It occupies a relatively small territory (10% of the country's territory) and concentrates about 10% of the Russian population with an average population density of 8 people/km 2 . Center - St. Petersburg.
The specialization of the district's economy is determined, first of all, by its favorable geographical position: access to the Baltic Sea, proximity to the Baltic countries and Finland, as well as the developed Central District and the raw material base of the North.
Raw material base for many industrial enterprises Northwestern district serve the north of the European part of Russia. For example, aluminum smelters in the cities of Volkhov (Leningrad region) operate on bauxite from the local Tikhvin deposit and nepheline from the Kola Peninsula. The oil refinery in Ukhta uses oil supplied via an oil pipeline from the Komi Republic.
Apatites of the Kola Peninsula and metal phosphorites serve as raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers in the city of Kingisepp. Nitrogen fertilizers, as well as polymer materials issues
Novgorod chemical plant, which uses natural gas as a raw material, which is supplied through a gas pipeline.
Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant "Severstal" (Vologda Region) supplies rolled steel to metal-intensive engineering enterprises in St. Petersburg. Izhora plant and Elektrosila (St. Petersburg) produce power equipment, including for nuclear power plants. Baltic, Admiralteysky (St. Petersburg) and Vyborg (Vyborg) shipyards they build nuclear icebreakers, large tankers, bulk carriers, fishing and research vessels. St. Petersburg also produces subway cars, heavy tractors of the Kirovets brand, and metalworking machines.
Precision engineering developed in St. Petersburg thanks to qualified workers and the scientific and technical potential of the city. Instrumentation, computer technology, precision optics, consumer electronics: the range of products is quite large.
Profitable geographical position The Northwestern Federal District (access to the Baltic Sea) determined its specialization in the road transport complex. Due to the loss of ports in Tallinn, Klaipeda, Riga and Ventspils, the volume of export-import cargo flows passing through domestic Baltic ports has increased sharply. The economic recovery in the industry can be judged by the expansion of existing and construction of new ports in the Gulf of Finland. In addition to the four currently operating: in St. Petersburg (the largest), Kaliningrad (non-freezing), Baltiysk (the main base of the Baltic Fleet) and Vyborg, new ports are being built in Ust-Luga, Batareinaya Bay (near the city of Sosnovy Bor) and Primorsk (Fig. 1).
New ones are open modern points customs inspection of vehicles on the Russian-Finnish border. They will relieve existing ones and significantly reduce the time lost by Russian and foreign transport workers when crossing the border.
Port facilities is a complex complex that includes fishing and transport ships, shipbuilding and ship repair plants, receiving bases and fish canning factories. Moreover, fishing is carried out not only in the Baltic Sea, but also in the Atlantic.
Fishing industry is one of the main areas of specialization of the district.
Rice. 1. New port complexes of the Gulf of Finland
- the westernmost outskirts of Russia, this is part of the former East Prussia, which became part of the USSR in 1945 by decision of the Potsdam Conference. The region occupies a small territory (0.1% of the country's territory) and is a Russian exclave, confined between the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and Poland. The population makes up 0.6% of the country's population and is concentrated in cities (77%). The population density of the region is high - 63 people/km 2 .
Center - Kaliningrad, large cities - Sovete k, Chernyakhovsk.
The Kaliningrad port is located at the mouth of the Pregol River and is connected to the sea by a deep-water canal through which large-capacity vessels can pass. The fishing industry and port facilities are the main areas of specialization of the region.
The Kaliningrad region is also special in that it contains up to 90% of the world's amber reserves, which are mined in quarries at the Primorskoye and Palminikskoye deposits. Amber is pine resin hardened and polished with water, which is used in medicine, the chemical industry, but most importantly, jewelry is made from it. This is a symbol of the Baltic Sea.
The European North accounts for 1/4 of the total Russian production of iron ore, 9/10 of apatite (raw material for the production of phosphate fertilizers). The European North is a supplier of coal, oil, gas, non-ferrous and rare metals.
Over the years economic reforms In Russia, the volume of capital investments in the sectors of specialization of the economy of the European North, its production infrastructure, and geological exploration work has decreased. Production volumes also decreased. However, in Lately There have been positive trends in increasing industrial production.
Developments coal Pechora Basin, oil and gas exploration of the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province is carried out in the Komi Republic, as well as in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
The raw material factor determines the industrial specialization of most northern cities of the district. Even during the period of planned economy, the Timan-Pechora territorial production complex (TPC) with its center in the city of Ukhta was formed in the area of oil and gas fields. There is a large oil refinery here, and a gas processing plant in Sosnogorsk. Pipelines were built to connect the fields of the Timan-Pechora province with processing plants in the Central and Northwestern regions. These are the Usinsk-Ukhta-Kotlas-Yaroslavl-Moscow oil pipeline and the Vuktyl-Ukhta-Gryazovets gas pipeline (section of the Northern Lights gas pipeline from Western Siberia) with branches to Moscow and St. Petersburg and further to Belarus, Latvia and Estonia.
In addition, the forestry, woodworking, pulp and paper industries are developing; black and non-ferrous metallurgy.
Indicators of the Northwestern Federal District
Administrative-territorial composition: Saint Petersburg; republics - Komi, Karelia. Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions. Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
Territory- 1687 thousand km 2. Population - 13.5 million people.
Administrative center - Saint Petersburg.
Northwestern federal district unites the Northwestern and Northern economic regions and the Kaliningrad region.
The district plays an important strategic role as a border region of Russia in the European North and West of the country, within which large industrial and cultural centers, seaports on the Baltic, White and Barents seas.
Table 2. Share economic indicators Northwestern Federal District in all-Russian
Specialization of industrial production in the district by type economic activity determined based on the localization coefficient in table. 3.
Table 3. Specialization of industrial production in the Northwestern Federal District
The types of economic activity that determine the specialization of the district according to the localization coefficient can be considered the following (see Table 3): mining, except fuel and energy; manufacturing industries (including the production of food products, including drinks, and tobacco; wood processing and production of wood products; pulp and paper production; publishing and printing activities; metallurgical production and production of finished metal products; production of electrical equipment, electronic and optical equipment; production of vehicles and equipment; other production); production and distribution of electricity, gas and water.
According to natural-geographical and transport conditions, features of the location of productive forces and population of the territory, the district is divided into three components; Northwestern economic region, Northern economic region and Kaliningrad region.
The Northwestern Federal District was formed in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 of May 13, 2000.
The Northwestern Federal District includes 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: the Republic, the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, the city of St. Petersburg, the Nenets Autonomous District.
The center of the Northwestern Federal District is the city of St. Petersburg (area - 1.4 thousand km2, population as of 01/01/2007 - 4.6 million people).
The area of the Northwestern Federal District is 1,687 thousand km2 or 9.9% of the territory of Russia.
As of 01/01/2007, 13.6 million people (9.53%) lived in the district, of which the urban population was 82.2%, the rural population - 17.8%, men - 45.9%, women - 54, 1%. Population density - 8.0 people. per 1 m2.
