Expo Business Review - Sochi 2014 by RestecMedia

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ЯНВАРЬ 2014 EXPO BUSINESS REVIEW 1

NORTHWESTERN IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FORMATION IN THE NORTH

It was established by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation as of May 13, 2000. Centre of the District is St. Petersburg, a city with federal status. Area of the Northwestern Federal District is 9.87% of the territory of the Russian Federation. Pupulation of the District was 13,717,733 people according to the 2013 Census (9.57% of the population of Russia). Main part of the population is urban residents (83.8%, 2013). Northwestern Federal District has a favourable geopolitical position - it shares borders with Finland, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus. It faces the Baltic Sea, the White Sea, the Barents Sea, and the Kara Sea.

It includes the following members of the Russian Federation: 4 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 68

• St. Petersburg (city with federal status) • Arkhangelsk Region • Vologda Region • Kaliningrad Region • Murmansk Region • Leningrad Region • Nenets Autonomous District • Novgorod Region • Pskov Region • Republic of Karelia • Komi Republic

2 EXPO BUSINESS REVIEW ЯНВАРЬ 2014

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FEDERAL DISTRICT AND NORTHWEST OF THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA.

SAIN T- P ETE RS B U R G

SAINTPETERSBURG TOTAL AREA –

1,399 KM2. POPULATION –

5,028,000 PEOPLE.

St. Petersburg is the Northern and cultural capital of Russia. It is situated in the north-west of the European part of the country, on the Neva River and on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Founded in 1703 by Peter I, the city was conceived as a “window to Europe“ and capital of the empire. Now it is the largest administrative, political and economic centre of the Russian Federation. After the Revolution of 1917, the government moved to Moscow. Currently, some capital functions have been delegated to the city – sessions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation are held there; Russian Navy Staﬀ is located in the Admiralty. Architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg were created by the most talented architects and builders. Experts from Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Holland worked in the city. Perhaps, St. Petersburg is Russia’s most European city. It is customary to call it a multi-ethnic and tolerant city: there are Orthodox churches, Lutheran churches, Catholic churches, as well as choral synagogue, a mosque and a Buddhist temple. In 1990, the historic centre of Northern Palmyra was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St. Petersburg is Russia’s largest city, where meetings at highest level, international forums and conventions, sports events, theatre and musical premieres take place. High-speed railway connects it with Moscow. It takes only 4 hours to get to St. Petersburg from Moscow with a comfortable train Sapsan. St. Petersburg is Russia’s sea gateway. The major seaports – commercial and passenger ports are located there. The city’s air harbour – the renovated Pulkovo Airport – can take up to 17 million passengers a year.

S A I NT- PE T E R S BUR G

Dear friends! I am pleased to welcome readers of a publication which presents wide opportunities, strong economic and investment potential of the Northwestern Federal District at the Olympic Games in Sochi! St. Petersburg is the birthplace of the Olympic movement. A century ago, a National Olympic Committee which initiated our Olympic victories was founded in our city. St. Petersburg is famous for its sports records and achievements, largely thanks to the fact that we pay great attention to the development of both popular and top-class sports. Many sporting events of national and global scale are held each year in the city. We are making preparations for hosting participants and fans of the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Our city is a major cultural, economic and scientific centre not only of Russia, but also of Europe. One of the most important competitive advantages is its favourable geographical location, access to the sea, which contributes to the development of foreign economic relations. Foreign direct investment in the economy of St. Petersburg for 9 months of 2013 totalled $1.14 billion – half as much as the same period last year. In just the last ten years, the volume of foreign investment in the city’s economy has increased by a factor of 15 and exceeded $12 billion. This is a good result, but we are not in the position to stop there. The priority areas for investment in St. Petersburg include high technology, transportation and logistics, construction and municipal services, pharmaceuticals and health care, education and science, culture and tourism. Today, the Strategy for Social and Economic Development of St. Petersburg until 2030 is being developed and discussed; this document will define the development of the megacity in the long term. Its primary and enduring goal is to improve the welfare of Petersburgers as well as their quality of life. Our main priority is the development of innovative high-tech industries with high added value. We set ourselves a quite ambitious goal – to become one of the global cities that will have a significant impact not only on the economic look of our country, but of the whole Northern Europe. We are ready to implement projects that are mutually beneficial for investors and for the city. We have a favourable investment climate, all the resources and opportunities. I wish all participants and guests in the exhibition professional success, and our Olympians – brilliant and convincing victories! Welcome to St. Petersburg!

G. Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg

The city is surrounded by picturesque palace ensembles. This is a unique collection of works by famous architects, artists and renovators who restored the magniﬁcent heritage after World War II: these include the “Russian Versailles“ (Peterhof) with cascading fountains, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo with its luxurious Golden Hall, Amber and Agate Rooms and solemn Oranienbaum with Grand Palace of the ﬁrst governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Menshikov. All Russian emperors of the Romanov dynasty reigned on the banks of the Neva River. Alexander Pushkin lived in the house on the Moika River, and Leo Tolstoy, Nikolai Gogol, Pyotr Tchaikovsky lived close to Nevsky Prospekt. Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Nekrasov, Alexander Blok wrote their best works in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg addresses of international celebrities were entered in numerous encyclopaedias.

