The East Siberian economic region is one of the largest and most important of the 12 similar territorial units of the Russian Federation. With enormous resources and economic potential, it is essential for the development of infrastructure throughout the country. What is the East Siberian economic region, where is it located, what resources does it have and what are its features? Let's take a closer look at these issues.
Geographic location
Geographical features are the first things to pay attention to. This is a significant factor that affects both the climate of the region and its economy.
The East Siberian economic region is located in the Asian part of the Russian Federation. It occupies a large territory of the geographical region of Siberia. It should be noted that this economic region almost completely coincides with the Siberian Federal District. The district does not include only a number of the western regions of the federal district.
The East Siberian region borders on the West Siberian economic region in the west, the Far East region in the east, and the Russian border with China and Mongolia passes in the south. The north of the region is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean.
The East Siberian economic region has an area of 4.123 million km 2. This indicator exceeds only the size of the Far Eastern Economic Region.
These are the features of the geographical position of this territorial unit of Russia.
Administrative division
Now we will establish the subjects of the East Siberian Economic Region. It is divided into six administrative regions:
- The Republic of Khakassia.
- Tyva Republic.
- The Republic of Buryatia.
- Irkutsk region.
- Krasnoyarsk region.
- Transbaikal region.
Each region, in turn, is divided into administrative regions.
The largest region is the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its area is 2366.797 thousand square meters. km, which is the second indicator after Yakutia among all subjects of the federation. Then, according to the size of the territory, the Transbaikal Territory, the Irkutsk Region and Buryatia follow. On the map you can visually see the ratio of the area of various subjects of the federation of a given economic region. The smallest size of the territory is Khakassia (61 600 km 2.).
Administrative centers of the constituent entities of the district:
- Abakan (Khakassia).
- Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory).
- Kyzyl (Tuva).
- Ulan-Ude (Buryatia).
- Chita (Trans-Baikal Territory).
- Irkutsk (Irkutsk region).
Each of these settlements has a special significance for the region. These are the cities that Siberia can be proud of. Krasnoyarsk is the largest city in this economic region. The population in it exceeds one million people. In addition, it is considered the center of the economic region.
Climate
A considerable length from north to south caused the presence of a large number of climatic zones in the territory of this territorial unit.
On the islands of the Arctic Ocean are arctic deserts with one of the lowest temperature regimes on Earth. The snow cover here lies year-round. Near the coast of the ocean is the tundra zone. The average temperature in January here is -36 ° C. There are less than forty days during the year during which the temperature exceeds 10 ° C. This period of time is considered summer. A little south is the forest-tundra with low vegetation, cool summers and cold winters.
Further south follows the taiga. This zone occupies most of the economic region. Its distinguishing feature is the dense vegetation, represented mainly by tall trees. Summer is hot and winter is harsh.
To the south are alternately zones of forest-steppe and steppe. They stand out in hot summers and relatively cool winters. There is very little rainfall in the steppes in summer, and the vegetation is represented by low-growing plants. But, it should be said that the zone of forest-steppes and steppes occupies a rather small territory.
Also in the mountains there are high altitude zones that have specific climatic characteristics.
It should be noted that this economic region is marked by a sharply continental type of climate. This is due to the considerable remoteness from the warm oceans. Therefore, the daily and annual temperature fluctuations in the region are quite substantial.
Natural resources
The natural resources of the East Siberian Economic Region are marked by a rather large variety and volume of reserves.
The region has large deposits of brown and coal, gold, oil, iron, polymetallic and copper-nickel ores. There are also reserves of asbestos, graphite, sodium chloride, talc and mica.
But the main resources of the economic region are huge volumes of forest. According to this indicator, he retains leadership among similar territorial structures in Russia.
Ponds
The natural resources include numerous rivers and lakes. In the national economy, they are used not only for catching and rearing fish, but also as transport arteries, as well as a source of electricity.
Among the main reservoirs, Lake Baikal should be distinguished. It is the deepest lake in the world. The maximum depth is 1642 m. In addition, it should be said that the fresh water reserves in this reservoir make up 19% of the global volume.
Among the rivers, the longest river of Russia, the Lena (4400 km), the Yenisei and Amur, should be highlighted. In addition, such major rivers as Lower Tunguska, Khatanga, Selenga, Podkamennaya Tunguska are large water sources. A very important river in the country's economy is the Angara, which connects Baikal and the Yenisei. A number of hydroelectric power plants are located on this river, including the Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station, which generate a huge amount of electricity.
District population
The population in the studied economic region is 8.4 million. The population density here is one of the lowest in Russia, and is about 2 people. per 1 sq. km The lower indicator is only in the Far Eastern Economic Region. It should be noted that the southern part has a much higher population level than the entire East Siberian region as a whole. Here the population density reaches a level of 30 people. per sq. km
Ethnically, Russians dominate among the inhabitants of the economic region. Their specific gravity exceeds 80% of the total population of this region. All other ethnic groups are significantly inferior to them in the number of representatives. The Russians are followed in numbers by the Buryats and Tuvans - the indigenous peoples who inhabit the East Siberian Economic Region. The population of this region is also represented by Ukrainians and Tatars, occupying, respectively, the fourth and fifth places in terms of numbers.