Largest cities The Northwestern Federal District is St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Vologda, Petrozavodsk, Severodvinsk, Novgorod, Syktyvkar. St. Petersburg is a millionaire city. The population of other cities does not exceed 230,000 people.
The resource base of the North-Western Federal District is not one of the richest in Russia, however, the district concentrates the production of almost the entire Russian volume of apatite (with reserves of 72% of all-Russian reserves) and titanium (77% of reserves). Oil and gas reserves account for about 8% of all-Russian reserves, coal reserves account for about 3% of Russian reserves. At the same time, production fuel resources plays important role in the district's economy, although it accounts for only 4% of the all-Russian oil and 7% for coal. The district contains large reserves of peat and oil shale. About 19% of nickel and iron ores are mined here, despite the fact that nickel reserves account for 18% of the total Russian reserves. Bauxite reserves (45% of the total Russian reserves) have not yet been fully developed - their production is only 15% of the Russian level. The district contains large reserves of diamonds (19% of the total Russian reserves), and there are deposits of rare metals, gold, barite, and uranium. Exploration of reserves of manganese and chromium ores is underway.
The territory of the Northwestern Federal District produces 10% of the country's gross domestic product (5th place among districts). In terms of the size of the average per capita gross regional product, the district ranks 3rd among.
The economy of the Northwestern Federal District is growing at a lower rate than the Russian economy as a whole.
An important role in the economy of the district is played by the metallurgical complex, consisting of 75% ferrous and 25% non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, as well as mechanical engineering. The district has developed high-tech production, specializing in the production of electronics and electrical engineering, instrument making; shipbuilding is developed.
The Northwestern Federal District of Russia is one of the most developed timber regions of the country, and the timber industry sector is one of the key ones in the region's economy. Almost 60% of the forests in the European part of Russia grow here. Wood reserves are about 10 billion m3. 30% of Russian lumber, 40% of plywood, about 40% of commercial timber, 50% of cardboard and 60% of paper are produced here.
Based on the use of phosphate raw materials, gas and recycling of metallurgical waste, the production of complex mineral fertilizers and plastics has been established, rubber products, synthetic resins, paints and varnishes, and household chemicals are produced. The light industry of the Northwestern Federal District specializes in the production of linen fabrics.
The fishing industry is developed. In terms of fish catch, the Northwestern Federal District ranks second after the Far Eastern. Fishing is carried out for cod, herring, sea bass, flounder, halibut, and in rivers and lakes for salmon, whitefish, grayling, vendace, and smelt. Fish processing is carried out at fish processing plants in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.
The absolute leader among activities is manufacturing, where almost 75% of industrial output is carried out.
On the territory of the Northwestern Federal District, 9% of the housing area in Russia is commissioned annually (5th place among federal districts). In 2006, per 1,000 residents, 340 m2 of housing were commissioned in the district, which is below the Russian average, but according to this indicator, the Northwestern Federal District ranks third among other districts.
Over the past 5 years, per capita cash income in the Northwestern Federal District has been higher than in Russia, reaching 10,640 rubles in 2006, which corresponds to 3rd place among federal districts. The share of the population with monetary incomes below the subsistence level in 2006 was 14.5% of the total population of the district.
At the end of 2006 in the authorities civil service employment in the Northwestern Federal District, 119 thousand people were registered as unemployed, which amounted to 6.9% of total number unemployed in Russia. 103 thousand people received unemployment benefits. The registered unemployment rate in the Northwestern Federal District is 1.6%, one of the lowest in Russia.
The main production potential lies in St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Vologda regions. The economic core of the region is St. Petersburg with a number of satellite cities. The economy of this region is based on knowledge-intensive and highly skilled industries. The production of turbines, generators, compressors is concentrated in the region; instrument making and production of automation equipment are developed. Vyborg specializes in electronics, Gatchina - in the production of agricultural machinery and spare parts. The production potential of the Vologda region consists of ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry and mechanical engineering. There are also enterprises in the forestry, woodworking and pulp and paper industries in the region.
The Northwestern Federal District (NWFD) is located in the north and northwest of the European part of Russia and includes 11 subjects of the Federation - the Republics of Karelia and Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, St. -Petersburg and Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The Northwestern Federal District was formed by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 of May 13, 2000. The center of the district is St. Petersburg.
The area of the federal district is 1677.9 thousand km 2, which is 9.9% of the territory of Russia.
The Northwestern Federal District occupies a favorable geopolitical position. This is the only federal district of the Russian Federation that directly borders the countries European Union, Central and Northern Europe: Norway, Finland, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus. The district plays an important strategic role as a border region.
Its internal borders are adjacent to the territories of the Ural, Volga, and Central federal districts. The region occupies the entire territory of the European North, has access to the Arctic Ocean and the Baltic, White, Barents, and Kara seas, which creates favorable conditions for the development of export-import ties.
Number population The Northwestern Federal District is 13.5 million people, or 9.5% of the Russian population. Since 1992, the number of residents living on its territory has been declining. The highest rates of natural population decline were observed in the Vologda region, the Republic of Karelia and St. Petersburg. The population decline is associated with unfavorable demographic situation in all regions of the district, characterized by both negative indicators of natural growth and increased migration processes.
A significant contribution to the significant natural decline in the district's population is made by the old age structure of the population. There are already 1.5 times more people of retirement age in the Northwestern Federal District than children under 16 years of age. The Pskov and Novgorod regions have a particularly old age structure of the population, which is associated with the long-term outflow of young people from these regions in previous decades. The northern territories (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Komi Republic, Murmansk Region) have a younger age structure of the population. The city of St. Petersburg also stands out for its old age structure of the population.
Depopulation, i.e. population decline is a serious demographic and socio-economic problem of the federal district, requiring both state incentives to achieve positive indicators of natural reproduction and a regulated influx of migrants (both are carried out within the framework of the new federal demographic policy for the period until 2025).
At the same time, only St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions stand out with a stable migration influx to the Northwestern Federal District. These regions constantly have a positive migration balance, both with other regions of the district, and with the majority of other constituent entities of the Russian Federation and new independent states. The relative migration influx is especially intense in the Kaliningrad region, where it often overlaps the natural population decline. Therefore, the population of this region of the country compared to the beginning of the 90s. increased, while in all other regions of the Northwestern Federal District it decreased.
All other regions of the Northwestern Federal District have a negative migration balance. The outflow of residents from the northern territories is especially intense - from the Komi Republic, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. In these regions, outward migration is the main reason for population decline. Mostly young people and people of working age with children are leaving, which leads to further aging age structure population and worsening demographic problems.
The population of the Northwestern Federal District is unevenly distributed. The average population density is 8.2 people. per 1 km 2. The bulk of the population is in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (72.0 people per 1 km 2). The highest population density is characteristic of the Kaliningrad region (63.1 people per
1 km 2). The northern part of the district is sparsely populated, with the most sparsely populated region being the Nenets Autonomous District (24.0 people per 1 km2), located in the Arctic.