S A I N T-P E T E R S B U R G

A WINDOW TO EUROPE Initially, St. Petersburg was built as sea capital of Russia. Peter I laid the Admiralty, and largest shipyards of the country were built on the Neva banks. First sailboats, steamboats and cruisers, Russian nuclear icebreaker and nuclear submarine were launched there. The city has large industrial enterprises. St. Petersburg trades with more than 180 countries. Its foreign trade turnover is more than $56 billion. China, Germany and Finland have taken the lead in the top list of largest trade partners. St. Petersburg is not only a ma-

jor port with advanced technical facilities, but also a centre of trade. It takes the lead in the top list of Russian regions for the number of small and medium-sized businesses, which employ about 1.5 million residents. Foreign investment in the city’s economy in 2013 exceeded $12 billion. The city on the Neva is the biggest tourist destination. It is visited annually by more than 5 million travellers. They are attracted by architecture ensembles, and the world’s largest museums: the Hermitage and the Russian Museum. It was Peter I who exhibited the first collections of wonders from around the world before the public. During his reign, the first

Russian museum was established in Russia – the Kunstkamera. Peter and Paul Fortress and Peter and Paul Cathedral featuring an angel, a symbol of the cultural capital of Russia deserve a special attention. St. Petersburg is called the “Venice of the North“. The city deserves this name: more than 800 bridges span across the rivers, streams and canals. The shipping Neva is a part of the Volga-Baltic Waterway. For ships to pass freely from the sea to the Lake Ladoga, bridges on the Neva River are raised. It occurs in spring and autumn, and in the White Nights season the sight is truly spectacular.

S A I NT- PE T E R S BUR G

WHITE NIGHTS White Nights season is a special time. The famous Mariinsky Theatre holds a summer festival of opera and ballet, which won the love of connoisseurs of ďŹ ne art. Now in St. Petersburg, besides the main stage of the historic theatre, modern venues are open: a concert hall where organ is played, and the new Mariinsky stage with capacity of up to two thousand people. The festival programme includes performances of world opera and ballet stars. Spectators seek to get to opera with Anna Netrebko and concerts of Denis Matsuev. More than 300 festivals, including 24 theatrical events are held in St. Petersburg; more than 600 contemporary art exhibitions are opened, while international music and dance contests draw full houses.

ALONG RIVERS AND CANALS Neva is the main waterway in St. Petersburg. Main buildings of the city were built along the river: the Hermitage, the Admiralty, Palaces of the Grand Dukes, buildings of Senate and Synod, and European embassies. Excursion ships and boats scurry along rivers and canals. For two hours, tourists can see the city centre from water, pass under the bridge arches and see how St. Petersburg is looking from the sea. These trips are very popular in the northern capital.

S A I N T-P E T E R S B U R G

PALACES AND LOFTS Exquisite atmosphere of magnificent palaces and museums is a hallmark of St. Petersburg. The Congress Palace in the Konstantin Palace is a Russian diplomatic centre today. In 2006, the G8 Summit was held there, and in 2013, the leaders of G20 countries met in the Congress Palace. Currently, St. Petersburg has a developed infrastructure for cultural and educational travel, as well as for business travel. Over the past five years, there more than 100 new European level hotels with a total of 9,500 rooms have been commissioned. The largest international hotel operators are present in the city: Best Western, Marriott, Orient Express, Kempinski, Radisson SAS, Accor, Rocco Forte Hotels, Corinthia, Rezidor SAS. St. Petersburg is open to everyone: guests can stay in an expensive presidential suite, or spend the night in a low-end hotel or hostel where they will be offered to buy a tour over the rooftops or rent a bicycle. In St. Petersburg, you can see not only the academic painting and sculpture in museum halls and parks – the modern exhibition venues display avant-garde art objects and best photos. The country’s biggest film festivals and biennials are held, and adherents of contemporary creativity and authors of installations roll out their exhibitions in the city. St. Petersburg is open to everyone! The city is conveniently located: St. Petersburg can be reached by train, plane, bus or ferry – not long ago, the Marine Facade Passenger Port was commissioned and international high-speed rail service Allegro was launched, and a 72-hour visa-free regime for ferry travellers was adopted. In December 2013, a new terminal in Pulkovo Airport was launched.

S A I NT- PE T E R S BUR G

DOMES OF ST. PETERSBURG Impressive cathedrals of St. Petersburg are truly unique. St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the fourth largest church in the world and is behind only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St/ Paul’s Cathedral in London and Basilica of St. Mary of the Flower in Florence. It was built upon the project of the French architect Auguste Ricard de Montferrand. Construction of the cathedral began in 1818 and lasted 40 years. St. Isaac’s Cathedral was declared a metropolitan church of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Cathedral was the centre of citywide celebrations, members of the royal family were baptised there. Its gilded dome can be seen from almost all districts of St. Petersburg. Building

