The Northwestern economic region includes the following entities:

• - Saint Petersburg
• - Leningrad region
• - Novgorod region
• - Pskov region

The area of ​​the region is 1.15% of the area of ​​Russia - 195.2 thousand sq. km. This is the smallest district in terms of the number of constituent entities Russian Federation. The area borders Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Belarus, and also has access to the Baltic Sea.

The North-Western region is located in the northern part of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation, north of 57` N. sh., the southern border of the region runs almost 800 km north of the US border. Most of the area's territory is occupied by hilly lowlands adjacent to the Gulf of Finland. The area is located on the Russian Plain.

The most striking feature of the Northwestern region is the discrepancy between the historical role of the area and the very modest territory of the area. This discrepancy is due to the following features:

1. The location of the area is on the outskirts, distance from the center of Russia.

This situation prevented the area from Tatar-Mongol yoke. As you know, Novgorod is the cradle of Russian land, a reserve of ancient Russian history and culture.

• 2. The area is sharply pushed towards Europe. Here are Pskov and Veliky Novgorod - the most notable cities, long connected with European countries through trade as part of the Banza (medieval union of the Baltic states).
• 3. Coastal and border location of the area.

The North-Western region is inferior to most economic regions of the Russian Federation in terms of population and territory, which is why it is called the region of one city - St. Petersburg. It contains 59% of the region's population and 68% of its urban population.

In the North-Western region, inhabited by ancient Slavic tribes, trade and crafts developed; international trade, industry and qualified personnel were concentrated in St. Petersburg, and the outlying location of the region contributed to the development of the economy. All these reasons played a certain role in the formation of the modern image of the area.

The main incentive for social economic development The region at all stages of history was its favorable economic and geographical position. It is a connecting link between the interior regions of the European part of Russia and the countries of Europe. The proximity to the natural resource-rich Northern region and the industrially developed Central region, highly developed European countries is also favorable.

The region occupies one of the leading places in terms of the level of economic development, the scale and diversity of industrial production, research and development products, and the training of highly qualified specialists National economy, the pace of formation of market relations, the scale of participation in Russia’s world economic relations.

Compound Republics: Karelia (capital - Petrozavodsk) and Komi (Syktyvkar). Arkhangelsk (including Nenets autonomous region), Vologda and Murmansk regions.

Economic-geographical location (EGP) This is the most northern one in Europe. parts of the Russian Federation ER. Terr. large - 1643 thousand km 2. Washed by the waters of the North. Arctic Ocean. Important ports of the Russian Federation are located here - Murmansk (non-freezing), Arkhangelsk. Part of the Barents Sea, warmed by a branch of the warm North Atlantic Current, does not freeze. Quite a significant part of the region's territory is located in the north. Arctic Circle in the cold zone. The district's EGP is unique. On the territory The location of the farming district was influenced by many factors, including the proximity of the North. Arctic Ocean, the severity of the climate, the complex configuration of the coastline of the White and Barents seas, as well as the immediate proximity to the Central and Northern Western regions - highly developed regions of the Russian Federation.

Natural conditions and resources Peculiarity natural conditions and climate of this region - unusual lighting and heating earth's surface in different seasons of the year ("polar day" and "polar night"). In the middle of winter, the duration of the “polar night” at the latitude North. The Arctic Circle is 24 hours, and in the districts located at the parallel of 70 degrees N. sh. - already 64 days a year.

Presented natural areas- tundra, forest-tundra and taiga. Forests occupy 3/4 of the territory.

Geologically, the Baltic Shield and the north of Rus are distinguished. plains (between the Baltic shield and the Urals), where the vast Pechora lowland stands out. and the Timan Ridge. The rivers of the region (Pechora, Mezen, Onega, Northern Dvina) belong to the Northern basin. Arctic Ocean.

To Balt. the shield stands out low mountain ranges Kola Peninsula (Khibiny). The peninsula slowly continues to rise (earthquakes up to magnitude 5 occur). The originality and complexity of the C relief are due to the action of glaciers (in the Quaternary period). Karelia is called the “land of blue lakes”, noting their large number.

The region is very rich in a variety of minerals. The extraction of granite, marble and other building materials began during the construction of St. Petersburg.

Deposits of iron and non-ferrous metal ores, as well as apatite-nepheline ores, are located on the Kola Peninsula. The sedimentary rocks of the Timan-Pechora basin are rich in coal (including coking coal), oil and gas (Komi Republic and the Barents Sea shelf). It is rich in bauxite (Arkhangelsk region), as well as ores of titanium, tungsten, molybdenum and other metals.

Population Us. - 5.9 million people; average density - 4 people. per 1 km 2 (in the north. p-x yet less). Prevails urban population(urbanization coefficient - 76%).

The population and economic development of the region is significantly less than in other regions of Europe. parts of the Russian Federation. The region is poorly supplied with labor resources. The Russian population predominates. Other nationalities also live in S. In the Republic. Komi (1.2 million people) The Komi people make up 23% of the population; in the Republic Karelia (0.8 million people) Karelians make up about 10% of the population. And in the Nenets Autonomous District. env. Nenets - 6.5 thousand people (12% of the district's population).