Among the indigenous peoples, Shors, Evenks and Dolgans should also be distinguished. But the number of representatives of these ethnic groups is relatively small. So, representatives of the Dolgan people, there are only a little more than 5.5 thousand people.
It should be noted that the population of the region since 2012 has been growing steadily, although since 1992 there has been a demographic decline with a decrease in the number of inhabitants.
Industry
The economic characteristics of the region are marked by the development of both industry and agriculture.
The main industry is mining. There is a pronounced specialization of the East Siberian economic region in mining. In particular, an important place is occupied by the extraction of coal, oil, and also ores of various metals, which have already been mentioned above.
Eastern Siberia has high industrial potential. Krasnoyarsk is famous for its developed heavy engineering and metallurgical industry. In addition, the city has a factory for the production of medicines, as well as an enterprise that produces televisions.
In Irkutsk there is a plant focused on heavy engineering, an aircraft manufacturing enterprise, as well as the largest Russian energy company, Irkutskenergo. This is not surprising, because the largest Angara cascade provides energy power. The city also has a developed food industry, in particular the production of meat, dairy and bakery products.
A rather high industrial potential has Abakan. Khakassia can be proud of such a center. It has a large car-building plant, a number of food and light industry enterprises, and a large thermal power station. Of the recent achievements, the opening of the largest solar power plant in Siberia should be mentioned.
The center of the Trans-Baikal Territory - the city of Chita - is famous for its engineering plant and house-building plant. In addition, the car factory was recently launched. But the main direction of the development of the infrastructure of Chita is the energy industry. On the territory of the city there are immediately two thermal power plants that supply the whole region with electric power.
The largest industrial region of the country is Buryatia. On the map, which is presented above, you can clearly see how this republic goes around Lake Baikal. Developed industry is a significant environmental problem for the reservoir. In the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, a number of industries are significantly developed. There are engineering, energy, mining, construction, woodworking enterprises. In addition, there are organizations involved in the production of food and light industries. Particular attention should be paid to the enterprise "Buryatzoloto", engaged in the development of gold mines.
The most underdeveloped region of the economic region is the Republic of Tuva. Here, only the development of the mining industry has reached significant proportions.
Thus, the main areas of industry in the economic region are mining, metallurgy, engineering, woodworking, electric power, construction, as well as food and textile management.
Agriculture
Due to the peculiarities of the geographical location and the location of the northern regions beyond the polar circle in the permafrost zone, efficient production in the crop industry is possible only in the southern part of the economic region. It mainly grows crops. The main crop is spring wheat. Also spreading is the cultivation of oats and barley. Among industrial crops, sugar beets, which are grown in the southern part of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Republic of Buryatia, should be distinguished. Bakchu is grown on an industrial scale only in the Minusinsk depression.
Livestock is well developed throughout the economic region. But the specialization of the livestock industry depends on a particular region. So, in the northern regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, reindeer husbandry is well developed in the tundra. In the south, in the forest-steppe and steppe regions, agricultural enterprises are engaged in sheep husbandry. In particular, they specialize in fine- and semi-fine-corded direction, as well as meat and wool and wool. In the taiga, breeding and hunting of fur animals, as well as other areas of animal husbandry, are developed. In addition, beekeeping is widespread in the central and southern regions of the economic region. Fishing is almost universal.
In general, it should be noted the greater development in the economic region of animal husbandry in comparison with crop production. The crop production produced here is not enough for the population, so it has to be transported from other economic regions of Russia and from abroad. This is especially pronounced in relation to vegetables and fruits.
Transport ways
Transport communication is a very important factor for ensuring the economic integrity of the area, the territory of which stretches for many thousands of kilometers.
The southern regions of the economic region are connected with the administrative center of Russia and the Far East by railways. In particular, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the construction of which was started back in 1891, and the Baikal-Amur Railway, built from 1938 to 1984, play an important role. At large distances for the transport of passengers and goods, it was railway transport that has established itself as the most efficient.
In addition, a number of important federal highways were laid in the southern part of the economic region. The most significant of them are the routes P255 Novosibirsk - Irkutsk (Siberia highway), P257 Krasnoyarsk - Mongolia (Yenisei), P258 Irkutsk - Chita (Baikal), P297 Chita - Khabarovsk (Amur), A340 Ulan-Ude - Mongolia, A350 Chita - China.
The situation with transport in the central and northern parts of the economic region located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory is much worse. There is no railway connection here at all. There are local roads. There are no major highways in this area. True, there are two routes of federal significance, but they are quite short, as they connect settlements with airports. Their importance lies precisely in providing an access to communications of strategic importance. This is the A382 highway connecting Dudinka with Alykel Airport, and the A383 road, which provides access from the city of Tura to Gorny Airport.
As we can see, ground communications in the central and northern parts of the region are rather poorly developed. Of particular importance is river transport. The rivers Lena, Yenisei, Khatanga, Podkamennaya Tunguska are natural highways that provide traffic from south to north and in the opposite direction. Given the considerable distances, a rather important place is also occupied by air traffic.
On the coast of the Arctic Ocean are the seaports of Dudinka, Dikson, Igarka, Nordvik. They are important nodes not only for Russian shipping, but also for providing international communications.
