Pskov Region
// GENERAL INFORMATION
Pskov Region is located on the northwestern Russian Plain and is part of the Northwestern economic district of the Russian Federation. It is the only Russian region with state and customs borders on three countries: Belarus, Estonia, and Latvia. Rail lines connect Pskov Region with the ports of St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Kaliningrad, Tallinn, and Riga.
 |
|
| Emblem |
The region has an area of 55 300 km2 and a population of about 840 000. Russians make up 95% of the population; Ukrainians, 2%; Belarussians, 1%; and other nationalities, 2%. Pskov Region is situated in the southern taiga and mixed forest zones and is considered one of the most ecologically clean Russian regions. There are more than 600 rivers and 3700 lakes with a total area of 3261 km2, including the largest lake in Europe, Pskovsko-Chudskoe. The climate is temperate continental, becoming more continental in the northwest-southeast direction. Prevailing winds are from the south, southwest, and, to some extent, northwest.
The warm period lasts from 175 to 185 days; the average summer temperature is +17°C, and the average winter temperature is -7 °C. Temperature conditions allow the cultivation of all temperate-zone crops, such as wheat, corn, sunflowers, and sugar beets. The main agricultural sectors are flax growing, livestock farming, and production of vegetables and potatoes.
Wood, peat, and nonmetallic building materials are the region's primary natural resources.
The leading industrial sectors are the electrical, electronics, and communications industries, engineering and metalworking, the light, food, and building material industries, and peat production and processing. Pskov Region is Russia's largest producer of low-power electric motors for household appliances and computer-aided and mechanized facilities.
Pskov Region's fundamental problems stem from its changed situation. After the collapse of the USSR, the region ended up on an international border, and an economically active border at that, with large-scale freight traffic between Russia and the Baltic region passing through it. The Administration has set an objective of attracting both Russian and foreign investments to the regional economy. The region is a potentially broad field for investment activity. There is a large network of commercial banks; business contacts have been established with foreign partners; a securities market has begun operating; the number of investment structures servicing this market is increasing; a regional business support fund and several insurance companies have been established; and a regional chamber of commerce and industry has been set up.
The combination of favorable climatic and ecological conditions, numerous historical, cultural, and natural points of interest, an advantageous geographical location, and remoteness from centers of social upheaval create all the conditions for developing tourism and recreation.
The city of Pskov is one of Russia's oldest cities and a center of Old Russian architecture and painting. There are nearly 100 historical monuments within the city. The most notable of these are the Mirozha Monastery, which is included on UNESCO's world heritage list; the Church of Kosma and Damian; Trinity (Troitsky) Cathedral; ancient fortresses in Stary Izborsk, Pechory, Porkhov, and Opochka; the Pskovo-Perchersky Orthodox Monastery, one of Russia's oldest continuously functioning monasteries; and the Pushkin Reserve, where the great Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin, lived, worked, and was buried.
HISTORY
Pskov land has a special destiny in the country's history. In its own way, it is an enviable and brilliant one, a legitimate source of pride for the people of Pskov. But at the same time, it is a stern and difficult one that few other lands would likely have wanted for themselves.
According to archeological data, the first settlements arose on the promontory between the Velikaya and Pskov rivers in the middle of the first millennium A.D., and Slavic Krivich tribes settled here in the third quarter of the millennium. The first mentions of Pskov in Russian chronicles dating back to 903 treat it as a long-established city. This city-state was a medieval veche republic [headed by a popular assembly,
or veche] and impregnable fortress that had secured Russian power in the northwest since ancient times. Pskov land stretched in a narrow belt from south to north, including the Velikaya River basin. The waterway was Pskov's main trade route and connected the city with European countries. The route began in the Velikaya River, which flows into Pskovskoe Lake and then into Chudskoe Lake; from there, the route followed the Narva River to the Baltic Sea. Twelve small fortresses were built along the Velikaya River to secure safe passage for merchant convoys.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Pskov was part of the Novgorod feudal republic.
Pskov was a frontline fortress in the struggle of the Russian people against the Livonian Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and successfully withstood 26 sieges. Livonian knights captured the city in 1240, but Novgorodian and Pskovian forces led by Prince Alexander Nevsky liberated it two years later. As an important frontier city, Pskov was encircled by a system of strong stone fortress structures in the 14th century. In 1581-1582, during the Livonian War, Pskov withstood a six-month siege by Polish forces of King Stefan Batory.
Between the 14th and 17th centuries, Pskov was a major trade and mercantile city and one of the most important centers of Old Russian culture. Chronicle writing, birchbark documents, icon painting, and stone architecture were widespread.
In the 16th century, Pskov became a powerful defensive installation. At that time, there were only two fortresses that enclosed an entire populated area with their stone walls-Pskov and Smolensk. By then, Pskov fortress had about 40 towers and walls 9 km long.
In the early 18th century, Pskov began losing its leading role in foreign trade; and with the shift in the boundary after the Russian victory in the Northern War, it also lost its defensive significance. It became part of Ingermanland province in 1708, St. Petersburg Province in 1717, and Novgorod Province in 1727. Starting in 1777, Pskov became the center of a governorship (later a province).
