Moscow Oblast
Encyclopedia
Moscow Oblast or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject
of Russia
(an oblast
). Its area, at 45900 km² (17,722.1 sq mi), is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject. There is no official administrative center of Moscow Oblast; its public authorities are located in Moscow
and Krasnogorsk
.
The oblast was founded in 1929. It borders Tver Oblast
in the northwest, Yaroslavl Oblast
in the north, Vladimir Oblast
in the northeast and east, Ryazan Oblast
in the southeast, Tula Oblast
in the south, Kaluga Oblast
in the southwest and Smolensk Oblast
in the west. In the center stands the federal city of Moscow, which is a separate federal subject in its own right. The oblast is highly industrialized, with its main industrial branches being metallurgy
, oil refining, and mechanical engineering
, food
, energy
, and chemical industries.
ridges, and to the south – only erosional landforms. The western and northern parts of the oblast contain the Moscow Uplands. Their average height peaks at about 300 m (984.3 ft) near Dmitrov
and the upper point of 310 m (1,017.1 ft) lies near the village of Shapkino of Mozhaysk
District. The northern part of the Moscow Uplands is steeper than the southern part. The uplands contain lakes of glacial origin, such as Nerskoe and Krugloe lakes. To the north of the Moscow Uplands lies the alluvial Verhnevolzhsk Depression. It is marshy and flat with the height varying between about 120 m (393.7 ft) and 150 m (492.1 ft).
To the south stretches a hilly area of the Moskvoretsko-Oksk plain. Its greatest height of 254 m (833.3 ft) lies in the area of Tyoplyi Stan, within the Moscow city limits. The plain has clearly defined river valleys, especially in the south parts, and occasional karst
relief, mostly in Serpukhov District. In the extreme south, after the Oka River, lies the Central Russian Upland
. It contains numerous gullies and ravines and has average height above 200 m with the maximum of 236 m near Puschino.
Most of the eastern part of the Moscow Oblast is taken by the vast Meshchera Lowlands
with much wetland in their eastern part. Their highest hill peaks at 214 m (702.1 ft) but the average heights are 120 metre. Most lakes of the lowlands, such as Chyornoe and Svyatoe lakes, are of glacial origin. Here lies the lowest natural elevation of the region, the water level of Oka River at 97 m (318.2 ft).
Moscow Oblast is located in the central part of the East European craton
. Like all cratons, the latter is composed of the crystalline basement and sedimentary cover. The basement consists of Archaean and Proterozoic
rocks and the cover is deposited in the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic
and Cenozoic
eras. The lowest depth of the basement (1000 m (3,280.8 ft)) is to the south of Serebryanye Prudy
, in the very south area of the oblast, and the largest (4200 m (13,779.5 ft) m) is to the east of Sergiyev Posad
, in the north-east region.
Tertiary
deposits are almost absent within the oblast. Significantly more abundant are deposits of the Carboniferous
and Jurassic
periods. In the Cretaceous
period, a sea was covering the Moscow Oblast, as evidenced by phosphate
deposits and a variety of sands. Cretaceous sediments are most common in the north of the oblast. The sea was wider in Jurassic than in Cretaceous period. Typical Jurassic deposits, in the form of black clay, are found within and around the Moscow city and in the valley of the Moscow River. Carboniferous deposits in Moscow Oblast are represented by dolomite
, limestone
and marl
. Coal deposits rich in organic remains occur in the south, especially in Serpukhov District, and in the west regions. Devonian
deposits were also found within the region.
Quaternary
deposits are widely distributed in the Moscow Oblast, their thickness decreases from the north-west to south-east. It is believed that there were four glaciations in the area. The first occurred in the Lower Pleistocene
and spread to the east-west part of the Oka River valley, it left almost no trace in the region. In the Middle Pleistocene
, there were two powerful glaciations. The Dnieper glacier covered a large part of the Russian Plain), whereas the Moscow glaciation stopped just south of the present Moscow city. The last glaciation, Valdai glaciation, occurred in the Late Pleistocene
; it did not directly affect the territory of Moscow Oblast, but left traces in the form of fluvioglacial deposits, mainly in the north area. The glaciers left behind a moraine
loam
with pebbles and boulders of various rocks, such as granite
, gneiss
, quartzite
, dolomite
, limestone
and sandstone
. Its thickness varies between a few meters at watersheds and 100 m at moraine ridges.
) is used in the glass industry, their production is conducted from the end of 17th century near Lyubertsy
. Much of the production is currently halted due to environmental concerns, and only the Eganovskoe field is being exploited; its silica sand reserves are 33 million tonnes and annual production reaches 675,000 tonnes. Sand and gravel deposits are abundant within the Smolensk-Moscow Upland. Sandstone
deposits are developed in the Klin and Dmitrov districts.
There are numerous clay deposits within the Moscow Oblast, fusible clay is excavated in Sergiyev Posad
. The Eldiginskoe field near the village of Sofrino has reserves estimated at 30 million cubic meters, its annual production reaches 600000 m³ (21,188,799.7 cu ft). Refractory white clay occurs in the eastern region, in the Carboniferous and Jurassic sediments, and is extracted from the 14th century near Gzhel
. The largest (Kudinovskoe) deposit is near the town of Elektrougli
with the reserves of 3 billion tonnes. Also widespread are loams which are used in brick manufacture and limestone
s ("white stone"). The famous Myachkovo
deposit of carboniferous limestone
provided material which went for cladding of such buildings in Moscow as Bolshoi Theatre
. The mining in Myachkovo had been stopped and currently, limestone is provided by the quarries of Podolsk
, Voskresensk
and Kolomensky Districts. The last district also provides marble-like limestone.
Other industrial mineral of Moscow Oblast is dolomite
, limestone tuff
and marl
, mostly in the southern and eastern parts. Dolomite is used in the cement industry. Its mining is concentrated mainly near Schelkovo, the reserves exceed 20 million tonnes and the annual production is about 650 tonnes.
Phosphates are produced in the Yegorevskoe and Severskoe fields. Meshchera and Verkhnevolzhsk Lowlands are rich in peat
. The largest mines are "Ryazanovskoe" (840,000 tonnes per year) and "Radovitsky moss" (760,000 tonnes per year), both in Yegoryevsk
area. There are deposits of brown coal beyond the Oka River, but they have no commercial value. There are also minor deposits of titanium and iron ore in Serpukhov
and Serebryano-Prudsky districts.
Salts of potassium salt are being developed in Serpukhov and Yegoryevsk areas. There are also numerous mineral springs near Zvenigorod, Klin and Serpukhov. They include surface springs and reservoirs at the depth of 300–500 m (984.3–1,640.4 ). Deeper, at 1 kilometre there is a large sea of salt extending beyond the Moscow Oblast. Waters with the salt concentration up to 300 g/L are used in the local food industry and spas.
. Thaws often occur in December and February due to the Atlantic, and rarely the Mediterranean cyclone
s. The thaws usually last several days, and their total number from November to March can reach fifty. Snow starts accumulating in November, though sometimes in September or December, and disappears in mid-April (sometimes in late March). The snow depth is 25 centimetre and the soil freezes to 65 centimetre. The warmest month is July with the average temperature of 18.5 °C in the west and 20.0 °C in the south-east. The maximum temperature of 40 °C was recorded in Kolomna
during 2010 European heat wave. The average annual rainfall is 450 millimetre, the precipitation is maximal in the north-western and minimal in the south-east regions. The summer precipitation is usually 75 mm (3 in), but severe droughts occur once in 25–30 years, with less than 5 mm (0.196850393700787 in) of rain over June–August.
There are more than 300 rivers with the length above 10 km (6.2 mi) in Moscow Oblast. All rivers are calm and have well-developed valleys and floodplain
s. They are mostly fed by melting snow and the flood falls on April–May. The water level is low in summer and increases only with heavy rain. The rivers freeze over from late November until mid-April. The only navigable rivers are the Volga
, the Oka
and Moskva River
.
Most rivers belong to the basin of the Volga
, which itself only crosses a small part in the north of Moscow Oblast, near the border with Tver Oblast
. The second largest river of the region is Oka. The northern part of Moscow Oblast includes such Volga tributaries
as Shosha
, Lama
, Dubna
, Sestra and Yakhroma. On the south flow the tributaries of Oka, including Nara
, Protva
and Lopasnya River
. The Moscow River, which almost entirely flows within the oblast, also belongs to the Oka basin. The eastern and north-eastern regions, including much of Meschersk Depression, are irrigated by the tributaries of the Klyazma River
, which itself is a main tributary of the Oka.
The Moscow Canal
crosses the northern part of Moscow Oblast through the Ikshinskoe, Klyazminskoe, Pyalovskoe and Pestovskoye reservoirs. In the basin of the Moscow River, there are also Ozerninskoe, Mozhayskoe, Istrinskoe and Ruza reservoirs, providing the Moscow city with drinking water.
There are about 350 lakes in the oblast, almost all are shallow (5–10 m) and many are of glacial origin. The largest are Senezh (15.4 km² (5.9 sq mi)) and Svyatoe (12.6 km² (4.9 sq mi)) whereas the deepest (32 m (105 ft)) is Glubokoye Lake in the Ruza
district. There are also many marshes, especially within the Meshchersk and Verkhnevolzhsk lowlands.
soils which require fertilizers for commercial agriculture. On the hills there is more loam
and the low-lying areas have more of bog, sandy loam and sand. Chernozem
is scarce and occurs only south of the Oka River. Gray forest soils are spread between the Oka, Moscow and Klyazma rivers, mostly in the Ramensky
and Voskresensky districts. Marshy soils are common in Meshchersk and Verkhnevolzhsk lowlands. Valleys of large rivers are rich in alluvial soils. In general, soils of the Moscow Oblast are heavily polluted with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and household and industrial waste, especially around Moscow, Orekhovo-Zuyevo
, Noginsk
and Voskresensk.
forests. Central and eastern regions have coniferous-deciduous forests with the main tree species of spruce
, pine
, birch
and aspen
often mixed with bushes of hazel
. To the south lies the subzone of broad-leaved forests of oak
, lime
, maple
and elm
. Moscow-Oka Upland is the transition zone which is dominated by spruce, for example, in the upper reaches of the Lopasnya River
. Valleys of Oka are covered in pine forests of the steppe type and the far south regions (Serebryano-Prudsky and partially Serpukhov Districts) are cultivated steppes with occasional lime and oak groves.
The intensive cutting of Moscow region forests in the 18–19th centuries reduced them and changed their species: conifers were replaced by birch
and aspen
. There is almost no logging nowadays and the forests are being restored, especially around Moscow.
Swamp
s are prevalent in the eastern areas, such as Shatura and Lukhovitsy
. The natural floodplain meadows are almost gone. The number of native plant species is reduced, but some foreign species flourish, such as Canadian maple
. Endemic species include water caltrop
and lady's slipper
.
, squirrel, beaver
, otter
, muskrat
, stoat
, Russian Desman
, raccoon dog
, hedgehog, hare (Mountain
and European
), shrew
s (Common Shrew
, Eurasian Pygmy Shrew
, Lesser White-toothed Shrew
, Eurasian Water Shrew
, etc.), weasel
, fox, moose
, wild boar, European Mole
, brown
and black rat
s, marten
, mice and voles
(Wood mouse
, Yellow-necked Mouse
, house mouse
, Eurasian Harvest Mouse, Northern Birch Mouse
, Bank Vole
, Field Vole
, Tundra Vole
, European Water Vole), European Mink
, deer (roe
, red
, spotted
),
hazel
and fat dormouse
, European Polecat
. At the borders there are occasional bears, lynxes and wolves. In the southern areas there are also speckled ground squirrel
, dwarf hamster, Great Jerboa
and Beech Marten
. Some areas contain stable populations of imported animals, such as flying squirrel
, American mink
and Siberian Roe Deer
. In the Moscow region, there are more than a dozen kinds of bat
and moth.
There are more than 170 species of birds in the area with large numbers of crows, sparrows, ducks, magpies, woodpeckers, thrushes
, grouses, bullfinch
es, nightingale
s, corncrakes
, Northern Lapwing
s, White Stork
s, Grey Heron
s, seagulls and grebe
s. Over forty species are being hunted.