Farm Indigenous us. (Komi, Nenets, etc.) have long been engaged in hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. Currently At the time, the region's specialization is determined by the presence of the richest natural resources, as well as by the peculiarities of its geographical location.

The areas of specialization in the region are fuel, mining and forestry industries. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering and chemical industry have been developed (based on local resources). industry .

C is the main raw material and fuel energy. base for many r-v europe. parts of the Russian Federation. A third of the wood, paper and pulp of the Russian Federation is produced here (Arkhangelsk, Kotlas (Arkhangelsk region), Syktyvkar, Kondopoga, Segezha (both Karelia).

Developed mining prom. On the Kola Peninsula and Karelia, 1/4 of the iron supply is produced. ores, 4/5 of the raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers (apatites), a significant part of non-ferrous metal ores mined in the Russian Federation.

In 1930, large deposits of oil were explored on the Ukhta River and coal near Vorkuta. Currently Nowadays, thick mine oil is extracted in Drog (on the right bank of the Ukhta). In the middle reaches of the Pechora, the Vuktyl gas condensate field is being developed. The reserves of the modern Pechora coal basin amount to billions of tons (production is about 20 million tons). The quality of coking coals from Vorkuta and Vorgashor is the best in the country. Most of them go to the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant, as well as to St. Petersburg and Tula.

FEC. Fuel industry district is one of the branches of its specialization. The fuel industry is associated with the production of electricity. In the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions. and Rep. In Komi, all power stations operate on coal from the Pechora basin (Vorkuta) and gas from the Vuktylskoye field. The largest is the Pechora State District Power Plant.

In Karelia and Murmansk region. Electricity production is largely concentrated on hydroelectric power stations built on a number of rapids small rivers. These hydroelectric power plants largely ensure the development of energy-intensive industries in this part of the region.

The development of non-ferrous metallurgy and other industries was the reason for the commissioning of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant (Murmansk region). Natural resources are also used to produce electric energy; the Kislogubskaya tidal power station was built.

Ferrous metallurgy represented by the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant. The technological fuel is Pechora coking coal, and the raw material is iron. ores of the Kola Peninsula (Kovdorskoye and Olenegorskoye deposits) and Karelia (Kostomukshekiy GOK).

Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by enterprises in Monchegorsk (copper-nickel plant on ores from deposits of the Kola Peninsula) and Nikel. On nephelines of the Kola Peninsula and bauxites of the Arkhangelsk region. There is an aluminum plant in Nadvoitsy (Karelia).

Developing oil refining and chemical prom . There is an oil refinery in Ukhta, a gas processing plant in Sosnogorsk, and a chemical plant in Cherepovets. plant

An auxiliary industry in the region's economy is machinery (Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk).

APK. The Malozemelskaya (between the Timan Ridge and the Pechora Bay) and Bolshezemelskaya (east of the mouth of the Pechora) tundra are the best pastures in the north. deer. Hunting and fishing are developed.

Livestock farming still predominates over agriculture (for the development of which in most of the territory conditions are unfavorable; the cultivation of feed and grain crops predominates). Flax is grown in the southern region (Vologda region). Floodplain water meadows (along the rivers) have long served, in the southern part of the region, as a base for the development of dairy farming. The butter-making industry is developed.

The fishing industry occupies a significant place in the C economy. (fish canning factory in Murmansk).

Transport. In conditions of poor transport development of the territory. Rivers play a major role (in the valleys of which most of the population lives). Timber is floated along rivers, cargo and passengers are transported.

The railways are laid in the meridional direction from the center. regions of Europe parts of the Russian Federation to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and in the north-east, to Vorkuta.

A major transport hub is Cherepovets. Ports: Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Onega, Mezen (both Arkhangelsk region), Naryan-Map. Murmansk (the largest of the world's polar cities - 400 thousand inhabitants) is the most important ice-free port of Russia in the north.

Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk regions, Republics: Karelia and Komi, Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Economic and geographical location.

This is the northernmost economic region in the European part of Russia. The territory is large - 1643 thousand km 2. It is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean. Important ports of the Russian Federation are located here - Murmansk (non-freezing), Arkhangelsk. Part of the Barents Sea, warmed by a branch of the warm North Atlantic Current, does not freeze. A fairly significant part of the region's territory is located north of the Arctic Circle in the cold zone.

The territorial location of the region's economy was influenced by many factors, including the proximity of the Arctic Ocean, the severity of the climate, the complex configuration of the coastline of the White and Barents Seas, as well as the immediate proximity to the Central and Northwestern economically highly developed regions of the Russian Federation.

Natural conditions and resources.

A peculiarity of the natural conditions and climate of this region is the unusual lighting and heating of the earth's surface in different seasons of the year ("polar day" and "polar night"). In the middle of winter, the duration of the “polar night” at the latitude of the Arctic Circle is 24 hours, and in areas located at the parallel of 70 degrees north latitude it is already 64 days a year.

