What is Astrakhan? Volga, with its abundance of fish, watermelons, juicy and sweet, like first love, the Astrakhan Kremlin is the protector of the city and its historical value, and, of course, sand dunes, magnificent mountains and beautiful lakes.
History reference
Astrakhan is located on the islands in the Caspian lowland. If you go along the Volga, then the city is located in the upper part of the river, due to which it has become the largest transport center of the Lower Volga region. Tourists often visit the city because of its rich heritage, as well as due to the fact that Astrakhan connects all kinds of road, rail, sea and river routes. The reason for the formation of the city was a vivid confrontation between the Russian states and the Tatar khanates, who at that time owned the Lower and Middle Volga. The accession of the Principality of Astrakhan to Russia was carried out by Ivan the Terrible in 1556. The only thing left for him was to maximally strengthen the defense of the new Russian city, located in the middle of the steppe. To do this, he decided to move the city to a more reliable place, a hill on the left bank of the Volga. But this was not enough for reliable protection, and then a stone Kremlin was erected around the city. The administrative status of Astrakhan was assigned only under Peter I. Now the city is thriving and pleases tourists with its special flavor.
Climatic situation
Tourists should carefully prepare before heading to Astrakhan. The climate here is temperate continental, which is why in winter the temperature in the city, although slightly, is below the norm corresponding to this geographical latitude. For the north side it is minus twelve degrees Celsius, and for the south it is minus eight. Weather in Astrakhan often upsets citizens with severe frosts. There are days when the thermometer shows minus thirty. Astrakhan in the summer is also able to surprise with a temperature mark. July heat reaches +25 0 . The annual rainfall in the southern part of the region ranges from 180 to 200 mm, for the northern one the level is up to 280-290 mm. In winter, wet snow and even rain covers Astrakhan. The climate in the summer is characterized by frequent showers with thunder and hail. Wind averages between four and eight meters per second. But there are times when this indicator reaches 20 m / s. In general, the city has quite comfortable climatic zones. Astrakhan is an actively developing city, in connection with which its ecological state is seriously affected.
Ecological situation
The city itself is large, which is why it does not allow for wide motorways. In narrow streets with a large number of intersections, vehicles move slowly and often stop, which contributes to a huge exhaust emissions. If the climate does not frighten those who decide to move to Astrakhan, then the insufficient landscaping of the city, which is the reason for the frequent flooding of the city, can frighten off. Such an ecological situation leads to the appearance of specific diseases in the population. Typically, respiratory, digestive and immune systems are affected. Also, a gas processing plant located in Aksaraysk has a significant role in environmental pollution.
City dwellers
A characteristic feature of the Astrakhan population is its multinationality. More than one hundred ethnic groups of twenty different religious denominations settled here. The first place in the population of one nationality is occupied by Russians, the second place belongs to the Tatars and the third to Kazakhs. The active revival of the economic situation in the region has led to an increase in the number of working-age population, which now stands at 60%. Mostly citizens work in agricultural enterprises and in the service sector. Also, huge forces are directed to education and health. The poverty indicator in the Astrakhan region does not differ from the average Russian indicator and amounts to 26%. Basically, the poor live in an area where people have no jobs, and they get the main income from farming. As for the demographic situation in Astrakhan, it is characterized by positive dynamics, which is confirmed by the annual population growth.
Remoteness from other cities
Time in Astrakhan differs from Moscow by +3 hours. The city belongs to the time zone Europe / Volgograd (MSK). The fact that time in Astrakhan does not correspond to the metropolitan area is not surprising, because cities are quite far from each other. If you count the distance in hours, then it counts about fifteen and a half hours by car, from twenty to twenty-three hours by train and almost two hours by plane. If you decide to travel the Moscow-Astrakhan route, you have to overcome the distance of 1272 km. But this is not so much, if you look at 6746 km from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Astrakhan. Most often, tourists with pleasure overcome the Moscow-Astrakhan route. The distance here is not the most important, because the city has many attractions. The historical sites of Astrakhan will please the eye of even the most experienced traveler. If you choose the sea route to the city, it is very important to know the coordinates of Astrakhan. The city is located at a point of 46 ° 19 'north latitude and 48 ° 1' east longitude.
Astrakhan beauty
If the desire to visit Astrakhan the climate of the region can discourage, then the beauty of the city attracts at first sight. The lower reaches of the Volga delta attracts by the presence of the most beautiful plants, including relict ones. Astrakhan are proud of the amazing plant wonder growing in their area - a fabulously beautiful lotus that pleases with its bloom only in the summer. This natural phenomenon delights all tourists. People who find themselves on the banks of the Lower Volga are no less delighted. It has all the natural charms - coastal forests, sandy dunes, the magnificent Lake Baskunchak and Big Bogdo. For recreational purposes, it is recommended to visit balneological resorts, which are based on nature reserves containing healing mud. If the weather in Astrakhan during the trip allows, then each guest just needs to go fishing in local reservoirs. There are more than seventy different species of fish, including sturgeon, beluga, and sterlet.
The city's attractions
The central tourist attraction of the city is the Astrakhan Kremlin, which has existed since 1558. At first it was made of wood, after a while it was rebuilt and made stone. The territory of the Kremlin is famous for historical buildings of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The main architectural values: Assumption Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral, Bishop's House and Cyril Chapel. This place is called a real storehouse of historical monuments. Lovers of measured relaxation should visit the Governor's Parade Square. It is located in the very center of Astrakhan and has existed since 1769. Here you can take a leisurely walk and get acquainted with exquisite buildings made in the style of classicism. Also, city guests are recommended to visit the promenade on May Day, walk along Nikolskaya Street, visit the old cinema October and its unique arboretum, and, of course, admire the many wooden buildings that adorn the city.
Astrakhan Infrastructure
The problem zone of Astrakhan, like many other regions, is the housing sector. Its imperfection is associated with the reluctance of officials to pay sufficient attention to this issue and the low solvency of the local population. The overall picture of the city is a dilapidated and dilapidated housing, not the best condition of roads and insufficiently landscaped courtyards. But some procedures are still underway to get out of this unfavorable situation. Thus, overhaul of dilapidated housing is underway , according to which by 2010 one hundred and fifty-four objects had been restored. Work is also underway to improve the energy supply of the city, within the framework of which the latest equipment is installed at the boiler houses of the city, which helps optimize water treatment. Also, all areas of the city take part in the collective installation of appliances in their homes that take into account the consumption of electricity and water. A significant role in the infrastructure of the city is played by the transport network, numbering 4771.5 km. In the region there are three routes of international level. The local airport also has international status, and the city’s navy includes the Caspian flotilla of the Russian Navy.
Crime weather
In accordance with the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Rosstat, the Astrakhan region is in fifth place, depending on the level of crime. The city shares its "honorable" place with the Kurgan region. The city is often shocked by high-profile cases. For example, an incident related to a successful businessman and the owner of the Leskal chain of stores was not left without public attention. Attackers robbed his house for a total of three million rubles and brutally cracked down on his family. Also in the city there are often cases associated with violence of young girls.