Natural conditions and resources. It is characterized by moderate continental, moraine, and bouldered fields. podzolic and peaty. The area is not rich, there are oil shale, phosphorites, clays, and limestones. The Kaliningrad region is famous for amber. In the North-West there are significant concentrations: 7 thousand lakes (,), a dense network (Neva, Volkhov, Lovat). Large areas are covered with lush pastures.
Population. This is an area of ancient Russian settlement since the times of Kievan Rus. Currently, it is characterized by a small number, but maximum population density. The North-West is called the region of one city: out of 8 million. people – 5 million live in St. Petersburg. The district has the highest rate in Russia – 87%. The largest oldest cities are Novgorod, Pskov, Velikiye Luki, Staraya Russa. Along with Central Russia, highly qualified people are concentrated in the North-West.
Due to the lack of its own resources, the role of the manufacturing industry is decisive. The leading position is occupied by. Two main areas should be distinguished: those focused on highly qualified labor resources (radio electronics, instrument making, electrical engineering), and industries that developed during the formation of the country’s economic complex (shipbuilding, including military, carriage building, power engineering, including nuclear, machine tool and other similar industries). Factories that smelt non-ferrous metals (St. Petersburg, Volkhov, Pikalevo, Boksitogorsk) and oil refining in Kirishi stand out. There are fertilizer production enterprises in (nitrogen and complex) and Kingisepp (phosphorus and complex).
The area is distinguished by the integrated use of forest raw materials. All stages of the cycle are presented here, and the final stages account for much more output, that is, raw materials have to be imported. As a necessary industry, it is necessary to highlight the electric power industry, based both on its own resources (Volkhovskaya HPP, Svirskaya HPP, Narvskaya HPP, Slantsevskaya GRES) and on imported raw materials (Pskov, Leningradskaya, Kirishskaya GRES, Leningradskaya NPP).
Sectors of specialization are:
Diversified mechanical engineering: shipbuilding (nuclear icebreakers, dry cargo ships), production of energy equipment for power plants (turbines, generators, nuclear reactors, etc.), high-tech industries (electronics, electrical engineering, instrument making, etc.).
Aluminum smelting at the Volkhov and Boksitogorsk plants.
Chemical diversified industry, including pharmaceutical.
Light industry.
Scientific and technical support (20% of all scientific workers in Russia are concentrated in the region).
The North-West is represented by thermal power plants using imported fuel, a hydroelectric power station (the largest is Volkhov), and the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant.
Agro-industrial complex. and varied and, first of all, to provide the urban population with food. Agriculture specializes in dairy and beef cattle breeding, pig farming, poultry farming, growing potatoes and vegetables, including in protected soil. In recent years, several largest food enterprises of foreign companies (Cadbury, Dirol) have been built in the Novgorod region.
The focal point of the entire territory is St. Petersburg. All routes (roads, railways, power lines) converge to it. The role of the port complex is very great, since it handles a significant amount of all international sea cargo in Russia. The loss of many ports after the collapse of the USSR requires additional construction of berths and new port complexes on the coast (Vyborg, Ust-, Batareynaya Bay). It is planned to continue the oil pipeline from Kirishi to the terminal on the shore.
The North-Western region, and primarily St. Petersburg, is a major tourist area of the country.
City of St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov and Kaliningrad regions.
Economic-geographical location
The area is characterized by its coastal location near the shores of the Baltic Sea and its Gulf of Finland or close to them. The ancient trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” passed along the rivers and lakes of the North-West, on which Novgorod Rus' arose.
This is a compact area (196 thousand km 2). The main city, St. Petersburg, occupies a central position.
In 1990 St. Petersburg was designated a “free enterprise zone.”
The Kaliningrad region, formed in 1946, occupies a special place in the North-West. on the territory of the former East Prussia, which was transferred to the USSR after the Great Patriotic War (an area of only 15 thousand km2). Kaliningrad is one of the most important ports of Russia, a center of marine fishing and foreign trade.
Natural conditions and resources
The area is characterized by a moraine-glacial topography with hills and ridges. There are especially many moraine hills at higher elevations, where they alternate with lake depressions. The North-West of the Russian Plain is a lake region: there are about 7 thousand lakes. The largest are Ladoga (area 18 thousand km2), Onega, Chudskoye, Ilmen. The river network is dense. The relatively short Neva River (74 km), flowing from Lake Ladoga into the Gulf of Finland, is one of the most abundant in Russia.
The climate of the region is temperate continental, on the coast it is maritime. The Baltic Sea does not freeze only near Kaliningrad. The entire territory is characterized by podzolic and peat-bog soils. Forests occupy slightly less than half the area of the region, and in the northeast the forest cover reaches 70%.
Minerals: refractory clays, oil shale, phosphorites, quartz sands, limestones, salt springs (in the Staraya Rusa area), bauxite (Tikhvin).
Population
The population of the region is 8.3 million people; the average population density is 42 people per 1 km 2, but in peripheral areas the rural population density is only 2-4 people per 1 km 2. The majority of the population is Russian. Urbanization rate - 87%.
Farm
The main socio-economic factors for the development of the region: profitable EGP, qualified personnel, development of science and culture, developed experimental design base.
The North-West is an industrial region with a developed manufacturing industry complex with a high share of mechanical engineering. Focuses on imported raw materials and fuel.
Branches of specialization- qualified mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical and light industry.