Federal District is different high level of urbanization for Russia - almost 82% of the population lives in urban settlements, while almost a third of the population is concentrated in the country's largest agglomeration, St. Petersburg. The smallest part of the urban population is observed in Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Vologda regions and the Komi Republic.
National composition The population of the district is heterogeneous. The Northwestern Federal District is distinguished by its multinational population; the majority are Russians. Other nationalities are dominated by Komi, Karelians, Sami, and in the northeast of the Arkhangelsk region - Nenets. In the European North, the problem of survival of indigenous peoples is acute due to the reduction of their habitat. St. Petersburg is also distinguished by its multinationality, where, like in Moscow, there are diasporas: Ukrainian, Tatar, peoples of the Caucasus, Estonian and others.
Labor resources Districts, especially in St. Petersburg, are distinguished by the presence of a significant number of highly qualified specialists employed in knowledge-intensive industries, science and trade, including private entrepreneurship, as well as in market infrastructure.
In the structure of the employed population by economic sector, the share of those working in trade is increasing, catering, consumer services and healthcare, while reducing employment in industry, agriculture, and construction. Solving socio-demographic problems is possible by stabilizing and boosting the economy, taking effective national and regional measures to implement social programs of the federal and regional levels aimed at social protection of the population.
In the Northwestern Federal District, where the total population is declining, there is an increase in the number of economically active people, including those employed in the economy. Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed are steadily declining. The level of registered unemployment in the Northwestern Federal District (1.4%) is one of the lowest in Russia.
Direct access to the world market and the proximity of European countries, the presence of two ice-free seaports - Kaliningrad and Murmansk, the established overland transport network and the proximity to the main industrially developed districts of Russia - Central and Ural have largely determined the multifaceted role of the district's territory as a major supplier of various raw materials and industrial products, fuel and energy resources, a forge of qualified personnel, the most important Russian exporter of not only its own products, but also those produced in other regions of Russia. At the same time, the district can be considered as the largest importer of various products, the main recipient of foreign investment, and an important transit area.
The basis of the economy of the Northwestern Federal District is the use of rich natural resource potential and the favorable economic and geographical position of the region.
The main sectors of market specialization, which determine its place in the all-Russian territorial division of labor, are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the fuel industry (coal, oil, gas), multidisciplinary mechanical engineering, forestry, woodworking and pulp and paper, chemical and fishing industries. Agriculture specializes in dairy farming and reindeer husbandry.
The Federal District occupies a leading position in the production of electrical equipment, electronics, optical-mechanical products, shipbuilding, produces a significant part of the republican volume of phosphate raw materials (being a leader in the production of apatite and nepheline concentrates), industrial wood, more than 45% of cellulose, 62% of paper, 52 % of cardboard, finished rolled products, its share in the fish catch is significant. This is one of the leading centers of scientific and technological progress, training of highly qualified personnel, a center of Russian history and culture, as well as tourism. The district performs important transport functions in maritime transport.
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– established on May 13, 2000 in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 “On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Federal District.” The North-Western region is located in the north and north-west of the European part of the non-chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. The center of the Northwestern Federal District is the city of St. Petersburg.
Northwestern Federal District (NWFD), which includes 11 subjects of the Federation, plays an important strategic role as the border part of Russia in the European North and west of the country. The Northwestern Federal District unites 2 economic regions: Northern and Northwestern. The territory of the district is located in the zone of mixed forests, taiga, forest-tundra and tundra. The Northwestern Federal District occupies a favorable geopolitical position - it borders on Finland, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and has access to the Baltic, White, Barents, and Kara seas. Within its borders there are very large industrial and vibrant cultural centers, important seaports, unique objects included in the list of the World Cultural and natural heritage(in the cities of St. Petersburg and Novgorod, as well as on Solovetsky Islands and Kizhi Island).
- This is a lake region. Numerous lakes are located mainly in the western part; the largest of them are Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen. Full-flowing rivers flow through the territory of the district. Lowland rivers are of navigable importance. Among them are Pechora, northern Dvina, Onega. Neva and others. In hydropower terms highest value have Svir, Volkhov, Narva and Vuoksa.
The district richest in natural resources in the European part of the country: ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, chemical raw materials, forest and water resources.
The district accounts for a significant part of the balance reserves of copper, tin, and cobalt. Fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale, and peat. The district is rich in non-ferrous metal ores. Great value represent industrial reserves of aluminum-containing raw materials. The forests are very rich in fur-bearing animals (arctic fox, black and brown fox, sable, ermine, etc.). The seas washing the territory of the district are rich in valuable species of fish (cod, salmon, herring, haddock, etc.).
The economic potential of the territory of the Northwestern Federal District is one of the largest among other districts located in the European part of Russia. Its leading economic sector is industry.
The Northwestern Federal District produces a significant part of the republican volume of phosphate raw materials, industrial wood, about 33% of cellulose, finished rolled products, and its share in fish catch is large.
The economic and geographical position of the district has a number of advantages. Access to the seas - the Baltic, Barents and White - provide shipping routes to the west - towards Western Europe and the eastern coast of North America, as well as to the east - along the Northern Sea Route to the Russian Arctic and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Common borders with the countries of the European Union - Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are of great importance.
The main sectors of market specialization in the industrial sphere are the fuel industry (oil, gas, coal), ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, multidisciplinary mechanical engineering, forestry and woodworking, chemical, food, fishing industries, and in agriculture - flax farming, dairy and beef cattle breeding, reindeer husbandry , fishing. The leading positions in the industrial development of the regions of the European North have so far been retained by the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, woodworking and pulp and paper industries and the fuel industry.
In terms of foreign trade turnover, the Northwestern Federal District is in third place in Russia after the Central and Ural Federal Districts. At the same time, exports and imports almost balance each other, while in Russia as a whole, exports exceed imports by 2.5 times. We can say that the Northwestern Federal District specializes in importing products from foreign countries to Russia.
The Northwestern Federal District ranks one of the first places in Russia in terms of production sea vessels various types, unique steam, hydraulic and gas turbines, optical and mechanical products.
Precision and complex mechanical engineering is widely developed in the district: instrument making, radio engineering, electronic engineering, electrical engineering, which is located in St. Petersburg. Prospects for the development of the industry are associated with the further development of knowledge-intensive and precision industries, mechanical engineering, and shipbuilding.
The Northwestern Federal District is one of Russia's largest producers and exporters of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, primarily steel, copper, aluminum, and nickel.
In the Northwestern Federal District, the chemical industry is one of the sectors of market specialization. Both basic chemistry, in particular the production of mineral fertilizers, and chemistry organic synthesis. Fertilizers, rubber products, synthetic resins, plastics, paints and varnishes, various acids and ammonia, pharmaceuticals, phosphate raw materials, and household chemical products are produced here.
Using wood processing waste, the chemistry of organic synthesis is being developed - the production of alcohol, rosin, turpentine, and viscose fibers. Plastics, alcohols, and dyes are produced using local oil and gas resources in Syktyvkar (Komi Republic).