The following natural zones are represented: tundra, forest-tundra and taiga. Forests occupy 3/4 of the territory.

In a geological sense, the region includes the Baltic Shield and the north of the Russian Plain (between the Baltic Shield and the Urals), where the vast Pechora Lowland and the Timan Ridge stand out. The rivers of the region (Pechora, Mezen, Onega, Northern Dvina) belong to the Arctic Ocean basin.

The low mountain ranges of the Kola Peninsula (Khibiny) stand out on the Baltic Shield. The peninsula slowly continues to rise (earthquakes up to magnitude 5 occur). The originality and complexity of the relief of the Northern region are due to the action of glaciers (in the Quaternary period). Karelia is called the “land of blue lakes”, noting their large number.

The area is very rich in a variety of minerals. The extraction of granite, marble and other building materials began during the construction of St. Petersburg.

Deposits of iron and non-ferrous metal ores, as well as apatite-nepheline ores, are located on the Kola Peninsula. The sedimentary rocks of the Timan-Pechora basin are rich in coal (including coking coal), oil and gas (Komi Republic and the Barents Sea shelf). The Northern region is also rich in bauxite (Arkhangelsk region), as well as ores of titanium, tungsten, molybdenum and other metals.

Population - 5.9 million people; the average density is 4 people per 1 km 2 (in the wrong areas it is even less). The urban population predominates (urbanization coefficient - 76%).

The population and economic development of the region is significantly less than in other regions of the European part of Russia. The region is poorly supplied with labor resources. The Russian population predominates. Other peoples of the North also live here. In the Komi Republic (1.2 million people), the Komi people make up 23% of the population; in the Republic of Karelia (0.8 million people), Karelians make up about 10% of the population. And in Nenets Autonomous Okrug Nenets - 6.5 thousand people (12% of the district's population).

Farming.

The indigenous population (Komi, Nenets, etc.) have long been engaged in hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. Currently, the specialization of the region is determined by the presence of rich natural resources, as well as the peculiarities of its geographical location.

The areas of specialization in the region are fuel, mining and forestry industries. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering and the chemical industry have developed (based on local resources).

This area is the main raw material and fuel and energy base for many regions of the European part of the Russian Federation. A third of Russia's timber, paper and pulp are produced here (Arkhangelsk, Syktyvkar, Kondopoga, Segezha, Kotlas).

The mining industry is developed. The Kola Peninsula and Karelia produce 1/4 of the iron ore, 4/5 of the raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers (apatites), and a significant part of the non-ferrous metal ores mined in Russia.

In 1930, large deposits of oil were explored on the Ukhta River and coal near Vorkuta. Currently, thick mine oil is being extracted in Yarega (on the right bank of the Ukhta). In the middle reaches of the Pechora, the Vuktyl gas condensate field is being developed. The reserves of the modern Pechora coal basin amount to billions of tons. The quality of coking coals from Vorkuta and Vorgashor is the best in the country. Most of them go to the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant, as well as to St. Petersburg and Tula.

Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant. The technological fuel is Pechora coking coal, and the raw material is iron ores from the Kola Peninsula (Kovdorskoye and Olenegorskoye deposits) and Karelia (Kostomuksha GOK).

Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by enterprises in Monchegorsk (a copper-nickel plant using ores from deposits of the Kola Peninsula) and Nikel. An aluminum plant in the city of Nadvoitsy operates on nephelines of the Kola Peninsula and bauxites of the Arkhangelsk region.

The oil refining and chemical industries are developing.

There is an oil refinery in Ukhta, a gas processing plant in Sosnogorsk, and a chemical plant in Cherepovets.

An auxiliary branch of the region's economy is mechanical engineering (Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk).

Agro-industrial complex. Malozemelskaya (between the Timan Ridge and Pechora Bay) and Bolshezemelskaya (east of the mouth of the Pechora) tundra are the best pastures for reindeer. Hunting and fishing are developed.

Livestock farming still prevails over crop farming (for the development of which conditions in most of the territory are unfavorable; the cultivation of feed and grain crops predominates). In the south of the region flax is grown (Vologda region). Floodplain water meadows (along the rivers) have long served, in the southern part of the region, as a base for the development of dairy farming. The butter-making industry is developed.

The fishing industry (fish canning plant in Murmansk) occupies a significant place in the economy of the Northern region.

Fuel and energy complex.

The fuel industry of the region is one of its specialization sectors. The fuel industry is associated with the production of electricity.

In the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions and the Komi Republic, all power plants operate on coal from the Pechora Basin (Vorkuta) and gas from the Vuktylskoye field. The largest is the Pechora State District Power Plant.

In Karelia and the Murmansk region, electricity production is largely concentrated at hydroelectric power plants built on a number of small rapids rivers. These hydroelectric power stations largely ensure the development of energy-intensive industries in this part of the region.