The region's mechanical engineering industry has developed intra-industry connections: energy, electrical engineering, shipbuilding, instrument engineering, machine tool manufacturing. The region is a major supplier of instruments, automation equipment, turbines, and tractors.
Power equipment: production of generators and turbines for hydroelectric power stations, state district power stations, nuclear power plants (St. Petersburg Elektrosila plant, Izhora nuclear reactors);
Shipbuilding: “Admiralteysky”, “Baltic” factories in St. Petersburg - nuclear icebreakers, ocean-going bulk carriers, etc.
High-tech industries are represented by instrument engineering, radio engineering, electronics, electrical engineering - a wide range and narrow specialization, close production ties (St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Pskov, Velikie Luki, Staraya Rusa).
Radio and television equipment and video recorders are produced in Novgorod, Pskov, Vyborg, and Kaliningrad.
The chemical industry of St. Petersburg was a pioneer in the production of polymers, plastics, materials for semiconductor technology, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Light industry (shoe, textile, food) is developed in the area.
A number of industries are based on local natural resources. This is the extraction of phosphorites and the production of mineral fertilizers from them (Kingisepp, modern name - Kuressaare), the production of fire-resistant bricks from local clays (Boroviki), the extraction and production of building materials, the extraction of shale (Slantsy).
The North-West is the birthplace of the aluminum industry. Non-ferrous metallurgy using local Tikhvin bauxite - Volkhov (aluminum plant), Boksitogorsk and Pikalevo (alumina refineries).
Agro-industrial complex. Agriculture specializes in dairy farming, pig farming, poultry farming, vegetable and potato production. Flax growing has retained its importance in the south and southwest of the region. Flax is processed in numerous factories and large flax mills in Pskov and Velikiye Luki.
Fuel and energy base The region focuses (in addition to local) mainly on imported raw materials - oil, gas and coal from the Komi Republic. The country's largest oil refinery and state district power station are located in Kirishi. The electric power industry is represented by thermal and hydroelectric power plants (Volkhovskaya is the first hydroelectric power station in the country). One of the largest nuclear power plants in Russia is the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant.
Transport. The St. Petersburg transport hub is second only to Moscow in terms of freight and passenger turnover. Transport routes radiate from this city in different directions. St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad are the largest seaports in Russia through which foreign trade is carried out. The Volga-Baltic Waterway begins in St. Petersburg; and the White Sea-Baltic Canal gives access to the Baltic Sea.
C possession:
nonmetallic resources
forest resources
water resources
fuel and energy resources
hydropower resources
agricultural resources
recreational resources
Brief schematic description of the northwestern economic region.
Natural conditions and natural resources:
5. Sectors of specialization:
5.1. Mechanical engineering
The main problems of development of the region.
economic-geographical map-scheme of the northwestern economic region.
Used sources.
Brief schematic description of the northwestern economic region.
|
Northwestern economic region. |
1. Composition of the region.
Three regions: Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov.
Area: 196 thousand km 2
(1% from Russia).
2. Features of the EGP.
3. Natural conditions and resources.
1. The climate is temperate, temperate continental with marine elements.
2. Relief: occupies the Neva lowland and the Voldai upland in the south.
3. Natural areas: taiga, mixed forest.
4. Natural resources:
mineral - poor, only bauxite, shale, phosphorite and peat;
forest - industrial cutting area is depleted;
aquatic - swamps;
energy - hydroelectric power station only on the Volkhov River, in Sosnovy Bor - nuclear power plant;
soil - poor podzolic soils;
4. Population and labor resources.
Total number - 8 million people. (5.5%)
The share of the urban population is 87%, but if we take away St. Petersburg, then it is 50% to 50%.
Largest cities:
National composition: mainly Russians (91%), Webs, Karelians, Finns, Ingrians.
Labor resources: unemployment in small towns, lack of people in villages. Economy The area is in crisis, the population is declining.
5. Historical background.
Since the time of Kievan Rus, there have been trade routes (the route from the Varangians to the Greeks). Staraya Ladoga is the first capital. In 1478 - entry of the Novgorod lands into the Moscow Principality. In the 17th century, the territory of the Leningrad region was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. In 1714 transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg until 1917. In 1941 - 1944 70% of the territory was occupied.
6. Branches of specialization.
7. Intersectoral and interdistrict connections.
They import from the north: oil, gas, fish.
Imported from the south: bread, agricultural products. raw materials.
Export: fabrics, timber, cars.
8. Problems of the economic region.
1. Environmental
2. Fuel and energy
3. Transport problem in the north.
4. Demographic.
5. The emergence of Estonia and Latvia with territorial problems.
6. Water.
7. Claim to the territory of neighbors.
8. Import of large quantities of raw materials.
Composition of the northwestern economic region.
The Northwestern economic region includes the following entities:
Saint Petersburg
Leningrad region
Novgorod region
Pskov region
The area of the region is 1.1% of the area of Russia - 196.5 thousand sq. km.
Saint Petersburg
St. Petersburg is a city of federal significance, the most important industrial, cultural and scientific center after Moscow, the largest transport hub in the country, a sea and river port.
St. Petersburg was founded on May 27 (new style) 1703 as a fortress, around which and near the house of Peter the Great the city began to form. Since August 1914 it was called Petrograd, since January 1924 - Leningrad. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR dated September 6, 1991, the city returned its original name - St. Petersburg.