Rivers and lakes of Moscow Oblast are rich in fish, such as ruff
, carp
, bream, bass
, roaches
, Chinese sleeper, perch
and pike. There are six species of reptiles: three lizards (slow worm
, Viviparous lizard
and Sand Lizard
) and three snakes (European adder
, Grass Snake
and smooth snake
). There is evidence for bog turtle
s in some areas. Amphibians are represented by 11 species including Smooth Newt
, Great Crested Newt
, common toad
, European Green Toad
, Common Frog
, Moor Frog
, Marsh Frog
, Common Spadefoot and European Fire-bellied Toad
. Insects are numerous, with only bees accounting for more than 300 species.
In Serpukhov District, there is the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve
which contains protected wisent
s. Near Moscow lies Losiny Ostrov National Park
of federal significance.
were discovered there. Up to the 9–10th centuries, the Moscow River basin and adjacent lands were inhabited by Finno-Ugric peoples
. Slavs populated the area only in the 10th century. In mid-12th century, the lands of Moscow Oblast became part of Vladimir-Suzdal principality
. Several importance cities were founded around that time, including Volokolamsk
(1135), Moscow (1147), Zvenigorod
(1152) and Dmitrov
(1154). In the first half of the 13th century, the entire Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, including the Moscow area, was conquered by the Mongols.
In the 13th century, the land around Moscow was part of Grand Duchy of Moscow
, which subsequently was the center of the unification of Russian lands, in particular the Mongol raids. In 1380, from Kolomna the prince Dmitry Donskoy led his troops to defeat the Mongols at the Battle of Kulikovo
. The southern part of Moscow Oblast was then part of the Principality of Ryazan; it was attached to Moscow only in the 1520.
In 1708, Moscow Governorate
was established by the decree of Peter I
, the area included most of the present Moscow Oblast. The Battle of Borodino
, which decided the outcome of the French invasion of Russia
was fought in 1812 near Mozhaysk
.
Industries developed in Moscow Oblast in the 17–19th centuries. They were centered in Bogorodsk
, Pavlovsky Posad
, and Orekhovo-Zuyevo
and were dominated by textile production. The first railway in Russia was constructed in the Moscow Oblast in 1851, connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg
, and in 1862 the line to Nizhny Novgorod
was opened.
Central Industrial Oblast was established by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee
on 14 January 1929. It included the abolished Moscow
, Ryazan, Tver, Tula, Vladimir, and Kaluga Governorates. The oblast was divided into ten okrug
s and had the administrative center in Moscow. On 3 June 1929, the oblast was renamed Moscow Oblast and on 30 July 1930, the division into ten okrugs was abolished.
Parts of the then bulky Moscow Oblast were gradually transferred to other divisions. In particular, 26 districts became part of Kalinin Oblast in January 1935, and another 77 districts were separated in September 1937 as Tula
and Ryazan Oblast
s. Borovsky
, Vysokinichsky, Maloyaroslavetsky
, Ugodsko-Zavodsky, and Petushinsky District
s were transferred in 1944 to Kaluga and Vladimir Oblasts.
In 1941–1942, one of the most significant military operations of World War II
– the Battle of Moscow
was fought in the Moscow Oblast.
According to the Constitution of Russia
, adopted in December 1993, Moscow Oblast is one of the 83 federal subjects of Russia.
In terms of industrial production, Moscow Oblast is second in Russia, after the Moscow city. The industry of the Oblast relies on imported raw materials, strong scientific and technological base and highly skilled workforce; it is closely linked with the industry of Moscow.
Well developed are machinery and metalworking. There are plants for the thermal and nuclear power engineering (ZiO-Podolsk in Podolsk
), nuclear fuel (TVEL
in Elektrostal
), space and missile (Energia
in Korolyov
, Lavochkin
in Khimki
, NGO engineering in Reutov
, FTSDT "Union" in Dzerzhinsky
– development of solid rocket fuel, etc., IBC "Horizon" in Dzerzhinsky
– power plants for aircraft, etc.); locomotives (Kolomna factory), metro cars (Metrowagonmash
in Mytischi), electric trains (Demikhovsky Engineering Works), cars (SeAZ
), buses (Likinsky bus plant in Likino-Dulyovo
); agricultural machines, excavators and cranes (Lyubertsy
, Dmitrov
, Balashikha
); stainless steel (Elektrostal
), cables (Podolsk
), optical devices (Krasnogorsky plant, Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory).
There are many defense enterprises, such as Russian Center for demonstrations of weapons, military equipment and technology in Krasnoarmeysk
; Kamov
, Phazotron
, Bazalt
, NPP Zvezda
, MKB Fakel
, MKB Raduga
, National Research Institute of Aviation Systems, Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant, Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design
, Moscow Research Institute "Agat", Dolgoprudnenskoe Scientific Production Plant
, and many others.
Chemical industry of the Oblast produces acids (Shchyolkovo
), mineral fertilizers (plants named "Phosphates" and "Mineral fertilizers" in Voskresensk
), synthetic fibers (Serpukhov
and Klin
), plastics (Orekhovo-Zuyevo
), varnishes and paints (Sergiyev Posad, Odintsovsky paint factories), pharmaceuticals (Staraya Kupavna
). There is a well-developed industry of construction materials with production of cement in Voskresensk and Kolomna (Shchurovsky cement factory), earthenware, porcelain in the Likino-Dulyovo
(Dulevo Porcelain Factory) and Verbilki and dry mortar plant in Krasnogorsk.
Light industry
is the oldest in the region; it was started in the 17th century and with 35% contribution was leading the gross industrial production. There is still production of cotton (in Yegoryevsk, Noginsk
, Orekhovo-Zuyevo
), wool (in Pavlovsky Posad
and Pushkin) and jerseys (in Ivanteyevka
and Dmitrov
). The silk production in Naro-Fominsk
had been stopped. Traditional and renowned crafts include Gzhel
, Zhostovo painting
and Fedoskino miniature
. Large foreign investment projects include the plant for manufacturing household appliances (TV sets, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) by the South Korean company LG built near the village of Dorokhovo.
(1100 MW), Zagorskaya hydroelectric power plant
(1200 MW), Elektrogorsk TPP (623 MW) and several smaller plants. Major new energy project in the region is the construction of Zagorsk hydroelectric plant with the capacity of 840 MW. The deficit of energy is provided by powerlines connecting the region with Saint Petersburg, Volga Hydroelectric Station
and other energy suppliers.
farming. Agriculture is the least developed in the northern, eastern and western border regions. In the southern region, especially south of the Oka River, more than 50% of land is used in agriculture. Horticulture
is typical for the southern region with most of the sown area (more than 3/5) occupied by forage crops. Large areas are reserved for grains, especially wheat, barley
, oats
and rye
, and significant role plays potato. Greenhouses are very common and Moskovsky
city hosts the largest greenhouse complex in Europe. Also grown are flowers and mushroom
s. Livestock
farming predominates over the crop, and is primarily aimed at the production of milk and meat. In addition to cattle, commonly bred are pigs and chickens.
The economic crisis of 1990s in Russia had severely affected the agriculture of Moscow Oblast. In particular, in the 2000s, as compared with 1970–80s, the grain production has fallen by more than 3 times; potatoes by 2.5 times; vegetables, livestock and poultry by 30%; milk by 2 times and eggs by 4 times.
Moscow Oblast has a dense transport network, including roads, railways and waterways along the largest rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Land routes are radially diverging from Moscow and crossed by one railway and two highway
rings. Neither railways nor roads, built for the most part many years ago, can cope with the steadily mounting traffic flows. About half of the roads are overloaded and three quarters do not meet modern requirements. Insufficient width of the roads and frequent repairs cause traffic jams.
Moscow Oblast has the highest density of railways in Russia. Eleven major radial lines originate in Moscow and run through the Oblast; the total length of the railways reaches 2,700 km. Almost all railroads are electrified. The largest rail hubs are Orekhovo-Zuyevo
and Bekasovo. Regular navigation is carried on the rivers Volga, Oka and Moscow, as well as on the Moscow Canal
. Major river ports are in Serpukhov and Kolomna. Also well-developed is pipeline transport. There are two major oil lines, two natural gas rings and numerous radial lines connecting Moscow with the largest gas producing regions of the country.
Moscow and Moscow Oblast have several international passenger airport
s, namely Sheremetyevo
(with two terminals), Vnukovo
, Domodedovo
and Ostafyevo. Airport Bykovo
is currently used for freight. The largest military airport is Chkalovsky
(near Shchyolkovo
) which can also process civilian cargos and flights.
Major highways of Moscow Oblast are as follows:
Moscow Oblast was awarded three Orders of Lenin
, on 3 January 1934, 17 December 1956 and 5 December 1966.
The highest executive organ is the Government of Moscow Oblast. Eighteen ministries act as the executive bodies of state authority. The powers, tasks, functions and competence of the Government are defined by the Charter of the Moscow Region. Boris Gromov
is the current Governor
of the Moscow Oblast with the term of 5 years. The Regional Duma of Moscow Oblast was formed on 12 December 1993. It consists of 50 deputies also serving a 5-year term.
(aeronautical engineering), Klimovsk
(development of small arms), Reutov
(Missile Engineering), Fryazino
(microwave electronics) and Korolyov
(space technology). They were later joined by famous centers for basic sciences in Troitsk
, Chernogolovka
(physics and chemistry), Dubna
and Protvino
(nuclear physics) and Pushchino
(biology). Moscow Oblast hosts Mission Control Center
s for spacecraft (in Korolyov) and military satellites (Krasnoznamensk), as well as a number of test sites.
al facilities located mainly in western, northwestern and northern parts, and also near Moscow. Of great importance for recreation are forests, which occupy over 40% of the region, as well as horticultural activities. The region has the highest number (over 1 million) of dacha
s with associated individual gardens. Also numerous are manor complexes, such as those in Abramtzevo, Muranovo
, Ostafievo, historical cities (Vereya
, Volokolamsk
, Dmitrov
, Zaraysk
, Zvenigorod
, Istra
, Kolomna
, Sergiyev Posad
, Serpukhov
, etc.), monasteries (Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
, Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
, Nikolo-Ugresh monastery
, etc.), and museums (Chekhov
museum in Melikhovo, Tchaikovsky
museum in Klin, Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum, etc.).
and Shatura Power Station
s and disposal of household and industrial waste. For example, the Timohovskaya dump is one of the largest in Europe; other objects of concern are aging oil storage tanks, and nuclear waste in the Sergiyevo-Posadsky District. Contamination level is highest in Moscow, Voskresensk and Klin, high in Dzerzhinsky
, Kolomna
, Mytishchi
, Podolsk
, Serpukhov
, Schelkovo and Elektrostal
, and low in Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. The major contaminants are formaldehyde
and phenol
in Moscow; ammonia
and hydrogen fluoride
in Voskresensk; formaldehyde in Klin, Kolomna, Mytishchi and Podolsk, phenol in Serpukhov. The most polluted rivers are Moscow, Oka and Klyazma. In the Moscow area and in major cities (in particular, in Podolsk, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Serpukhov, Lukhovitsy
and Stupino) also heavily polluted are groundwaters.
, Khimki
, Krasnogorsk
, etc.) and the lowest – about 20 people/km² – is in the outlying areas of Lotoshinsky, Shakhovskoi, Mozhaysk and Meshchersk lowlands.
, comprising 48 district-level towns, 70 urban-type settlement
s, and 6,123 rural localities.
As of 2010, Moscow Oblast is municipally subdivided into 38 urban okrugs and 36 municipal districts
, which comprise 114 urban settlements and 193 rural settlements.
The three largest cities of the oblast are Balashikha
(192,800), Khimki
(186,200), and Podolsk
(182,400). Most other towns have ten to fifty thousand people. The smallest town is Vereya
in Naro-Fominsky District
with the population of . Among the urban-type settlements, the largest is Nakhabino (33,000) followed by Tomilino
(29,000). The oldest populated place in the oblast is Volokolamsk
, first mentioned in 1135; slightly younger towns are Zvenigorod (1152), Dmitrov (1154), and Kolomna (1177).
The most intensive formation of cities occurred in 1938–1940. The youngest cities are Golitsyno
, Kubinka
and Moskovsky
. They existed for quite some time, but obtained the city status only in 2004. Some recent cities separated from the other cities, such as Yubileyny
and Peresvet
. Although the city of Moscow is surrounded by Moscow Oblast and is considered its administrative center, it has a special territorial status – a city of federal significance (Constitution of Russia
, article 65).
New projects have been announced at the beginning of the 21st century. One of them is Rublyovo-Arkhangelsk, which is designed for 30,000 inhabitants with high income and is called by the media the "city for millionaires". Another is "Great Domodedovo, 30 km south of the Moscow Ring Road
, which is designed for 450,000 residents. The new city A101 was designed for 300,000 residents in 2009 and already began the sale of its land in Leninsky District
. The city construction is planned to take 35 years.