height is 101.5 m, the area is 4,000 m2. The Cathedral can accommodate up to 12 thousand people. The St. Isaac’s Cathedral Monument Museum is one of the most popular sights in St. Petersburg. There is an observation deck: visitors can climb up the colonnade to see the centre of the city from the height of 43 m. A cathedral with traditional Russian domes can be seen from Nevsky Prospekt along the Griboedov Canal; this is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. It was built by Emperor Alexander III on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated. At the entrance, mosaic icons and patterns that cover the entire space of the church up to the dome are astonishing. Creators of the masterpiece explained their idea with the fact that murals would not be as durable. It is the only Orthodox Cathedral, mosaic decoration of which is 7,065 m2. From any point of Neva navigating channel, the Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt fortress can be seen. It is situated on the Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland. Kronstadt can be reached from St. Petersburg by boat or by car on the dike that protects the northern capital from ﬂoods. The Naval Cathedral was founded in 1902 by order of Emperor Nicholas II to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Russian Navy. The authors took Hagia Sophia in Constantinople as model for the project. The unique church and monument of history of the Russian Navy became the marine focus of the city. For a long time the church was closed. In 2013, the Naval Cathedral was consecrated and now it again strikes the congregation and guests with magniﬁcent Byzantine decoration.

S A I N T-P E T E R S B U R G

SPORTING ST. PETERSBURG St. Petersburg is the birthplace of the Russian Olympic movement. In March 1911, representatives of 31 Russian sports societies elected National Committee headed by Vyacheslav Sreznevsky. Thanks to his reputation, world championships in figure skating and speed skating were held in St. Petersburg. The city hosts high level international sporting competitions. In 1980, the Olympic Games football matches were held there. Participants of the Goodwill Games competed in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arenas St. Petersburg was considered as a site for the Winter Olympic Games, and is going to claim the right to host the Summer Games in 2024. In 2018, matches of the FIFA World Cup will be held in St. Petersburg. Players and fans will be taken by a new multi-purpose upscale football stadium of category A. The city operates a modern ice arena, which was built for the 2003 World Hockey Championship matches. Under the Physical Education and Sports Development Programme, with the support of Gazprom, indoor ice rinks were built; it is also planned to open indoor stadium for beach volleyball. St. Petersburg athletes successfully compete in international competitions. 34 athletes from the Neva banks went to the Olympic Games in Sochi, they will compete in nine sports. St. Petersburg is proud of its school of figure skating. Russian figure skating as a sport was born here in 1865. The first public skating rink was opened in Yusupov Garden. Since then, the city became a training centre for figure skaters. The names of Olympic champions Lyudmila Belousova, Oleg Protopopov, Elena Valova, Oleg Vasiliev, Natalia Mishkutenok, Artur Dmitriev, Alexei Urmanov, Oksana Kazakova, Elena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze, Alexei Yagudin, Tatiana Totmianina, Maxim Marinin, Evgeni Plushenko and many others were inscribed in the history of sports.

S A I NT- PE T E R S BUR G

SCIENTIFIC POTENTIAL In winter 1724, Peter I ordered the establishment of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which was located on Vasilievsky Island. Now, there is only a small part of research centres of the northern capital. The St. Petersburg Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kunstkamera, Zoological Institute, Institute of Silicate Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg State University and the famous Pushkin House are patriarchs of science. Academic Zhores Alferov, the winner of Nobel Prize works in the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In the early 2000s, he helped the city to open the most advanced research centre, which employs more than 1,200 specialists in physics and mathematics. The largest medical research and educational institutions are in St. Petersburg. These include such unique centres as the Institute of Human Brain.

SMELT FESTIVAL In St. Petersburg, as in all European cities, all national cuisines are presented. You can sample Italian pizza, Japanese sushi, Chinese dumplings, German beer, Georgian lobio, but there are also St. Petersburg signature dishes in the city. In spring, there is invigorating smell of fresh fish â&#x20AC;&#x201C; smelt, in shopping areas and markets. Smelt is considered to be a local delicacy. Although the fish is now sold all year round, the main catch is done in spring. Smelt is fried, marinated, boiled in soup. On Zayachy Island, near the walls of Peter and Paul Fortress, the festival dedicated to this northern delicacy is held every year.

AR KHA N GE LS K R E G I O N

ARKHANGELSK TOTAL AREA –

589,913 KM2 POPULATION –

1,202,295 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

ARKHANGELSK (POPULATION – 350,985 PEOPLE)

Primitive hunters and fishermen appeared in the territory of the modern Arkhangelsk Region 14 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by more than 800 archaeological sites from the Paleolithic Age to the Middle Ages – the remnants of settlements of the mysterious and legendary Chudes and Lapps on the Vaga, Pinega and Mezen rivers, and Lake Lacha. In the 12th century, the Arkhangelsk Region became part of the Novgorod land. In the second half of the 15th century, these territories were accessed to the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In 1584, by order of Ivan the Terrible, the first seaport was founded at Pur-Navolok Cape in the estuary of the Northern Dvina. Initially it was called Novokholmogory, and was renamed Arkhangelsk in 1613.

Before St. Petersburg was laid down on the map of Russia, Arkhangelsk was the only city on the seashore, shipbuilding centre (Solombalskaya shipyard) and foreign trade port. It accounted for about 80% of foreign trade of the country. The value of Arkhangelsk increased during the reign of Peter I who organised sea shipbuilding there. At the discretion of the reformer-tsar, Novodvinskaya fortress was built; in 1701, Swedish troops were defeated at its walls in a battle of Great Northern War. In 1429, Solovetsky Monastery was founded, and it then played a significant role in the economic development of the Pomorland. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Monastery was closed down. Now, Solovetsky Monastery is returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. In the late 19th – early 20th century, Arkhangelsk was a major forest industry and timber export hub. Construction of railway which connected Arkhangelsk with the Russian centre in the late 20th century was important for the industrial development of the city and the port.

