History of Simbirsk-Ulyanovsk region

 

The documentary history of the region begins in VIII century when Bulgarian tribes during  their Great resettlement moved here from steppes of Priazovye. In X century they formed a large early-feudal state called Volzskaya Bulgaria on the territory of the middle Volga and the bottom Prikamye.

Since XIV century the history of the middle-Volga region has been connected with development of territories to the east from the Volga. Since this time there appear first Russian settlements on the territory of the future Simbirsk province. In 1780 during administrative reform here was formed the government of Simbirsk, in 1796 - Simbirsk province was established.

From the second half of XVII century there was developing landed property of the landlord class, which caused the region to become one of the nobility culture centers in XVIII-XIX centuries. Agriculture and processing of its products, cloth-, mill-, distilling manufactures and fair-trade laid the basis of pre-revolutionary economy.

Simbirsk is the place of birth and activity of many historical figures of the All-Russia value, among them are N.M.Karamzin, I.I.Dmitriev, D.V.Davidov, D.P.Oznobishin, P.V.Annenkov, I.A.Goncharov, A.I.Voejkov, V.I.Ulyanov-Lenin, A.F.Kerensky, A.A.Plastov, the families of Turgenev, Ivashov, Jazikov, Minaev and many others.

In 1924 the city of Simbirsk was renamed Ulyanovsk, and Simbirsk province became Ulyanovsk province.

During the Second World War (Great Patriotic War) 15 largest industrial enterprises from Moscow, Belarus, Ukraine were evacuated on the territory of the region. They were: the Kharkov electromechanical factory - nowadays the factory «Kontaktor», the Vitebsk knitting factory - nowadays Limited Liability Company «Industrial company " Firm " Rus"», etc. The great role for the industrial development of the region had played the governmental order to build in Ulyanovsk an automobile factory on the basis of the Stalin Automobile Factory evacuated from Moscow. Thus, the industrial enterprises evacuated during the Second World War had laid the basis of the future large and middle engineering industry of the region.

On January, 19th, 1943 the Decree of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR declared the establishment of Ulyanovskaya oblast.

In 1950-1960-е here were built up such industrial enterprises as The Factory of heavy and unique machine tools, Scientific Research Institute of nuclear reactors in Dimitrovgrad, the nongovernmental organization "Mars", the Mechanical Factory, the factory "Kometa", «the Ulyanovsk design office of instrument making», The Cement Works in Novoulyanovsk. The new bridge over the Volga was opened; the airport of Ulyanovsk began its functioning.

On April, 20th, 1966 Ulyanovskaya oblast received Lenin's award for the successful development of national economy by the Decree of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR.

In 1970-1980-е in the Oblast started their functioning the new enterprises: Dimitrovgrad auto modular factory, the aviation-industrial complex (nowadays "Aviastar-SP" aircraft company) and airport "Vostochny", confectionery factory " Volzanka".

 

Geography

 

Ulyanovskaya oblast is located in the center of the Middle Volga region, on both shores of the Volga river, in the central part of the European Russia. The geographical position makes the Oblast an attractive center of logistical and transport schemes of federal and international level.

In the west it borders on Penzenskaya oblast and the Republic of Mordovia, in the north - on Chuvashiya and Tatarstan, in the east - on Samara, and in the south - on Saratovskaya oblast. Distance from Ulyanovsk up to Moscow is 875 kilometers.

Ulyanovskaya oblast stretches on 250 km from the north to the south and on 280 km from the west to the east. Its territory makes 37,2 thousand square km (0,22 % of the territory of the Russian Federation) it is comparable to territories of Belgium, the Netherlands, Albania. The Volga river is more than 200 km long.

The landscape of the oblast as a whole is characterized as a plain. The valley of the Volga river divides the territory on two parts: western -  the rising right bank (Predvolzye) and eastern - the low left bank (Zavolzye).

The territory of the right bank has a step-shaped structure of relief. The low left bank is occupied by the valley of the river Volga, where four alluvial terraces are located.

The main rivers are: the Volga, the Sviyaga, the Sura, the Cheremshan. Owing to the construction of the dam of the Volga hydroelectric power station, within the limits of the Oblast the Volga makes Kuybishevsk water basin. All the rivers of Ulyanovskaya oblast belong to the closed Caspian sea basin.

Climate of the region is moderately continental. The average temperature in January is 14 --12,5. The average temperature in July - +18 - +20, mid-annual quantity of deposits makes 350-450 mm. Duration of the vegetative period varies from 173 till 185 days.

