Kostroma Oblast

Infobox Russian federal subject
EnglishName=Kostroma Oblast
RussianName=Костромская область
Locator

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LocatorMap



CoatOfArmsLink=Coat of arms of Kostroma Oblast


FlagLink=Flag of Kostroma Oblast
AnthemLink=Anthem of Kostroma Oblast
AdmCtrOrCapital=Administrative center
AdmCtrName=Kostroma
FoundationDate=August 13, 1944
PoliticalStatus=Oblast
PoliticalStatusLink=Oblasts of Russia
FederalDistrict=Central
EconomicRegion= Central
CodeNumber=44
Area=60100
AreaRank=47th
Population=736641
PopulationRank=65th
UrbanPopulation=67.4%
RuralPopulation=32.6%
LangLangs
LangList=Russian
HeadTitle=Governor
HeadName=Igor Slyunyayev
PrimeTitle=First Deputy Head of Administration
PrimeName=Yury Tsikunov
Legislature=Oblast Duma
ConstitutionType=Charter
ConstitutionName=Charter of Kostroma Oblast
Website=http://www.region.kostroma.net/

Kostroma Oblast ( _ru. Костромска́я о́бласть, "Kostromskaya oblast") is a federal subject of Russia (an "oblast"). Its administrative center is the city of Kostroma.

From c. 300-300 CE the whole current area of Kostroma with exception the area east of River Unzha was part of historic Finno Ugric peoples' lands, like the Meri (Russian M"erja") people and their loose tribal confederation. There were at least 109 Meri settlements located in the area of which the most important below mentioned trading centers and important hill fortresses were later recorded by the Russians as the Russians founded towns in the late 9th to 12th centuries.

Major historic towns include Kostroma, Sharya, Nerekhta, Galich, Soligalich, and Makaryev. Textile industries have been developed there since the early 18th century. The oblast was detached from Yaroslavl Oblast in 1944.

The governor of the oblast was Viktor Shershunov from 1997 until his death in a car crash on September 20, 2007. Deputy governor Yury Tzikunin became acting governor.

Geography

Kostroma Oblast borders Vologda Oblast (N), Kirov Oblast (E), Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (S), Ivanovo Oblast (W), and Yaroslavl Oblast (NW). The chief rivers are the Volga and the Kostroma. Much of the area is covered by woods, making it one of the principal timber producing regions in Europe.

Time zone

Kostroma Oblast is located in the Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD). UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).

Administrative divisions

External links

*ru icon [http://kos-obl.kmtn.ru/ Official website of Kostroma Oblast]
* [http://kosinfo.ru/ Kostroma region internet journal]