Stavropol krai, Russia (Stavropolsky)

The capital city of Stavropol krai: Stavropol.

Stavropol krai overview

Stavropol krai (also spelled Stavropolsky) is situated in the central part of Predkavkazie and on the northern range of Big Caucasus (North Caucasian Federal District). Administrative center and capital city of the region is Stavropol.

Stavropol krai population - 2,707,000 (2009); land area - 66,160 sq. km.

Stavropol krai flag

Stavropol krai coat of arms

Stavropol krai map, Russia

Stavropol krai facts

Natural deposits of Stavropol oblast are gas, oil, complex ores (containing uranium), construction materials. Four large deposits of geothermal waters are prospected. Mineral curing waters are a special feature of the krai.

The climate is of moderate continental type. The average temperature in January is 5 degs C (in mountains 10 degs C) below zero, in July from 22 degs C to 25 degs C above zero.

Stavropol region is divided into 26 districts, 10 towns of regional submission, 8 towns of district submission, 7 town settlements, 267 villages.

Main cities and towns are Stavropol (364,000), Pyatigorsk (140,000), Kislovodsk (129,000), Nevinnomyssk (129,000), Yessentuky (82,000), Mineralnie Vody (77,000).

Stavropol krai history

In 1777 according to Catherine II order Azovo-Mozdokskaya defense line was founded. It favored Northern Caucasus inhabiting. From that time Stavropol region lands were the part of Astrakhan oblast.

In 1785 according to Catherine II order the Caucasian region ruled by governor-general was formed, it consisted of Astrakhan and Caucasian regions with the center in Yekaterinograd, at present stanitsa (large Cossack village) Yekaterinogradskaya in Kabardino-Balkaria.

The territories of modern Stavropolsky krai were the most part of Caucasian oblast. In 1790 the Caucasian region was abolished and its territory again became a part of Astrakhanskaya oblast. In 1802 according to Emperor Alexander I order Caucasian gubernia was formed with the center in the town of Georgiyevsk. The lands of modern Stavropolsky krai were the main part of this gubernia.

In 1822 the Caucasian gubernia was reformed into Caucasian oblast within the previous boundaries. In 1847 the Caucasian oblast was reformed into Stavropolskaya gubernia within its former boundaries. In 1860 newly formed Terskaya and Kubanskaya regions left the Stavropolskaya gubernia and the territory of the krai was approximately within current boundaries. Stavropol gubernia remained as it was like till 1924 with little changes.

In October 1924 North-Caucasian krai was formed and Stavropolsaya gubernia was reformed into a district within the krai. On January 10th, 1934, the North-Caucasian krai was divided into Azovo-Chernomorsky and North-Caucasian. The city of Pyatigorsk became the center of North-Caucasian krai.

In March 1936 the North-Caucasian krai was reformed and on its territory Ordzhohikidzevsky krai with the center in Stavropol was formed. In 1941 Ordzhohikidzevsky krai was renamed Stavropolsky krai.

Stavropol krai economics

Main industries of Stavropol krai are as follows: machine-building (power engineering equipment, tools, gadgets, automobile cranes and trailers), power engineering, oil and gas extraction and processing, food (wine-making, butter- and fat-making, canning in Georgiyevsk, sugar-making in Stavropol), chemical (mineral fertilizers in Nevinnomyssk), construction materials (glass-making in Mineralnye Vody), light (wool-making in Nevinnomyssk, leather-producing in Budyonovsk), furniture-making, microbiological (Stavropol).

Agriculture is presented by crops and sunflower growing, cattle-breeding is developed, fine wool sheep-breeding. Fruit- and grapes growing, poultry farming, pig-breeding and bee-keeping are developed. Agriculture is one of the most important branches of Stavropol krai economics, over 150,000 people are busy in agriculture.

The main automobile way of the region is M29 “Caucasus” crossing Nevinnomyssk, Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk. There are international airports in Stavropol (Shpakovskoye) and Mineralnye Vody. There is a very dense and long net of main oil- and gas pipelines.

Caucasian Mineralnye Vody is the largest curing resort region in Russian Federation which doesn’t have any analogy either in Europe or Asia in variety, content, quantity and value. Curing potential of these mineral springs has been known by the local population for a long time. Legends combining both truth and fantasy tell about it, too.

Such legend’s echo reflected in the name of one popular local mineral water - narzan. This word can be translated into Russian as “Hercules’ beverage”, “Water of Hercules”.