The city is located at the easternmost tip of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of the Neva River, on the islands of its delta. The main water artery of the city is the Neva River, its length within the city is 32 km, the total length is 74 km. The city is one of the first in the world in terms of the abundance of water - within its borders there are 40 rivers, branches, and canals with a total length of more than 200 km. There are more than 100 reservoirs within the city. The water surface occupies more than 10% of the area of St. Petersburg. The distance from St. Petersburg to Moscow is 651 km.
The territory of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region is 85.9 thousand km2, population density is 75.4 people per 1 km2.
St. Petersburg ranks fourth in Europe in terms of population (after London, Moscow and Paris). It is home to 4.8 million people. The city is home to (according to the 1989 census) a population of more than 120 nationalities. The bulk of the population is Russian (89.1%). Ukrainians (1.9%), Jews (2.1%), Belarusians (1.9%), Tatars (0.9%) and others also live here. St. Petersburg is divided into 13 administrative districts. In addition, 8 cities are under its control: Kolpino, Kronstadt, Lomonosov, Pavlovsk, Petrodvorets, Pushkin, Sestroretsk and Zelenogorsk.
The average age of the population is 38.5 years.
St. Petersburg is the most important cultural and scientific center. Here are the world-famous Hermitage, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Palace Square ensemble, the Academy of Arts, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, the Exchange on the Strelka of Vasilievsky Island and other architectural masterpieces.
Russian science took shape organizationally on the banks of the Neva. It was here that the Russian Academy of Sciences was founded and only in 1934 its headquarters were moved to Moscow.
St. Petersburg is also a major center of education. There are more than 40 higher educational institutions and more than 80 specialized secondary educational institutions in the city.
The sectoral structure of industry is very diverse: mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, electrical engineering, nuclear energy, light industry.
The city's role as a transport center has increased. This is the only major seaport of Russia in the European direction.
Leningrad region
The Leningrad region was formed on August 1, 1927 from 5 provinces - Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov and Cherepovets. From 1935 to 1940, the region's border changed four more times. The modern borders of the Leningrad region took shape in November 1944, when the territories in which the Novgorod and Pskov regions were formed left its composition, and three regions of the Karelo-Finnish SSR and the territory that previously belonged to Estonia under the Tartu Treaty of 1920 entered. The distance from the regional center - St. Petersburg to Moscow - 651 km.
The territory of the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg is 85.9 thousand km2, population density is 75.4 people per 1 km2. At the beginning of 1996, 1.7 million people lived in the region. The region is home to (according to the 1989 census) a population of about 70 nationalities. The bulk of the population is Russian (90.9%). Ukrainians (3%), Belarusians (2%), Finns (0.7%), Tatars (0.5%), Vepsians (0.3%), etc. also live here.
The average age of the population is 37.3 years.
There are 29 cities in the region.
Of the mineral reserves, the most important are peat, bauxite, oil shale and phosphorites, granite, diabase, and limestone.
The region contains the largest lakes in Europe - Ladoga and Onega and more than 1,800 small lakes. The main river of the region is Luga.
The Leningrad region is distinguished by its developed industry, which accounts for most of the total profit received from all types of economic activities. The main industries are the fuel industry, electric power, mechanical engineering, forestry, wood processing and pulp and paper industries. Over 85% of the products produced by enterprises in the Leningrad region are products for industrial and technical purposes. One of the 9 Russian nuclear power plants is located on the territory of the region.
Agriculture in the region is suburban in nature and specializes in meat and dairy farming, poultry farming and vegetable growing. The leading industry is livestock farming, accounting for about 75% of the region's total agricultural production.
The region has relatively well-developed railway and road communications and inland shipping routes. Through three branches of the Oktyabrskaya Railway (St. Petersburg, Vitebsk, Volkhovstroevskoe) the region is connected with other regions of Russia and foreign countries.
Novgorod region
The territory of the region is 55.3 thousand km2. The population at the beginning of 1996 was 742.6 thousand people, of which 526.6 thousand (70.9%) lived in urban settlements, 216.0 thousand (29.1%) lived in rural areas. Population density is 13.4 people per 1 km2. The region is home to (according to the 1989 census) a population of more than 60 nationalities. The bulk of the population is Russian (94.7%). Ukrainians (1.9%), Belarusians (0.9%), Gypsies (0.4%), Tatars (0.3%) and others also live here. population age 38.1 years. The region consists of 21 districts, 10 cities, 22 urban-type settlements, 272 village councils.
The region has a unique natural potential: 3,615 thousand hectares are occupied by rivers and 543 thousand hectares are swamps; Lake Ilmen, the Volkhov River, mineral springs, therapeutic mud, and radon springs are located on its territory.
The main wealth of the region is forest. There are almost unlimited possibilities for increasing peat production.
The administrative and industrial center of the region is the city of Novgorod. The leading directions of the city's development are tourism and the radio-electronic industry.
The main volume of the region's gross output (87%) is created in sectors of material production, including industry - 48%, construction - 11, agriculture - 10, trade - 5%.
Main industries: chemical, mechanical engineering and metalworking, electric power.
The area of agricultural land in all categories of farms is 838.9 thousand hectares, of which 511.5 thousand hectares (61%) are arable land. Plant growing is developed in the region, in particular flax growing and dairy cattle breeding.
The main mode of transport in the region is road transport; railway transport accounts for 8% of the volume of passenger transportation and 26% of the volume of cargo transportation. Flights are operated on a regular basis from Moscow.