The housing stock of the oblast is approximately 125 million square meters. Almost all the houses are equipped with water supply, sewerage, gas, central heating and hot water. However, the telephone network is underdeveloped in rural areas. In the competition for the most comfortable city of 2006 in the Moscow Oblast the winner was Kolomna
followed by Balashikha
(for cities with population over 100,000) and Vidnoye
(<100,000) and then by Mytischi and Noginsk
.
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, Slovakia
. Chuy Province
, Kyrgyzstan
. Île-de-France
, France
. Jiangsu
, People's Republic of China
. Ljubljana
, Slovenia
. Palembang
, Indonesia
.
Federal subjects of Russia
Russia is a federation which, since March 1, 2008, consists of 83 federal subjects . In 1993, when the Constitution was adopted, there were 89 federal subjects listed...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(an oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
). Its area, at 45900 km² (17,722.1 sq mi), is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject. There is no official administrative center of Moscow Oblast; its public authorities are located in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Krasnogorsk
Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast
Krasnogorsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnogorsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, adjacent to the northwestern boundary of Moscow, on the Moskva River...
.
The oblast was founded in 1929. It borders Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was named Kalinin Oblast after Mikhail Kalinin. Population: Tver Oblast is an area of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno...
in the northwest, Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda Oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg...
in the north, Vladimir Oblast
Vladimir Oblast
Vladimir Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Vladimir, which is located east of Moscow...
in the northeast and east, Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Ryazan, which is the oblast's largest city. Population: -Geography:...
in the southeast, Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast is a federal subject of Russia with its present borders formed on September 26, 1937. Its administrative center is the city of Tula. The oblast has an area of and a population of 1,553,874...
in the south, Kaluga Oblast
Kaluga Oblast
Kaluga Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kaluga.-Geography:Kaluga Oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain. The Smolensk Highland lays in the western and north-western part of the oblast, while the Central Russian Highland -...
in the southwest and Smolensk Oblast
Smolensk Oblast
Smolensk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its area is . Population: -Geography:The administrative center of Smolensk Oblast is the city of Smolensk. Other ancient towns include Vyazma and Dorogobuzh....
in the west. In the center stands the federal city of Moscow, which is a separate federal subject in its own right. The oblast is highly industrialized, with its main industrial branches being metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, oil refining, and mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, and chemical industries.
Relief
The region is mostly flat, with some hills with the height of about 160 m (524.9 ft) in the western and extensive lowlands in the eastern part. From the south-west to north-east, the region is crossed by the border of the Moscow glacier to the north of the common ice-erosion form with moraineMorena
Morena is a city and a municipality in Morena district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is also known as Muraina and is the administrative headquarters of Morena District and of Chambal Division. It is 39 km away from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh...
ridges, and to the south – only erosional landforms. The western and northern parts of the oblast contain the Moscow Uplands. Their average height peaks at about 300 m (984.3 ft) near Dmitrov
Dmitrov
Dmitrov is a town and the administrative center of Dmitrovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the north of Moscow on the Yakhroma River and the Moscow Canal. Population: -History:...
and the upper point of 310 m (1,017.1 ft) lies near the village of Shapkino of Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk is a town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the west from the Russian capital, on the historic road leading to Smolensk and then to Poland. Population:...
District. The northern part of the Moscow Uplands is steeper than the southern part. The uplands contain lakes of glacial origin, such as Nerskoe and Krugloe lakes. To the north of the Moscow Uplands lies the alluvial Verhnevolzhsk Depression. It is marshy and flat with the height varying between about 120 m (393.7 ft) and 150 m (492.1 ft).
To the south stretches a hilly area of the Moskvoretsko-Oksk plain. Its greatest height of 254 m (833.3 ft) lies in the area of Tyoplyi Stan, within the Moscow city limits. The plain has clearly defined river valleys, especially in the south parts, and occasional karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
relief, mostly in Serpukhov District. In the extreme south, after the Oka River, lies the Central Russian Upland
Central Russian Upland
Central Russian Upland is an area of approximately 200,000 miles² in Southern European Russia and Northeast of Ukraine, located inside East European Plain....
. It contains numerous gullies and ravines and has average height above 200 m with the maximum of 236 m near Puschino.
Most of the eastern part of the Moscow Oblast is taken by the vast Meshchera Lowlands
Meshchera Lowlands
Meshchera Lowlands , also referred to as simply "Meshchera"/"Meshchyora" is a spacious lowland in the middle of the European Russia. It is named after the Finno-Ugric Meshchera tribe, which used to live there...
with much wetland in their eastern part. Their highest hill peaks at 214 m (702.1 ft) but the average heights are 120 metre. Most lakes of the lowlands, such as Chyornoe and Svyatoe lakes, are of glacial origin. Here lies the lowest natural elevation of the region, the water level of Oka River at 97 m (318.2 ft).
Geology
East European craton
The East European craton is the core of the Baltica proto-plate and consists of three crustal regions/segments: Fennoscandia to the northwest, Volgo-Uralia to the east, and Sarmatia to the south...
. Like all cratons, the latter is composed of the crystalline basement and sedimentary cover. The basement consists of Archaean and Proterozoic
Proterozoic
The Proterozoic is a geological eon representing a period before the first abundant complex life on Earth. The name Proterozoic comes from the Greek "earlier life"...
rocks and the cover is deposited in the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
and Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
eras. The lowest depth of the basement (1000 m (3,280.8 ft)) is to the south of Serebryanye Prudy
Serebryanye Prudy
Serebryanye Prudy is an urban locality and the administrative center of Serebryano-Prudsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Osyotr River. Among the district centers of Moscow Oblast, it is the southernmost, and the farthest from Moscow...
, in the very south area of the oblast, and the largest (4200 m (13,779.5 ft) m) is to the east of Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town status was granted to it in 1742...
, in the north-east region.
Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
deposits are almost absent within the oblast. Significantly more abundant are deposits of the Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
and Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
periods. In the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
period, a sea was covering the Moscow Oblast, as evidenced by phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
deposits and a variety of sands. Cretaceous sediments are most common in the north of the oblast. The sea was wider in Jurassic than in Cretaceous period. Typical Jurassic deposits, in the form of black clay, are found within and around the Moscow city and in the valley of the Moscow River. Carboniferous deposits in Moscow Oblast are represented by dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
. Coal deposits rich in organic remains occur in the south, especially in Serpukhov District, and in the west regions. Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
deposits were also found within the region.
Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
deposits are widely distributed in the Moscow Oblast, their thickness decreases from the north-west to south-east. It is believed that there were four glaciations in the area. The first occurred in the Lower Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
and spread to the east-west part of the Oka River valley, it left almost no trace in the region. In the Middle Pleistocene
Middle Pleistocene
The Middle Pleistocene, more specifically referred to as the Ionian stage, is a period of geologic time from ca. 781 to 126 thousand years ago....
, there were two powerful glaciations. The Dnieper glacier covered a large part of the Russian Plain), whereas the Moscow glaciation stopped just south of the present Moscow city. The last glaciation, Valdai glaciation, occurred in the Late Pleistocene
Late Pleistocene
The Late Pleistocene is a stage of the Pleistocene Epoch. The beginning of the stage is defined by the base of the Eemian interglacial phase before the final glacial episode of the Pleistocene 126,000 ± 5,000 years ago. The end of the stage is defined exactly at 10,000 Carbon-14 years BP...
; it did not directly affect the territory of Moscow Oblast, but left traces in the form of fluvioglacial deposits, mainly in the north area. The glaciers left behind a moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
with pebbles and boulders of various rocks, such as granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
, quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
, dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. Its thickness varies between a few meters at watersheds and 100 m at moraine ridges.
Minerals
Moscow Oblast is rich in minerals. Sands from the sediments of different periods (mainly Quaternary and Cretaceous) are of high quality and are widely used in construction. Quartz sand (milled quartzQuartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
) is used in the glass industry, their production is conducted from the end of 17th century near Lyubertsy
Lyubertsy
Lyubertsy is a city and the administrative center of Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: Lyubertsy was founded in 1623, and it became a city in 1925.-Notable people:*Sergei Abeltsev, LDPR politician...
. Much of the production is currently halted due to environmental concerns, and only the Eganovskoe field is being exploited; its silica sand reserves are 33 million tonnes and annual production reaches 675,000 tonnes. Sand and gravel deposits are abundant within the Smolensk-Moscow Upland. Sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
deposits are developed in the Klin and Dmitrov districts.
There are numerous clay deposits within the Moscow Oblast, fusible clay is excavated in Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town status was granted to it in 1742...
. The Eldiginskoe field near the village of Sofrino has reserves estimated at 30 million cubic meters, its annual production reaches 600000 m³ (21,188,799.7 cu ft). Refractory white clay occurs in the eastern region, in the Carboniferous and Jurassic sediments, and is extracted from the 14th century near Gzhel
Gzhel
Gzhel is a Russian style of ceramics.Gzhel may also refer to:*Gzhel, Moscow Oblast, where the ceramics are produced*Gzhel, Smolensk Oblast, a village in Smolensk Oblast, Russia...
. The largest (Kudinovskoe) deposit is near the town of Elektrougli
Elektrougli
Elektrougli is a town in Noginsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow and southeast of Noginsk, on the Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod railroad. Population:...
with the reserves of 3 billion tonnes. Also widespread are loams which are used in brick manufacture and limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
s ("white stone"). The famous Myachkovo
Myachkovo, Moscow Oblast
Myachkovo is a village in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located near the mouth of the Pakhra River flowing into the Moskva River. It is the site of Bykovo railway station....
deposit of carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
provided material which went for cladding of such buildings in Moscow as Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
. The mining in Myachkovo had been stopped and currently, limestone is provided by the quarries of Podolsk
Podolsk
Podolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
, Voskresensk
Voskresensk
Voskresensk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located southeast from Moscow, on the shores of the Moskva River. Population: Town status was granted to Voskresensk in 1938.-Notable athletes:...
and Kolomensky Districts. The last district also provides marble-like limestone.
Other industrial mineral of Moscow Oblast is dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
, limestone tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
and marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
, mostly in the southern and eastern parts. Dolomite is used in the cement industry. Its mining is concentrated mainly near Schelkovo, the reserves exceed 20 million tonnes and the annual production is about 650 tonnes.
Phosphates are produced in the Yegorevskoe and Severskoe fields. Meshchera and Verkhnevolzhsk Lowlands are rich in peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
. The largest mines are "Ryazanovskoe" (840,000 tonnes per year) and "Radovitsky moss" (760,000 tonnes per year), both in Yegoryevsk
Yegoryevsk
Yegoryevsk is a town and the administrative center of Yegoryevsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Guslitsa River southeast of Moscow. Population: 68,000 ; 56,000 ; 29,700 . It is known since 1462 as the village of Vysokoye...
area. There are deposits of brown coal beyond the Oka River, but they have no commercial value. There are also minor deposits of titanium and iron ore in Serpukhov
Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which is situated at the confluence of the Oka and the Nara Rivers. It is located south from Moscow on the Moscow—Simferopol highway. The Moscow—Tula railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
and Serebryano-Prudsky districts.
Salts of potassium salt are being developed in Serpukhov and Yegoryevsk areas. There are also numerous mineral springs near Zvenigorod, Klin and Serpukhov. They include surface springs and reservoirs at the depth of 300–500 m (984.3–1,640.4 ). Deeper, at 1 kilometre there is a large sea of salt extending beyond the Moscow Oblast. Waters with the salt concentration up to 300 g/L are used in the local food industry and spas.
Climate
The climate of Moscow Oblast is temperate continental, with clearly expressed seasonality – hot summers and cold winters; the continentality increases from north-west to south-east. The period of the average temperature below 0 °C (32 °F) lasts 120–135 days, beginning in mid-November and ending in late March. The average annual temperature varies from 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F). The coldest month is January with the average temperature of -8 C in the west and -10 C in the east. With the arrival of arctic air, the temperature drops to below -20 C that may last up to 20 days during the winter, with the temperatures reaching -45 C. The minimum temperature of -54 C was observed in Naro-FominskNaro-Fominsk
Naro-Fominsk is a town and the administrative center of Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated southwest from Moscow, on the Nara River. The Moscow – Kiev railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
. Thaws often occur in December and February due to the Atlantic, and rarely the Mediterranean cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
s. The thaws usually last several days, and their total number from November to March can reach fifty. Snow starts accumulating in November, though sometimes in September or December, and disappears in mid-April (sometimes in late March). The snow depth is 25 centimetre and the soil freezes to 65 centimetre. The warmest month is July with the average temperature of 18.5 °C in the west and 20.0 °C in the south-east. The maximum temperature of 40 °C was recorded in Kolomna
Kolomna
Kolomna is an ancient city and the administrative center of Kolomensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers, southeast of Moscow. The area of the city is about . The city was founded in 1177...
during 2010 European heat wave. The average annual rainfall is 450 millimetre, the precipitation is maximal in the north-western and minimal in the south-east regions. The summer precipitation is usually 75 mm (3 in), but severe droughts occur once in 25–30 years, with less than 5 mm (0.196850393700787 in) of rain over June–August.