The development of non-ferrous metallurgy and other industries was the reason for the commissioning of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant (Murmansk region). Natural resources are also used to produce electricity; the Kislogubskaya tidal power station was built.

Transport.

In conditions of poor transport development of the territory, rivers play an important role. Timber is floated along rivers, cargo and passengers are transported.

The railways are laid in the meridional direction from the central regions of the European part of Russia to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and to the northeast, to Vorkuta.

A major transport hub is Cherepovets. Ports: Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Onega, Mezen, Naryan-Mar. Murmansk (the largest of the polar cities of the world - 400 thousand inhabitants) is the most important ice-free port of Russia in the North.

Northwestern federal district is an administrative entity located in the northern and northwestern parts of European Russia. The district occupies an area of ​​1677.9 thousand km². The region's population is 13.74 million people. The Northwestern Federal District has external borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Belarus, its internal borders are adjacent to the territories of the Central, Volga, and Ural Federal Districts. In addition, the district has its own access to the Barents, Baltic, White and Kara seas.

The Northwestern Federal District consists of 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The Northwestern Federal District includes the republics of Karelia and Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, the federal city of St. Petersburg, and the Nenets Autonomous District. Main city region is located in the north-west of the Russian Federation, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, at the mouth of the Neva. The population of St. Petersburg is more than 5 million people.

As mentioned above, 83% of residents live in cities and urban settlements, 49.97% of the population lives in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region. The remaining regions are sparsely populated. Average population density in the area? 8.6 people per 1 sq. kilometer. Most of the population? Russians, Komi, Ukrainians, Belarusians. Among other nations, people from Central Asia and the Caucasus. The total population of the district in 2013 decreased by 16,603 people, at the same time, natural population growth is observed in St. Petersburg, the Komi Republic, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Murmansk region. The most significant natural population decline is in the Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorod regions. Migration balance for the district? positive. In 2013, 592,097 people moved to the region, 492,638 left. The increase was 99,459. Most people are moving to St. Petersburg, the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions. The largest negative balance of migration is in the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions.

Largest cities in the district: St. Petersburg (federal city, administrative center federal district, cultural capital of Russia), Kaliningrad (administrative center of the Kaliningrad region), Arkhangelsk (administrative center of the Arkhangelsk region), Cherepovets (large industrial center in the Vologda region), Vologda (administrative center of the Vologda region), Murmansk (largest administrative center of the Murmansk region in the world, a city located beyond the Arctic Circle), Petrozavodsk (administrative center of the Republic of Karelia), Syktyvkar (capital and The largest city Komi Republic), Veliky Novgorod (the administrative center of the Novgorod region, one of the oldest and most famous cities in Russia), Pskov (the administrative center of the Pskov region, one of the oldest cities in Russia), Severodvinsk (a city in the Arkhangelsk region, a center of nuclear shipbuilding), Ukhta (a city in the Komi Republic, an oil production center), Velikiye Luki (a city in the Pskov region, a multidisciplinary commercial, industrial and cultural and educational center), Gatchina (the largest settlement in the Leningrad region, an industrial, scientific, cultural and educational center), Vyborg (a large economic, industrial and cultural center of the Leningrad region, a port on the Baltic, a junction of highways and railways).

In the structure of the employed population by economic sector, the share of those working in trade is increasing, catering, consumer services while simultaneously reducing the number of people employed in industry, agriculture, and construction.

Table 1

Characteristics of the Northwestern Federal District by population density.

Territory, thousand km2	Population, thousand people.	Including population, thousand people.	Population share, %	Population density, people/km2
Urban	Rural	Urban	Rural
Republic of Karelia
Komi Republic
Arhangelsk region
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Arkhangelsk region without Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Vologda Region
Kaliningrad region
Leningrad region
Murmansk region
Novgorod region
Pskov region
Saint Petersburg

The fuel resources of the region consist of oil deposits, natural gas, coal, oil shale and peat. Prospective areas for hydrocarbon production reach about 600 thousand sq. km, and balance oil reserves are estimated at 1.3 billion tons, suburban gas - 1.1 trillion cubic meters.

A promising area for hydrocarbon production is the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province. More than 70 oil and gas fields have been discovered here. Fields on the shelf of the Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas, including the Shtokman gas condensate field and the Prirazlomnoye oil field, have great prospects for hydrocarbon production. Oil and gas production is carried out in small volumes in the Kaliningrad region. Explored coal reserves in the district are estimated at 240 billion tons. The coals of the Pechora basin are of high quality, about half of the reserves are valuable coking coals, the depth of which is 170-600 m. The thickness of the layers ranges from 0.7 to 1 m. The bulk of the reserves and all production comes from the Intinskoye, Vargashorskoye and Usinskoye deposits. However, the complex mining and geological conditions of their occurrence and location in the northern zone determine the high cost of production.

Oil shale reserves located in the Leningrad region and the Komi Republic (Vychegodskoye and Timan-Pechora deposits) are estimated at more than 60 billion tons. There are also significant reserves of peat, located everywhere and used as fuel, as well as in agriculture.