The region has developed road transport infrastructure. The length of paved roads (including departmental ones) is 9.7 thousand km (95% of the total length). The operational length of public railways is 1.2 thousand km.
P 
Skovskaya region
The Pskov region was formed by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 23, 1944. The length of the territory from north to south is 380 km, from west to east 260 km. The distance from Pskov to Moscow is 689 km.
The region's territory is 55.3 thousand km2 (0.3% of the territory of the Russian Federation), of which 2.1 thousand km2 are lakes.
The population as of January 1, 1996 was 832.3 thousand people (0.6% of the Russian population). Population density is 15.1 people per 1 km2. The region is home to (according to the 1989 census) a population of more than 60 nationalities. The bulk of the population is Russian (94.3%). Ukrainians (1.8%), Belarusians (1.5%), Roma (0.4%), Estonians (0.3%), Jews (0.2%) and others also live here. The average age of the population is 38. 8 years old. There are a total of 14 cities in the region. The largest of them are: the regional center of Pskov (207.1 thousand people), Velikiye Luki (116.2 thousand), Ostrov (29.9 thousand).
The main natural resources of the region: forest (total reserves 310 million m3), peat, sand, rubble stone.
Main industries: electric power, mechanical engineering, food. Two-thirds of industrial production is concentrated in large cities of the region: Pskov, Velikiye Luki, Ostrov. Among the regions of the Russian Federation, the region has a significant share in the production of low-power electric motors.
Agricultural land makes up 28% of all land in the region, of which arable land occupies 57%. Dairy farming predominates in agriculture, flax farming is developed, and fishing is in the north of the region.
The share of agricultural enterprises that have retained state ownership accounts for 3% of the land. The rest belongs to partnerships and joint-stock companies of various types, associations of peasant farms, etc.
The region has developed transport infrastructure. The operational length of public railway tracks is 1.1 thousand km, the length of paved roads (including departmental ones) is 12.3 thousand km (92% of the total length). The river port annually processes 313 thousand tons of construction sand.
Since December 1994, the Pskov airport acquired international status. Currently, the region is connected by air lines with 4 cities in Russia.
Economic and geographical position of the region.
The North-Western region is located in the northern part of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation, north of 57` N. sh., the southern border of the region runs almost 800 km north of the US border.
The most striking feature of the North-West region is the discrepancy between the historical role of the region and the very modest territory of the region. This discrepancy is due to the following features:
The location of the area is on the outskirts, distance from the center of Russia.
This situation prevented the area from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. As you know, Novgorod is the cradle of Russian land, a reserve of ancient Russian history and culture.
The area is sharply pushed towards Europe. Here are Pskov and Novgorod the Great - the most notable cities, long connected with European countries through trade as part of the Banza (medieval union of the Baltic states).
Coastal and border location of the region.
The North-Western region is inferior to most economic regions of the Russian Federation in terms of population and territory, which is why it is called the region of one city - St. Petersburg. It contains 59% of the region's population and 68% of its urban population.
In the North-Western region, inhabited by ancient Slavic tribes, trade and crafts developed; international trade, industry and qualified personnel were concentrated in St. Petersburg, and the outlying location of the region contributed to the development of the economy. All these reasons played a certain role in the formation of the modern image of the area.
The region occupies one of the leading places in terms of the level of economic development, the scale and diversity of industrial production, research and development products, the training of highly qualified specialists in the national economy, the pace of formation of market relations, and the scale of participation in Russia's world economic relations.
The Northwestern region is located on the Russian Plain. The climate in the area is maritime, temperate continental. The air has high humidity, the soils are soddy-podzolic
Natural conditions and natural resources.
4.1. Non-metallic resources:
The region is rich in high-quality refractory clays, which have good plasticity and an exceptionally high melting point (up to 1750): Leningrad region (Borovichesky large deposit - has been exploited for a long time, the clays occur at shallow depths); large reserves of pure limestone used in the chemical, pulp and paper, aluminum industries and agriculture: Novgorod region (Okulovskoye), Leningrad region (Pikalevskoye, Slantsevskoye); bauxite, which is an important raw material base for the aluminum industry: the east of the Leningrad region; phosphorites (phosphorus anhydride content in ore - 8.5%), having export value: Kingisepp.
Forest resources:
For industry in the region, forest resources are of little importance. Forest coverage of the region is 30%. The forests are multi-layered, the forest cover decreases from the northeast to the southwest. Operating timber reserves do not exceed 200 million cubic meters. m., despite the significant forest cover of the area. Most of the forests in the region have been withdrawn from industrial use, as they are located in the vicinity of large cities and are of great water conservation and recreational importance.
Water resources:
The North-Western region has significant water resources - underground and surface. The rivers are high-water (Neva, Narva, Luga, Volkhov), with a total flow in an average year of 124 cubic meters. m. There are many large lakes in the area - Ladoga, Chudskoye, Ilmen, Pskovskoye. But, despite the abundance of water resources, their uneven distribution throughout the region limits the development of water-intensive industries in a number of cities.
Fuel and energy resources:
The reserves of fuel and energy resources in the region are small - 6 billion tons of standard fuel. The lion's share of resources comes from peat - 3 billion tons, which is used in agriculture and as fuel for power plants. Deposits are developed near large cities. The region has reserves of oil shale - 1.8 billion tons. – raw materials for the chemical industry and agriculture.