Rivers and lakes
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
s. They are mostly fed by melting snow and the flood falls on April–May. The water level is low in summer and increases only with heavy rain. The rivers freeze over from late November until mid-April. The only navigable rivers are the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
, the Oka
Oka River
Oka is a river in central Russia, the largest right tributary of the Volga. It flows through the regions of Oryol, Tula, Kaluga, Moscow, Ryazan, Vladimir, and Nizhny Novgorod and is navigable over a large part of its total length, as far upstream as to the town of Kaluga. Its length exceeds...
and Moskva River
Moskva River
The Moskva River is a river that flows through the Moscow and Smolensk Oblasts in Russia, and is a tributary of the Oka River.-Etymology:...
.
Most rivers belong to the basin of the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
, which itself only crosses a small part in the north of Moscow Oblast, near the border with Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was named Kalinin Oblast after Mikhail Kalinin. Population: Tver Oblast is an area of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno...
. The second largest river of the region is Oka. The northern part of Moscow Oblast includes such Volga tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
as Shosha
Shosha River
Shosha River is a river in Tver and partially Moscow Oblasts in Russia, a right tributary of the Volga River. The length of the Shosha River is 163 kilometres. The area of its basin is 3,080 km². The river flows into the Ivankovo Reservoir. The Shosha freezes up in November – early...
, Lama
Lama River
Lama River is a river in the Moscow and Tver Oblasts in Russia, a tributary of the Shosha River. The length of the river is 139 km. The area of its basin is 2330 km². The Lama River freezes up in November and stays under the ice until late March - early April. Historically, the river was...
, Dubna
Dubna River (Volga basin)
Dubna is a river in Vladimir Oblast and Moscow Oblast in Russia, a right tributary of the Volga. The length of the river is 167 kilometres. The area of its basin is 5,350 km². Its largest tributary is the Sestra River. The town of Dubna is located at the confluence of the Dubna and Volga...
, Sestra and Yakhroma. On the south flow the tributaries of Oka, including Nara
Nara River
Nara River is a river in the Moscow Oblast and Kaluga Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Oka River. The length of the river is 158 kilometres. The area of its basin is 2030 km². The Nara River freezes up in November-December and stays under the ice until April. The cities of...
, Protva
Protva River
Protva River is a river in Moscow and Kaluga Oblasts in Russia, left tributary of the Oka. The length of the river is 282 km. The area of its basin is 4,620 km². The Protva freezes up in early December and stays icebound until early April. Its main tributary is the Luzha River. The towns of...
and Lopasnya River
Lopasnya River
The Lopasnya River is a river in Moscow Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Oka. It is 108 km in length, with a drainage basin of 1090 km². Its average discharge is 6,76 m³/s....
. The Moscow River, which almost entirely flows within the oblast, also belongs to the Oka basin. The eastern and north-eastern regions, including much of Meschersk Depression, are irrigated by the tributaries of the Klyazma River
Klyazma River
The Klyazma River is a river in the Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo and Vladimir Oblasts in Russia, a left tributary of the Oka River. The length of the river is 686 kilometres. The area of its drainage basin is 42,500 km². The Klyazma River freezes up in November and stays under the ice...
, which itself is a main tributary of the Oka.
The Moscow Canal
Moscow Canal
The Moscow Canal , named the Moscow-Volga Canal until the year 1947, is a canal that connects the Moskva River with the main transportation artery of European Russia, the Volga River. It is located in Moscow itself and in the Moscow Oblast...
crosses the northern part of Moscow Oblast through the Ikshinskoe, Klyazminskoe, Pyalovskoe and Pestovskoye reservoirs. In the basin of the Moscow River, there are also Ozerninskoe, Mozhayskoe, Istrinskoe and Ruza reservoirs, providing the Moscow city with drinking water.
There are about 350 lakes in the oblast, almost all are shallow (5–10 m) and many are of glacial origin. The largest are Senezh (15.4 km² (5.9 sq mi)) and Svyatoe (12.6 km² (4.9 sq mi)) whereas the deepest (32 m (105 ft)) is Glubokoye Lake in the Ruza
Ruza
Ruza is a town and the administrative center of Ruzsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Ruza River west of Moscow. Population:...
district. There are also many marshes, especially within the Meshchersk and Verkhnevolzhsk lowlands.
Soils
The region is dominated by relatively infertile podsolPodsol
In soil science, podzols are the typical soils of coniferous, or boreal forests. They are also the typical soils of eucalypt forests and heathlands in southern Australia...
soils which require fertilizers for commercial agriculture. On the hills there is more loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
and the low-lying areas have more of bog, sandy loam and sand. Chernozem
Chernozem
Chernozem , also known as "black land" or "black earth", is a black-coloured soil containing a high percentage of humus 7% to 15%, and high percentages of phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia...
is scarce and occurs only south of the Oka River. Gray forest soils are spread between the Oka, Moscow and Klyazma rivers, mostly in the Ramensky
Ramensky District
Ramensky District is an administrative and a municipal district , one of thirty-eight administrative and thirty-six municipal districts in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Its administrative center is the town of Ramenskoye...
and Voskresensky districts. Marshy soils are common in Meshchersk and Verkhnevolzhsk lowlands. Valleys of large rivers are rich in alluvial soils. In general, soils of the Moscow Oblast are heavily polluted with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and household and industrial waste, especially around Moscow, Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
, Noginsk
Noginsk
Noginsk is a town and the administrative center of Noginsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of the MKAD ring road on the Klyazma River. Population:...
and Voskresensk.
Flora
Moscow Oblast lies within the zone of forests and steppes with forests covering over 40% of the region. Coniferous (mainly fir) trees dominate the northern (Verkhnevolzhsk lowlands) and western parts (Mozhaysk, Lotoshinsk and Shakhovsky districts). Forests of Meshchora consist primarily of pine; in waterlogged lowlands, there are individual alderAlder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
forests. Central and eastern regions have coniferous-deciduous forests with the main tree species of spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
often mixed with bushes of hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
. To the south lies the subzone of broad-leaved forests of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, lime
Lime (fruit)
Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
, maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
and elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
. Moscow-Oka Upland is the transition zone which is dominated by spruce, for example, in the upper reaches of the Lopasnya River
Lopasnya River
The Lopasnya River is a river in Moscow Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Oka. It is 108 km in length, with a drainage basin of 1090 km². Its average discharge is 6,76 m³/s....
. Valleys of Oka are covered in pine forests of the steppe type and the far south regions (Serebryano-Prudsky and partially Serpukhov Districts) are cultivated steppes with occasional lime and oak groves.
The intensive cutting of Moscow region forests in the 18–19th centuries reduced them and changed their species: conifers were replaced by birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
. There is almost no logging nowadays and the forests are being restored, especially around Moscow.
Swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s are prevalent in the eastern areas, such as Shatura and Lukhovitsy
Lukhovitsy
Lukhovitsy is a town and the administrative center of Lukhovitsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population:...
. The natural floodplain meadows are almost gone. The number of native plant species is reduced, but some foreign species flourish, such as Canadian maple
Canadian maple
Canadian maple may refer to:* Acer saccharum, a hardwood common in Northern America.* Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, the official bullion gold coin of Canada....
. Endemic species include water caltrop
Water caltrop
The water caltrop, water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or Singhara or Pani-fol is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis...
and lady's slipper
Cypripedium calceolus
Cypripedium calceolus is a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus Cypripedium.It is a widespread plant worldwide, found from Europe east through Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is found in open woodland on moist calcareous soils. It is found in continental Europe growing in the...
.
Fauna
The mammals of the Moscow Oblast include badgerBadger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
, squirrel, beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
, muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
, stoat
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
, Russian Desman
Russian Desman
The Russian Desman is a small semi-aquatic mammal that inhabits the Volga, Don and Ural River basins in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It constructs burrows into the banks of ponds and slow-moving streams, but prefers small, overgrown ponds with abundance of insects, crayfish and amphibians...
, raccoon dog
Raccoon Dog
The raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...
, hedgehog, hare (Mountain
Mountain Hare
The Mountain Hare , also known as Blue Hare, Tundra Hare, Variable Hare, White Hare, Alpine Hare and Irish Hare, is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. It is distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia; in addition there are isolated populations in the Alps,...
and European
European Hare
The European hare , also known as the brown hare, Eastern Jackrabbit and Eastern prairie hare, is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia. It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the...
), shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
s (Common Shrew
Common Shrew
The Common Shrew or Eurasian Shrew, Sorex araneus, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is long and weighs , and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. Juvenile shrews have lighter...
, Eurasian Pygmy Shrew
Eurasian pygmy shrew
The Eurasian Pygmy Shrew , often known simply as the Pygmy Shrew, is a widespread shrew of northern Eurasia. It is the only shrew native to Ireland....
, Lesser White-toothed Shrew
Lesser white-toothed shrew
The Lesser White-toothed Shrew is a tiny shrew with a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe, but not in most of Spain, north–west France and mainland Great Britain. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails and small mice...
, Eurasian Water Shrew
Eurasian Water Shrew
The Eurasian Water Shrew, Neomys fodiens, known in the United Kingdom as the Water Shrew, is a relatively large shrew, up to long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail...
, etc.), weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
, fox, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, wild boar, European Mole
European Mole
The European Mole, Talpa europaea, is a mammal of the order Soricomorpha. It is also known as the Common Mole and the Northern Mole....
, brown
Brown Rat
The brown rat, common rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, or wharf rat is one of the best known and most common rats....
and black rat
Black Rat
The black rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus in the subfamily Murinae . The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.-Taxonomy:The black rat was...
s, marten
Marten
The martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae.-Description:Martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the northern hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large...
, mice and voles
Arvicolinae
The Arvicolinae are a subfamily of rodents that includes the voles, lemmings, and muskrats. They are most closely related to the other subfamilies in the Cricetidae . Some authorities place the subfamily Arvicolinae in the family Muridae along with all other members of the superfamily Muroidea...
(Wood mouse
Wood mouse
The wood mouse is a common murid rodent from Europe and northwestern Africa. It is closely related to the yellow-necked mouse but differs in that it has no band of yellow fur around the neck, has slightly smaller ears, and is usually slightly smaller overall: around 90 mm in length...
, Yellow-necked Mouse
Yellow-necked mouse
The Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis is closely related to the wood mouse, with which it was long confused, only being recognised as a separate species in 1894. It differs in its band of yellow fur around the neck and in having slightly larger ears and usually being slightly larger overall....
, house mouse
House mouse
The house mouse is a small rodent, a mouse, one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus.As a wild animal the house mouse mainly lives associated with humans, causing damage to crops and stored food....
, Eurasian Harvest Mouse, Northern Birch Mouse
Northern Birch Mouse
The Northern Birch Mouse is a small rodent about 5 to 8 cm long , weighing 4.5 to 13 g. It lives in Siberia in forest and marsh zones....
, Bank Vole
Bank Vole
The bank vole is a small vole with red-brown fur and some grey patches, with a tail about half as long as its body. A rodent, it lives in woodland areas and is around in length. The bank vole is found in western Europe and northern Asia...
, Field Vole
Field Vole
The field vole or short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, is a grey-brown vole, around 110mm in length, with only a short tail. They are one of the most common mammals in Europe, ranging from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. They are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh, or...
, Tundra Vole
Tundra Vole
The Tundra Vole or Root Vole, Microtus oeconomus, is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada...
, European Water Vole), European Mink
European mink
The European mink , also known as the Russian mink, is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to Europe. It is listed by the IUCN as Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers, having been calculated as being more than 50% over the past three generations...
, deer (roe
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, red
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, spotted
Chital
The chital or cheetal , also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan...
),
hazel
Hazel Dormouse
The Hazel Dormouse or Common Dormouse is a small mammal and the only living species in the genus Muscardinus....
and fat dormouse
Edible dormouse
The edible dormouse or fat dormouse is a large dormouse and the only living species in the genus Glis.-Description:...