A R KHA NGE LS K R E GI ON

REGION Arkhangelsk Region is a unique one in many respects. And we realise that it is not just a subject of the Northerners’ pride, but a high responsibility before the whole country. Arkhangelsk forest is known far beyond the ergion and country. Development of Arctic latitudes – is our history and our perspective. The Nuclear Shipbuilding Centre in Severodvinsk is the most powerful Russian shipbuilding enterprise and one of the largest in the world. Plesetsk Cosmodrome (spaceport) – is the Russia’s way to space. A year-round navigation port provides direct and independent access to the world ocean. Diamonds of Arkhangelsk Region compete with the world’s ones in respect of their quality. We understand that the nature’s bounty has limits. Our goal is not just to preserve this gift, but also manage, learn how to benefit and multiply it. It is said that the northern nature is stingy. However, it can be only stated by those who never visited our region. The powerful aura of the Solovetsky Islands, a hospitable museum of wooden architecture Malye Korely, Pinezhsky Nature Reserve, Kenozersky National Park, as well as beautiful lakes and forests. Such places would be justly called “fabulous”! All these can be verified by anyone, and we know how to welcome our guests! But the most important “achievement of the North” is our local people. The freedom spirit of our ancestors, seething energy, responsibility and reliability – all this mentioned is what coast-dweller souls are rich with. We know how to win. As a result – participants and medalists of the Olympic Games through out the years: Klyukina Svetlana – medal winner of the World and European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, participated in the summer 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Gleb Pisarevskii – medal winner of the World and European Championships, won bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens. The swimmer Eugene Lagunov – bronze medalist in freestyle 4×100 metre swimming relay. Irina Bespalova (swimming) finished fourth in the 4×100 medley relay. Natalia Podolskaya (rowing and canoeing) finished seventh within the Russian women’s quad. The shooter, Honoured Master of Sports, Leonid Yekimov finished seventh in 50 metre pistol competition. The greatest success was achieved by the athlete Svetlana Sergeeva – when participating in the Paralympic Games in London. She won the gold medal of the Paralympic Games within 4x100 m team relay. The athlete was awarded the Order of Friendship by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin. The International Master of Sports in speed skating Alexander Rumyantsev, participant of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, became the champion of Russia in 2013 and winner of the World Cup, having successfully passed the selection for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. We are proud of our famous countrymen. And we will do our best to allow our descendants be proud of their history, which is our life today!

I. Orlov, Governor of Arkhangelsk Region

A R K H AN G E LS K R E G I ON

ROAD TO SPACE Arkhangelsk Region today is the territory of the forest industry, fishing industry, advanced shipbuilding and aerospace, the Russia’s northern sea gate, and the only European diamondiferous province. Furthermore, Arkhangelsk is a resource base for production and processing of oil and gas. Products of large enterprises in the region are exported to nearly 80 countries. In addition to forests, the region is rich in minerals. It should be noted that its share in the proved Russian mineral reserves for diamonds is 20%, for bauxites – 18%, and for zinc – 3%. Diamonds are mined at the Lomonosov mine. The region has formed a powerful defense complex represented by Severodvinsk shipbuilding enterprises, and Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Arctic holds 90% of hydrocarbons, including 70% – in the Barents and Kara Seas. There are also hydrocarbons at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. In this regard, there are great prospects for the development of the area in terms of forthcoming active oil and gas deposit development on the Arctic shelf. For development of resource and industrial capacity and transport accessibility of the territories, a number of major projects are implemented in the Arkhangelsk Region. The priority projects include the building of deep water area of Arkhangelsk Seaport and major logistical artery – Belkomur railroad. Implementation of these plans will give impetus to the active development of the Northern Sea Route as a single national transport communication route to implement global strategic Russian and European projects.

SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS Major sports the region is being famous for are track and ﬁeld, swimming, hockey, skating, and chess. In 1999 and 2003, Arkhangelsk hosted the Bandy World Cup. Currently such basic sports as biathlon, skating sport, ski racing, wrestling, swimming and shooting are actively developing. In the Arkhangelsk Region, a construction project of a modern ski and biathlon centre in Ustyansky District is underway. Furthermore, it is planned to build 100 sports surface facilities and ready skiing pistes. In the near future, we are planning to open a children’s and youth sports adaptive school and three children’s and youth sports schools of Olympic reserve: for skiing, shooting and swimming. ‘I am conﬁdent in the victory of the Russian team at the Sochi Olympics. After all, there is no team more persistent and patient than our team,‘ Natalia Podolskaya, champion of the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan said. ‘I would like to wish all athletes to have self-belief, stamina and spiritual strength. And most importantly, no matter what happens – to perform at their best so the years of preparation would not be in vain. And the whole country will certainly support the athletes, empathise and believe in victory!’