The level of agriculture does not provide the local population with food, and industry with raw materials.
Agriculture specializes in dairy and meat farming, potato growing, vegetable growing and flax growing. Reindeer husbandry is developed in the north of the district. The leading role of agricultural production is animal husbandry.
The city of St. Petersburg occupies a leading position in the district's economy.
NORTHWESTERN Federal District. Area 1,677,900 sq. km.
Administrative center of the federal district - Saint Petersburg
ARKHANGELSK region - Administrative center of Arkhangelsk
VOLOGDA region - Administrative center of Vologda
KALININGRAD region - Administrative center of Kaliningrad
LENINGRAD region - Administrative center of St. Petersburg
MURMANSK region - Administrative center of Murmansk
NOVGOROD region - Administrative center of the city. Velikiy Novgorod
PSKOV region - Administrative center of Pskov
Republic of KARELIA - Administrative center of Petrozavodsk
KOMI Republic - Administrative center of Syktyvkar
NENETS AUT. env. — Administrative center of Naryan-Mar
city of SAINT PETERSBURG
Federal districts of Russia: Central Federal District, Northwestern Federal District, Southern Federal District, Volga Federal District, North Caucasian Federal District, Ural Federal District, Siberian Federal District, Far Eastern Federal District.
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Northwestern Federal District
The territory of today's Northwestern Federal District has always occupied a significant political and economic position. From the time of Kievan Rus trade routes passed here (the route from the Varangians to the Greeks). Staraya Ladoga became the first capital.
In 1478, the Novgorod lands became part of the Moscow Principality. Part of the territory of the present Leningrad region in the 17th century was part of the Kingdom of Sweden (the entire Baltic coast). For Russia, gaining access to the Baltic Sea was the most important foreign policy and economic task during this period. Peter I entered Northern War against Sweden 1700 – 1721 St. Petersburg was founded already in 1703, and in 1714. The capital of Russia was moved here until 1917.
1941 - 1944
Northwestern Administrative District
- occupation of 70% of the territory (II WW).
Today, the Northwestern Federal District is an administrative formation in the north of the European part of Russia. The territory of the district makes up 9.8% of the territory of the Russian Federation.
In order for Russia to take its rightful place on the world stage after the collapse of the USSR, it is necessary to develop externally economic ties, pursue an active foreign economic policy, and this requires expanding the direct participation of Russian regions in foreign economic activity. An important role in establishing foreign economic relations The North-West region plays.
The Northwestern Federal District includes 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation (Fig. 1), including
2 republics:
Karelia (3),
7 areas:
Arkhangelskaya (1)
Vologda (10)
Kaliningradskaya (2)
Leningradskaya (5)
Murmanskaya (6)
Novgorodskaya (7)
Pskovskaya (8);
1 city federal significance
– St. Petersburg (9);
1 Autonomous Okrug
– Nenetsky (1a).
Rice. 1. Composition of the Northwestern Federal District
The population of the Northwestern Federal District as of January 1, 2009 is 13,462,000 people. (9.5% of the Russian population). The majority of the population consists of city dwellers.
Large cities: St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Cherepovets, Vologda, Petrozavodsk, Syktyvkar, Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, Severodvinsk, Ukhta, Velikiye Luki.
The main industries in the district are forestry, wood processing and pulp and paper. Among the extractive industries, it is necessary to note the oil industry in Komi, the extraction of iron and nickel ores in the Murmansk region, marble in the south of Karelia, and peat in the Leningrad, Novgorod and Vologda regions.
In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in most of Komi, in the north of the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, reindeer husbandry, fur-bearing animal hunting and fishing are widespread. In Karelia, in the south of Komi and the Arkhangelsk region, dairy farming (cattle) with centers of agriculture is also developed.
Interior economic potential. Labor resources
Dynamics of the region's population.
The North-West has low natural population growth, so migration growth plays a role main role in increasing the population of the region. The urban population is growing due to administrative changes and growth the most major cities. There are also intraregional differences in population dynamics: for the Leningrad region, the main source of population growth is the influx from the Pskov and Novgorod regions, as well as from other economic regions. And the regions of the region are characterized by a low birth rate and a constant outflow of population to the capital. But recently there has been a tendency to stabilize the number of residents in these regions. Currently, there has been a re-emigration of the population to rural areas due to the worsening economic situation and the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Ethnic composition of the population.
The population of the region is multinational. The basis of the population is Russian population. And there are also such ethnic groups, like Karelians (Finogorsk group), Finns, Vepsians, Elmenians.
Labor resources, labor market.
The North-Western region has the highest employment rates of the working-age population in Russia, especially in large cities. This is due to the fact that all subjects of the Russian Federation that are included in the region have the prerequisites for the development of small businesses; special programs are used for its development. Employment of the population in personal and household plots is low and has low labor mobility, and a significant part of the rural population is employed in non-agricultural sectors, industry and transport. Recently, unemployment has become widespread.
The economic potential of the region is determined primarily by the industry of St. Petersburg, its highly qualified working class, scientific and technical personnel, who create 10% of the scientific and technical developments of the former republics of the USSR. This makes it possible to assign to the region the functions of one of the most important flagships of scientific and technological progress, training of qualified personnel for the national economy.
In times of crisis, the North-Western economic region retains significant operating capacities in the light and especially in Food Industry. However, there are problems with the reconstruction of these capacities, since their depreciation at some enterprises reaches 80%. Fast turnover of funds invested in food and light industry in some cases, it allows you to attract domestic and foreign investments, in particular in the production of confectionery and cereal products.
The North-Western region has a developed transport network. The density of the region's transport network significantly exceeds the Russian average. The main disadvantages of the existing transport infrastructure are associated with restrictions on the turnover and composition of cargo handled in the Baltic seaports - St. Petersburg, Vyborg, etc., as well as with the current lack of modern highways and railways connecting St. Petersburg with Moscow, Finland, Poland and through it with Western Europe and Russian Kaliningrad.
The coastal location of the Leningrad region, with all its benefits, has a drawback associated with the lack of seaports intended for the export of oil, petroleum products, as well as an additional volume of universal ones. cargo. Next in line is the construction of an oil terminal in the city of Primorsk, an oil product port in Batareinaya Bay on the northern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and a universal port in Ust-Luga Bay on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The share of agriculture is only 10% of the total gross product of the region. This is one of the lowest indicators among economic regions of the Russian Federation. Agriculture has a complex suburban, dairy and livestock farming, as well as flax farming (in the Pskov and Novgorod regions). Its main role is to provide for the internal needs of the region. The industry is experiencing an acute crisis, which is associated with unsatisfactory material and technical support for the agricultural sector, aggravated by the demographic crisis (large natural decline and negative migration of the rural population).
The Northwestern Federal District is divided into eleven subjects of the Federation and breaks down into at least four types of territories that require a special governing relationship and a complementary “assembly”. Each of them is based on different types of development and has its own infrastructural features, a specific system of settlement and location of production.