, European Polecat
European polecat
The European polecat , also known as the black or forest polecat , is a species of Mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa, which is classed by the IUCN as Least Concern due to its wide range and large numbers. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark...
. At the borders there are occasional bears, lynxes and wolves. In the southern areas there are also speckled ground squirrel
Speckled Ground Squirrel
The speckled ground squirrel or spotted souslik is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. Spermophilus suslicus consists of three subspecies: S. s. boristhenicus, S. s. guttatus, and S. s...
, dwarf hamster, Great Jerboa
Great Jerboa
FileThe Great Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It mainly lives in deserts.The Great Jerboa lives in many desert biomes around the world....
and Beech Marten
Beech Marten
The beech marten , also known as the stone marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on account of its wide distribution, its large...
. Some areas contain stable populations of imported animals, such as flying squirrel
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
, American mink
American Mink
The American mink is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to North America, though human intervention has expanded its range to many parts of Europe and South America. Because of this, it is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Since the extinction of the sea mink, the American mink is the...
and Siberian Roe Deer
Siberian Roe Deer
Capreolus pygargus, also known as the Siberian roe deer or eastern roe deer, is a species of roe deer found in northeastern Asia. In addition to Siberia and Mongolia, it is found in Kazakhstan, the Tian Shan Mountains, Eastern Tibet, the Korean peninsula, and northeastern China...
. In the Moscow region, there are more than a dozen kinds of bat
and moth.
There are more than 170 species of birds in the area with large numbers of crows, sparrows, ducks, magpies, woodpeckers, thrushes
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
, grouses, bullfinch
Bullfinch
* A Bullfinch is one of two groups of passerine birdsBullfinch can also refer to:* Bullfinch , an obstacle seen on the cross-country course in the sport of eventing* USS Bullfinch, the name of two US Navy ships...
es, nightingale
Nightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
s, corncrakes
Corn Crake
The Corn Crake, Corncrake or Landrail is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the winter...
, Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....
s, White Stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
s, Grey Heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
s, seagulls and grebe
Grebe
A grebe is a member of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter...
s. Over forty species are being hunted.
Rivers and lakes of Moscow Oblast are rich in fish, such as ruff
Ruff
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird that breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia...
, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, bream, bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, roaches
Rutilus
Rutilus is a genus of fishes in the family Cyprinidae, commonly called roaches. Locally, the name "roach" without any further qualifiers is also used for particular species, particularly the Common Roach Rutilus (Latin for "shining, red, golden, auburn") is a genus of fishes in the family...
, Chinese sleeper, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and pike. There are six species of reptiles: three lizards (slow worm
Anguis fragilis
Anguis fragilis, or slow worm, slow-worm or slowworm, is a limbless reptile native to Eurasia. It is also sometimes referred to as the blindworm or blind worm, though the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds considers this to be incorrect.Slow worms are semi-fossorial lizards spending much...
, Viviparous lizard
Viviparous lizard
The viviparous lizard or common lizard is a Eurasian lizard. It lives farther north than any other reptile species, and most populations are viviparous , rather than laying eggs as most other lizards do.-Identification:The length of the body is less than...
and Sand Lizard
Sand Lizard
The sand lizard is a lacertid lizard distributed across most of Europe and eastwards to Mongolia. It does not occur in the Iberian peninsula or European Turkey. Its distribution is often patchy....
) and three snakes (European adder
Vipera berus
Vipera berus, the common European adder or common European viper, is a venomous viper species that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and all the way to Far East Asia. Known by a host of common names including Common adder and Common viper, adders have been...
, Grass Snake
Grass Snake
The grass snake , sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake is a European non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians.-Etymology:...
and smooth snake
Coronella
Coronella is a genus of harmless colubrids found in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. Three species are currently recognized.-Description:...
). There is evidence for bog turtle
Bog turtle
The bog turtle is a semiaquatic turtle endemic to the eastern United States. It was first scientifically described in 1801 after an 18th century survey of Pennsylvania. It is the smallest North American turtle, measuring about long when fully grown...
s in some areas. Amphibians are represented by 11 species including Smooth Newt
Smooth Newt
The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...
, Great Crested Newt
Great Crested Newt
The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...
, common toad
Common Toad
The common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...
, European Green Toad
European Green Toad
The species group of the green toads is an anuran group toad found in mainland Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. They live in many areas, including steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, and urban areas...
, Common Frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
, Moor Frog
Moor Frog
The Moor Frog is a slim, reddish-brown, semi-aquatic amphibian native to Europe and Asia. It is a member of the family Ranidae, or "true frogs".-Taxonomy:...
, Marsh Frog
Marsh Frog
The Marsh Frog is the largest frog native to Europe and belongs to the family of true frogs. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Edible Frog and Pool Frog...
, Common Spadefoot and European Fire-bellied Toad
European Fire-bellied Toad
The European Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina is a fire-bellied toad native to mainland Europe. These toads are slightly toxic sometimes to humans...
. Insects are numerous, with only bees accounting for more than 300 species.
In Serpukhov District, there is the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve
Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve
Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Biosphere Reserve is one of Russia's smallest zapovedniks , sprawling over an area of 5,000 hectares along the left bank of the Oka River in the Serpukhov District of Moskva Oblast. It was established in 1945 as part of the Moscow Nature Reserve and is home to 900 plant...
which contains protected wisent
Wisent
The wisent , Bison bonasus, also known as the European bison or European wood bison, is a species of Eurasian bison. It is the heaviest surviving land animal in Europe; a typical wisent is about long, not counting a tail of long, and tall. Weight typically can range from , with an occasional big...
s. Near Moscow lies Losiny Ostrov National Park
Losiny Ostrov National Park
Losiny Ostrov National Park is the first national park of Russia, located in Moscow and Moscow Oblast. It is presumed to be the largest forest in a city of comparable size.-Geography:...
of federal significance.
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 |
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| Stoat Stoat The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip... |
Lesser White-toothed Shrew Lesser white-toothed shrew The Lesser White-toothed Shrew is a tiny shrew with a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe, but not in most of Spain, north–west France and mainland Great Britain. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails and small mice... |
Roe Deer Roe Deer The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from... fawn |
Eurasian harvest mouse | Great Crested Grebe Great Crested Grebe The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations... |
History
The territory of the Moscow Oblast had been inhabited for more than twenty thousand years. Numerous mounds and settlements from Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
were discovered there. Up to the 9–10th centuries, the Moscow River basin and adjacent lands were inhabited by Finno-Ugric peoples
Finno-Ugric peoples
The Finno-Ugric peoples are any of several peoples of Europe who speak languages of the proposed Finno-Ugric language family, such as the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins, and Hungarians...
. Slavs populated the area only in the 10th century. In mid-12th century, the lands of Moscow Oblast became part of Vladimir-Suzdal principality
Vladimir-Suzdal
The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality or Vladimir-Suzdal Rus’ was one of the major principalities which succeeded Kievan Rus' in the late 12th century and lasted until the late 14th century. For a long time the Principality was a vassal of the Mongolian Golden Horde...
. Several importance cities were founded around that time, including Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk is a town and the administrative center of Volokolamsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Gorodenka River, not far from its confluence with the Lama River, northwest of Moscow. Population: -History:...
(1135), Moscow (1147), Zvenigorod
Zvenigorod
Zvenigorod is an old town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: -History:The community has existed since the 12th century, although its first written mention is dated 1338. The town's name is based either on a personal name or on a hydronym Zvenigorod is an old town in Moscow Oblast, Russia....
(1152) and Dmitrov
Dmitrov
Dmitrov is a town and the administrative center of Dmitrovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the north of Moscow on the Yakhroma River and the Moscow Canal. Population: -History:...
(1154). In the first half of the 13th century, the entire Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, including the Moscow area, was conquered by the Mongols.
In the 13th century, the land around Moscow was part of Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
, which subsequently was the center of the unification of Russian lands, in particular the Mongol raids. In 1380, from Kolomna the prince Dmitry Donskoy led his troops to defeat the Mongols at the Battle of Kulikovo
Battle of Kulikovo
The Battle of Kulikovo was a battle between Tatar Mamai and Muscovy Dmitriy and portrayed by Russian historiography as a stand-off between Russians and the Golden Horde. However, the political situation at the time was much more complicated and concerned the politics of the Northeastern Rus'...
. The southern part of Moscow Oblast was then part of the Principality of Ryazan; it was attached to Moscow only in the 1520.
In 1708, Moscow Governorate
Moscow Governorate
Moscow Governorate , or Government of Moscow, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1708–1929....
was established by the decree of Peter I
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
, the area included most of the present Moscow Oblast. The Battle of Borodino
Battle of Borodino
The Battle of Borodino , fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties...
, which decided the outcome of the French invasion of Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
was fought in 1812 near Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk is a town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the west from the Russian capital, on the historic road leading to Smolensk and then to Poland. Population:...
.
Industries developed in Moscow Oblast in the 17–19th centuries. They were centered in Bogorodsk
Noginsk
Noginsk is a town and the administrative center of Noginsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of the MKAD ring road on the Klyazma River. Population:...
, Pavlovsky Posad
Pavlovsky Posad
Pavlovsky Posad is a town and the administrative center of Pavlovo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located from Moscow, at the confluence of the Klyazma and the Vokhna Rivers. Population: The Moscow–Vladimir railway goes through the town....
, and Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
and were dominated by textile production. The first railway in Russia was constructed in the Moscow Oblast in 1851, connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, and in 1862 the line to Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
was opened.
Central Industrial Oblast was established by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee
All-Russian Central Executive Committee
All-Russian Central Executive Committee , was the highest legislative, administrative, and revising body of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Although the All-Russian Congress of Soviets had supreme authority, in periods between its sessions its powers were passed to VTsIK...
on 14 January 1929. It included the abolished Moscow
Moscow Governorate
Moscow Governorate , or Government of Moscow, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1708–1929....
, Ryazan, Tver, Tula, Vladimir, and Kaluga Governorates. The oblast was divided into ten okrug
Okrug
Okrug is an administrative division of some Slavic states. The word "okrug" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "district", or "region"....
s and had the administrative center in Moscow. On 3 June 1929, the oblast was renamed Moscow Oblast and on 30 July 1930, the division into ten okrugs was abolished.
Parts of the then bulky Moscow Oblast were gradually transferred to other divisions. In particular, 26 districts became part of Kalinin Oblast in January 1935, and another 77 districts were separated in September 1937 as Tula
Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast is a federal subject of Russia with its present borders formed on September 26, 1937. Its administrative center is the city of Tula. The oblast has an area of and a population of 1,553,874...
and Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Ryazan, which is the oblast's largest city. Population: -Geography:...
s. Borovsky
Borovsky District
Baryatinsky District is a district in Kaluga Oblast, Russia.Its administrative center is the city of Borovsk.*District area: 759.6 km²*District's population: 55,790- Municipal formations :...
, Vysokinichsky, Maloyaroslavetsky
Maloyaroslavetsky District
Maloyaroslavetsky District is an administrative district , one of the 24 in Kaluga Oblast, Russia....
, Ugodsko-Zavodsky, and Petushinsky District
Petushinsky District
Petushinsky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 16 in Vladimir Oblast, Russia....
s were transferred in 1944 to Kaluga and Vladimir Oblasts.
In 1941–1942, one of the most significant military operations of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
– the Battle of Moscow
Battle of Moscow
The Battle of Moscow is the name given by Soviet historians to two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II. It took place between October 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated Hitler's attack on Moscow, capital of...
was fought in the Moscow Oblast.
According to the Constitution of Russia
Constitution of Russia
The current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993. Russia's constitution came into force on 25 December 1993, at the moment of its official publication...
, adopted in December 1993, Moscow Oblast is one of the 83 federal subjects of Russia.
Industry
Well developed are machinery and metalworking. There are plants for the thermal and nuclear power engineering (ZiO-Podolsk in Podolsk
Podolsk
Podolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
), nuclear fuel (TVEL
TVEL
TVEL is a Russian nuclear fuel cycle company headquartered in Moscow. It belongs to the Atomenergoprom holding company. Chairman of the board of directors is Alexander Lokshin. The acting President is Yuri Olenin.-Activities:...
in Elektrostal
Elektrostal
Elektrostal , known as Zatishye until 1938, is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. Population: 135,000 ; 123,000 ; 97,000 ; 43,000 . Town status was granted to it in 1938.-Industry:...
