Through Astrakhanskaya region Russia has outlet to the Caspian Sea, boundaries with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran. Perspective ways to Middle East, Middle Asia and Indo-China are opening.

Population: Population - 1032.8 thousand people, representatives of more than 150 nationalities: Russians - 72%, Kazakhs - 12%, Tatars - 7%. 67% live in town, 33% - in village. 56.6% of the population are capable of working.

Economy: The region is rich in natural resources: gas, sulphur, oil, salt (the lake Baskunchak-115 square km-one of the largest in the world). There are great supplies of gypsum, potassium salt, bromine, iodine and others. Mineral water is mined there. On the resort "Tinaki" reserves of mud-cure are elaborated.

Administrative division: Astrakhanskaya region comprises 11 districts, 442 villages and settlements. The regional centre is Astrakhan with population 488.3 thousand people. In the region there are 6 towns, the biggest of them: Akhtubinsk (50.4 thousand), Kazymyak (15,8 thousand), Znamensk (34.7 thousand), Kharabali (19.1 thousand).

Brief History:

• The region was founded on the 27th of December, 1943.
• Astrakhanskaya guberniya was established by Peter the First in 1717.