The district has significant ore reserves for the production of ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals. Balance reserves of iron ore (3.4 billion tons) account for about 5% of the reserves of the Russian Federation. The most important iron ore deposits are Olenegorskoye and Kovdorskoye (reserves of each are more than 0.5 billion tons), located on the Kola Peninsula. Given the low iron content in the ores of these deposits (28-32%), they are easily enriched and provide high quality smelted metal. In western Karelia there is a large Kostomuksha iron ore deposit (reserves over 1 billion tons). After ore beneficiation at the mining and processing plant, concentrates (pellets) with an iron content of 60-65 and even up to 70% are obtained. Iron ore It lies at shallow depths and is mined using open-pit mining.

The district has deposits of aluminum-containing raw materials, represented by the Tikhvin bauxite deposit with a high (up to 55%) alumina content, North Onega, Middle Timan, South Timan, North Ural bauxite deposits, nephelines from the Khibiny deposits and kyanites from the Murmansk region. High-quality bauxites were discovered in Sredny Timman in the Komi Republic, which form the basis of the raw material base for alumina and non-metallurgical production. In total, 13 deposits with total reserves of 400 million tons have been identified within the bauxite ore province of the Komi Republic. They are superior in quality to the bauxite of the Tikhvin and North Onezh deposits, but inferior to the bauxite of the North Ural bauxite-bearing region. The alumina content in them is 40-70%. Bauxites have also been discovered in the Arkhangelsk region (Iksinsky deposit) with an alumina content of 50-59%. The largest reserves of kyanite (raw materials for the production of silicon-aluminum alloys and valuable refractories) are concentrated in the Kayva massif. The silica content in the Khibiny nephelines ranges from 12.8 to 14%.

Raw materials for the production of rare metals are concentrated mainly in the Kola region. These are deposits of tantalum, niobium, lithium, cesium, zirconium, strontium. Titanium-containing raw materials have been identified in the Murmansk region, Komi Republic.

In the Polar Urals, within the borders of the Komi Republic, there is a chromite-bearing area with predicted resources of up to 120 thousand tons. Due to the lack of a chromium raw material base in Russia, the Polar Ural chromite deposits are of exceptional importance in meeting the economic needs for this important raw material. Non-ferrous metal ores are also represented by copper-nickel deposits of Monchegorsk and Pechenga, manganese and barite ores of the Komi Republic.

Phosphate raw materials are contained in apatite nepheline ores of the Khibiny deposit, unique in volume and quality (containing more than 40% apatite and about 40% nepheline) and in apatite-magnetite ores of the Kovdor deposit. The total reserves of apatite ores are 10 billion tons. Non-metallic raw materials are represented by large reserves of high-quality mica (muscovite, vermiculite, phlogopite), feldspar, and high-carbon shungite.

Deposits of limestone, dolomite, brick-tile and expanded clay, granite-sand materials and sands, facing and building stones and other building materials have been explored in the district.

In the Arkhangelsk region, large diamond deposits have been explored and prepared for open-pit mining to a depth of 460 m. The deposits are distinguished by complex hydrogeological production conditions. The mineral base of the Northwestern Federal District is characterized by a high degree of exploration, compact distribution of the most important types of mineral raw materials, the complex nature of the content of useful substances creates the possibility of organizing diversified industries.

The total area of ​​forests in the district that can be exploited is 55 million hectares with a total timber reserve of 9082.1 million cubic meters. The largest reserves are located in the Komi Republic (3022 million cubic meters), Arkhangelsk region. (2270 million cubic meters), Vologda region. (1126 million cubic meters) and the Republic of Karelia (965 million cubic meters). The most valuable coniferous species (spruce, pine) grow mainly in the northern regions, and deciduous species - in the southern regions - Kaliningrad, Pskov, Vologda, Leningrad regions.

The Northwestern Federal District has significant water resources. The use of fresh water here significantly exceeds the absolute indicators of the use of this resource in the Central, Volga, Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts. Large rivers and lakes are used for navigation, fishing, and ensure the development of water-intensive industries. Hydroelectric power stations were built on the Svir, Vuoksa, Kola, and Sheksna rivers.

University: Penza State University

Year and city: Penza 2014

Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: Geographical characteristics region
1.1. Geographical position and area
1.3. Climatic conditions
Chapter 2: Population of the region
2.1. Demographic situation
2.2. National composition
2.3. The quality of life
Chapter 3: Regional Economy
3.1. Natural resource potential
3.2. Industry structure
3.3. Territorial structure
3.4. Transport connections
Chapter 4: Ecological situation in the region12
Chapter 5: Problems and prospects for the development of the region
Chapter 6. Appendix
Chapter 7. List of sources used

Introduction

Economic-geographical position of the North-West economic region warned of a number of advantages compared to other regions of the country: open access to the Baltic water basin, which ensured stable economic ties with foreign countries Europe, America; border position with the Baltic and Scandinavian countries; proximity to developed economic regions of the country (Central, Northern).
The North-Western region was formed by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 13, 2000. The center of the district is the federal city of St. Petersburg. This area includes the following constituent entities of the Russian Federation:

• Republic of Karelia
• Komi Republic
• Arhangelsk region
• Nenets Autonomous Okrug
• Vologda Region
• Murmansk region
• Leningrad region
• Novgorod region
• Pskov region
• Kaliningrad region
• Federal city of St. Petersburg

1. Geographical characteristics of the region

1.1 Geographical location and area

The North-Western economic region is one of 11 large economic regions of Russia. It occupies an area of ​​0.2 million km 2, which is 9.87% of the entire territory of Russia. Population - 13,800 people (9.61% of the Russian Federation). The Northwestern economic region is located in the northern part of the Non-Black Earth zone of the Russian Federation, on the Russian (East European) Plain.

The economic development of the region is associated with its favorable economic and geographical position on the Baltic Sea and its proximity to developed European countries - Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and the Central Economic Region of Russia. Its role is enormous in the region of St. Petersburg - the largest seaport and industrial center of the country. (Fig.1)

The Northwestern region is located on the Russian Plain, which is a lowland with traces of glacier activity (moraine-ridge, hilly terrain). Low-lying areas of the relief are occupied by numerous lakes and peat bogs.

1.2 Climatic conditions

Climatic conditions are characterized by high humidity, relatively warm winters and cool summers, which is explained by the influence of the Atlantic. Natural opportunities for agricultural development in the area are determined by high air humidity, relatively moderate temperatures and a fairly long growing season. This provides favorable conditions for the ripening of wheat, rye, vegetables and potatoes. River valleys with rich grassy vegetation contribute to the development of dairy and dairy-meat livestock farming. Fish resources are of particular importance for the economy inland waters and seas of the region.

The ancient trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” passed along the rivers and lakes of this area, on which Novgorod Rus arose. For two centuries, St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia. Now it is designated as a “free enterprise zone” and occupies central position near. The region is located between developed European countries - Finland, Estonia, Latvia and the Central Economic Region, as well as next to the Northern Economic Region of the Russian Federation (with its rich resource base). Currently, three new Russian seaports are being built in the Gulf of Finland.

1. Population of the region

2.1 Demographic situation

More than 5.6% of the Russian population lives in the North-Western region. The region is characterized by an increased rate of urbanization. The share of the urban population is the highest in the country at 87%. Within the district, the St. Petersburg urban agglomeration was formed, where 80% of the urban population lives. The region is provided with highly qualified labor resources, a powerful system of design, development and experimental institutes and factories and is the second scientific base in the country after Moscow.

2.2 National composition

By ethnic composition The population is multinational (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Tatars, Karelians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Jews, Germans, Finns, Chuvash, Lithuanians, Gypsies, Poles, Uzbeks, Tajiks), but is represented mainly by Russians.

2.3 Quality of life

Indicators of the quality and standard of living of the population of the North-Western Federal District

		PS income (quantity sets of PM)	poverty by income,	Coefficient fractions of a unit	GRP at PPP, dollars
Saint Petersburg
Vologda region
Nenets
Arkhangelsk region
Murmansk region
Novgorod region
Leningrad region.
Kaliningrad region
Pskov region

Economy of the region

3.1 Natural resource potential

The Northwestern region is not particularly diverse or rich in mineral resources. Of the fuel resources, there are reserves in the northwestern part of the Leningrad region. There are industrial reserves of bauxite (near the city of Tikhvin), which are valuable raw materials for the production of aluminum. Phosphorites located in the Leningrad region are becoming increasingly important for the economy, the reserves of which amount to about 200 million tons. Building materials are found almost everywhere - limestones, refractory clays, glass sands, granites (Karelian Isthmus).

Are important forest resources. Forests occupy 45% of the region's territory. In the northern part of the region, coniferous species (spruce, pine) predominate, in the southern part - mixed species. The main forest areas are located in the Leningrad and Novgorod regions, where forested areas account for 50%.

The North-West has significant water resources. The hydrographic network is well developed here. The largest rivers are the Neva, Volkhov, Svir, Lovat, Velikaya, etc. Hydroelectric power stations were built on the rivers Vuoksa, Svir, and Meta. The largest lakes are Ladoga, Pskov, Chudskoye, Ilmen. Rivers and lakes are widely used for shipping, fishing, and ensure the development of water-intensive industries.

Land resources are small, but the density of their economic development is quite high. The main agricultural lands are located in the Pskov region. Currently, reclamation work is being carried out in the area to drain the swamps for use as agricultural land.