The first type of territories includes the Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod and Vologda regions. The natural living conditions of people are the most favorable in the entire North-West. At the same time, these lands are not rich natural resources. But at the same time, it is in these subjects of the Federation that the greatest density of economic activity of the population is achieved. They contain most of manufacturing centers. The population in these territories has not decreased in recent years. In general, they can be characterized as “industrial territories within the main settlement zone” in North-West Russia. The problem for this type of territory is the fact that the focus on the primary implementation of raw materials projects leaves them on the periphery of the main financial flows.
The second type consists of territories predominantly of raw materials or military-settlement type of development. These include the Murmansk and, partly, Arkhangelsk regions, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Komi and Karelia republics. The curtailment of a number of industries and the erosion of the defense functions of territories of significant military-strategic importance leads to an increase in their specialization in raw materials.
Most raw material-type territories are rapidly losing population, there is a loss of ethnocultural and social identity, and traditional ways of life are under threat, which confirms the insufficiency of a purely raw material orientation - both from an economic and socio-cultural point of view.
St. Petersburg belongs to the territories of the third type in the North-West. IN " Strategic plan"St. Petersburg, adopted in December 1997, emphasizes the world significance of the city and notes that "the decisive significance for promising development The city has its advantageous geopolitical position in the system of world economic relations and, due to the collapse of the USSR, its new role in connecting Russia with the outside world. Both for Russia and for St. Petersburg itself, its growing role as a transport, distribution and trade intermediary center of international importance is acquiring great importance. St. Petersburg is seeking to strengthen its position as "the main Russian contact center for the Baltic Sea region and North-West Russia." However, it should be recognized that so far St. Petersburg has little technological, personnel and financial connection with the common space of the North-West. Dominating the commodity and transportation markets, St. Petersburg, however, cannot become Russia’s only stronghold in the new development of the North-West.
The fourth independent type of territory in the North-West is the Kaliningrad exclave. Its peculiarity is that it is surrounded by countries that intend to join the European Union and NATO in the near future. The extreme certainty of the challenge in relation to the Russian exclave explains the fact that, of the entire North-West, only in relation to the Kaliningrad region has the Russian Federation declared some kind of development concept. Within the framework of this concept, it is proposed to make this territory an “experimental platform” on which the mechanisms of integration between Russia and the EU will be tested.
However, the situation of an unproductive clash of territorial, departmental and corporate interests leads to the fact that it is impossible to implement a whole class of development projects that are proportionate and co-scaled with the themes proposed by the European Union. The unified strategy being developed by the European Union regarding interaction with the Kaliningrad region represents a general project for the development of relations, taking into account the complexity of interests and the multi-tiered interaction of Union members, both among themselves and with the Russian Federation. For now, Russia can only present a local project as a response (competing or complementary). The short-, medium- and long-term goals of Russia and the Kaliningrad region in the new international context turn out to be internally inconsistent.
External economic relations
The state must pursue an active economic policy aimed at developing key industries that determine Russia’s entry into the ranks of developed post-industrial states, and not turning it into a backward raw materials country. In solving this problem, foreign economic cooperation in various forms, not limited to trade relations. The prospects for both trade and scientific and technical cooperation, cooperation, and the implementation of joint projects are very favorable in the Baltic region, the developed countries of which support the participation of all countries in regional cooperation. It is here that Russian territory is located closest to developed countries West. Located on the shores of the Baltic developed regions Russia - North-West, Kaliningrad region, have the necessary potential to participate in the processes of international economic integration. Its development is a favorable factor for the development of not only the regions located here, but also for the Russian Federation as a whole.
The North-West of Russia is now one of the regions that produces relatively little of the country's current export products. He does not have significant raw materials, although a number of semi-finished products are produced here for export (petroleum products, chemicals, cellulose). However, due to its border and coastal location, it plays an important role in servicing all-Russian foreign economic relations. Large industrial and scientific centers, primarily St. Petersburg, which can play an important role in the cooperation of manufacturing industries with enterprises various countries Baltic region.
The North-West region differs from others in its high level of export specialization. From here, products from industries in this region are supplied to the world market - high-quality and complex equipment, electrical power equipment, equipment for nuclear power plants, products of the electronics industry, precision mechanics, trucks and cars; products of the forestry, pulp and paper, chemical industries, including apatites.
The North-Western region, having a developed port economy, carries out important export-import functions on the Baltic Sea for the whole of Russia. Through the St. Petersburg seaport - the largest in the Baltic basin - products from St. Petersburg and other Russian enterprises are exported to many countries. Imported cargo is also processed here. Container ships operate successfully on the St. Petersburg - London and Saint Petersburg- Hamburg - Rotterdam. Through the Northwestern region there are close economic ties with Poland, Germany, and Finland. Norway.
The main place in Russian imports from EU countries is occupied by foodstuffs, chemical products, plastics, leather, clothing, machinery and equipment for various industries, for example, pumping, refrigeration, electrical equipment, telephone equipment. Vegetables, fruits, and alcoholic drinks are also purchased.
The peculiarity of the geopolitical and geo-economic position of the North-West of Russia is expressed in the fact that the space opposing it is an industrially developed Western Europe. The highly industrialized countries of Western and Northern Europe, in order to enter a qualitatively new stage of development, will increasingly need Russia as a potentially capacious market and as a partner in industrial cooperation. Thus Europe began to form own plans development of the North-West of Russia, or more precisely, its individual territories, natural objects and economic complexes. Moreover, most of these plans are related to the exploitation of Russia’s natural resources and consolidation of the export-raw materials orientation of its economy. Already the most far-sighted business people from European countries are beginning to develop the Russian market.
In the context of rapidly increasing complexity of world economic relations, the most promising joint projects are born and implemented not in the capitals of states, but locally with the support of municipal and territorial governments.
For example, the idea of the so-called “Arkhangelsk Corridor” arose, connecting the industrial centers and ports of Scandinavia and Finland by rail through the Republic of Karelia with the Arkhangelsk region, the Komi Republic and the Urals.
After the commissioning of a 126 km long railway section in Karelia, this idea, without a doubt, promises to develop into a real cross-border project. This project is the fruit of the efforts of leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs of the province of Oulu, the Republic of Karelia, the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The second cross-border project is the so-called “South Karelian” or “Atlantic Corridor”, which is designed to connect the territories of the southern part of the Baltic region through the Finnish ports of Kotka, Hanko, Helsinki, the European highway No. 18 and road No. 6, which runs along the Finnish-Russian boundaries, with deep Russian territories through Karelia, Vologda and Kirov regions. And this project is already actually being implemented. Thus, in the Republic of Karelia, despite economic crisis, new international checkpoints and roads in the East-West direction are being built. At the same time, the republic is investing own funds to customs infrastructure facilities of federal significance.
There are a sufficient number of tourism zones in the Russian North-West. According to a joint study by the North-West Branch of the Russian Union of Travel Industry and experts from the European Union, in 2006 the volume of inbound tourism in the North-West is estimated at 12.8 million people, of which foreign tourists make up about 44%. A sufficient number of zones are concentrated in the region recreational tourism, but they are still developing thanks to the enthusiasm of small and medium-sized businesses rather than the efforts of regional authorities.
