History

The town of Simbirsk was established in 1648 by voevode (commander of an army, governor of a province in ancient Russia) D.V.Kihtrovo as a fortress to protect the Southern borders of the Moscow State.

It became the center of industry and commerce for Middle Volga region by 1770. Its history is closely connected with the history of Russia, for example: the Mongolian Tatar Yoke, numerous peasant wars, the War of 1812, the Decembrist Revolt, revolutions and world wars, Simbirsk was the birthplace of many famous writers, poets, and statesmen: I.A.Goncharov, D.V.Davydov, N.M.Yazykov, D.D.Minaev, N.M. Karamzin, A.F.Kerenski among them. In 1870 V.I.Ulyanov (Lenin) was born in Ulyanovsk and in 1924 Simbirsk was renamed to Ulyanovsk in his honor. 

Major dates

Location

Ulyanovsk is situated at the eastern part of the Russkaja plane in the middle Volga region. it is bordered by Mordovia, Chuvashia, and Tatarstan. Ulyanovsk is 893 km south-east of Moskow Area: 37,200 sq. km, stretches from North to South 250 km, and from East to West 290 km. Forests cover 28% of the territory. 

Population

Population - 1,462,200: urban - 72%, rural - 28%. People of over 80 nationalities inhabit the region. Traditionally international relations are very stable.

Climate

Climate is moderate and continental, the average annual temperature is 4 degrees C.

Natural resources

The greatest and most beautiful Russian river, the Volga, flows thought the region. In 2000 the construction of a new 3 kilometers long bridge over Volga (the longest in Europe) will be completed. The largest from a number of lakes are: Blelolebyazhye (217 ha), Beloye (96 ha), Kryazh (56 ha). 

Major Industries

Major industries are machinery construction (62% of the region output), including motor-car, aviation, instrument, factory machinery construction, and light construction (food, clothing and textile).

Area specific production

The specific products are cross-country vehicles, produced by Ulyanovsk motor-car works for Russia and foreign countries, the first in the world most ecologic super transport plane AN-124-100 "Ruslan" ("Aviastar" aircrafts work), high-class technologies in the sphere of instrument and control systems construction, machines, made to individual requirements at "UZTS" works, dentist's working places of PO "Kometa", oil chains of Ulyanovsk machine-tool works. Considering rate of production growth, the region occupies the first place in Russia.

Agriculture

Agriculture is diversified. Farming - 35%, lice stock - 65%. Local consumption is provided by the region itself. 

External Economic links

There are boasts of partnership with CIS states, USA, Germany, Great Britain, India, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Poland. A number of join programs are now being in practice. The situation in the region favors the progress in market relations. A large network of commercial banks, small, average and join-stock companies, private enterprises exist in the region. The efficient system of banks in Ulyanovsk gives to its clients an opportunity to have settings not only with Russia, but also with foreign countries.

Ulyanovsk region is one of the most favorable investments parts of Russia.

Culture

Ulyanovsk occupies an honorable place in the history of the Russia culture. The old Simbirsk was called "the landowner of the Volga region towns" One of the first libraries in the Volga region were opened here. Museums are the custodians of our culture. There are seven city museums. The oldest Ulyanovsk museums, such as the Art Museums of Regional Studies were founded almost a hundred years ago. The city is proud of this Goncharov History and Literary Museum, with displays of the writer's life and work, the only one of the world. Both the citizens of Ulyanovsk and its guests enjoy the concerts of the Ulyanovsk State Academic Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Society, as well as the Ulyanovsk Theatre performances, which contribute greatly to the cultural life of the city. 

Science and education

Ulyanovsk is a large cultural and scientific center of the Volga region. In 1809 the first gymnasium (secondary school of the highest grade) in Simbirsk was opened. Now three institutes and three universities of Ulyanovsk (the oldest of them is the Teacher's Training University and the youngest is the only in Russia Branch of Moscow State University), research centers and laboratories keep on the scientific traditions of the old Simbirsk. The region is represented by thirty-three scientific centers.

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