), space and missile (Energia
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
in Korolyov
Korolyov (city)
Korolyov or Korolev is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, well known as the cradle of Soviet and Russian space exploration. It was originally founded as Kaliningrad in 1938 by Vasily Boldyrev, Naum Nosovsky, and Mikhail Loginov as the leading Soviet center for production of anti-tank...
, Lavochkin
Lavochkin
NPO Lavochkin is a Russian aerospace company. It is a major player in the Russian space program, being the developer and manufacturer of the Fregat upper stage, as well as interplanetary probes such as Phobos Grunt...
in Khimki
Khimki
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated just northwest of Moscow, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal. Population: 207,125 ; 141,000 ; 106,000 ; 23,000 .-History:...
, NGO engineering in Reutov
Reutov
Reútov is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. Population: 50,200 .In 2007, Reutov was named one of the best places to live in the Russian Federation in the category of small towns with a population of fewer than 100,000 people....
, FTSDT "Union" in Dzerzhinsky
Dzerzhinsky (town)
Dzerzhinsky is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Moskva River, south of the city of Lyubertsy. The western part of Dzerzhinsky is bordered on Moscow. Population: Lyubertsy–Dzerzhinsky railway is used for cargo transportation only...
– development of solid rocket fuel, etc., IBC "Horizon" in Dzerzhinsky
Dzerzhinsky (town)
Dzerzhinsky is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Moskva River, south of the city of Lyubertsy. The western part of Dzerzhinsky is bordered on Moscow. Population: Lyubertsy–Dzerzhinsky railway is used for cargo transportation only...
– power plants for aircraft, etc.); locomotives (Kolomna factory), metro cars (Metrowagonmash
Metrowagonmash
Metrowagonmash is an engineering company in Russia.The company is located in Mytishchi, near Moscow and until 1992 it was known as Mitishi Machine-building factory ....
in Mytischi), electric trains (Demikhovsky Engineering Works), cars (SeAZ
SeAZ
SeAZ is a large engineering plant in Serpukhov, Russia. The company was founded on July 7, 1939 by order of the People's Commissar of General Engineering Industry and by the head of Glavmotoveloprom, concerning production of small capacity motorcycles...
), buses (Likinsky bus plant in Likino-Dulyovo
Likino-Dulyovo
Likino-Dulyovo is a town in Orekhovo-Zuyevsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. Population: The urban-type settlement of Likino-Dulyovo was formed in 1930 by merging the settlements of Likino and Dulyovo...
); agricultural machines, excavators and cranes (Lyubertsy
Lyubertsy
Lyubertsy is a city and the administrative center of Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: Lyubertsy was founded in 1623, and it became a city in 1925.-Notable people:*Sergei Abeltsev, LDPR politician...
, Dmitrov
Dmitrov
Dmitrov is a town and the administrative center of Dmitrovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the north of Moscow on the Yakhroma River and the Moscow Canal. Population: -History:...
, Balashikha
Balashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
); stainless steel (Elektrostal
Elektrostal
Elektrostal , known as Zatishye until 1938, is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. Population: 135,000 ; 123,000 ; 97,000 ; 43,000 . Town status was granted to it in 1938.-Industry:...
), cables (Podolsk
Podolsk
Podolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
), optical devices (Krasnogorsky plant, Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory).
There are many defense enterprises, such as Russian Center for demonstrations of weapons, military equipment and technology in Krasnoarmeysk
Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow Oblast
Krasnoarmeysk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Vorya River northeast of Moscow. Population: The town grew from the village of Muromtsevo , where a textile factory was established in 1834...
; Kamov
Kamov
Kamov is a Russian rotor-winged aircraft manufacturing company that was founded by Nikolai Il'yich Kamov, who started building his first rotor-winged aircraft in 1929, together with N. K. Skrzhinskii...
, Phazotron
Phazotron
JSC Phazotron , is Russia's largest developer of military radars and avionics. Named after one of the major projects and the most important one it was involved in, the first cosmotron in the former-USSR, it was first formed in 1917 to produce aviation instruments...
, Bazalt
Bazalt
Weapons manufacturing company in Russia that took over or continued the production of weapons such as the RPG-7 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and today manufactures the RPG-7V2 and the RPG-29.From the English page of the company website:...
, NPP Zvezda
NPP Zvezda
Research & Development Production Enterprise Zvezda, or R&D PE Zvezda is a Russian manufacturer of life-support systems for high-altitude flight and human spaceflight. Its products include space suits, ejector seats, aircraft escape slides, lifejackets and fire extinguishers...
, MKB Fakel
MKB Fakel
MKB "Fakel" also known as P.D.Grushin Machine-building Design Bureau is a Russian government-owned aerospace defense corporation located in Khimki. It was founded in 1953 to facilitate development of guided surface-to-air missiles in response to a growing threat of US air attack on the Soviet...
, MKB Raduga
MKB Raduga
MKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
, National Research Institute of Aviation Systems, Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant, Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design
Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design
JSC V.V. Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design is a joint stock company, one of the major Russian enterprises in the development of weaponry control systems for fighter planes and mobile medium range anti-aircraft SAM defense vehicles.The institute was created on March 1,...
, Moscow Research Institute "Agat", Dolgoprudnenskoe Scientific Production Plant
Dolgoprudnenskoe Scientific Production Plant
OJSC Dolgoprudnenskoe Scientific Production Plant or DNPP for short is a Soviet/Russian designer and mass producer of medium-range surface-to-air missiles...
, and many others.
Chemical industry of the Oblast produces acids (Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo is a city and the administrative center of Shchyolskovsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River , northeast of Moscow. Population: 112,865 ; 109,255 ; 91,000 . The settlement dates back to the 16th century. Town status granted to it in 1925...
), mineral fertilizers (plants named "Phosphates" and "Mineral fertilizers" in Voskresensk
Voskresensk
Voskresensk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located southeast from Moscow, on the shores of the Moskva River. Population: Town status was granted to Voskresensk in 1938.-Notable athletes:...
), synthetic fibers (Serpukhov
Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which is situated at the confluence of the Oka and the Nara Rivers. It is located south from Moscow on the Moscow—Simferopol highway. The Moscow—Tula railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
and Klin
Klin
Klin is a town and the administrative center of Klinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Moscow. The M10 highway connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway run through the town. It was home to Klin air base during the Cold War. ...
), plastics (Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
), varnishes and paints (Sergiyev Posad, Odintsovsky paint factories), pharmaceuticals (Staraya Kupavna
Staraya Kupavna
Staraya Kupavna is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Shalovka River east of Moscow . Population: . However, different sources provide figures with range from 20 to 40 thousand people....
). There is a well-developed industry of construction materials with production of cement in Voskresensk and Kolomna (Shchurovsky cement factory), earthenware, porcelain in the Likino-Dulyovo
Likino-Dulyovo
Likino-Dulyovo is a town in Orekhovo-Zuyevsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. Population: The urban-type settlement of Likino-Dulyovo was formed in 1930 by merging the settlements of Likino and Dulyovo...
(Dulevo Porcelain Factory) and Verbilki and dry mortar plant in Krasnogorsk.
 |
 |
|||
| LiAZ-5292 | Ka-52 "Alligator" Kamov Ka-50 The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995... by Kamov Kamov Kamov is a Russian rotor-winged aircraft manufacturing company that was founded by Nikolai Il'yich Kamov, who started building his first rotor-winged aircraft in 1929, together with N. K. Skrzhinskii... |
Diesel TEP70BS (Kolomna plant) | Railcar Rail bus (Metrovagonmash) | Electric train ED4MKM-AERO (Demikhovsky Engineering Works) |
Light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
is the oldest in the region; it was started in the 17th century and with 35% contribution was leading the gross industrial production. There is still production of cotton (in Yegoryevsk, Noginsk
Noginsk
Noginsk is a town and the administrative center of Noginsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of the MKAD ring road on the Klyazma River. Population:...
, Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
), wool (in Pavlovsky Posad
Pavlovsky Posad
Pavlovsky Posad is a town and the administrative center of Pavlovo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located from Moscow, at the confluence of the Klyazma and the Vokhna Rivers. Population: The Moscow–Vladimir railway goes through the town....
and Pushkin) and jerseys (in Ivanteyevka
Ivanteyevka
Ivanteyevka is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Ucha River northeast of Moscow. Population: Ivanteyevka was founded in 1586 as a settlement of Vanteyevo , which belonged to the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra. It was granted town status in 1938.-External links:* **...
and Dmitrov
Dmitrov
Dmitrov is a town and the administrative center of Dmitrovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the north of Moscow on the Yakhroma River and the Moscow Canal. Population: -History:...
). The silk production in Naro-Fominsk
Naro-Fominsk
Naro-Fominsk is a town and the administrative center of Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated southwest from Moscow, on the Nara River. The Moscow – Kiev railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
had been stopped. Traditional and renowned crafts include Gzhel
Gzhel
Gzhel is a Russian style of ceramics.Gzhel may also refer to:*Gzhel, Moscow Oblast, where the ceramics are produced*Gzhel, Smolensk Oblast, a village in Smolensk Oblast, Russia...
, Zhostovo painting
Zhostovo painting
Zhostovo painting is an old Russian folk handicraft of painting on metal trays, which still exists in a village of Zhostovo in the Moscow Oblast. It appeared in the early 19th century mainly under the influence of the Ural handicraft of flower painting on metal...
and Fedoskino miniature
Fedoskino miniature
Fedoskino miniature is a traditional Russian lacquer miniature painting on papier-mache, named after its original center Fedoskino , an old village near Moscow widely known from the late 18th century...
. Large foreign investment projects include the plant for manufacturing household appliances (TV sets, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) by the South Korean company LG built near the village of Dorokhovo.
Energy
In 1999, Moscow Oblast consumed 15.4 billion m³ of natural gas, 3.32 million tonnes of oil, 2.13 million tonnes of coal and 8.5 billion kWh of electricity. Electricity for the Oblast is provided by the Kashirskaya thermal power plant (TPP, 1910 MW), Dzerzhynskaya TPP No 22 (1300 MW), TPP-27 (1100 MW), Shatura Power StationShatura Power Station
The Shatura Power Station is one of the oldest power stations in Russia. The facility is located in Shatura, Moscow Oblast, and generates power by utilizing two 210 MW units, three 200 MW units, and one 80 MW unit, totalling the installed capacity to 1,100 MW...
(1100 MW), Zagorskaya hydroelectric power plant
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric power generation used by some power plants for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps...
(1200 MW), Elektrogorsk TPP (623 MW) and several smaller plants. Major new energy project in the region is the construction of Zagorsk hydroelectric plant with the capacity of 840 MW. The deficit of energy is provided by powerlines connecting the region with Saint Petersburg, Volga Hydroelectric Station
Volga Hydroelectric Station
The Volga Hydroelectric Station or Volga GES also known as the 22nd Congress of the CPSU Stalingrad/Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station , is the largest hydroelectric station in Europe and is the last of the Volga-Kama Cascade of dams, before the Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea...
and other energy suppliers.
Agriculture
Agriculture has a relatively minor role in the economy of the Oblast. Only 25% of land is cultivated and another 15% are used for other activities such as livestockLivestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
farming. Agriculture is the least developed in the northern, eastern and western border regions. In the southern region, especially south of the Oka River, more than 50% of land is used in agriculture. Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
is typical for the southern region with most of the sown area (more than 3/5) occupied by forage crops. Large areas are reserved for grains, especially wheat, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
and rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
, and significant role plays potato. Greenhouses are very common and Moskovsky
Moskovsky, Moscow Oblast
Moskovsky is a town in Leninsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated southwest of Moscow and east of Vnukovo International Airport. Population:...
city hosts the largest greenhouse complex in Europe. Also grown are flowers and mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s. Livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
farming predominates over the crop, and is primarily aimed at the production of milk and meat. In addition to cattle, commonly bred are pigs and chickens.
The economic crisis of 1990s in Russia had severely affected the agriculture of Moscow Oblast. In particular, in the 2000s, as compared with 1970–80s, the grain production has fallen by more than 3 times; potatoes by 2.5 times; vegetables, livestock and poultry by 30%; milk by 2 times and eggs by 4 times.
Transport
MKAD
MKAD is a ring road encircling the City of Moscow.The acronym is a transliteration of the Russian МКАД, for Московская Кольцевая Автомобильная Дорога .The growth of traffic in and around Moscow in the 1950s made the city planners realise Russia's largest metropolis...
rings. Neither railways nor roads, built for the most part many years ago, can cope with the steadily mounting traffic flows. About half of the roads are overloaded and three quarters do not meet modern requirements. Insufficient width of the roads and frequent repairs cause traffic jams.
