The Northwest Federal District is a certain territory of the European part of Russia. It combines 7 regions, 1 city of federal significance, 2 republics and 1 autonomous region. All of them are located in the north and north-west of the country.
This district of the state was officially recognized in 2000. It included 11 entities, including the administrative center of federal significance St. Petersburg. The total area is almost 2 million square meters. km, and this is about 10% of the total size of Russia. According to 2015 data, the population is slightly less than 14 million people, of which 80% live in cities.
In economic terms, the Northwest Federal District is of great importance to the country. Cities occupying a special place:
- The leader in all respects, of course, is St. Petersburg.
- The capital of the Komi Republic is Syktyvkar.
- The regional center is Kaliningrad.
- The city of military glory is Novgorod.
- The largest port of Russia is Murmansk.
- The center of the municipality is Severodvinsk.
- City district - Arkhangelsk.
- Petrozavodsk is the capital of the Republic of Karelia.
- Vologda is the center of development of science.
- The city of the Vologda region is Cherepovets.
The resources of the Northwest District allow it to occupy one of the most honorable places throughout the country. It produces titanium, gas, oil, apatite. The land of the district is full of peat deposits and oil shales. Vast deposits of gold, diamonds, nickel, and uranium allow the economy of not only the region, but also the entire state to develop rapidly.
Komi Republic
The history of Komi begins in 1921. Until 1936, it was equated with the autonomous region, but from December 5 of that year it was awarded the title of a republic, which is part of the Soviet Union. It got its current name on January 12, 1993. During 1994, the constitution was officially adopted, the coat of arms, anthem and flag were approved and the first elections of the head of the republic were held.
Currently, it is part of the Northwestern Federal District. Composition of the Komi Republic:
- administrative districts - 12;
- cities of republican subordination - 8;
- district settlements - 2;
- village councils - 190;
- villages - 37.
The industrial crisis fell on the collapse of the USSR. This has caused mass migration. From 1990 to 2000, the population decreased by 20%.
Currently, the economy of the republic is at a high level. It mainly deals with the extraction and processing of minerals such as gems, oil and gas.
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this district is a subject of the state. He received official significance in 1926. The city of Naryan-Mar was appointed the administrative center. It is the most sparsely populated area in the North-West Federal District. The cities of this region are half populated by Russians, and the indigenous people make up a little less than 20%. The total population of the district is about 43 thousand people. The charter of the autonomous region allows for activities outside the Russian Federation.
The district includes:
- city of administrative significance - 1;
- PGT - 1;
- villages - 42.
The main economic sphere is reindeer husbandry and agriculture.
Republic of Karelia
The first mention of Karelia appeared back in the 7th century; these were the tribes that are part of the Baltic-Finnish Union. Since 2001, it is a full-fledged subject of Russia with its legislative branch. The constitution and basic attributes were adopted. The capital of the republic is Petrozavodsk. Engineering and metallurgy is the main industry, which allows it to occupy a leading position among other regions that are part of the North-West Federal District.
Regions of the republic can be divided into northern, southern and central parts. Each of them differs in terms of population and economic development.
- The central part is only 13% of the total population.
- North - approximately 14%.
- The southern regions of the Republic of Karelia are densely populated - 73%.
The main inhabitants are Russians (57%) and Karelians (37%), other nationalities - 6%.
St. Petersburg
The only city in the federal district is St. Petersburg. It is the cultural capital of a great state. It was founded by Peter I in 1703. Here is one of the main headquarters of the Armed forces of Russia. Thanks to the direct access to the sea, the main command of the Navy of the state is located here.
St. Petersburg is a scientific, cultural and industrial center with a highly developed economy, part of the North-West Federal District. The composition of the Leningrad region does not include this city, as it is recognized as an independent entity.
The population is more than 5 million people. It bears the proud name of a millionaire. It is an urban agglomeration, the total area is almost one and a half thousand square meters. km
Leningrad region
The territory of the Leningrad Region extends to 84 thousand square meters. km This is the only region whose authorities are located in another region (Moscow). In 1993, a constitution was adopted, which recognized the Leningrad region as the subject of a great state called Russia. The Northwest Federal District includes this region with 217 municipalities. This is one urban district and 17 districts, which include 61 urban settlements and 138 villages. The region is inhabited by almost 2 million people. The main areas of industry: construction, metal processing, transport. The approximate annual income is 700-800 billion rubles.
Kaliningrad region
The North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation includes the Kaliningrad region. In terms of area, it is the smallest in comparison with other regions of Russia. Its dimensions are slightly more than 15 thousand square meters. km A feature of this area is the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, the Kaliningrad region lost its land border with Russia. The population here is about 960 thousand people.
90% of the world's amber supply is located here. Rock salt, brown coal, peat, and oil are also mined in the Kaliningrad region.
Murmansk region
In 1938, the Murmansk region was formed. It occupies almost 145 thousand square meters. km area with a population of about 766 thousand people. The Northwest Federal District unites all its regions. Such industries as non-ferrous metallurgy, mining, light industry, metalworking and chemical are well developed. The annual turnover varies in the region of 300 billion rubles, which helps to maintain average positions in the rating of Russian entities. The Murmansk region includes 5 municipalities and 12 districts of urban subordination.
Pskov region
The Pskov region was formed in 1944, but its borders were finally formed only in 1958. All 4 years of the Great Patriotic War were occupied by the Germans, which largely influenced its development and population. In 1967, she received the highest award for the courage and prompt recovery after the hostilities - the Order of Lenin.
Currently, according to 2015 data, the population of the region amounted to about 650 thousand people. After entering the Northwestern Federal District, its gross turnover reached almost 80 billion rubles. It has developed agriculture, electricity, construction.
Vologda Region
The Vologda Oblast was formed with modern borders in 1937. However, in 1944, the Pavinsky and Vokhomsky districts passed into the possession of the Kostroma region. The total population is 1.1 million people. The city of Vologda is the administrative center. The indigenous people are Russians and Vepsians.
Municipalities of the region:
- areas with local self-government - 26;
- constituencies - 2;
- urban settlements - 22;
- villages - 322.
The most developed industries are electric power and ferrous metallurgy.
Novgorod region
The Northwestern Federal District includes 7 regions. Novgorod in area occupies 6th place with dimensions of 55.3 square meters. km It was formed in 1944. However, already in 1956 the districts were redistributed, and the village councils Dmitrovsky and Mozolevsky became subordinate to the Leningrad Region. The population is over 618 thousand people.
In the Novgorod region there are 3 cities of regional significance. This is Veliky Novgorod - the administrative center, Borovichi and Staraya Russa.
There are 1519 industrial complexes on the territory. Leading areas: woodworking, chemical, metallurgy.
Arhangelsk region
The largest region of Russia, located in the European part, is Arkhangelsk (590 thousand sq. Km). Its sizes can be compared with the areas of some countries, for example:
- France (about 537 thousand sq. Km);
- Spain (almost 505 thousand sq. Km).
When the Northern region was divided in 1937, the Arkhangelsk region was formed. According to data relevant to 2015, the population was almost 1.2 million people. The most important industrial areas are concentrated in this area: shipbuilding, woodworking, pulp and paper production, diamond mining.