Chelyabinsk region overview
Chelyabinsk oblast (region) (other spellings Cheliabinsk, Cheljabinsk or Chelyabinskaya) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation. The region is a part of Urals Federal District of Russia.
The administrative center is Chelyabinsk city. The region is situated in the southern part of Urals. It is the place where Europe borders with Asia.
Chelyabinsk region has the population of about 3,485,000 (2012) on the territory of 88,529 sq. km.
Chelyabinsk region history
From the ancient times Southern Urals have attracted people by their favorable living conditions. The evidences for this are numerous archaeological sites of stone age, settlements of Bronze and Iron Ages, Paleolithic picture gallery in Ignatyev cave (there are only ten caves in Eurasia like this one) and some other signs of ancient art.
Administratively the formation of the territory began in the 18th century as a result of Peter’s I policy aimed at developing productive forces in Russia and widening its boundaries.
It was reflected in Orenburg expedition activities. For the military and trade purposes the expedition founded a number of fortresses, Chelyabinsk fortress was among them (1736).
On August 13, 1737, Isetskaya province was founded (on present day map it is the northern part of Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions). From 1743, Chelyabinsk was the center of the province. On March 15, 1744, Orenburg gubernia was formed and it included Isetskaya and Ufimskaya provinces.
In the second half of the 18th century, mining and metallurgical areas of Southern Urals rapidly started to grow. Mining plants were founded forming towns afterwards. The first towns on the territory of present region were Chelyabinsk, Verhneuralsk (1781) and Troitsk (1784).
In the early 19th century, most of the territory of the region was a part of Orenburg gubernia. From the middle of the 19th century, Orenburg Cossacks rapidly developed steppe areas of Southern Urals due to forming “new line” of fortresses. The growing settlements were given names connected with battles and victories of the Russian Army: Varna, Fershampenuaz, Borodino, Paris and others.
In 1919, Chelyabinsk gubernia was formed. On November, 3, 1923, Uralskaya oblast with the capital in Yekaterinburg was formed.
On January 17, 1934, Uralskaya oblast was enlarged and as a result Chelyabinsk oblast was formed. Further on the territory of the region was diminished not once. After 32 districts were transferred to newly formed Kurgan region, the boundaries of the oblast haven’t changed since February 6, 1943.
Chelyabinsk region nature
Cheliabinsk region nature view
Author: Olga Yartseva
Chelyabinsk region landscape
Author: Rauer Yury
Chelyabinsk province wheat field
Author: Alexander Pridvizhkin
Chelyabinsk region features
Chelyabinsk province is a highly-industrialized region of Russia. It was closed to foreigners for about fifty years during the Soviet Union times.
The main cities in the region are Chelyabinsk (capital city), Magnitogorsk, Zlatoust and Miass. The province is located about two thousand km east of Moscow. Chelyabinsk and Miass cities are on the Trans-Siberian Railroad main line.
Chelyabinsk region economics
Makeyev Rocketry Center in Miass is the main supplier of strategic ballistic missiles to the Russian submarine forces. Makeyev Rocketry Center operates unique test facilities for acceleration, hydraulic, sonic boom and vacuum testing.
Magnitogorsk is situated in the middle of one of the largest and richest iron ore deposits in the world. Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Kombinat (MMK) is known as the largest steel plant in the world.
Chelyabinsk region features
There are about two thousand lakes in Chelyabinsk region of Russia. The most picturesque lakes of the region are Turgoyak and Uvildy. The water of these lakes is limpid down to a depth of about 12 meters.
You can easily reach the lakes mentioned or other picturesque places of Chelyabinsk region in several hours by car after leaving Chelyabinsk.
The province has unique climate conditions, picturesque landscapes, lakes, caves and natural curing springs.
There are over 200 especially protected areas, including State Ilmensky reserve, historical and archaeological museum “Arkaim”; cave “Ignatyevskaya” with the pictures of an ancient man; National Parks “Tanagai” and “Zyuratgul”. There a lot of health resorts on the territory of the region.