Ground: mostly chernozem (25,6 %) and grey wood ground (44,5 %). Vegetation: woods occupy 28 % of the regional territory (basically - pine and broadleaf woods), there are small areas of meadow and feather-grass steppes, inundated meadows and water-separate bogs.

 

Population

 

According to results of the All-Russia population census for January, 1st, 2003, the population of the Oblast made 1382,3 thousand people (0,95 % of the population of the Russian Federation), representing over 100 nationalities. The population density is 38,6 ppl/sq.km. The regional center is Ulyanovsk (655,3 thousand people, 2002). Other large cities are Dimitrovgrad (130,7 thousand ppl.), Inza (22 thousand ppl.), Barysh (18,9 thousand ppl.). Urban population makes 73,2 %. Ulyanovskaya Oblast includes 21 rural areas, 6 cities ( 3 of those are of regional submission), 33 settlements of city type, 322 rural and township administrations (2002).

Nationalities: Russian (72,8 %), Tatar (11,4 %), Chuvash (8,3 %), Mordva (4,4 %), Ukraine (1,3 %), etc. (1989).

The area enters into Privolzsky federal district. The system of bodies of the government is defined by the Charter of the Ulyanovskaya Oblast. The government administration is carried out by Legislative assembly of the Oblast, the Government of the Oblast and other bodies of the government, formed according to the Charter of the Oblast.

 

Natural resources

 

The Oblast is rich in mineral resources and raw materials. The basic natural resources are oil, glass, cement, siliceous and carbonate raw material, and also raw material for rough ceramics, mineral water.

There were found 48 oilfields with initial taken stocks of 42,8 million tonns. 29 fields are being in development, 9 fields are being prepared for industrial development. Whole fund of oil wells makes 244 units, including those being in operation (186). More than 500 thousand t. of oil, including gas condensate, is annually extracted. There are four enterprises engaged in oil extracting and prospecting works - Open Joint-stock Company " Ulyanovskneft ", Closed Joint-Stock Company of the joint venture «Nafta - Ulyanovsk», Open Joint-stock Company NTK RMNTK "Nefteotdacha", Open Joint-stock Company "Nefterazvedka".

493 fields with the general peat resources making 33,2 million t. have been revealed and reconnoitered.

The Oblast possesses significant stocks of mineral raw material for producing building materials. Deposits of quartz sand in Tashla and Lukyanovskoe make the largest Russian raw-material source of both glass, and forming raw material.

Reserves of carbonate breeds (chalk), clay and hydraulic additives (diatomite) for cement producing are almost inexhaustible. There have been reconnoitered 6 deposits of chalk with total reserve of 380 million t., two deposits of clay (58,9 million t.), 3 deposits of diatomite (6,2 million t.).

On stocks of siliceous raw material (diatomite) Ulyanovskaya oblast takes one of leading places in Russia. The reconnoitered industrial stocks of siliceous raw material run to 55 million cub.m.

30 deposits of brick raw material have been reconnoitered, 13 of those are maintained by functioning brick-works.

Reserves of mineral water (first of all in Undory) allow to produce 12450 cub.m. a day. In Undory village, the Ulyanovsk area, there located a large sanatorium complex of the all-Russia value. Sanatorium zones of local value are situated on Beloe Ozero (the Nikolaev area) and Beliy Yar (Cherdakly).

Power supply in  Ulyanovskaya oblast is  provided by Open Joint-stock Company " Ulyanovskenergo". The established power stations capacity of the power supply system (together with block-stations) runs to 883 МW (2002). Block-stations capacity is 21 МW.

Power supply system of Ulyanovskaya oblast is scarce. Own generating sources provide about 30 % of the general need of the Oblast in the electric power. About 70 % of required electric power is purchased on Federal Wholesale Electric Power Market and also from the neighboring power supply systems.

 

Economy

 

The results of the year 2008 showed that the index in manufacturing activities had made 101,4 %, due to which the index of industrial production in the Oblast as a whole had kept its positive dynamics - 100,2 %. Rates of housing construction had increased In January-December, 2008 in the Oblast as a whole. 506,7 thousand sq.m. of apartment houses had been put into commission, which increased the last year rate by 77,3 thousand sq.m. and had made 118 % to the last year level.

