There are 12 economic regions in the Russian Federation, which are defined as the territorial units of the country: Central, Central Black Earth, Far East, East Siberian, North Caucasian, Northwestern, Serverny, Volga, Ural, Volga-Vyatka, Kaliningrad, West Siberian.
The economy of the region is formed under the influence of many factors: territory, climate and social specifics.
Let's consider the North Caucasian economic region of Russia. This subject is of great importance in the economic and financial activities of the country. This is due to its geographical location and natural features.
General information
The territory of the North Caucasus is 2% of the total area of the country, and the area of the entire North Caucasus economic region is 380 thousand km2.
The population is about 22,451,100 people. This is approximately 15% of allpopulation of the country.
Natural conditions
The natural reliefs of the North Caucasus are very diverse: the natural composition of the North Caucasus economic region includes mountainous terrain with ridges and steppe terrain, raging fast mountain rivers and sometimes drying up lakes, subtropical vegetation of the Black Sea coast and snow-covered mountain peaks.
Here is the highest mountain peak in the Russian Federation - Elbrus. According to the natural environment, the area is divided into three parts:
| Plain part | Piedmont part | Mountain part |
| Occupies a vast territory from the Don River to the Terek and Kuban rivers | Located to the south and stretches from the northwest to the southeast. In this part, there are fertile lands on the plains and large areas of pastures in the foothills. The foothill part passes into the mountain system of the Caucasus | The mountainous part is the ridges of the Caucasus Mountains. Mountain area equipped for mining |
Mountain rivers of the region are used in hydropower, and lowland rivers are used for irrigation. The region is unevenly provided with water resources. In the western part of the water is much more, especially in the mountains.slopes and on the Black Sea coast. The northeastern part is dry. There is catastrophically little water here.
Geographic location
The North Caucasus economic region is very advantageously located. There are 3 main factors of a successful geographical location:
- There is access to three water basins - the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Azov. The access of the territory of the North Caucasus to the three seas has an impact on economic relations and the specifics of the economy of the region. A plus is the developed economic ties with the countries of the Middle East and the Middle East. Sea freight passes through the ports of Tuapse, Makhachkala, Novorossiysk and Taganrog.
- The North Caucasian economic region borders on Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, and this contributes to the strengthening of economic and economic ties between the countries. The downside is that internal political conflicts have not stopped in these neighboring countries lately.
- In the territory of the North Caucasus there are important highways: railways, pipelines and roads that connect Russia with other countries.
Due to its good geographical location, the North Caucasus economic region is stable in terms of sales of finished products. In internal exchange, the North Caucasus is a supplier of agricultural products, petrochemicals, textile and food industries.
Climate
The climate of the North Caucasus is as diverse as its natural relief. The North Caucasus is characterizedtemperate continental climate, and on the Black Sea coast the climate is subtropical.
Part of the flat terrain is a steppe zone with fertile chernozem soils, but towards the east the steppe becomes semi-desert.
From Novorossiysk to Batumi, broad-leaved forests grow on red earth and black earth soil. The mountain slopes of the Caucasian ranges reach a height of more than 2000 meters. They are covered with forests on forest soils, and above - alpine meadows. Mountain peaks are covered with glaciers and snow.
Labor and population
Population growth rates in the North Caucasus economic region are much higher than those in the country - natural growth is quite high.
There is an excess of labor resources in the district, and the population is unevenly distributed throughout the territory. Population density - 48 people per 1 km2.
3/5 of the region's population is concentrated in the Rostov region and Krasnodar region. The highest population density is observed in the foothills, as there is intensive farming and labor is needed.
In the arid regions of Dagestan and Stavropol, the population is small, as the climate is severe and people do not go there for permanent residence, but rather move to other regions.
Economy of the district
The North Caucasian economic region is a strong industrial and agricultural activity. Intersectoral complexes form the basis of the region's economic well-being. In a market economy, the promotion and development of agro-industrial, machine-buildingand the fuel complex is carried out in the most reasonable and productive way.
The food industry of the North Caucasus accounts for about 29% of the production of all products in the region, 2% - for light industry.
Agro-industrial complex
Due to good climatic conditions, the economy of the North Caucasian economic region is well developed. The branches of agriculture are decisive in the division of labor. The North Caucasus accounts for 14% of all sown areas in the country. Nearly 75% of the area's land is used for agricultural purposes.
The North Caucasus ranks first in grain harvest in Russia - 20% of the gross harvest, as well as 25% of the gross harvest of beets, 50% - sunflower seeds, 30% - berries and fruit crops.
However, the numbers that we see now are somewhat less than what they were in the 90s of the 20th century. Now production volumes have decreased somewhat, because there was a big restructuring of the economy in the agrarian complex. There are not so many farms and cooperatives that are being created instead of collective farms.
Agriculture
In the North Caucasus, agriculture occupies one of the main positions in agriculture. Good chernozem soil and favorable climate conditions allow growing more than 90 crops. The region is a leader in the sowing of wheat and corn, rice and sugar beets. The most common crop is wheat, since the largest areas for sowing in the Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory are allocated for it. In the North Caucasus, the lowestthe cost of grains of this crop in the country.