A R KHA NGE LS K R E GI ON

RESERVE ISLANDS Solovetsky Islands stand out all natural and cultural sites in the Arkhangelsk Region, the archipelago is a monument to the workmanship of the ﬁrst Northern Russian monks who managed to preserve the fundamental values for posterity. The Monastery was founded in 1436. The small area of Solovetsky Islands is ﬁlled with historic architecture. The Solovetsky Monastery ensemble was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Arkhangelsk State Museum of Wooden Architecture and Folk Art ‘Malye Korely’ is also a source of pride for region residents. Unique monuments of peasant architecture of 16th – early 20th centuries are displayed there. The museum was opened in 1973 upstream the Northern Dvina 25 kilometres from the city of Arkhangelsk. In the southwest of the region, on the border with the Republic of Karelia, Kenozersky National Park is situated. More than 30 villages are in its territory. There are monuments of wooden architecture from 17th20th centuries: a cellular St. George church on Porzhenskoye Lake, a steepled church on Pochozero Lake (both from 17th century). State Academic Russian Northern Folk Choir is undoubted legacy of the Arkhangelsk Region.

A R K H AN G E LS K R E G I ON

ARKHANGELSK HOSPITALITY The region is rightly famous for its hospitality. The city of Arkhangelsk, Solovetsky Islands, and historical town of Kargopol are main tourist destinations. Rural and ecological tourism develops successfully in Kenozersky National Park, as well as in Ustyansky, Pinezhsky and Mezensky Districts. In the Arkhangelsk Region, sea cruise tourism, business travel, ethno-cultural and pilgrim tourism are popular. The region has many preserved areas, including Russkaya Arktika National Park, Kenozersky National Park, Onezhskoye Pomorye National Park, Onega branch of Vodlozersky National Park, and Pinezhsky Nature Reserve. Energetic efforts are made to develop ecotourism in the National Parks. Rural tourism is developed in the Arkhangelsk Region. There is a wide network of guest houses is in the municipalities. Currently, a tourist recreation cluster project is implemented in Ustyansky District to develop a unique complex of all-season tourist services for skiing and mountain skiing holidays in Northwest Russia. This project provides for construction of the Malinovka ski sports tourism centre equipped with infrastructure to receive guests and provide tourist services. Furthermore, Obereg ethnographic village will be built for visitors. Urochishche ecocentre will have hunting-style guest houses, Hunting Trophies Museum, a pneumatic shooting room, a parking, and a pool. People of Chudi Open Air Museum is being developed in Edma village in the Ustyansky District. The Ecocity tourist centre will be opened in Sholomenskaya village in the Ustyansky District.

A R KHA NGE LS K R E GI ON

NORTH FESTIVAL International North Yacht Festival organised by the Federal Agency for Tourism, the Russian Geographic Society, the Russian Yachting Federation, Norway’s northern counties’ authorities, and Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Regional administration will be one of the most spectacular tourist events in 2014. The voyage with the participation of 15 Norwegian boats will run along sea routes between Norway and Russia, with visits to Bodø, Tromsø, Vardø, Kirkenes, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, the Solovetsky Islands, and back. Sailboats will arrive to the White Sea in early August. Participants of the Festival, including sailors, media representatives and businessmen will spend two weeks in the Arkhangelsk Region. For this time, an eventful programme has been planned, including parade of yachts along the coast, tours, as well as business events during which participants will discuss plans for the development of yacht tourism in the Barents Sea and the White Sea, and promotion of yachting tourism as interregional and international product.

VOLOG D A RE G I O N

VOLOGDA TOTAL AREA –

144,527 KM2 POPULATION –

1,196,196 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

VOLOGDA (POPULATION – 306,487 PEOPLE)

Vologda Region was founded on September 23, 1937. It is situated in the north of the European part of Russia, within a moderate continental climate zone. In respect of its square it is one of the largest in the Russian Federation, and comprises almost 1% of its territory (145.7 thousand sq. km). The maximum length from north to south is 385 km, from west to east – 650 km. Vologda Region borders with Arkhangelsk one in the north, with Kirov Region – in the east, with Kostroma and Yaroslavl Regions – in the south, with Tver and Novgorod Regions – in the south-west, with Leningrad Region – in the west, and with the Republic of Karelia – in the north-west.

VOLOGDA R E GI ON

REGION Dear friends! Vologda Region is one of the largest and amazingly diverse regions of the country. This is truly a unique land where every city and village has its own history. Here, we have an ancient town of Belozersk mentioned in “The Tale of Bygone Years”, ancient monasteries coexist with natural monuments while innovation and ecology are held as a priority. Vologda Region is a land of the white nights and blue lakes. Peaceful and inﬁnitely talented people inhabit this region. It is the birthplace of the great writers and poets, artists and musicians, lacemakers, blacksmiths and boaters. This land was the place where Nikolai Vereshchagin made his famous Vologodskoe Butter, our pioneers such as Yerofey Khabarov and Semen Dezhnev undertook their glorious campaigns. Vologda Region is a land of health and strength: it is no coincidence that future Olympians train here, while present sportsmen glorify it all over the world. Here, true story meets the tale: this way Russian Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) founded his residence in Veliky Ustyug. Come and visit us with your friends, family and loved ones. I am sure you will remember our region as a place where you felt happy!