Moscow Oblast has the highest density of railways in Russia. Eleven major radial lines originate in Moscow and run through the Oblast; the total length of the railways reaches 2,700 km. Almost all railroads are electrified. The largest rail hubs are Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
and Bekasovo. Regular navigation is carried on the rivers Volga, Oka and Moscow, as well as on the Moscow Canal
Moscow Canal
The Moscow Canal , named the Moscow-Volga Canal until the year 1947, is a canal that connects the Moskva River with the main transportation artery of European Russia, the Volga River. It is located in Moscow itself and in the Moscow Oblast...
. Major river ports are in Serpukhov and Kolomna. Also well-developed is pipeline transport. There are two major oil lines, two natural gas rings and numerous radial lines connecting Moscow with the largest gas producing regions of the country.
Moscow and Moscow Oblast have several international passenger airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s, namely Sheremetyevo
Sheremetyevo International Airport
Sheremetyevo International Airport , is an international airport located in the Moscow Oblast, Russia, north-west of central Moscow. It is a hub for the passenger operations of the Russian international airline Aeroflot, and one of the three major airports serving Moscow along with Domodedovo...
(with two terminals), Vnukovo
Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo International Airport , is a dual runway international airport located southwest from the centre of Moscow, Russia. It is one of three major airports serving Moscow...
, Domodedovo
Domodedovo International Airport
Moscow Domodedovo Airport or Domodedovo International Airport is an international airport located in Domodedovsky District, Moscow Oblast, Russia, south-southeast of the centre of Moscow...
and Ostafyevo. Airport Bykovo
Bykovo Airport
Bykovo Airport is a small regional airport serving Moscow, Russia. It is located about 35km southeast of the city along the Ryazan highway and railway close to the town of Zhukovsky. It has one 7,250ft runway. It served mainly short-haul domestic flights due to its short runway. No regular...
is currently used for freight. The largest military airport is Chkalovsky
Chkalovsky Airport
Chkalovsky Airport , is a military airport base near Shchyolkovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located 31 km northeast of Moscow.Chkalovsky provides air support for Star City, Russia, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center, and other elements of the Soviet space program and Russian Federal Space...
(near Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo is a city and the administrative center of Shchyolskovsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River , northeast of Moscow. Population: 112,865 ; 109,255 ; 91,000 . The settlement dates back to the 16th century. Town status granted to it in 1925...
) which can also process civilian cargos and flights.
Major highways of Moscow Oblast are as follows:
- Minsk highwayM1 highway (Russia)The Russian route M1 is a major trunk road that runs from Moscow through Smolensk before reaching the border with Belarus. The length is . The highway runs south of Odintsovo, Kubinka, Mozhaysk, Gagarin, north of Vyazma, through Safonovo and Yartsevo...
(M1 "Belarus" Moscow – BelarusBelarusBelarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
) (E101) - Simferopol highwayM2 highway (Russia)The Russian route M2 is a major trunk road that connects Moscow to the Crimea in Ukraine. It is part of the European route E105...
(M2 "Crimea") Moscow – BelgorodBelgorod-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
(E105) - Kiev highwayM3 highway (Russia)The Russian route M3 is a major trunk road that runs across a distance of about 490 kilometres from Moscow to Russia's border with Ukraine....
(M3 "Ukraine" Moscow – KalugaKalugaKaluga is a city and the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southwest of Moscow. Population: It is served by Grabtsevo Airport.-History:...
– BryanskBryanskBryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
– KievKievKiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
) - Kashirskoye HighwayKashirskoye HighwayKashirskoye Highway or Kashira Highway is a major street in Moscow, Russia, continued as a highway beyond the city into Moscow Oblast as a backup route for highway M4. It was named in the 19th century after the old Kashira Road, which led to the town of Kashira. It was one of the sites of the...
(M4 "Don" Moscow – RostovRostovRostov is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, one of the oldest in the country and a tourist center of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero, northeast of Moscow. Population:...
) (E115) - Ryazan highwayM5 highway (Russia)The Russian route M5 is a major trunk road running across a distance of 1879 km from Moscow to the Ural Mountains. It is part of the European route E30 and the Trans-Siberian Highway....
(M5 "Ural" Moscow – ChelyabinskChelyabinskChelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:...
) (E30) - Nizhny Novgorod highwayM7 highway (Russia)The Russian Route M7 is a major trunk road running from Moscow through Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod to Kazan in Tatarstan and Ufa in Bashkortostan...
(M7 "Volga" Moscow – UfaUfa-Demographics:Nationally, dominated by Russian , Bashkirs and Tatars . In addition, numerous are Ukrainians , Chuvash , Mari , Belarusians , Mordovians , Armenian , Germans , Jews , Azeris .-Government and administration:Local...
) (E22) - Kholmogory - Yaroslavl highwayM8 highway (Russia)The Russian route M8, also known as the Kholmogory Highway or Yaroslavl highway, is a major trunk road that links Moscow to the Russian North in general and the sea harbour of Arkhangelsk in particular...
(M8 "Kholmogory" Moscow – ArchangelArchangelAn archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
) (E115) - Novorizhskoe highwayM9 highway (Russia)The Russian route M9, also known as the Baltic Highway, is a major trunk road that leads from Moscow through Volokolamsk to Russia's border with Latvia. The road runs through the towns of Krasnogorsk, Istra, Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Velikiye Luki, and Sebezh. The highway forms part of the European route...
(M9 "Baltic" Moscow – RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
) (E22) - Leningrad highway (M10 "Russia" Moscow – TverTverTver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
– Novgorod – Saint PetersburgSaint PetersburgSaint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
) (E105) - Mozhaysk highway (A100 Moscow – BorodinoBorodinoBorodino is a rural locality in Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located west of Mozhaysk.The village is famous as the location of the Battle of Borodino, which occurred in what is now known as the "Borodino Battlefield" . The State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve is...
) - Kaluga highwayRussian route A101The Russian route 101 is a Russian federal highway from Moscow to the border with Belarus, where in turns into the Belarusian route P43 to Bobruysk.Within Moscow Oblast it coincides with the old Kaluga road, until the village of Lvovo....
(A101, Moscow – TroitskTroitsk, Moscow OblastTroitsk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Desna River southwest of Moscow on the Kaluzhskoye Highway. Population: 39,874 ; 32,653 ;...
– ObninskObninskObninsk is a city in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: Obninsk is one of the major Russian science cities. The first nuclear power plant in the world for the large-scale production of electricity opened here on June 27, 1954, and it also doubled as a training...
– KalugaKalugaKaluga is a city and the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southwest of Moscow. Population: It is served by Grabtsevo Airport.-History:...
) - Schelkovskoe highway (A103 Moscow – Schelkovo – ChernogolovkaChernogolovkaChernogolovka is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast from Moscow border. Population: Chernogolovka does not have a rail link but long distance buses link the town to Moscow, Noginsk and Fryanovo.-Research facilities:...
) - Dmitrovskoe (A104 Moscow – DubnaDubnaDubna is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. It has a status of naukograd , being home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, an international nuclear physics research centre and one of the largest scientific foundations in the country. It is also home to MKB Raduga, a defence aerospace company...
) - Moscow Ring SmallMKADMKAD is a ring road encircling the City of Moscow.The acronym is a transliteration of the Russian МКАД, for Московская Кольцевая Автомобильная Дорога .The growth of traffic in and around Moscow in the 1950s made the city planners realise Russia's largest metropolis...
(A107) - Moscow Large RingMKADMKAD is a ring road encircling the City of Moscow.The acronym is a transliteration of the Russian МКАД, for Московская Кольцевая Автомобильная Дорога .The growth of traffic in and around Moscow in the 1950s made the city planners realise Russia's largest metropolis...
(А108) - Yegoryevsk highway (R105 Moscow – KasimovKasimovKasimov is a town in Ryazan Oblast, Russia, which serves as the administrative center of Kasimovsky District . The town is situated on the left bank of the Oka River...
) - Pyatnitskoe highway (R111 Moscow – SolnechnogorskSolnechnogorskSolnechnogorsk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, the administrative center of Solnechnogorsky District. It is situated on the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Highway and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway, on the coast of Senezh Lake, north-west from Moscow. Population: Originally, there was a village...
) - Rogachev highway (P113 LobnyaLobnyaLobnya is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located north of Moscow. Population: 30,000 .Lobnya was founded in 1902 and granted town status in 1961....
– Rogachevo (Dmitrov district)) - Nosovihinskoe highway (Moscow – Likino-DulyovoLikino-DulyovoLikino-Dulyovo is a town in Orekhovo-Zuyevsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. Population: The urban-type settlement of Likino-Dulyovo was formed in 1930 by merging the settlements of Likino and Dulyovo...
) - Warsaw highway (Moscow – PodolskPodolskPodolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
– ObninskObninskObninsk is a city in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: Obninsk is one of the major Russian science cities. The first nuclear power plant in the world for the large-scale production of electricity opened here on June 27, 1954, and it also doubled as a training...
– RoslavlRoslavlRoslavl is a town and the administrative center of Roslavlsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is a road and rail junction and a market town. Population: It was founded in 1137 by the Smolensk prince Rostislav Mstislavitch, hence the name...
) - Borovskoye highway (Moscow – Vnukovo)
- Rublyovo-Uspenskoe highway
- Dzerzhynsk highway (DzerzhinskyDzerzhinsky (town)Dzerzhinsky is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Moskva River, south of the city of Lyubertsy. The western part of Dzerzhinsky is bordered on Moscow. Population: Lyubertsy–Dzerzhinsky railway is used for cargo transportation only...
– KotelnikiKotelnikiKotelniki is a town in Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located southeast of Moscow. Population: The village of Kotelniki was first mentioned in the 17th century and belonged to Golitsyns in the 19th century. It was granted town status in 2004....
– Novoryazanskoye highway) - Ostashkovskoye highway (Moscow – Mytischi)
Government and awards
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, on 3 January 1934, 17 December 1956 and 5 December 1966.
The highest executive organ is the Government of Moscow Oblast. Eighteen ministries act as the executive bodies of state authority. The powers, tasks, functions and competence of the Government are defined by the Charter of the Moscow Region. Boris Gromov
Boris Gromov
Boris Vsevolodovich Gromov is a prominent Russian military and political figure. Since 2000, he has been the Governor of Moscow Oblast.-Biography:...
is the current Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Moscow Oblast with the term of 5 years. The Regional Duma of Moscow Oblast was formed on 12 December 1993. It consists of 50 deputies also serving a 5-year term.
Science
Moscow Oblast has a high density of scientific research institutions, especially related to engineering and military technologies. The latter started developing in the region in 1930–1940s in ZhukovskyZhukovsky (city)
Zhukovsky is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Moskva River, southeast of Moscow. Population: The urban-type settlement of Stakhanovo was founded in 1935 from the dacha settlement Otdykh . It was named after Alexey Stakhanov - a famous Soviet miner...
(aeronautical engineering), Klimovsk
Klimovsk
Klimovsk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located south of Moscow and south of Podolsk. Population: The area of Klimovsk is .Klimovsk was founded in the first half of the 19th century as a village of Klimovka , which was close to Moscow–Serpukhov–Tula road...
(development of small arms), Reutov
Reutov
Reútov is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. Population: 50,200 .In 2007, Reutov was named one of the best places to live in the Russian Federation in the category of small towns with a population of fewer than 100,000 people....
(Missile Engineering), Fryazino
Fryazino
Fryazino is a scientific town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Lyuboseyevka River northeast of the city of Moscow. Population: Fryazino is a center of the Russian microwave electronics.-History:...
(microwave electronics) and Korolyov
Korolyov (city)
Korolyov or Korolev is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, well known as the cradle of Soviet and Russian space exploration. It was originally founded as Kaliningrad in 1938 by Vasily Boldyrev, Naum Nosovsky, and Mikhail Loginov as the leading Soviet center for production of anti-tank...
(space technology). They were later joined by famous centers for basic sciences in Troitsk
Troitsk, Moscow Oblast
Troitsk is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Desna River southwest of Moscow on the Kaluzhskoye Highway. Population: 39,874 ; 32,653 ;...
, Chernogolovka
Chernogolovka
Chernogolovka is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast from Moscow border. Population: Chernogolovka does not have a rail link but long distance buses link the town to Moscow, Noginsk and Fryanovo.-Research facilities:...
