Tula Oblast

Federal subject of Russia
EnNm= Tula Oblast
RuNm= Тульская область
OfNm1=
OfNm2=
OfNm3=
FS

FSCoA=
FlagLnk=Flag of Tula Oblast
CoALnk=Coat of arms of Tula Oblast
FS

FSCtrWhat=Administrative center
FSCtrNm=Tula
AreaRnk=69th
TotArea=25,700
WaterPrcnt=
PopRnk=27th
PopQty=1,675,758
PopCtDate=2002
PopDens=65
PolStatLnk=Oblasts of Russia
PolStatNm=Oblast
FedDistrNm=Central
EcRegNm=Central
CadNo=
LangLangs=
OfLangs=Russian
HeadTtl=Governor
HeadNm=Vyacheslav Dudka
ViceTtl=Vice-Governor
ViceNm=Alexey Korablyov
LegiNm=Tula Regional Duma
FSAnthem=|

Tula Oblast ( _ru. Ту́льская о́бласть, "Tulskaya oblast") is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) with its present borders formed on September 26, 1937. Its administrative center is the city of Tula. It has an area of 25,700 km² and a population of 1,675,758 (2002 Census). The oblast's current governor is Vyacheslav Dudka.

For a sketch on its early history, see Upper Oka Principalities.

Geography

Tula Oblast is located in Russia's Central Federal District and borders Moscow, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Oryol, and Kaluga Oblasts.

Time zone

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

Rivers

Tula Oblast contains more than 1,600 rivers and streams. Major rivers include:
*Don River
*Oka River
*Upa River

Natural resources

The oblast is rich in iron ore, clay, limestone, and deposits of lignite (coal). [cite web|url=http://www.xreferplus.com/entry/5115647|title=“Tula Oblast” |publisher= Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary (2001)|accessdate=2006-10-31] The lignite deposit is part of the Moscow coal basin.

Climate

Tula Oblast has a moderate continental climate.
*"Average temperature in January": −5.7°С
*"Average temperature in June": +19.1°С
*"Average Annual Precipitation": 470-575 mm

Administrative divisions

Demographics

According to the 2002 census, ethnic Russians at 1,595,564 make up 95% of the population. Other prominent ethnicities in the region include Ukrainians at 22,260 (1.3%), and Tatars at 8,968 (0.5%). The rest of the residents identified themselves with 120 different ethnic groups, each group accounting for less than 0.5% of the population. [cite web|url=http://www.perepis2002.ru/index.html?id=87|title=“All Russian Population Census 2002” |publisher= Federal Service of Governmental Statistics|accessdate=2006-10-31]
*Population: 1,675,758 (2002)
**"Urban": 1,366,818 (81.6%)
**"Rural": 308,940 (18.4%)
**"Males": 755,057 (45.1%)
**"Females": 920,701 (54.9%)
*Females per 1000 Males: 1219
*Average age : 41.7 years
**"Urban ": 41.5 years
**"Rural ": 42.8 years
**"Male ": 37.8 years
**"Female ": 44.9 years

Birth Rate: 7.88 (2004), being the lowest in Russia. Decreased to 7.6 in mid-2006.Birth rate was 7.9 in the first half of 2007. [http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2007/0301/barom04.php]

Economy

Tula Oblast is part of the Central economic region. It is a prominent industrial center with metalworking, engineering, coalmining, and chemical industries. [cite web|url=http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9073715 |title=“Tula” |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica Online|accessdate=2006-10-31] Major industrial cities include Novomoskovsk and Aleksin. Historical industries, such as firearm, samovar, and accordion manufacturing, still play an important role in the region.

The oblast also has a developed agricultural sector, which ranks 33rd in Russia in agricultural production. [cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p-73/r_417/Tula_Region/|title=“TulaRegion” |publisher= Kommersant Moscow|accessdate=2006-10-31] The sector includes grain cultivation (wheat and rye), potato, sugar beet, and vegetable growing, livestock raising, and dairying.

Culture

Tula's dominant religions are Orthodox Christianity and atheism.

Tula Oblast has as many as 32 museums. Several are located in the administrative center of the oblast, the city of Tula, notably the "Tula State Arms Museum", the "Tula Kremlin", and the "Tula Samovar Museum ". Another important cultural tourist attractions is the home and country estate of Leo Tolstoy, Yasnaya Polyana, located 12 km outside of the city of Tula.

The region also has four professional theaters, a philharmonic orchestra, and a circus.

Notes and references

ee also

*2005 Moscow power blackouts

External links

*ru icon [http://www.region.tula.ru/ Official website of Tula Oblast]
*en icon [http://www.yasnayapolyana.ru/english/index.htm Official website of the Museum-Estate of Leo Tolstoy "Yasnaya Polyana"]