By the late 19th century, Pskov had 41 churches, 3 monasteries, 35 educational institutions, and 55 factories.
During the First World War, the headquarters of the Northern front were located in Pskov, and it was here in spring 1917 that the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II, abdicated.
During the Second World War, the city was occupied by German forces from July 9, 1941, to July 23, 1944, and almost totally destroyed: only 6% of the housing stock was left after the liberation.
Pskov became a district center of Leningrad Region in July 1927 and then the center of Pskov Region on August 23, 1944.
On February 16, 1967, Pskov Region was awarded the Order of Lenin for the active participation and courage shown by the workers of Pskov Region in the partisan movement against the German occupiers during the Second World War and for successes achieved in developing the economy.
RESOURCES
The region has sizable water resources, with large numbers of rivers and lakes. The largest rivers are the Velikaya (and its tributaries the Sorot, Cherekha, Pskova, Issa, and Sinyaya rivers), Shelon, Lovat, and Plyussa.
Forests cover nearly 2 450 000 hectares, or about 40% of the region's territory. The main tree species are spruce, pine, birch, and aspen. Total forest reserves are approximately 250 million m2 (coniferous, 45%; birch, 35%). Mushrooms, berries (blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries), and medicinal herbs are also abundant in the region. Twenty-one wild animal species are found here, including valuable fur-bearing animals such as beaver, marten, otter, and European mink. Moose, wild boar, varying hares, and foxes are also encountered. Wood, black, and hazel grouse and gray partridge are some typical bird species. Fish such as whitebait, whitefish, bream, pike perch, cisco, burbot, and pike are found in the rivers and lakes.
Sebezhsky National Park is located in Pskov Region.
Pskov Region has significant reserves of various economic minerals, even diamond-bearing shows (Gdovsky District). Explored peat reserves are as much as 300 million tons, although only 350 of 3000 established deposits are currently being worked. Total yearly production is about 30 000 tons. Other available reserves include foundry and glassmaking sand; refractory and fusible clay; raw materials for making dyes; sapropel [aquatic ooze], which has a wide range of uses from medicines to building materials; and therapeutic mud and clay with unique properties. Mineral water production is attractive for both external and internal treatment. Eight explored mineral water reservoirs have reserves of more than 5 million m3.
ECONOMY
The economy of Pskov Region is oriented towards both industry and agriculture.
The region has strong agricultural, industrial, and scientific/technical potential, as well as great significance in the overall Russian division of specialization. It is one of the leading Russian regions in terms of level of economic development and industrial diversification.
The engineering industry, one of the region's leading industrial sectors, mainly specializes in electrical engineering (low-power electric motors, welding equipment, automotive electrical equipment, household electrical appliances, electric cable, automatic telephone exchanges, and radio components). Light industry produces linen fabrics, clothing, and knitted goods.
The main industrial centers are the cities of Pskov, Velikie Luki, Ostrov, and Nevel.
The dominant agricultural sectors are flax production, beef and dairy farming, and vegetable and potato production.
Small business is assigned a special role in the region's socioeconomic development, which should contribute to creating new jobs, supplying the consumer market with goods and services, and ensuring the necessary structural improvements in the economy and the formation of a competitive environment.
About 15% of the region's large industrial companies are privately owned, and another 47% have mixed ownership forms.
The regional Administration is working to attract private Russian and foreign investments, primarily in order to solve the problems of utilizing the region's border location, increasing export potential, creating a market infrastructure, and developing international tourism.
Pskov Region's geopolitical situation (the region borders on Belarus, Latvia, and Estonia) promotes foreign economic activity. Latvia has opened a consulate in Pskov, and the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding talks on opening an Estonian consulate.
The region carries on foreign trade operations with many countries, and products manufactured by its companies are exported to more than 37 countries. The largest deliveries go to Belarus, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine.
Closeness to traditional international trade routes and sales markets and developed transportation and market infrastructures stimulate the expansion of foreign economic activity. In the estimation of experts, Pskov Region is one of the most attractive regions for both Russian and foreign investors.
AUTHORITIES
Administration of Pskov Region is the region's highest executive body.
Pskov Regional Assembly, headed by the Chairaman is the region's highest regional legislative body.
CULTURE AND ART
Pskov is a land surrounded by historical legends and has a rich culture and traditions. Large numbers of historical and cultural monuments from various historical periods have become Pskov's main points of interest.
The region's wealth of historical, cultural, and architectural monuments attracts ever-increasing numbers of tourists wanting to learn more about Pskov's culture. In furthering this objective, a museum complex has been opened in Izborsk with the Administration's support, along with a small hotel, and restoration work has been completed on the oldest tower of the Izborsk fortress, the Lukovka. Work on the Sofya Kovalevskaya Museum and the Gdov and Ostrov museums will be completed this year.
Many consider the founding of a regional symphony orchestra to be the most significant event in the professional arts sphere in recent years. The symphony opened its fifth-anniversary season this year. In other arts events, the Pskov Drama Theater has been awarded the title of Academic Theater, and a Representative Office of the Composers' Union of Russia has opened in Pskov.
Official site of Pskov Region:
http://www.pskov.ru/
|