(physics and chemistry), Dubna
Dubna
Dubna is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. It has a status of naukograd , being home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, an international nuclear physics research centre and one of the largest scientific foundations in the country. It is also home to MKB Raduga, a defence aerospace company...
and Protvino
Protvino
Protvino is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located about south of Moscow and west of Serpukhov, on the left bank of the Protva River. Population: -History:...
(nuclear physics) and Pushchino
Pushchino
Pushchino is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated south of Moscow, on the right side of the Oka River opposite the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. As it can be confused with other towns with similar names, it is informally called Pushchino-on-Oka...
(biology). Moscow Oblast hosts Mission Control Center
Mission Control Center
A mission control center is an entity that manages aerospace vehicle flights, usually from the point of lift-off until the landing or the end of the mission. A staff of flight controllers and other support personnel monitor all aspects of the mission using telemetry, and send commands to the...
s for spacecraft (in Korolyov) and military satellites (Krasnoznamensk), as well as a number of test sites.
Culture and recreation
Moscow Oblast has numerous therapeutic and recreationRecreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al facilities located mainly in western, northwestern and northern parts, and also near Moscow. Of great importance for recreation are forests, which occupy over 40% of the region, as well as horticultural activities. The region has the highest number (over 1 million) of dacha
Dacha
Dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and post-Soviet cities. Cottages or shacks serving as family's main or only home are not considered dachas, although many purpose-built dachas are recently being converted for year-round residence...
s with associated individual gardens. Also numerous are manor complexes, such as those in Abramtzevo, Muranovo
Muranovo
Muranovo is the Fyodor Tyutchev state museum located in Pushkino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.The estate was founded in 1816 and since then has belonged to four families, including Fyodor Tyutchev's family. Its main house was built in wood in 1842 by Yevgeny Baratynsky, another renowned Russian poet...
, Ostafievo, historical cities (Vereya
Vereya
Vereya is a town in Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Protva River southwest of Moscow. Population: 6,500 ....
, Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk is a town and the administrative center of Volokolamsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Gorodenka River, not far from its confluence with the Lama River, northwest of Moscow. Population: -History:...
, Dmitrov
Dmitrov
Dmitrov is a town and the administrative center of Dmitrovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the north of Moscow on the Yakhroma River and the Moscow Canal. Population: -History:...
, Zaraysk
Zaraysk
Zaraysk is a town and the administrative center of Zaraysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated about southeast from Moscow. Population: The town stands on the right bank of the Osyotr River, which is a right confluent of the Oka...
, Zvenigorod
Zvenigorod
Zvenigorod is an old town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: -History:The community has existed since the 12th century, although its first written mention is dated 1338. The town's name is based either on a personal name or on a hydronym Zvenigorod is an old town in Moscow Oblast, Russia....
, Istra
Istra
Istra is a town and the administrative center of Istrinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Istra River, west of Moscow, on the Moscow–Riga railway...
, Kolomna
Kolomna
Kolomna is an ancient city and the administrative center of Kolomensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers, southeast of Moscow. The area of the city is about . The city was founded in 1177...
, Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town status was granted to it in 1742...
, Serpukhov
Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which is situated at the confluence of the Oka and the Nara Rivers. It is located south from Moscow on the Moscow—Simferopol highway. The Moscow—Tula railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
, etc.), monasteries (Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph Volokolamsk Monastery is a monastery for men, located 17 km northeast of Volokolamsk, Moscow Oblast. In the 15th and 16th century, it rivaled the Trinity as the most authoritative and wealthy monastery in Russia...
, Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
The Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery is a Russian Orthodox monastery in Zvenigorod.In 1398, Prince Yuri asked St. Savva Storozhevsky, one of the first disciples of Sergii Radonezhsky, to go to Zvenigorod and to establish a monastery on the Storozhi Holm...
, Nikolo-Ugresh monastery
Nikolo-Ugresh monastery
Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery is a walled stauropegic Russian Orthodox monastery of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker located in a suburb of Moscow formerly known as Ugreshi and now called Dzerzhinsky...
, etc.), and museums (Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
museum in Melikhovo, Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
museum in Klin, Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum, etc.).
Environment
Ecological situation in the Moscow Oblast is serious. The areas adjacent to Moscow, and industrial zones in the east and south-east regions are heavily polluted. Most contamination originates from emissions from KashiraKashira Power Plant
Kashira Power Plant is a coal fired power plant at Kashira in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Its first unit went in service in 1922 with a power capacity of 110 MW. As of today, it has an installed power capacity of 1,580 MW and consists of 6 units. Double units 1 and 2 have capacity of...
and Shatura Power Station
Shatura Power Station
The Shatura Power Station is one of the oldest power stations in Russia. The facility is located in Shatura, Moscow Oblast, and generates power by utilizing two 210 MW units, three 200 MW units, and one 80 MW unit, totalling the installed capacity to 1,100 MW...
s and disposal of household and industrial waste. For example, the Timohovskaya dump is one of the largest in Europe; other objects of concern are aging oil storage tanks, and nuclear waste in the Sergiyevo-Posadsky District. Contamination level is highest in Moscow, Voskresensk and Klin, high in Dzerzhinsky
Dzerzhinsky (town)
Dzerzhinsky is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Moskva River, south of the city of Lyubertsy. The western part of Dzerzhinsky is bordered on Moscow. Population: Lyubertsy–Dzerzhinsky railway is used for cargo transportation only...
, Kolomna
Kolomna
Kolomna is an ancient city and the administrative center of Kolomensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers, southeast of Moscow. The area of the city is about . The city was founded in 1177...
, Mytishchi
Mytishchi
Mytishchi is a city and the administrative center of Mytishchinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, which lies to the northeast of Russia's capital Moscow, on the Yauza River and the Moscow–Yaroslavl railroad. The city is the oblast's largest center for industry and education...
, Podolsk
Podolsk
Podolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
, Serpukhov
Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which is situated at the confluence of the Oka and the Nara Rivers. It is located south from Moscow on the Moscow—Simferopol highway. The Moscow—Tula railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
, Schelkovo and Elektrostal
Elektrostal
Elektrostal , known as Zatishye until 1938, is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. Population: 135,000 ; 123,000 ; 97,000 ; 43,000 . Town status was granted to it in 1938.-Industry:...
, and low in Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. The major contaminants are formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
and phenol
Phenol
Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...
in Moscow; ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
and hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride is a chemical compound with the formula HF. This colorless gas is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often in the aqueous form as hydrofluoric acid, and thus is the precursor to many important compounds including pharmaceuticals and polymers . HF is widely used in the...
in Voskresensk; formaldehyde in Klin, Kolomna, Mytishchi and Podolsk, phenol in Serpukhov. The most polluted rivers are Moscow, Oka and Klyazma. In the Moscow area and in major cities (in particular, in Podolsk, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Serpukhov, Lukhovitsy
Lukhovitsy
Lukhovitsy is a town and the administrative center of Lukhovitsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population:...
and Stupino) also heavily polluted are groundwaters.
Population
The total population of the oblast is growing: 6,628,107 (2006), 6,672,773 (2008), 6,732,629 (2009), 7,092,941 (2010). The average population density, at 147.4 inhabitants/km² (2010), is the largest in Russia, due to a high proportion of urban population (80.85% in 2010). The highest density occurs in and around Moscow (Lyubertsy, BalashikhaBalashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
, Khimki
Khimki
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated just northwest of Moscow, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal. Population: 207,125 ; 141,000 ; 106,000 ; 23,000 .-History:...
, Krasnogorsk
Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast
Krasnogorsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnogorsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, adjacent to the northwestern boundary of Moscow, on the Moskva River...
, etc.) and the lowest – about 20 people/km² – is in the outlying areas of Lotoshinsky, Shakhovskoi, Mozhaysk and Meshchersk lowlands.
| Nationalities represented by more than 1000 people in Moscow Oblast in 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Administrative and municipal divisions
Administratively, the oblast is divided into 36 cities/towns under the oblast jurisdiction and 38 administrative districtsRaion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
, comprising 48 district-level towns, 70 urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...
s, and 6,123 rural localities.
As of 2010, Moscow Oblast is municipally subdivided into 38 urban okrugs and 36 municipal districts
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
, which comprise 114 urban settlements and 193 rural settlements.
Balashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
(192,800), Khimki
Khimki
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated just northwest of Moscow, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal. Population: 207,125 ; 141,000 ; 106,000 ; 23,000 .-History:...
(186,200), and Podolsk
Podolsk
Podolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
(182,400). Most other towns have ten to fifty thousand people. The smallest town is Vereya
Vereya
Vereya is a town in Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Protva River southwest of Moscow. Population: 6,500 ....
in Naro-Fominsky District
Naro-Fominsky District
Naro-Fominsky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 38 in Moscow Oblast, Russia....
with the population of . Among the urban-type settlements, the largest is Nakhabino (33,000) followed by Tomilino
Tomilino
Tomilino is an urban locality in Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: In terms of population, Tomilino is the largest urban-type settlement in Lyuberetsky District....
(29,000). The oldest populated place in the oblast is Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk
Volokolamsk is a town and the administrative center of Volokolamsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Gorodenka River, not far from its confluence with the Lama River, northwest of Moscow. Population: -History:...
, first mentioned in 1135; slightly younger towns are Zvenigorod (1152), Dmitrov (1154), and Kolomna (1177).
The most intensive formation of cities occurred in 1938–1940. The youngest cities are Golitsyno
Golitsyno
Golitsyno is a town in Odintsovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated west of Moscow. Population: It was founded as a settlement in 1872, and was granted town status in 2004.There is a station of the Moscow–Minsk railway with same name....
, Kubinka
Kubinka
Kubinka is a town in Odintsovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Setun River, west of Moscow. Population: Kubinka was the location of the Soviet Union's tank proving grounds, and today is the home of the Kubinka Tank Museum...
and Moskovsky
Moskovsky, Moscow Oblast
Moskovsky is a town in Leninsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated southwest of Moscow and east of Vnukovo International Airport. Population:...
. They existed for quite some time, but obtained the city status only in 2004. Some recent cities separated from the other cities, such as Yubileyny
Yubileyny, Moscow Oblast
Yubileyny is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow Ring Road by Yaroslavl Highway, on the Klyazma River. Population: Area: .-History:...
and Peresvet
Peresvet
Peresvet is a town in Sergiyevo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Kunya River northeast of Moscow and north of Sergiyev Posad. Population:...
. Although the city of Moscow is surrounded by Moscow Oblast and is considered its administrative center, it has a special territorial status – a city of federal significance (Constitution of Russia
Constitution of Russia
The current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993. Russia's constitution came into force on 25 December 1993, at the moment of its official publication...
, article 65).
New projects have been announced at the beginning of the 21st century. One of them is Rublyovo-Arkhangelsk, which is designed for 30,000 inhabitants with high income and is called by the media the "city for millionaires". Another is "Great Domodedovo, 30 km south of the Moscow Ring Road
MKAD
MKAD is a ring road encircling the City of Moscow.The acronym is a transliteration of the Russian МКАД, for Московская Кольцевая Автомобильная Дорога .The growth of traffic in and around Moscow in the 1950s made the city planners realise Russia's largest metropolis...
, which is designed for 450,000 residents. The new city A101 was designed for 300,000 residents in 2009 and already began the sale of its land in Leninsky District
Leninsky District, Moscow Oblast
Leninsky District, Moscow Oblast is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 38 in Moscow Oblast, Russia....
. The city construction is planned to take 35 years.
The housing stock of the oblast is approximately 125 million square meters. Almost all the houses are equipped with water supply, sewerage, gas, central heating and hot water. However, the telephone network is underdeveloped in rural areas. In the competition for the most comfortable city of 2006 in the Moscow Oblast the winner was Kolomna
Kolomna
Kolomna is an ancient city and the administrative center of Kolomensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers, southeast of Moscow. The area of the city is about . The city was founded in 1177...
followed by Balashikha
Balashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
(for cities with population over 100,000) and Vidnoye
Vidnoye
Vidnoye is a town and the administrative center of Leninsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated south of Moscow city limits. Population:...
(<100,000) and then by Mytischi and Noginsk
Noginsk
Noginsk is a town and the administrative center of Noginsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of the MKAD ring road on the Klyazma River. Population:...
.
Sister regions
BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Chuy Province
Chuy Province
Chuy Province or Chui Province is the northernmost province of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is bounded on the north by Kazakhstan, and clockwise, Issyk Kul Province, Naryn Province, Jalal-Abad Province and Talas Province...
, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
. Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.