O. Kuvshinnikov, Governor of Vologda Region

Proximity to large industrial centres and highways which connect Central Russia with the Urals and Siberia, allows to develop effective business relationship both with other regions and abroad. Industries considered dominant are iron industry, chemical industry, mechanic engineering, metal-working manufacture, forest industry, wood-working and paper-pulp industry. Light industry is represented by manufacturers of flax primary processing, two large flax processing plants, as well as by lace, sewing and knitting production.

Vologda Region played an important role in the formation of the Russian nation, made a huge contribution to the Russian and world culture treasury. Its favourable geographical position in modern conditions, as well as natural resources, a high level of professional development, programme – and purpose-oriented approach to economic management, favourable conditions for business development created by regional, cities and districts administration, open up new large-scale opportunities

VO LO G D A R E G I O N

VOLOGDA REGION IS THE MOTHERLAND OF THE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS Throughout the years, Sergey Fokichev and Nikolay Gulyayev (skating), Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, Albina Akhatova and Anatoly Alyabyev (biathlon), Vera Kalashnikova (field-and-track athletics) and Dmitri Yushkevich (ice hockey) have been awarded with the highest Olympic award. Such natives of Vologda Region as skier Yuliya Chekaleva, skater Ivan Skobrev and others are multiple winners of international competitions. Nowadays Vologda Region is represented by such professional teams on team sports as: hockey club Severstal, men’s basketball team Severstal, women’s basketball team Vologda-Chevakata, men’s volleyball team Polytechnic and women’s volleyball team Severstal. The sportsmen do not lose contact with their homeland. There are biathlon competitions conducted within the region for awards by Albina Akhatova, Anatoly Alyabyev, as well as skating competitions for awards by Sergey Fokichev. Every year Vozhega hosts open individual ski race championship of Vologda Region called Baby Cup for the awards by double Olympic champion Anna Bogaliy-Titovets. Competitor age ranges from 9 to 12.

EXTREME FESTIVAL U DEDA MOROZA (AT SANTA CLAUS’ HOME) The festival attracts participants and spectators from all over Russia. Traditionally, the festival includes competitions in motorcycling (snowmobile cross), in auto racing (jeep trial), cycling (mountain biking, cross-country). Spectators show particular interest in freestyle and baby cross demonstrations by world stars.

VOLOGDA R E GI ON

CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE RUSSIAN NORTH Vologda justly bears the title of cultural capital of the Russian North. Here, a theatre festival Golosa Istorii (Voices of History) has been held since 1991, which received an international status in 1998. The festival of young European cinema VOICES is gaining an increasing popularity. The Festival Rubtsovskaya Osen (Rubtsovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Autumn) in Vologda collects admirers of the poet works, while the Multimatograf attracts professionals in the field of multimedia. The Gavrilin International Music Festival became an integral part of the cultural life of Vologda and the entire Russia. Vologda has acquired a status of a New Year Capital of Russia in 2014. Vologda Region is a literary land. Here, Igor Severyanin, Vasily Belov, Alexander Yashin, Nikolay Rubtsov and Victor Astafyev created their best works. It is the motherland of the great Russian poet Konstantin Batyushkov, as well as of composer Valery Gavrilin, writers Varlam Shalamov and Vladimir Gilyarovsky. The capital of Vologda Region as famous for its unique wooden architecture and numerous temples.

VO LO G D A R E G I O N

REAL VOLOGDA PRODUCTS Vologda Region has long been a region that established itself as a manufacturer of quality products. Vologodskoe Butter is the pride of the domestic dairy industry. Its distinguishing feature is a kind of nutty flavour obtained by heating a specially selected high quality cream for 10-15 minutes up to a temperature of 98°C. Vologda lace is the beauty and pride of the Vologda land. It has truly earned worldwide fame. Continuous smooth line forming a pattern of Vologda lace ends up as a braided edging (vilyushka) on the background of fine open-work lattice. Flax is the Vologda Region landmark. It is a historic centre of flax industry with old industry traditions preserved and a full range of enterprises operating in the field of flax advanced processing “from A to Z”. The region has the northernmost flax field in Russia. Vologda dairy, meat and confectionery manufacturers are known far beyond the region. All of them united by umbrella Real Vologda Product brand. The region has a successfully developing system of voluntary certification Real Vologda Product. The certification mark is assigned to only certified products, operation and services of bona fide business units, as well as creates an additional level of protection against penetration of counterfeit, adulterated and unsatisfactory products into consumer markets.

FOLLOWING THE VARANGIANS Fifteen settlements of the region have town-planning ensembles and complexes of high artistic merit. Among them there are Vologda, Belozersk, Kirillov, Ferapontovo, Totma, Ustyuzhna. There is a 30 metres high earth fortress preserved in Belozersk, one of the ﬁve oldest Russian cities mentioned in the year 862 in “The Tale of Bygone Years”, and built in the 15th century at the behest of Ivan III the Grand Prince of Moscow. The Assumption Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Transﬁguration were restored in 2012 to celebrate the city’s 1050th anniversary, as well as river promenade was furnished. White Lake is a natural tourist attraction of the region. Totma is a museum-city dedicated to the memory of the “Russian Columbuses”: people of Totma undertook 20 expeditions to America. An image of the black fox on the coat of arms and temple cartouches became the symbol of discoveries by local sailors. Veliky Ustyug has the same age as Moscow and Vologda. In the 16th century, the city was given the title “veliky” (great) for its prominent role in Russian trade development. It is the centre of rare crafts, interesting museums, and since 1998 – the birthplace of the Russian Ded Moroz.