Humanities / Economic geography / 14.1. European West
All major cities of the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) arose on the coast. Currently, the large Baltic ports are poorly loaded. The fish processing industry is highly developed. Therefore, the countries of the European West have many common features and several differences:
1) main feature EGP - position on the western borders of Russia. Transport routes connecting Russia with the countries of Central and Western Europe pass through the European West.
2) Similarity of natural conditions, mild climate and flat terrain create good conditions for the life and economic activities of people.
3) Small reserves of natural resources.
4) Features of the population: natural population growth is low, the distribution of the population is uniform, and its employment and qualifications of labor resources are high.
5) Industry plays a leading role in the economy; it produces 70% of all products and works on imported raw materials.
6) Specialization of agriculture - dairy and dairy-meat cattle breeding, pig breeding. Agriculture specializes in forage and grain crops, flax, and potatoes.
7) The coastal position of all countries.
In industry Estonia A prominent place belongs to the engineering complex: the production of radio equipment, instruments, ship repair and the manufacture of equipment for the oil shale industry. Light industry was formed on imported dyes, cotton, and wool. The agro-industrial complex sectors are highly developed. Dairy and beef cattle breeding is developed in the south-eastern, central and north-western regions, bacon pig farming - in the west. IN territorial structure The economy is allocated to a strip along the Gulf of Finland (70% of industrial production).
Latvia- the most economically developed Baltic state. It has large reserves of hydroelectric power (a cascade of three large hydroelectric power stations operates on the Daugava). The mechanical engineering complex is more diverse than in Estonia and Lithuania: transport engineering (shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and production of railway cars), radio industry, instrument making. Rubber, varnishes, chemical fibers, paper, cardboard, and furniture are produced using imported raw materials.
Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation
The Latvian agro-industrial complex is similar to the Estonian agro-industrial complex. Latvia's port industry is the largest among the Baltic countries. In the territorial structure of the economy, middle Latvia stands out (80% of industrial production).
Lithuania — The largest Baltic state in terms of territory and population. Sources of healing mud, mineral waters, resort areas (Druskininkai, Palanga) are the main natural resources of the country. The basis of the Lithuanian economy is the agro-industrial complex with the same specialization as in the other Baltic states. The machine-building complex specializes in the production of radio electronics, machine tools, agricultural machinery, televisions and electronic computer equipment. In the territorial structure of the Lithuanian economy, southeastern Lithuania stands out sharply. The largest industrial hubs are Vilnius and Kaunas.
Northwestern Federal District
Introduction 3
Northwestern. List of cities
Economic-geographical position of region 4
2. Natural conditions and resources 5
3. Economics 8
3.1 Fuel and energy complex 9
3.2 Transport complex 10
3.3 Mechanical engineering complex 11
3.4 Metallurgical complex 12
3.5 Chemical industry 12
3.6 Agro-industrial complex 13
3.7 Fishing industry 14
3.8 Construction materials industry 14
3.9 Light industry 14
4. Population and labor resources 15
5. Foreign economic relations 17
6. Intraregional differences in district 18
7. Environmental problems 23
Conclusion 24
References 27
Introduction
In the conditions of formation in Russia market economy there is a need to consider the sectoral structure and location of the most important sectors of the economic complex of each federal district separately in order to analyze the economic and geographical state of Russia as a whole. In my work I will conduct a comparative economic and geographical description of two federal districts: Northwestern and Volga.
The Federal District is a top-level economic region, which is a large territorial production complex that combines industries of market specialization with industries that complement the territorial complex and infrastructure.
The Northwestern Federal District is an administrative and territorial formation in the north of the European part of Russia. Established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 13, 2000.
The Northwestern Federal District includes 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk; Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, St. Petersburg, Nenets Autonomous District. The Northwestern Federal District includes all subjects of the Russian Federation belonging to the Northwestern and Northern economic regions.
The district covers an area of 1,687 thousand square meters. km, which is 9.9% of the territory of Russia. The territory of the Northwestern Federal District is home to 13,501 thousand people (9.5% of the Russian population). The majority of the population consists of city dwellers. The center of the federal district is St. Petersburg. The largest cities of the Northwestern Federal District are St. Petersburg, Kalinin grad, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Cherepovets, Vologda, Petrozavodsk, Syktyvkar, Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, Severodvinsk, Ukhta, Velikiye Luki. In total, there are 152 cities in the district.
Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District - Ilya Iosifovich Klebanov.
1. Economic and geographical position of the region
The North-Western region is located in the northern part Non-chernozem zone Russian Federation, north of 57` N. sh., southern border the area runs for almost 800 km north of the border USA. The most striking feature of the Northwestern region is the discrepancy between historical role district and a very modest territory of the district. This discrepancy is due to the following features:
The location of the area is on the outskirts, distance from the center of Russia. This situation prevented the area from the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
The area is sharply pushed towards Europe. Here are Pskov and Novgorod the Great - the most notable cities, for a long time connected with European countries through trade as part of the Banza (medieval union of the Baltic states).
3. Coastal and border location of the area. The North-Western region is inferior to most economic regions of the Russian Federation in terms of population and territory, which is why it is called the region of one city - St. Petersburg. It contains 59% of the region's population and 68% of its urban population.
IN Northwestern region, inhabited by ancient Slavic tribes, trade and crafts developed, international trade, industry and qualified personnel were concentrated in St. Petersburg, and the outlying location of the region contributed to the development of the economy. All these reasons played a certain role in the formation of the modern image of the area.
The region occupies one of the leading places in terms of the level of economic development, the scale and diversity of industrial production, research and development products, the training of highly qualified specialists in the national economy, the pace of formation market relations, the scale of participation in Russia’s world economic relations.
The Northwestern region is located on the Russian Plain. The climate in the area is maritime, temperate continental. The air has high humidity, the soils are soddy-podzolic
2. Natural conditions and resources
Natural conditions are all elements of living and inanimate nature, influencing economic activity person.
Natural resources are all elements of nature that are used in production as raw materials and energy.
Most of the Northwestern Federal District is located in the European north. The territory of the district is predominantly flat. It is distinguished by a variety of natural and climatic conditions. The predominant part of the territory is located in an area favorable for human habitation, industrial and economic activities.
Climatic conditions The Northwestern Federal District is not favorable enough. The seas of the Arctic Atlantic Ocean washing its territory influence the formation of the climate, which is distinguished in the north-west of the district by relatively warm winters and cool summers and harsh winter and relatively short warm summer in the north. A small amount of precipitation falls, but due to low evaporation it contributes to the formation large number swamps, rivers and lakes. Climatic conditions ensuring the development of agricultural production are limited to the southern territories of the region. They are suitable mainly for livestock breeding. Only the Kaliningrad region is characterized by a more temperate climate.