The volume of agricultural production in all categories of farms had made 23,2 billion rbl. in established prices. The Index of the agricultural production had measured 113,9 %, comparing to 100,6 % in 2007. The high index of agricultural production is provided by producing of grain.

The level of the registered unemployment for January, 1st, 2009 has made 1,61 % (in Russia - 2,0 %, in Privolzsky federal district - 1,3 %). 

The average monthly income in January - November has made 10459,7 rbl., which exceeded the last year figure by 28,7 %.  

In the first half year 2009 increase of investments into a fixed capital went on and has made 113,8 %. The index of agricultural production has made 101,3 %. The number of apartment houses put into commission has exceeded the last year level by 6,7 % (due to the increase of individual housing input by 40,3 %). The consumer price index (by December, 2008) has made 105,9 %, which is 1,5 % lower, than in the Russian Federation (on this parameter Ulyanovskaya oblast is on the second place among other regions of Privolzsky federal district).

The chief industry of Ulyanovskaya oblast is mechanical engineering. It makes up more than 43,2 % of the total production volume. On a share of mechanical engineering in the total amount of industrial production Ulyanovskaya oblast ranks number 2 among the subjects of the Russian Federation. The main branches of mechanical engineering are: aircraft construction, motor industry, machine-tool construction, heavy power engineering, transport mechanical engineering, electrotechnical industry, mechanical engineering for the light industry and the food-processing industry. Ulyanovskaya oblast takes the first place in Russia in manufacturing of civil planes, and the fifth place in manufacturing of cars.

The largest Russian aircraft building enterprise - Closed Joint-Stock Company " Aviastar SP " produces passenger planes Tu-204 of various modifications and the world largest cargo planes An-124-100 "Ruslan". In 2006 the Joint-Stock Company " Aviastar SP " joined the Open Joint-stock Company «United aviabuilding corporation» and got the status of the central assembly pad. Now the enterprise is preparing to put the aircraft IL-476 into production. This plane is very promising for the development of Russian transport aircraft.

The largest East European manufacturer of off-road cars is Open Joint-stock Company «Ulyanovsk automobile plant» (UAZ). The machine tools produced by Limited Liability Company«Simbirsk machine-tool constructing factory» (UZTS) are exported to the enterprises of the USA, Germany, Japan, China and many other countries of the world. Open Joint-stock Company «Ulyanovskiy mechanical factory» produces world famous antiaircraft defense systems "Shilka", "Tunguska-M", "Square" and «Buk-М1». Open Joint-stock Company « Ulyanovsk motor plant» is one of the leading Russian manufacturers of automobile engines.

Other largest enterprises of the branch are: Open Joint-stock Company «Dimitrovgradskiy automodular plant», Open Joint-stock Company «Ulyanovskiy mechanical plant №2 », Open Joint-stock Company "Autodetail-service", Open Joint-stock Company "Dimitrovgradchimmash", Open Joint-stock Company " Hydroapparat", Open Joint-stock Company «Kriushinskiy ship-building and -repair factory».

Since 2005 here functions investor support system, based on the law of  Ulyanovskaya oblast «About development of investment activity on the territory of Ulyanovskaya oblast ». Theses of the law guarantee the investors the exemption from property tax within 5 years, exemption from the ground-rent for the land used for realization of investment projects, the lowest in the Russian Federation redemption-fee for the land under the privatization enterprises. Each investment project of particular importance has its own supervisor - a member of the Government of Ulyanovskaya oblast.

 

Transport

 

Ulyanovskaya oblast is a large transportation connection point. The important aviation, railway and automobile communications in all directions of Russia pass across the region.

The international air-lines passing across the Oblast connect the Volga region with the Europe, Central Asia, the Near East and China. Ulyanovsk is the only city in Privolzsky federal district which has two airports of "A" class: "Ulyanovsk-Central" and the international airport " Ulyanovsk-Vostochny", fitted out with modern radio-electronic navigating equipment, allowing to accept air vessels of all types without take-off-weight restrictions, including Аn-124 «Ruslan» and «Boing-747». Besides international airport " Ulyanovsk-Vostochniy" has a unique runway, which is 5100 m long and 105 m wide, and capable to accept space shuttles.

The largest airline companies carrying out transportation of passengers and cargoes in Ulyanovskaya oblast are "Volga-Dnepr "and Closed Joint-Stock Company " Airline company "Polet".

The extent of motor roads of federal and regional value makes 4904,5 km, including federal highways - 431,7 km, regional - 4472,8 km. The extent of motor roads with asphalt carpet makes 4416,3 km.

