities in the Rostov Region in cities, and 32% in villages. Thus, we observe a clear quantitative predominance of urban residents over villagers.
Rostov-on-Don - the main city of the Rostov region
The largest city, and part-time and the administrative center of the Rostov region, is Rostov-on-Don. The number of residents living in it exceeds 1.1 million people, which makes this settlement a millionaire city. Today it is the tenth indicator among the cities of Russia.
The foundation of Rostov dates back to 1749. It was then that he was laid down on the orders of Empress Elizabeth. Since then, this locality has grown and developed. In 1920, it became the administrative center of the Don region, later transformed into the Rostov region. At the end of the 80s of the XX century, the population of Rostov-on-Don exceeded 1 million people.
By this time, the city was quite strongly developed industry, and numerous cultural institutions were founded.
Other settlements
But among the cities of the region, not only Rostov is famous. Rostov region also has other beautiful cities. Of these, Taganrog (251.0 thousand people), Mines (236.7 thousand people), Novocherkassk (170.2 thousand people) should be distinguished. The last of them for some time was the capital of the Don Army.
Among other significant, but smaller cities, Bataysk, Azov, Novoshakhtinsk, Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Salsk, Gukovo, Donetsk stand out. The city of Azov has a rather interesting history, and has been famous since the time of the Russian-Turkish wars. It was here that the famous "Azov sitting" of the Cossacks took place, and it was this city that became the object of the Azov campaigns of Peter I.
Economy
The infrastructure of the region, as well as the level of urbanization determine its economic development and focus. This region has an industrial-agricultural economy.
The region has a well-developed engineering, metallurgy, food, and mining industries. Agricultural machinery manufactured by the Rostselmash plant is known all over the world. Among other large industrial organizations, the most significant metallurgical plant and an automobile plant in Taganrog, an electric locomotive factory in Novocherkassk, and the Atommash enterprise.
Agriculture is also quite developed in the region, especially since it finds rather strong support in agro-industrial enterprises located in the Rostov Region that produce agricultural machinery. Crop production in the region is more developed than animal husbandry, which is facilitated by extremely fertile chernozems, as well as relatively favorable weather conditions. The most common crops are cereals as well as sunflowers.
In general, the region’s economy occupies only 39th place among all subjects of the Russian Federation. This is not a very high indicator, given the potential of the region. However, he is improving the previous rating by 8 places, which already inspires hope that the economic development of the region is going in the right direction.