History & Geography
History: Founded 11 March 1936.
Location: Located northeast of Moscow, Yaroslavl Oblast borders on the Vladimir, Vologda, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, and Tver Oblasts.
Area: With 36,400 square km, Yaroslavl Oblast has the 57th largest area in Russia.
Administrative Divisions: 17 administrative rayons, 11 cities and towns, 17 urban-type settlements.
Administrative Center: Yaroslavl, population 631,000. Founded in 1010.
Major Cities: The largest towns are Yaroslavl, Rybinsk (population 249,000), Tutayev (44,000), Pereslavl-Zalesskiy (44,000), Uglich (39,000), and Rostov (36,000).
Climate: Temperate continental climate. Average temperature in January is -10 C and in July is +17 C.
Precipitation: 500-600 mm.
Terrain: Chiefly rolling plains with a strip of uplands extending from the southwest to the northeast (the Borisoglebskaya, Uglichskaya, and Danilovskaya Uplands).
Natural Resources & Environment
Bodies of Water: The Volga River flows 340 km across, and the Volga River Basin encompasses all of the surface area of the Yaroslavl Oblast. The Rybinskoye reservoir and parts of the Uglichskoye and Gorkovskoye artificial reservoirs lie on the Volga River. The main lakes are Lake Plescheevo and Lake Nero.
Soils: Sod-podzolic soils.
Flora: There is coniferous taiga in the north and mixed forests in the south. Forests cover 36% of the surface area. The main forests are located in the est.
Fauna: Elk, bear, wolf, wild boar, squirrel, and fox. An indigenous species of fish is found in Lake Plescheevo.
Ecological Issues: High levels of pollutants in the Yaroslavl Oblast are a result of the agglomeration of chemical and petrochemical plants. The Pereslavskiy National Park and a section of the Darvinskiy Forest Reserve are located here.
Natural Resources: Deposits of peat (150 million tons) and building materials, chiefly clay and sand, are mined.
People and Services
Population: 1,460,000, ranked 38th in Russia.
Urban Population: 1,178,000 (81%).
Rural Population: 282,000 (19%).
Administrative Center Population: 54% of the urban population.
Population Density: 40.1 persons per square km.
Natality Rate: 7.2 per 1,000 persons.
Mortality Rate: 17.1 per 1,000 persons.
Growth Rate: -9.9 per 1,000 persons.
Migration Ratio: 5.1 per 1,000 persons (7,400 people).
Ethnic Composition: 96%+ Russians.
Health Services: 51,5 doctors and 132 beds per 10,000 persons.
Higher Education: 22,000 students enrolled in seven local colleges & universities and 20,000 students enrolled in 28 technical schools.
Research Centers: The Research Institutes for Butter and Cheese-making and a branch of the Research Institute of the Clock Industry are located here.
Culture: Numerous architectural and historical monuments in Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Uglich, Rostov, Rybinsk, and other towns are attractions for the visitor.
Economy, Industry & Agriculture
Ranked 17th in Russia in per capita GDP in 1995.
Exports: Ranked 26th in Russia in foreign trade sales in 1995. Oil products constitute the lion's share of exports at 54%. Machines and equipment, mainly engines, follow at 20% with chemical products at 19%.
Transportation
Distance from Moscow: 176 miles.
Rail: There are three main railroad lines: Moscow-Arkhangelsk, Sonkovo-Nerekhta, and Danilov-Buy.
Auto: There are two main highways: Moscow-Arkhangelsk M8 and Yaroslavl to Kostroma.
River and Sea Ports: Navigation is possible on the Volga River.
Travel from Moscow to Administrative Center:
By Rail: 282 km (5 hours), 19 trains per day, including 17 transit trains from Yaroslavskiy railroad station.
By Auto: 250 km, M8 main highway.