Construction of the biggest Russian bridge transition through Volga in Ulyanovsk is completed more than on 90 %. The project close-out is planned for October, 2009. New bridge transition is to become a part of the project «Volzskiy transit» - the alternative route connecting the European part of Russia with Urals Mountains, Siberia and the Far East, which will relieve the federal roads.

Rail transportation in Ulyanovsk region is carried out by Ulyanovsk section of Kujbyshevsk railway - the branch of Open Joint-stock Company "Russian Railways".

The river port of Ulyanovsk is located on both banks of  the Volga, thus on the right bank there is the only crane on the Volga with carrying capacity of 100 tons. Functioning of the river port is carried out by Open Joint-stock Company «Ulyanovsk river port», which has licenses for transportation of cargoes and passengers by means of the internal sailing transport, and for cargo handling activity.

Large transport network, new bridge transition and the project «Volzskiy transit» all together make the region attractive for business  logistics activization. The created port special economic zone with favourable tax and customs modes has even greater appeal to the international logistical companies. Warehouse complexes, assembly and aircraft-repair manufactures will be concentrated to its territory.

 

Tourism

 

The touristic industry in Ulyanovskaya oblast has unique resources. Historically there have been developing two directions of tourism: health tourism and historical and cultural tourism.

 

Health tourism

 

Its basis is made up with 20 sanatorium organizations, 4 rest houses, 27 bases of rest. The all-Russia popularity have sanatorium n.a. V.I.Lenin (a resort located on mineral water spring «Volzanka», Undory), sanatoria "Dubki", «Beliy Yar», "Pribrezniy" (White lake), «Itil», a boarding house of radon-therapy "Radon". It is of importance, that sanatoria "Itil" and "Radon" are located within the city boundaries in ecologically pure zones, which allows not only to undergo modern health programs, but also to plunge into the cultural life of the city and enjoy the benefits of city infrastructure and entertaining industry.

 

Historical and cultural tourism

 

The unique museum of socialistic epoch is located in the building of the Lenin's memorial center constructed in tribute of a century since the birth of V.I.Lenin. In the centre of Ulyanovsk on the territory of almost 170 hectares there is a unique historical and cultural memorial estate « V.I.Lenin's Native land ». It includes 12 interactive museums placed in kept and reconstructed manors of noblemen and merchants of Simbirsk. These museums precisely recreate the shape and atmosphere of Simbirsk of the end of 19-th century. Buildings on the territory of the reserve, some of which belong to Russian genius architects-modernists A.Shode, F.Livchak, F.Volsov, turn the city into an open-air museum of architecture.

Fans of literature have opportunity to get acquainted with great Russian writer I.A.Goncharov and his immortal character Oblomovym, to visit the famous Goncharov's arbour where the novel "Breakage" was written. The museum «Karamzin public library » call the attention of visitors to the assembly of books, part of which dated XV century.

 

Sports tourism

 

Regatta "Cup" of Volga" in Arskoe village and traditional races on survival by cross-country automobiles "UAZ" are held in Ulyanovskaya Oblast every year.

Competitions on go-cart racing are held in the sports complex "Park " Simbirskiy . Highways and constructions used to carry out the competitions for various kinds of vehicals and motorcycle sport correspond to modern international standards and are inside the top ten in Europe.

The sports complex «Lenin hills», including mountain-skiing lines, lines for tubing, platforms for a paintball, cafe, children's playgrounds and platforms for picnic is being under construction in the city centre.

Ecological tourism of the region is developing due to the rich nature of the middle Volga and absence of harmful industrial productions. Nature enthusiasts certainly love the Sengiley mountains, the Skripinskie Kuchury,the White lake, the Turgenev islands, the Julovo pond, the Nikolskoe-on-Cheremshan.

The industry of hospitality in the Oblast is presented by 37 hotels, 19 of which are located in the Ulyanovsk city. The hotel room capacity: in the Oblast - 2158 rooms, in the Ulyanovsk city - 1679 rooms. Mid-annual usage makes 38 % (2007). The largest hotels are "Venez" (three stars), "Oktjabr'skaja", "Volga", "Aviacionnaya", «Lesnaya Byl».

 

Science

 

Federal State Unitary Enterprise « State Science Center "Scientific research institute of nuclear reactors" (Dimitrovgrad), the Ulyanovsk branch of Institute of radio electronics of the Russian Academy of Science.