The Northwestern Federal District is a lake region. Numerous lakes are located mainly in the western part; the largest of them are Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen. Full-flowing rivers flow through the territory of the district. Lowland rivers are of navigable importance. Among them are Pechora, northern Dvina, Onega. Neva, etc. In terms of hydropower, Svir, Volkhov, Narva and Vuoksa are of greatest importance.
The development of the economy of the North-Western District is stimulated by the presence of significant reserves of mineral raw materials, fuel and energy and water resources, which can not only meet the needs of the country’s economic complex, but also be exported to many countries around the world.
The district contains almost 72% of reserves and almost 100% of apatite production, about 77% of titanium reserves, 43% of bauxite reserves, 15% of mineral waters, 18% of diamonds and nickel. The district accounts for a significant part of the balance reserves of copper, tin, and cobalt.
Fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale, and peat.
About 40% of the most important fuel resources are concentrated here western regions countries. The total promising areas for oil and gas production are about 600 thousand km 2, and geological coal reserves are 214 billion tons. One of the largest coal basins Russia - Pechora - with large reserves of high-quality and thermal coals. Special meaning has the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province, where more than 70 oil and gas fields have been discovered. Currently, significant attention is paid to the development of oil and gas in the Barents and Kara seas– Shtokman gas condensate and Prirazlomnoye oil fields. Oil shale reserves are estimated at more than 60 billion tons. They occur in the Leningrad region and in the basins of the Sysola, Ukhta, Yarega and other rivers.
There are large reserves of peat, which are located in the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Pskov, Novgorod, Leningrad regions and the Komi Republic. The district's potential hydropower resources are estimated at 11,318 thousand kW, and the potential electricity generation is 89.8 billion kW. h.
The district is rich in non-ferrous metal ores. Industrial reserves of aluminum-containing raw materials are of great value. In the Leningrad region there is the Tikhvin bauxite deposit with a high percentage of alumina (up to 55%). In the Arkhangelsk region, the North Onega bauxite deposit is distinguished; bauxite reserves have also been explored in the area of the city of Plesetsk.
Non-ferrous metal ores are also represented by copper-nickel ores of Monchegorsk and Pecheneg.
Iron ore deposits are located on the Kola Peninsula and in the Murmansk region (Olenegorskoye and Kovdorskoye deposits). With a low iron content in the ore (28–32%), they are easy to process and provide high quality smelted metal. The Kostomuksha deposit is located in the Republic of Karelia, the ore of which contains 58% iron.
The district has large reserves of mining chemical raw materials - apatite ores (over 10 billion tons), phosphorites. The country's largest Khibiny apatite deposit is located in the Murmansk region. In the Leningrad region, in the Kingisep area, phosphorites occur with a low percentage of the main component (5 - 7%).
Industrial reserves of diamonds have been explored within the Arkhangelsk region. The Kaliningrad region has huge reserves of amber (90% of the world's reserves). The district is rich in a variety of construction raw materials (limestone, clay, glass sand, marble, granite). Their main reserves are located in the Murmansk, Leningrad regions and the Republic of Karelia.
The Northwestern Federal District contains 40% of the forest and 38% of the water resources of the European part of Russia. By reserves forest resources The district ranks first in the European part of Russia. The percentage of forest cover reaches 75%. Coniferous species predominate - spruce and pine. In the southern part of the district there are coniferous and broad-leaved species. Only the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where tundra dominates, remains treeless.
The forests are very rich in fur-bearing animals (arctic fox, black and brown fox, sable, ermine, etc.).
The seas washing the territory of the district are rich in valuable species of fish (cod, salmon, herring, haddock, etc.).
The presence in the district of significant mineral and fuel reserves, as well as water and forest resources, is an important factor in its economic development in the conditions of the formation of a market economy.
3. Economy
Modern industry is characterized by a high level of specialization. Sectors of specialization determine the economic profile of the federal district. Since market specialization is based on the territorial division of social labor, therefore, the determination of industry specializations should be based on identifying the district’s share of participation in the social division of labor.
To quantify the level of specialization of the federal district, in my work I will use such an indicator as the per capita production coefficient.
Having examined the sectors of the economic complex of the federal districts, in the “Appendix” section I will make calculations, on the basis of which I will draw a conclusion about the specialization of the region in the corresponding industry.
The economic potential of the territory of the Northwestern Federal District is one of the largest among other districts located in the European part of Russia. Its leading sector of the economy is industry, whose share in the total Russian industrial production is 12.7%.
The concentration of the most valuable natural resources in the north of the district determines the specifics of the economic complex emerging here, based on the development of fuel and energy, mining, timber chemical, fish processing complexes, in the production of paper, pulp, cardboard, industrial wood, along with a specialized complex working on the main mining and infrastructure mechanical engineering industries.
More informationIntroduction 3
1. Composition and place of the Northwestern Federal District in the all-Russian territorial division of labor. Features of its economic and geographical location 4
2. Industrial complex of the region. Development and placement of sectors of market specialization of industry 11
3. Main problems and innovative directions of socio-economic development of the region 21
Conclusion 24
References 26
Introduction
In a market economy, it is necessary to consider the sectoral structure and location of the most important sectors of the economic complex of each federal district separately in order to analyze the economic and geographical state of Russia as a whole.
The Northwestern Federal District is an administrative-territorial formation in the north of the European part of Russia. Established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 13, 2000.
The Northwestern Federal District includes 11 subjects of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov region, St. Petersburg, Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The Northwestern Federal District includes all subjects of the Russian Federation belonging to the Northwestern and Northern economic regions.
The purpose of this work is to study the problem of development and location of industries in the Northwestern Federal District
The following tasks are aimed at achieving this goal:
1. Consider the composition and place of the Northwestern Federal District in the all-Russian territorial division of labor, explore the features of its economic and geographical position.
2. Analyze the industrial complex of the region, evaluate the development and location of sectors of market specialization of industry.
3. Study the main problems and innovative directions of socio-economic development of the region.
The relevance of the work lies in the fact that the Northwestern Federal District is one of the industrially developed regions of the Russian Federation and plays an important role in the formation of the market as the largest supplier of a variety of industrial products, primarily mechanical engineering.
1. Composition and place of the Northwestern Federal District in the all-Russian territorial division of labor. Features of its economic and geographical position
The Federal District is a top-level economic region, which is a large territorial production complex that combines industries of market specialization with industries that complement the territorial complex and infrastructure. 1
The Northwestern Federal District occupies a favorable geopolitical position - it borders Finland, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and has access to the Baltic, White, Barents, and Kara Seas (Fig. 1).
Rice. 1. Geopolitical position of the Northwestern Federal District
The area of the district is 1677.9 thousand square meters. kilometers - 10.5% of the territory of Russia. The Northwestern Federal District is home to 14,484.5 thousand people, of which the urban population is 11,844.6 thousand people (81.8%). The region has the highest rate of urbanization among federal districts: more than 80% of residents are urban, with a significant portion concentrated in the country's largest agglomeration, St. Petersburg. The average population density in the district is 8.6 people per 1 sq. kilometer. The national composition is heterogeneous: most of the population are Russians; other nations are dominated by Komi, Karelians, Sami, and Nenets.