Hydropower resources:
Hydropower resources amount to 11.5 billion kWh. But the involvement of hydropower resources in industrial exploitation is difficult due to the flat and lowland nature of the terrain that prevails in the basins of the main rivers of the North-West. Of the total energy reserves of rivers, 41.2% of energy is generated annually. A significant part of cost-effective hydropower resources has already been developed at present.
Agricultural grounds:
Due to difficult soil and climatic conditions and high costs for soil cultivation, agricultural land is poorly plowed, occupying only 18% of the district's territory. They have soil heterogeneity, the remoteness of individual areas from economic centers, and significant scattering. The possibility of using agricultural land is limited by the abundance of boulders, high swampiness and bushiness of the land. Vast areas of hayfields, pastures, highly productive meadows and other forage lands are of great importance for the development of livestock farming in the area.
Recreational resources:
The North-Western region has unique recreational resources: outstanding historical and architectural monuments are combined with natural landscapes valuable for organizing recreation and tourism areas. Recreation areas on the Karelian Isthmus, the Valdai Upland, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland and the Starorussky resort are of national importance. The network of palace and park ensembles around St. Petersburg, the Pushkin Nature Reserve, and the museum cities of Novgorod and Pskov are world famous.
It should be noted that the natural resource potential of the North-Western region allows the use of a combination of extensive and intensive methods of economic growth over the foreseeable period. Except for St. Petersburg, where the possibilities for extensive development have completely exhausted themselves.
5. Branches of specialization.
The North-Western region specializes in the production of industrial products, which require deep specialization in combination with numerous and diverse connections for intra- and inter-industry production cooperation and skilled labor.
5.1. Mechanical engineering.
The leading role in specialization belongs to the machine-building complex: The machine-building complex is multidisciplinary. Historically, heavy engineering has developed without a metallurgical base. The peak of development of the mechanical engineering complex occurred in the 30s - 40% of mechanical engineering comes from the St. Petersburg industrial hub. Mechanical engineering is characterized by a great need for labor in mass professions (energy, agriculture, printing engineering), mechanical engineering enterprises focused on highly qualified labor, metal-intensive (radio electronics, instrument making, electronics).
Mechanical engineering in the Northwestern region has the following stages:
Manufacturing of machine bodies
Production of components and parts, spare parts
Iron and steel casting
Leading branches of mechanical engineering:
Shipbuilding
Electrical engineering
Power engineering
Tractor engineering
Agricultural engineering
Instrumentation
Machine tool industry
Electronics industry
The bulk of machine-building enterprises are concentrated in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Production associations have been created on the basis of most enterprises. The largest machine-building enterprises are the Elektrosila plant (production of powerful generators for thermal and hydraulic power plants, the Kirov plant (production of powerful tractors), the Admiralty and Vyborg plants (unique ships, fishing vessels, tankers), the Nevsky Metallurgical Plant (piece, small-scale machines, equipment for nuclear power plants, powerful excavators) association "LOMO" (optical-mechanical products), "Svetlana" (electronic equipment), as well as machine-tool associations, precision engineering, radio electronics, computer and instrument making plants.
5.2. Chemical industry
The chemical complex plays a significant role in the specialization of the region: The petrochemical complex is represented in the region by the upper floors of petrochemical production, including shale processing, and depends on the import of raw materials from other regions.
Production has received great development in the area:
Rubber products
Synthetic resins
Fertilizers
Plastics
Paint and varnish products
Reagents
Chemical-pharmaceuticals
The mining and chemical complex is located near the mining areas and also has separate workshops at the Volkhov and Kingisepp plants.
The production of phosphate fertilizers is concentrated in Volkhov and St. Petersburg, the production of phosphate rock based on local phosphorites in Kingisepp, the production of nitrogen fertilizers using natural gas at the Novgorod plant, the production of double superphosphate at the Volkhov plant, the production of tires, rubber shoes and other rubber products at the association “Red Triangle”, oil shale processing in Slantsy. Synthetic chemistry is promising for development due to the fact that its products are highly transportable. In general, the chemical industry tends to reduce production that is particularly environmentally harmful.
5.3. Forestry and pulp industry
A forest complex has developed in the area. The complex's needs for wood are covered both by local logging and, to a large extent, by raw materials from Karelia and other regions of the North.
It is represented by all stages:
Blank
Sawmilling
Woodworking
Wood processing
and produces:
Lumber
Fiberboards
Paper, etc.
Timber complex production is concentrated in all regions of the region, but mostly in the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg. The largest pulp and paper mills are Svetlogorsk, Sovetsky, and Priozersky, located on the Karelian Isthmus. The main direction of development of the forestry complex is deep processing of wood, improving the quality of its products, and restoration of forests.
The modern specialization of the Northwestern region is determined, first of all, by the presence in the region of the largest industrial center - St. Petersburg and largely determines the pace of scientific and technological progress in all sectors of the Russian national economy.
The leading place in the complex of light industry sectors is occupied by the textile, porcelain and earthenware, leather and footwear industries.
Characteristics of the state of other industries. (textile industry, industrial construction complex, fuel and energy complex, metallurgical complex, agro-industrial complex.)