3.2 Industry structure

The multi-industry complex of the economic region ensures the production of the most important types of products for the national economy of the entire country. Industries of specialization are mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical and light industry, forestry and production of building materials. The mechanical engineering complex of the region is characterized by developed intra-industry connections. The following branches of mechanical engineering are represented: energy, electrical engineering, shipbuilding, instrument making, machine tool building. The region is a major supplier of instruments, automation equipment, turbines, and tractors. Chemical industry St. Petersburg was a pioneer in the production of polymers, plastics, and pharmaceutical industries in Russia. Light industry is developed (footwear, textile, food). The development of the textile industry was facilitated by the region's great need for fabrics, as well as the concentration of highly qualified personnel in St. Petersburg. A number of industries in the Northwestern region are based on local natural resources. This is the extraction of phosphorites and the production of mineral fertilizers from them (Kingisepp, the modern name of the city is Kuressaare), the production of fire-resistant bricks from local clays (Borovichi), the extraction and production of building materials, the extraction of shale (Slantsy). The north-west is the birthplace of the aluminum industry (based on local Tikhvin bauxite). Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are located in Volkhov (aluminum smelter), Boksitogorsk and Pikalevo (alumina refineries). Agriculture specializes in dairy farming, pig farming, poultry farming, vegetable and potato production. Flax growing has retained its importance in the south and southwest of the region. Flax is processed in numerous small factories and large flax mills in Pskov and Velikiye Luki. The fuel and energy base of the region is focused mainly on imported fuel (oil, gas, coal). The region is a large consumer of electricity. It is produced by powerful thermal power plants using imported energy resources. Powerful state district power stations and thermal power plants are located in St. Petersburg, its environs and in the city of Kirishi (to which an oil pipeline from the Volga region approaches). A noticeable share of electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants of medium and low power, built on the rivers Svir, Volkhov, Vuoksa, etc. To more reliably supply the region with electricity, one of the largest in Russia, the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, was built and is operating near St. Petersburg.

3.3 Territorial structure

The territorial structure of the economy is characterized by extremely high level industrial development of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, relatively low in comparison with them the development of farms in the Novgorod and Pskov regions, in which the agricultural sector is pronounced. St. Petersburg (4.8 million inhabitants) and the Leningrad region, located at the mouth of the Neva (near the Gulf of Finland), have concentrated a powerful manufacturing industry, many of which are of national and export importance. As part of the North-Western region, the Leningrad region accounts for 20.5% of the population, 15% of industrial products and 60% of agricultural products. Mechanical engineering plays a special role. More than 5% of the republican production of turbines and generators, a significant share of the production of powerful compressors for gas pipelines, sea vessels, printing equipment, forging and pressing machines, instruments and automation equipment are concentrated here. Among the cities that are part of the St. Petersburg industrial agglomeration, Kolpino stands out, where such well-known enterprises as the Izhora Heavy Engineering Plant are located, as well as Gatchina and Vyborg. The share of the Novgorod and Pskov regions in the industrial production of the region is small. Their industrial development is largely associated with St. Petersburg. Branches and departments of St. Petersburg production associations are located in many cities of these regions. Large industrial centers here are Veliky Novgorod (more than 234 thousand inhabitants) with developed electrical and radio engineering production, Pskov (more than 208 thousand inhabitants) with developed electrical engineering, production of communications equipment, flax processing and food industries, and Velikiye Luki (111 thousand inhabitants ) with electrical and radio engineering, light industry.

3.4 Transport connections

The Northwestern economic region has a developed transport system, which is focused on solving three main tasks:

1. Access to the Baltic through Moscow to the entire southern and southeastern part of Russia and adjacent CIS countries;
2. Access to the Baltic Sea for Belarus and Ukraine and connection between the Baltic and Black Sea basins;
3. Connection with the Baltic northern regions Russia.

Several railway directions originate from St. Petersburg: to Moscow, the Urals (via Cherepovets - Vologda), Belarus and Ukraine (via Vitebsk - Orsha - Kharkov). Railways connect the North-West with the North (St. Petersburg - Petrozavodsk - Murmansk, Vologda and Kotlas - Syktyvkar and Vorkuta), the Baltic states (St. Petersburg - Tallinn, St. Petersburg - Pskov - Vilnius and further to Kaliningrad).

Of particular importance to the railway network is the connection with the Baltic. The “input” of the Mariinsky water system into the Baltic Sea also takes place here, providing a direct connection between the northern seas of Russia and its southern seas.

Currently, a significant scale of new transport construction is planned in the North-Western region: a system of Russian ports (expansion of the ports of Vyborg and Vysotsk, construction of large ports at the mouth of the Luga River and in the area of ​​Lomonosov) and the implementation of a high-speed communication line project between Moscow and Scandinavia ; reconstruction and modernization of Oktyabrskaya railway; construction of an intersectoral transport system.

Products exported from the region are dominated by mechanical engineering, chemical, woodworking and pulp and paper industry. Fuel and energy resources, timber, metal, building materials, and food are imported. Imports prevail over exports.

IN modern conditions The North-West region for Russia is practically the only direct access to the Western sphere of the world market.

Ecological situation in the region

The environmental situation in the North-West region today is quite difficult. The Gulf of Finland and rivers are actively polluted by untreated sewage, the condition of the soil is very deplorable as a result of the harmful effects of solid industrial and household waste, the atmosphere of the North-Western region is polluted not only by internal emissions, but also by the arrival of harmful substances from other countries.