VOLOGDA R E GI ON

WHERE DOES DED MOROZ LIVE? Since 1998, Vologda Region has been participating in the project “Veliky Ustyug – Homeland of Ded Moroz”, recognised by experts as one of the most successful on the territorial branding. It has been gaining popularity in Russia and abroad for 15 years of its existence. Ded Moroz of Veliky Ustyug acquired the status of chief country Ded Moroz. Homeland of the winter wizard located 12 kilometres from Veliky Ustyug, hosts Ded Moroz House, Tale Route, Ded Moroz winter garden, Ded Moroz zoo (a branch of the Moscow Zoo), a children’s face-to-face zoo, a health and wellness building, a hotel complex with shopping rows, a cluster home community, cafes, a cascade of ponds and Ded Moroz’s apiary. Ded Moroz city residence and fashion house have a successful progress. For 15 years of the project the tourist flow to Veliky Ustyug has increased by 50 times from 3 thousand people in 1998 to 200 thousand people in 2013. In 2009, Ded Moroz of Veliky Ustyug was named the official Ded Moroz of the 2014 Winter Olympics. During the XXII Winter Olympics, the chief country magician will carefully follow sportsmen progress from his residence in the Olympic Park.

K ALIN IN GRA D R E G I O N

KALININGRAD

TOTAL AREA –

15 125 KM2 POPULATION –

954,773 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

KALININGRAD (POPULATION – 441,376 PEOPLE)

Kaliningrad Region is the westernmost region of the Russian Federation that is completely separated from the rest of the country by land borders of foreign countries and international sea waters. The region borders the Republic of Lithuania for 280.5 km on the north and the east, the Republic of Poland for 231,98 km on the south, and is bounded by the Baltic Sea for over 183 km on the west. The maximum stretch of the region from east to west is 205 km, from north to south – 108 km. Kaliningrad is just 35 km away from Polish border, and 70 km away from Lithuanian border. Kaliningrad, the administrative centre of the region (formerly Königsberg) was founded in 1255.

History of the Kaliningrad Region is unique and distinctive. The region was formed after the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. Pursuant to the Potsdam Agreement, one third of former East Prussia with Königsberg was attached to the USSR in 1945. On April 7, 1946, Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted the Decree ‘On the establishment of the Königsberg Region in the RSFSR’, and on July 4, the administrative centre was renamed Kaliningrad and Königsberg Region was renamed Kaliningrad Region. Settlement of the region was among the largest migration processes in the post-war history of the USSR. Since August 1946, settlers from Russia, Belarus and autonomous republics had arrived there. This determined the multinational structure of population of the region and the formation of culture, which is characterised by convergence of traditions and customs. In May 1947, Kaliningrad city executive committee was established, and in December, the ﬁrst elections to the local soviets were conducted. Current geopolitical situation and essential sectors of the economy, natural raw materials, ice-free ports, educational and cultural institutions, proximity to European markets have determined the fate of the region. In 1991, the Kaliningrad Region was opened to foreign citizens. Here, Russia meets neighbouring countries, and the national culture is strengthened in the Baltic.

KA L I NI NGR A D R E GI ON

REGION

Dear friends! Let me greet you on behalf of all residents of the Kaliningrad Region and invite you to visit the Land of Amber! Kaliningrad Region a unique corner of Russia. The region has a great tourism potential – geographical position, mild climate, the proximity of the Baltic Sea, the developed network of waterways, cultural and historical heritage, and more. It is the only Russian resort area on the Baltic Sea. Two resort cities of federal significance – Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk are situated there. About 90% of world’s reserves of commercially produced amber are in the region, as well as the unique Curonian Spit national park inscribed on the UNESCO Natural Heritage List. Kaliningrad has actively gained a reputation as a large museum centre. The main credit for this belongs to the Museum of the World Ocean and the only Russian Amber Museum, in three floors of which 28 rooms present amber in terms of paleontology, mineralogy, geology, geography, archeology, history, and natural science. Products made of this unique natural material by hands of local craftsmen can be brought home as a souvenir. Many museums are located in buildings that are historical monuments, which gives an additional reason for visiting them. While in the region, you can visit the Regional Drama Theatre or Regional Philharmonic Hall. Also, the Kaliningrad Zoo and Botanical Garden are favourite places for residents’ recreation. The beauty and richness of Kaliningrad land leaves no one indifferent! But our main pride is people. The people of Kaliningrad will give you a warm welcome and win your heart forever. Welcome to the Land of Amber!