Textile industry
The development of the textile industry in the region was facilitated by its coastal location, which provides the opportunity for imports, the region's great need for fabrics and the concentration of highly qualified personnel in St. Petersburg. Until the 90s, textile industry enterprises used raw materials from Central Asia and Egypt. The region has developed weaving, finishing, and clothing industries. The flax industry is developed in Pskov (Velikoluksky plant), the shoe industry in St. Petersburg, and the porcelain and earthenware industry in the Novgorod region.
Industrial construction complex
An industrial and construction complex has also developed in the area, represented by the glass industry, the production of reinforced concrete products and structures and other building materials. Enterprises of the industrial and construction complex are located in all major cities of the region.
Fuel and energy complex:
The main part of the fuel and energy complex is thermal power plants, which operate on imported fuel - Pechora and Donetsk. Nuclear energy (Sosnovoborsk NPP) and gas supply are becoming important in the energy balance of the region.
Oil is supplied from the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province and processed at oil refineries.
The role of hydroelectric power stations in the region is small; the stations operate only in peak mode (Volkhov hydroelectric power station). To relieve peak loads, pumped storage stations and gas turbine heating plants (GTUs) are becoming important.
The region's energy sector is developing at a relatively fast pace despite its weak base.
Metallurgical complex:
Almost all the materials for the production of metal, structural castings, rolled products, steel and cast iron pipes, fasteners, and wire are brought from other regions. The region is partially supplied with these products.
The development of non-ferrous metallurgy is hampered by the poverty of the raw material base and the tension in the fuel and energy balance. Mining and primary processing of non-ferrous metals (primarily copper and nickel) is concentrated in the Murmansk region, and processing in the Leningrad region. Alumina refineries are located in Tikhvin and Pikalevo. Volkhov. There is aluminum production in the Leningrad region, nickel and copper rolling. Refractory materials enterprises use local raw materials. The development of metallurgy industries requires solving problems of environmental protection, increasing the reliability of neutralization biological treatment plants, and introducing new methods of electrical cleaning.
Agro-industrial complex:
Agriculture occupies a central place in the agro-industrial complex of the region and has a subordinate role to industry. The main role of agriculture is to satisfy the needs of its population and light industry for raw materials. This determined the territorial organization of agriculture: dairy, pig, poultry and vegetable farms are concentrated near cities, and potato and flax growing are concentrated in suburban areas (Pskov and Novgorod regions). The main share of grain crops (flax growing) and livestock farming falls on the Pskov region.
Before the revolution, the production of perishable vegetables and fruits, meat products, fresh and fermented milk products, as well as the production of gray bread - rye, barley and oats - played a significant role in the region's agriculture.
In the agro-industrial complex of the Northwestern region, production growth is associated with:
strengthening interregional ties
development of entrepreneurship in rural areas
variety of forms of ownership
creation of a network of small and medium-sized processing enterprises.
Transport and economic relations.
The district has all types of modern transport. The region accounts for a significant portion of river and sea transport. St. Petersburg is one of the largest ports in the country, but the prospects for further development of the port are very limited by the fact that it is located “in the body” of a large city. The estimated capacity of the St. Petersburg port after its expansion is 25-30 million tons of cargo turnover per year, which does not satisfy the needs of Russia in the North-Western region of 100-120 million tons. In this regard, it is planned to expand the existing ports in Vyborg and Vysotsk and construction of new large ports at the mouth of the river. Luki and in the area of Lomonosov. The main mode of transport is railway, the density of the railway network is high: 12 routes to Moscow, the Urals, Belarus and Ukraine originate from St. Petersburg. Transport plays an important role in providing the processing industry with raw materials and fuel. Products of mechanical engineering, chemical, woodworking and pulp and paper industries are exported, and fuel and energy resources, timber, metal, food and building materials are imported. The share of imports prevails over exports, which is a consequence of the region's specialization in the manufacturing industry. Railways are of particular importance because they connect almost all of Russia with the Baltic. Currently, the region is planning to build a high-speed Moscow-Scandinavia highway through St. Petersburg and modernize the Oktyabrskaya Mainline. It is planned to build a ring highway around St. Petersburg, create a new airport and reconstruct the old one (Pulkovo). In recent years, pipeline transport has developed (the “Northern Lights” pipeline has been introduced, and it is planned to build a pipeline from the Kirishi Oil Refinery).
The closest ties have developed with the Northern region. Economic ties with the Central region have been developed.
The main problems of development of the region.
The high development of the territory of the North-Western region has led to a significant anthropogenic load on the natural environment, which requires the expansion of environmental protection measures. Intensive water consumption has created a water shortage in many cities in the region. Economic emissions and runoff have led to pollution of rivers and air basins.
Currently, much attention is paid to environmental protection issues in the region, and environmental protection measures are being carried out.
Currently, agriculture in the region is left with virtually no government support, including without sufficient support from regional government bodies. The development of commercial individual farming is unrealistic at the achieved level of agricultural productivity, unless long-term significant government assistance is provided, which will allow the creation of real farming in the area. The development of agriculture in the North-Western region should be carried out on the basis of its comprehensive intensification, taking into account local natural conditions, rural settlement, engineering and transport infrastructure, etc. Commercial peasant farming (including various partnerships and cooperatives) may be effective for the region.
Due to the fact that at present the region has become practically Russia’s only exit to the western sphere of the world market, it turned out that this exit is not sufficiently equipped for this purpose. Forming a full-fledged sea access for Russia to Europe is a task not only for the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg, but also for the whole of Russia.
