Saratov is one of the largest cities in Russia, which takes 263rd place in the overall ranking of cities in the Russian Federation. It is included in the rating of the 20 best settlements of the country, while not being a city with a million inhabitants.
In a more detailed rating, Saratov is located in the following places:
- 269 - according to the level of safe living;
- 289 - by street cleanliness;
- 184 - at the cost of living;
- 127 - according to the living conditions of children.
In more detail we will consider the city of Saratov in this article.
Geographic data
Saratov, together with the region adjacent to it, is part of the Volga Federal District. Located in the southeast of the European part of the country. The total area of the city is 394 km 2.
The administrative center of the region is crossed by the Volga River. The length of the city borders, stretching along the right bank of the river, is more than 50 km. Altitude - 370 m.
Foundation History
The current city of Saratov in the VII century BC. e. had a predecessor - the city of Uvek, which was founded by the Golden Horde. In 1395, he was demolished by the Turkic commander Tamerlan. But its inhabitants did not leave their homes, so Uvek was not completely "wiped off the face of the Earth."
By the middle of the 16th century, a small town with the Tatar name Sary-atav (in Russian means "Yellow Island") was established on the site of the former Uvek. The city of Saratov began to be laid three times in different places and at different intervals: in 1590, 1617 and 1674. The final place was chosen in 1674, where Saratov is now.
In 1590, the city was founded for the first time. Its purpose was based on the function of a security fortress of the Volga Trade Route, since robbery in these places was a frequent occurrence. The island was chosen as the place, located in the center of the Volga, not far from the place where the small river Saratovka flows into it. The first founder was Prince Zasekin.
In 1674, by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the city was moved to the right Volga coast, where Saratov is located today. In the XVIII century, the settlement had the status of a county town of the Astrakhan province. In 1774, he was attacked and ruined by the people of Pugachev. During the Great Patriotic War, the city was repeatedly attacked by enemies, hoping to destroy the bridge across the Volga and the oil refinery. Until 1992, Saratov was a city closed to foreigners. The thing is that on its territory one of the country's main defense enterprises operated, in particular an aircraft factory for the production of military and civilian equipment.
Division into districts
The capital of the Saratov region includes 6 districts:
- Leninsky is the largest in the city, located in its northwestern part. By area, it occupies almost 120 km 2. In the territory where the Leninsky district of Saratov is located, there was previously a suburban village with summer cottages. Since that time, several street names have been preserved, for example, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Country. It was founded in 1945.
- Kirovsky has existed since 1936. This is a small area of 33 km 2. The main starting points of Saratov are located in it: railway station, bus station and international airport.
- Volzhsky is the old district of Saratov, whose area is 94.74 km 2. It was founded in 1934. Endowed with cultural city values and keeps an extensive history of its existence. Visitors and residents of Volzhsky note its uniqueness, which consists in the heterogeneity of buildings: there are both old houses and buildings, as well as new buildings that meet modern requirements. All the main attractions in the form of monuments, church buildings, cultural buildings are concentrated in the Volga region.
- Frunzensky is the smallest district of the city with an area of 7.43 km 2. Established in 1936 This is the central district of Saratov. It marked the largest attendance, since the bulk of shopping centers, entertainment and cultural institutions, as well as parks and a sanatorium, are located here.
- October was founded in 1917. This is an important district of the city of Saratov, where there are industrial enterprises, social and scientific institutions.
- Zavodskoy district was founded in 1936. It was formerly called Stalin. Its area is 113.64 km 2. It also houses important industrial facilities of the city.
Population
Saratov is not a millionaire city. In 2017, its population was 843, 460. Nevertheless, it is considered the largest city in the Volga Federal District. A disappointing fact remains that mortality here exceeds fertility. Scientists predict a continued decline in the number of urban residents in the future. The predominant here is the young population, since the city has a considerable number of educational institutions. The national composition is dominated by Russian residents - 85%. This is followed by Kazakhs - 3%, natives of Ukraine - 2.5%, Tatars - 2%, Armenians - 0.94%. Representatives of other peoples of Russia live in even smaller numbers.
City Economy
The city is of great importance for the country, since it has large operating enterprises operating in different directions:
- engineering;
- electrical engineering;
- aviation production;
- oil refining and chemical production;
- woodworking;
- food industry.
Saratov is also a center of quality higher education, as well as a place of prosperity for scientific activity. Institutes of different directions are located in the city:
- medical;
- agricultural;
- technical;
- pedagogical;
- legal;
- economic.
Climatic conditions
The temperate continental climate is characteristic of the territory where Saratov is located. It has cold winters and rather hot summer months. From the Atlantic, air masses come to the city, bringing with them prolonged rains in spring and autumn and heavy snowfalls in winter. Warm air gusts come from the regions of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, which are reflected in the weather: in the summer they promise drought and heat, and in winter there is severe frost.
During long-term climatic observations, it was found that the coldest month in the city is February (the average temperature is -7.9 ° C), and the warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 22.7 ° C. The temperature maximum is +40.9 о С in Saratov was recorded in August 2010. An abnormally low figure of -37.3 ° C was noted in January 1942.
Ecological situation
Urban ecology is under the scrutiny of scientists, since in Saratov there are many enterprises of various industries. And this directly affects the state of the environment. The worst environmental conditions were noted in Zavodskoy district, slightly better - in Frunzensky.
Existing enterprises emit 50, 000, 000 tons of harmful chemical elements and compounds into the atmosphere: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, air dust, ammonia, aldehydes and much more. Water bodies of the city are also subject to pollution of biogenic and technogenic character. This harms the inhabitants, as well as the aquatic inhabitants: annually a large number of fish die in the Volga.