Air pollution

Industrial enterprises in St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Novgorod and Pskov regions regularly pollute the atmosphere with emissions of harmful substances. To a greater extent, the air in the North-Western region suffers from the harmful effects of such stationary sources as electric power, engineering, pulp and paper and chemical enterprises. But harmful emissions into the atmosphere from industrial facilities - that’s not so bad. About 70% of the total air pollution is caused by vehicle exhaust gases.

Due to the border position, environmental situation in the North-Western region, the flow of pollutants from neighboring countries is worsening. For example, emissions of harmful sulfur compounds from abroad pollute the ecology of the Novgorod region 40 times more than evaporation from its own enterprises, and the intake of nitrogen oxide from outside is 160 times higher than intraregional.

The ecology of the North-Western region is especially actively polluted by sulfur compounds in such countries as Poland, Germany, Belarus, Estonia and Ukraine. Almost 50% of nitrogen oxides coming from abroad come from Poland and Germany. The remaining 50% of the import of harmful substances into the atmosphere of the North-Western region is shared by Finland, Sweden and the UK.

Water pollution

The environmental situation in the North-Western region is seriously worsened by the discharge of dirty wastewater into surface water bodies of the Baltic Sea. The cause of water pollution here is mainly the ineffective operation of outdated treatment facilities. The share of regulatory purified water in the entire North-Western region is less than 1%.

The ecology of St. Petersburg suffers the most from the discharge of contaminated wastewater into surface water bodies. According to this criterion, St. Petersburg ranks second in the country. The ecology of the Neva and other reservoirs is deteriorating daily as a result of the discharge of untreated wastewater from four hundred city industrial and five hundred wastewater from enterprises in St. Petersburg. Environmentalists report a large-scale accumulation of petroleum products, radioactive isotopes, mercury, lead, potassium and benzopyrene on the surface of the bottom of the Neva Bay and the bottom of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

In order to significantly improve the environmental situation in St. Petersburg, it is necessary:

• complete the construction of treatment facilities in the northern and southwestern parts of the city;
• complete the construction of a flood protection system for St. Petersburg;
• improve the system for preventing and eliminating emergency oil spills on Lake Ladoga and the Neva River.

Soil pollution

As for the problem of storing solid industrial and household waste, here, unfortunately, the North-Western region has nothing to boast of. Most landfills and landfills where hazardous waste is currently stored do not meet environmental safety standards. And the storage of solid industrial and household waste in unequipped areas is fraught with toxic substances polluting the soil, ground and inland waters.

The problem of hazardous industrial waste disposal is especially acute in the Kaliningrad region. Due to the lack of a specially equipped landfill, solid toxic waste is stored there in the most ordinary landfills and garbage dumps.

In the Leningrad region there is a specially equipped landfill for storing hazardous waste, but it is located very close to the main water intake of St. Petersburg. So in the event of prolonged heavy rains or floods, leaks of toxic substances from the Krasny Bor landfill can become a real disaster for the city’s population. In addition, in the Leningrad region there is a serious problem with the elimination of radiation in landfills and industrial waste disposal sites.

Problems and prospects for the development of the region

The areas of development of the economic region include the following:

Solving problems of structural adjustment, i.e. comprehensive development of the non-productive sphere (tourism, healthcare, culture, organizational and financial activities);

Development of mechanical engineering, providing scientific and technical progress in all sectors of the economy and spheres of social development;

Increasing fuel and energy potential in order to more fully meet the needs of the North-Western economic region for efficient types of fuel, cheap electricity and export of some energy and fuel.

Two branches of a special economic zone of a technology-innovation type are being created on the territory of St. Petersburg (on the territory of the Neudorf industrial zone and north of the Novo-Orlovsky forest park). The development of the zone is expected in three directions:

Organization of the Center for Nanotechnologies for Biology and Medicine based on the unification of 10 academic and higher education institutions in St. Petersburg to increase efficiency Russian healthcare and development of nanobiotechnologies in the conditions of the SEZ to an industrial level;

Formation of technology centers in the following areas: optoelectronics, precision, metalworking (precision instrumentation), vacuum processing of semiconductors, nanomaterials, hydrogen energy, solar energy, thermoelectricity;

Creation of a design center, the customers of which will be engineering structures of such enterprises as Avangard, NPO Radar, NPO Svetlana, NPO Elektroavtomatika, NPO Elektropribor, LOMO, etc.

List of sources used

1. Economic geography of Russia. Second edition. Edited by Professor T.G. Morozova. - 2004.
2. Economic geography and regional studies. E.N Kuzbozhev, I.A. Kozyeva. -2014. - pp. 336-340
3. Fundamentals of regional economics. Granberg. A. T - 2000.
4. Wikipedia. -2014. (digital data).
5. Economic portal. Article-Analysis of Doctor of Economics, Professor V. Bobkov, Candidate of Economics A. Gulyugin.

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