Smolensk oblast, Russia (Smolenskaya)

The capital city of Smolensk oblast: Smolensk.

Smolensk oblast overview

Smolensk oblast (also spelled Smolenskaya) is a federal subject of Russia, part of Central Federal District. The capital city and administrative center is Smolensk. Dnepr is the main river of Smolensk oblast.

Smolensk oblast population - 983,000 (2008); land area - 49,800 sq. km.

Smolensk oblast flag

Smolensk oblast coat of arms

Smolensk oblast map, Russia

Smolensk oblast economy

Main industries of Smolensk oblast are jewelry (Kristall enterprise), power industry (Smolensk nuclear power plant, Smolensk hydroelectric power plant), machine building (Avtoagregatny zavod and Vagonoremontny zavod), food and chemical industries.

Such natural resources as brown coal, peat, rock-salt, calc-tuff and limestone are common in Smolensk oblast of Russia.

The largest cities and towns of the region are Smolensk (316,000), Vyazma (55,000), Roslavl (54,000), Yartsevo (50,000), Safonovo (45,000).

Smolensk oblast history

In the middle of the 1st century AD eastern Slavic tribes were uniting into large tribal unions. It was the beginning of Smolensk lands. That time Krivichi (large tribal union) inhabited present Smolensk oblast area and created the union of lands with Smolensk as capital city.

Smolensk was first time mentioned in chronicles in the year of 863. Smolensk city and surrounding area was captured by Kievan Rus state in 882. In 1514 Smolensk lands became the part of Moscow state. Later Smolensk region was under control of Poland. Russia returned Smolensk territories after war with Poland in 1654.

Smolensk oblast attractions

There are about 400,000 various historical and cultural monuments in Smolensk oblast of Russia. First of all Gnezdovsky Barrows (pre-Mongol period architecture), Michael the Archangel and Saints Peter and Paul churches (XII century), St. John the Baptist church.

Smolensk territories played an important role in Russian military history. There are a lot of monuments of Great Patriotic War (1812) in Smolensk oblast.

Smolensk oblast is rich in various museums: A.S.Griboedov museum-estate (Khmelita village), Admiral P.S.Nakhimov museum (Gorodok village), M.I.Glinka museum-estate (Novospasskoye village), Y.A.Gagarin museum, M.V.Isakovsky museum (Vskhody town), N.M.Przhevalsky home-museum.

There are a lot of old estates in Smolensk oblast (M.V.Glinka, A.S.Griboedov family estates). Teremok architectural complex (M.K.Tenisheva estate) is also popular among Smolensk oblast visitors.