The Northwestern Federal District consists of the following entities: the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, the Arkhangelsk Region, the Vologda Region, the Kaliningrad Region, the Leningrad Region, the Murmansk Region, the Novgorod Region, the Pskov Region, St. Petersburg, the Nenets Autonomous District. The center of the federal district is St. Petersburg (Fig. 2).
Rice. 2. Composition of the Northwestern Federal District
The considerable size of the district's territory determines the diversity of its natural conditions. The predominant terrain is flat and slightly hilly, turning to the east into the mountainous belt of the Northern, Subpolar and Polar Urals. In the north of the district, within the Kola Peninsula, there are low-mountain massifs of the Khibiny and Lovozero tundras. The territory of the district is located in zones of mixed forests, taiga, forest-tundra, as well as tundra (in areas adjacent to the coast of the Northern Arctic Ocean, and on the Arctic islands).
The district's water resources are significant, accounting for almost half of the resources of the European part of the country. The largest rivers are the Northern Dvina with its tributaries the Vychegda and Sukhona, as well as the Pechora. There are exceptionally many lakes, especially in the northwestern part of the district. Here are largest lakes Europe - Ladoga and Onega.
About 50% of the forest resources of the European part of Russia are concentrated in the district, with coniferous species occupying most of the forested area, mainly in the Arkhangelsk region, the Komi and Karelia republics.
Most of the Northwestern Federal District is located in the European north. The territory of the district is predominantly flat. It is distinguished by a variety of natural and climatic conditions. The predominant part of the territory is located in an area favorable for human habitation, industrial and economic activities.
The climatic conditions of the Northwestern Federal District are not favorable enough. The seas of the Arctic Atlantic Ocean washing its territory influence the formation of the climate, which differs in the north-west of the district by relatively warm winters and cool summers and harsh winters and relatively short warm summers in the north. There is little precipitation, but due to low evaporation, it contributes to the formation of a large number of swamps, rivers and lakes.
Climatic conditions ensuring the development of agricultural production are limited to the southern territories of the region. They are suitable mainly for livestock breeding. Only the Kaliningrad region is characterized by a more temperate climate.
The Northwestern Federal District is a lake region. Numerous lakes are located mainly in the western part; the largest of them are Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen. Full-flowing rivers flow through the territory of the district. Lowland rivers are of navigable importance. Among them are Pechora, northern Dvina, Onega. Neva, etc. In terms of hydropower, Svir, Volkhov, Narva and Vuoksa are of greatest importance. 2
The development of the economy of the North-Western District is stimulated by the presence of significant reserves of mineral, raw materials, fuel, energy and water resources, which can not only meet the needs of the country's economic complex, but also be exported to many countries around the world. The district contains almost 72% of reserves and almost 100% of apatite production, about 77% of titanium reserves, 43% of bauxite, 15% of mineral waters, 18% of diamonds and nickel. The district accounts for a significant part of the balance reserves of copper, tin, and cobalt. Fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale, and peat. There are large reserves of peat, which are located in the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Pskov, Novgorod, Leningrad regions and the Komi Republic. The district's potential hydropower resources are estimated at 11,318 thousand kW, and the potential electricity generation is 89.8 billion kW. h.
The district is rich in non-ferrous metal ores. Industrial reserves of aluminum-containing raw materials are of great value. The Tikhvin bauxite deposit with a high percentage of alumina (up to 55%) is located in the Leningrad region. In the Arkhangelsk region, the North Onega bauxite deposit is distinguished; bauxite reserves have also been explored in the area of the city of Plesetsk.
Non-ferrous metal ores are also represented by copper-nickel ores of Monchegorsk and Pecheneg. Iron ore deposits are located on the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region (Olenegorskoye and Kovdorskoye deposits). With a low iron content in the ore (28-32%), they are easy to process and provide high quality smelted metal. The Kostomuksha deposit is located in the Republic of Karelia, the ore of which contains 58% iron.
The Northwestern Federal District contains 40% of the forest resources and 38% of the water resources of the European part of Russia. In terms of forest resources, the district ranks first in the European part of Russia. The forests are very rich in fur-bearing animals (arctic fox, black-brown fox, sable, ermine, etc.). The seas washing the territory of the district are rich in valuable species of fish (cod, salmon, herring, haddock, etc.). The presence in the district of significant mineral and fuel reserves, as well as water and forest resources, is an important factor in its economic development in a market economy. 3
The population of the Northwestern Federal District is 13.5 million people. For 1992-2005 the number of inhabitants living on its territory was declining. The highest rates of natural population decline were observed in the Vologda region, the Republic of Karelia, and St. Petersburg. The population decline is associated with an unfavorable demographic situation in all regions of the district, characterized by both negative natural growth rates and increased migration processes.
Currently, a steady decline in natural population growth is taking place in all subjects of the Federation that are part of the district. Migration processes in the district are multidirectional: in southern regions There is an increase in migrants; in the northern regions, especially in the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk regions and the Komi Republic, there is a significant outflow of the population, which is associated with extremely unfavorable living conditions in conditions of a systemic crisis.
Steady population growth is observed only in the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions of the district, which is explained by the high level of migration. The migration influx of population to St. Petersburg is quite high, but it is covered by natural decline. 4
The district's population is unevenly distributed; the average population density is 8.2 people. per 1 km 2. The bulk of the population is in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (73.2 people per 1 km 2). The highest population density is characteristic of the Kaliningrad region (63.1 people per 1 km 2), Pskov and Novgorod regions (13.1 and 12.3 1 person per 1 km 2, respectively).
The northern part of the district is sparsely populated, with the most sparsely populated region being the Nenets Autonomous District (2.4 people per 1 km 2), located in the Arctic.
The district is characterized by a high level of urbanization - more than 80% of the population lives in urban settlements, while a significant part of the population is concentrated in the St. Petersburg agglomeration, the largest in the country. The smallest part of the urban population is observed in the Kaliningrad, Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Vologda regions and the Komi Republic. 5
The national composition of the population is heterogeneous. Most of it is Russian. Other nationalities are dominated by Komi, Karelians, Sami, and in the northeast of the Arkhangelsk region - Nenets. In the European North, the problem of survival of indigenous peoples is acute due to the reduction of their habitat.
Over the years of reform in the district, employment in the economy has significantly decreased, while at the same time the level of unemployed has increased. The problem of employment is especially acute in areas with traditionally established sectors of the economic complex - coal, forestry, woodworking, pulp and paper, mechanical engineering - in the Arkhangelsk, Pskov, Novgorod regions, the Republics of Karelia and Komi.
In the structure of the employed population by economic sector, the share of those employed in trade, public catering, consumer services and healthcare is increasing, while at the same time there is a reduction in those employed in industry, agriculture, and construction. Solving socio-demographic problems is possible by stabilizing and boosting the economy, taking effective national and regional measures to implement social programs at the federal and regional levels aimed at social protection of the population. 6