Corn is grown here for fodder grain - it is in the climate of the North Caucasus that it ripens to maximum ripeness. Legumes are also used for fodder needs - barley, buckwheat.
As for sugar beet, its cultivation here is not as effective as in other regions due to the fact that it has a reduced sugar content. This is explained by the fact that in the North Caucasus there is a short period during which the process of accumulation of sugars takes place in sugar beets.
Industry
The basis of the economy of the North Caucasus is the electric power industry. Thermal and hydraulic power plants have been built in many areas. The largest thermal power plants are located in Krasnodar, Novocherkassk, Grozny. The most significant: Tsimlyanskaya (on the Don River), Baksanskaya (on the Terek River), Belorechenskaya (on the Belaya River).
The largest hydroelectric power station built on the Sulak River - Chirkeyskaya HPP. The power supply system is connected to the Volga region.
Mineral resources
The resources of the North Caucasian economic region occupy a decisive position in the country as a whole. Most of the mining activity is carried out in the oil and gas industry. In the Krasnodar Territory, natural gas is being produced, and associated gas is being produced in Chechnya. Most of the balance gas resources are found in the Stavropol Territory. Gas pipelines connect the production site with processing enterprises and supply gas beyond the borders of the North Caucasian economic region:
- Stavropol - Moscow;
- Stavropol - Grozny - Vladikavkaz;
- Kuban - Rostov-on-Don - St. Petersburg.
It also produces a very valuable raw material for the chemical industry - gas condensate.
In the Rostov region there are places of coal mining: Belaya Kalitva and Novoshakhtinsk. Coal is mined in small quantities in the Stavropol Territory and in Kabardino-Balkaria.
The district is engaged in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy: a tungsten-molybdenum plant has been built in the city of Tyrnyauz.
Metallurgical plants in Taganrog and Krasnosulinsk produce steel and pipes.
Also note the extraction of rock s alts, phosphate ores, gypsum and phosphorites. North Ossetia has the country's largest deposits of dolomites used in metallurgy and the chemical industry
The North Caucasus economic region is a luxurious region for the choice of building materials. The cement raw material base is located near the Novorossiysk region, marble raw materials - in the Teberda region.
In order to grow and strengthen the raw material base of the region and to solve the problems of the North Caucasian economic region, it is necessary to develop new deposits and introduce the latest methods of resource extraction.
Ski tourism
There are great opportunities for recreation in the Caucasus: magnificent landscapes and different landscapes, slopes for lovers of winter sports, healing mineral springs, which are famous all over the world.
Ski resorts in the North Caucasian economic region are budgetoption for lovers of this sport. The most popular resorts are Elbrus and Krasnaya Polyana. All resorts have slopes of varying difficulty, equipped in accordance with safety regulations.
The Western Caucasus is the most interesting part for tourists. The landscape is made up of forests and mountains with peaks covered with snow and ice. This area is popular in winter among skiers and snowboarders, and in summer lovers of mountain tourism, hiking and just outdoor activities come here from all over Russia.
Alpinists come to conquer the Central Caucasus all year round - the height of the mountain peaks here is more than 4000 m, and the most famous mountain in Europe, Elbrus, is located here.
The Eastern Caucasus is a series of deep gorges and mountain labyrinths. Climbers also come here.
Summer vacation
For summer holidays there are two coasts - the Caspian and the Black Sea. The Black Sea has mostly sandy beaches, during the holiday season it is very crowded. The Caspian Sea is rich in rocky beaches. However, the sand is also there.
Treatment
The most common medical region is the Caucasian Mineral Waters (Essentuki, Kislovodsk). Since the 19th century, people from the highest noble classes from all over the Russian state came here to improve their he alth. Nowadays, such a vacation is available to anyone, the choice of he alth facilities is great.
Mineral waters treat a huge list of diseases. Water removes toxins from the body, improves digestion,have a positive effect on the functioning of the kidneys and liver. Water is taken orally, bathed in it, massaged in the shower and much more.
Conclusion
In general, the characteristics of the North Caucasus economic region are positive: the region is very successful in terms of geographical location and climate, washed by three seas, containing several climatic zones. Thanks to the warm climate and mild short winters, it is possible to grow here the main grain and fruit crops that are supplied to many regions of Russia. The restructuring of the 1990s had a great influence on the agro-industrial complex - there was a significant decline in production. But now it is safe to say that the North Caucasus is growing and prospering in the economic sphere.
It is impossible not to mention the developed tourism: people from all over Russia come here. In summer, to relax and restore the body at sea, and in winter, to ski or snowboard to the fullest. Also, many he alth resorts have been built and equipped here.
So we have estimated the EGP of the North Caucasian economic region. Of course, there are also problems in the region, for example, borders with countries in which there are military conflicts on political or national grounds. But this does not affect the economic well-being of the region. The North Caucasian economic region includes areas rich in natural resources. Do not forget about the good climate.