To free up resources for the creation and development of the North-Western Contact Zone, it is necessary to solve the following problems:
Purposeful and consistent weakening of the industrial bias in the economy of not only St. Petersburg, but also the Leningrad and Novgorod regions.
Stimulating the development of a number of sectors of the economy that are or can become competitive in a market economy.
Ensuring the development of the entire regional infrastructure at a modern level and on the required scale.
Accelerating the development of a number of relatively new sectors of the regional economy that can play the role of a “locomotive”.
The comprehensive development of the non-production sphere is necessary. When solving this problem, it is necessary to comprehend the socio-economic function of this area. A number of non-production sectors can become real sectors of regional specialization, and in addition, the non-production sector is a field for the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
The most important areas of economic and social development of the North-Western economic region in the context of the transition to a market are largely determined by the solution of such priority tasks as the conversion of defense complex enterprises, the development of domestic and international tourism, increasing transport capacity, primarily maritime, and creating modern infrastructure communications.
10. Literature used.
Regional economy.
Textbook for universities/Edited by prof. Morozova T.G. – M: Banks and exchanges, UNITY, 1995.
Regional studies.
Textbook for universities / Edited by prof. Morozova T.G. – M: Banks and Exchanges, UNITY, 1998.
Geography of industry. Khrushchev A.T.
Statistical collection.
Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk regions, Republics: Karelia and Komi, Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
Economic and geographical location.
This is the northernmost economic region in the European part of Russia. The territory is large - 1643 thousand km 2. It is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean. Important ports of the Russian Federation are located here - Murmansk (non-freezing), Arkhangelsk. Part of the Barents Sea, warmed by a branch of the warm North Atlantic Current, does not freeze. A fairly significant part of the region's territory is located north of the Arctic Circle in the cold zone.
The territorial location of the region's economy was influenced by many factors, including the proximity of the Arctic Ocean, the severity of the climate, the complex configuration of the coastline of the White and Barents Seas, as well as the immediate proximity to the Central and Northwestern economically highly developed regions of the Russian Federation.
Natural conditions and resources.
A peculiarity of the natural conditions and climate of this region is the unusual lighting and heating of the earth's surface in different seasons of the year ("polar day" and "polar night"). In the middle of winter, the duration of the “polar night” at the latitude of the Arctic Circle is 24 hours, and in areas located at the parallel of 70 degrees north latitude it is already 64 days a year.
The following natural zones are represented: tundra, forest-tundra and taiga. Forests occupy 3/4 of the territory.
In a geological sense, the region includes the Baltic Shield and the north of the Russian Plain (between the Baltic Shield and the Urals), where the vast Pechora Lowland and the Timan Ridge stand out. The rivers of the region (Pechora, Mezen, Onega, Northern Dvina) belong to the Arctic Ocean basin.
The low mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula (Khibiny) stand out on the Baltic Shield. The peninsula slowly continues to rise (earthquakes up to magnitude 5 occur). The originality and complexity of the relief of the Northern region are due to the action of glaciers (in the Quaternary period). Karelia is called the “land of blue lakes”, noting their large number.
The area is very rich in a variety of minerals. The extraction of granite, marble and other building materials began during the construction of St. Petersburg.
Deposits of iron and non-ferrous metal ores, as well as apatite-nepheline ores, are located on the Kola Peninsula. The sedimentary rocks of the Timan-Pechora basin are rich in coal (including coking coal), oil and gas (Komi Republic and the Barents Sea shelf). The Northern region is also rich in bauxite (Arkhangelsk region), as well as ores of titanium, tungsten, molybdenum and other metals.
Population - 5.9 million people; the average density is 4 people per 1 km 2 (in the wrong areas it is even less). The urban population predominates (urbanization coefficient - 76%).
The population and economic development of the region is significantly less than in other regions of the European part of Russia. The region is poorly supplied with labor resources. The Russian population predominates. Other peoples of the North also live here. In the Komi Republic (1.2 million people), the Komi people make up 23% of the population; in the Republic of Karelia (0.8 million people), Karelians make up about 10% of the population. And in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug there are 6.5 thousand Nenets people (12% of the district’s population).
Farming.
The indigenous population (Komi, Nenets, etc.) have long been engaged in hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. Currently, the specialization of the region is determined by the presence of rich natural resources, as well as the peculiarities of its geographical location.
The areas of specialization in the region are the fuel, mining and forestry industries. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering and the chemical industry have developed (based on local resources).
This area is the main raw material and fuel and energy base for many regions of the European part of the Russian Federation. A third of Russia's timber, paper and pulp are produced here (Arkhangelsk, Syktyvkar, Kondopoga, Segezha, Kotlas).
The mining industry is developed. The Kola Peninsula and Karelia produce 1/4 of the iron ore, 4/5 of the raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers (apatites), and a significant part of the non-ferrous metal ores mined in Russia.
In 1930, large deposits of oil were explored on the Ukhta River and coal near Vorkuta. Currently, thick mine oil is being extracted in Yarega (on the right bank of the Ukhta). In the middle reaches of the Pechora, the Vuktyl gas condensate field is being developed. The reserves of the modern Pechora coal basin amount to billions of tons. The quality of coking coals from Vorkuta and Vorgashor is the best in the country. Most of them go to the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant, as well as to St. Petersburg and Tula.
Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant. The technological fuel is Pechora coking coal, and the raw material is iron ores from the Kola Peninsula (Kovdorskoye and Olenegorskoye deposits) and Karelia (Kostomuksha GOK).
Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by enterprises in Monchegorsk (copper-nickel plant using ores from deposits of the Kola Peninsula) and Nikel. An aluminum plant in the city of Nadvoitsy operates on nephelines of the Kola Peninsula and bauxites of the Arkhangelsk region.
The oil refining and chemical industries are developing.
There is an oil refinery in Ukhta, a gas processing plant in Sosnogorsk, and a chemical plant in Cherepovets.
An auxiliary branch of the region's economy is mechanical engineering (Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk).
Agro-industrial complex. Malozemelskaya (between the Timan Ridge and Pechora Bay) and Bolshezemelskaya (east of the mouth of the Pechora) tundra are the best pastures for reindeer. Hunting and fishing are developed.
Livestock farming still prevails over crop farming (for the development of which conditions in most of the territory are unfavorable; the cultivation of feed and grain crops predominates). In the south of the region flax is grown (Vologda region). Floodplain water meadows (along the rivers) have long served, in the southern part of the region, as a base for the development of dairy farming. The butter-making industry is developed.
The fishing industry (fish canning plant in Murmansk) occupies a significant place in the economy of the Northern region.
Fuel and energy complex.
The fuel industry of the region is one of its specialization sectors. The fuel industry is associated with the production of electricity.
In the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions and the Komi Republic, all power plants operate on coal from the Pechora Basin (Vorkuta) and gas from the Vuktylskoye field. The largest is the Pechora State District Power Plant.
In Karelia and the Murmansk region, electricity production is largely concentrated at hydroelectric power plants built on a number of small rapids rivers. These hydroelectric power stations largely ensure the development of energy-intensive industries in this part of the region.
The development of non-ferrous metallurgy and other industries was the reason for the commissioning of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant (Murmansk region). Natural resources are also used to produce electricity; the Kislogubskaya tidal power station was built.
Transport.
In conditions of poor transport development of the territory, rivers play an important role. Timber is floated along rivers, cargo and passengers are transported.
The railways are laid in the meridional direction from the central regions of the European part of Russia to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and to the northeast, to Vorkuta.
A major transport hub is Cherepovets. Ports: Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Onega, Mezen, Naryan-Mar. Murmansk (the largest of the world's polar cities - 400 thousand inhabitants) is the most important ice-free port of Russia in the North.
Today we will get acquainted and characterize the EGP of the European North. The first thing we will pay attention to is the presence of world-famous monuments. Kizhi is a cultural monument built between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This world-famous place is located on the island of the same name in Lake Onega - Kizhi. This ensemble consists of churches and bell towers of incredible beauty.
Few people know about the island of Valaam, and this place in Lake Ladoga is fraught with another monument, only this time - a monument of Russian architecture. We are talking about a monastery.
I would like to highlight one more point before moving on to the EGP of the European North. A monument located on the territory of our endless country - Kivach. This is one of the largest lowland waterfalls, a natural monument of Russia, which has a height of approximately eleven meters.
This small digression is not in vain; it is a reminder that our country is so great and beautiful that a lifetime is not enough to get to know all its corners. So, we propose to start considering the EGP of the European North with the composition of this region, let’s get started right now.
Compound
This region includes the republics: Karelia and Komi, autonomous okrugs: Arkhangelsk and Nenets, regions: Murmansk and Vologda. Considering the EGP of the European North of Russia, namely the composition of the north of our country, many cities are excluded from the list. When talking about the North of Russia, they do not mean location, but rather a historical and cultural concept. There are no clear boundaries; it is impossible to say for sure whether this or that place belongs to the North, since its territory is not generally accepted. Many Pskov and Novgorod regions belong to the European North. There are cases when autonomous okrugs are deleted from the list.
Many may have a question as to why the Pskov region belongs to the North of Russia, but St. Petersburg does not, although the second object is located north of the first. Everything is explained by the fact that Peter is the personification of the Western principle in Russian history, and we have already mentioned that geographical location plays a minor role in this concept.
Climate
Let us consider some more features of the EGP of the European North. Let's talk a little more about the climate of this region. Since arctic breathing predominates in the European North of Russia, it is cold in these regions most of the year, summer is short and not hot. Multi-day snowstorms and blizzards are possible. The winds that come from the Arctic Ocean are very dry and cold, and they form this not very comfortable climate.
Let us consider separately the climate of the Vologda region, the Arkhangelsk region and Komi. As for the first on our list, winter here is very cold and harsh, temperatures below minus forty degrees are not uncommon. Summer is moderately warm. We can say that the climate is not stable, air masses from the northeast bring cold, and tropical summers can cause a truly hot day.
The Arkhangelsk region is a territory where the climate is humid and rather cool. Even at the beginning of summer there can be night frosts, and the north of the region is considered the Arctic, where there is a polar night in winter and polar day in summer.
As for Komi, it’s a little more complicated. Winter is very long and cold, temperatures can drop below minus fifty degrees. Summer is very short and cool, with night frosts possible at the beginning and end of the season. In winter, snowdrifts reach up to a meter high. When the grass turns green in the southern part of the Komi Republic, in the northern part there can be frosts down to minus thirty degrees. The western part is slightly warmer than the eastern part, since the first is dominated by air masses of Atlantic currents.
Natural resources
Characteristics of EGP woodworking industry.