N. Tsukanov Governor of the Kaliningrad Region

KAL I N I N G R A D R E G I O N

LAND OF AMBER For several decades there has been a strong scientific and technological potential in the Kaliningrad Region, which is facilitated by intensive development of such industries as shipbuilding, mechanical engineering and instrument engineering, fishing and fish processing industry, electronics and other industries. There are developed transport engineering and lifting machine engineering, shipbuilding and ship repair industries in Kaliningrad and Sovetsk. Car and truck assembly and food production are thriving industries; there is also a wellestablished production of televisions in the region. The world’s largest amber deposit is situated in the region (more than 90% of world reserves). The production is carried out near the Yantarny village; this stone processed at the same production facility. Oil is mined in the Kaliningrad Region; commercial fishing is a well developed industry. Major fishing ports are located in Kaliningrad and Pionersky, and smaller fishing ports are in Rybachy and Svetly.

KALININGRAD 2018 1,812 sports facilities, including 6 stadiums, 29 swimming pools, 1,001 plate structures and 402 sports centres are operating in the westernmost region of Russia. 44 children’s sports schools, including 15 Children’s and Youth Sports Schools of Olympic Reserve attended by 17,879 people are in the Kaliningrad Region. Clubsport in the region is represented by FC Baltika. More than 19% of the population is engaged in physical training and sports activities. In 2018, matches of the FIFA World Cup will be held in the land of amber. The tender for football stadium design was won by research and manufacturing association Mostovik from Omsk. Construction on the Oktyabrsky Island will be commenced in the ﬁrst months of 2014. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2017. As of today, topographic survey, meteorological and environmental operations were completed on site. As part of the state programme ‘Social and economic development of the Kaliningrad Region until 2020‘, more than 73 billion roubles was allocated from the federal budget to prepare the region for the World Cup (including 12 billion roubles to be spent on engineering work on the Oktyabrsky Island).

KA L I NI NGR A D R E GI ON

AMBER NECKLACE International Arts Festival Yantarnoye Ozherelie (Amber Necklace) for more than 30 years of its history has become an image-building project. The event presents a wide range of musical genres – instrumental classical music, jazz, and vocals. International Arts Festival Russian Music in the Baltic region is a large-scale project that introduces masterpieces of Russian classical music and helps to popularise it in the Baltics. Russian classical and modern music is played by performers and performance groups from Russia and Europe. International biennale Alatyr includes an exhibition contest of amber craftwork created in the last two years, a scientific conference, and an educational programme. Artists from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and France take part in the contest. Since 2011, the Kaliningrad Region has held the Peace Territory Festival and the Reading Festival for Children and Adolescents ‘Summer with the Book,’ during which children’s library visitors can meet writers and poets.

KANT’S LEGACY As any region with a long history, the Kaliningrad Region has many architectural monuments: ancient city gate, fortifications, numerous forts, churches and cathedrals. The oldest cathedral church was built by Siegfried, the bishop of Samland in 1297-1302 on island between Pregel and Lebe rivers. In 1804, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant was buried at the northeast corner of the cathedral. In 1924, a mausoleum was constructed by the architect Friedrich Lahrs for the bicentenary of Kant’s birth; this mausoleum has been preserved to the present day. There are unique museums in the Kaliningrad Region: Museum of the World Ocean and Amber Museum; as well as four theatres, Kaliningrad Regional Philharmonic Hall and Kaliningrad Regional Russian Folk Orchestra.

KAL I N I N G R A D R E G I O N

SEA VIEWS Svetlogorsk, a recognised coastal tourist destination (formerly Rauschen), is known as resort since 1844. It is called a ‘Little Switzerland.’ From a sky deck accessible through the lift, you can enjoy birds eye view of the sea. Restaurants, bars, dozens of small private shops are open till late night; light and classical music performances are given. Numerous festivals and concerts are held in summer; festivals to open the holiday season are popular; the organ hall is working all year round. Zelenogradsk (formerly Krantz), a more lower-income resort on the Baltic Sea has retained the charm of lowland town with wide sandy beaches. The resort known since 1816, is being developed as a balneal centre. The proximity of the Curonian Spit National Park makes this area popular with tourists and local residents. Curonian Spit made by the sea and wind is a narrow sandy strip of land where salty sea is adjacent to the freshwater bay. In its very widest part, the spit width is up to 3.8 km, and in the narrowest part – it is 400 m. Its length is 98 km; half of the territory belongs to Russia, the other half – to Lithuania. Few natural landscape zones are present on the spit – from southern boreal forests to mountain taiga thickets, from alder swamp forests to small desert. In the villages of Lesnoye, Rybachy and Morskoye, tourists can stay in guest houses, private mansions or holiday camps. Increase in the tourist ﬂow to the territory of the Kaliningrad Region in the last few years has been an average of 7% per year. According to experts, in 2012, the Kaliningrad Region was visited by 475,000 Russian and foreign tourists.

BALTIC RESORTS The Kaliningrad Region is the only resort territory of Russia at the Baltic Sea. The Baltic coast has a number of favourable factors (maritime climate, healing mineral waters, therapeutic peat muds, sandy beaches) to provide both prevention and treatment of various diseases, as well as active recreation. The tourist potential of the Kaliningrad Region is unique. Sea, two freshwater bays, rivers, lakes, sand dunes, diversity and richness of flora and fauna, and beauty of landscapes attract tourists all year round. A variety of tourist accommodation is offered to the tourists: modern hotels, resort spas, holiday centres, health resorts and recreation facilities, rural estates and guest houses, and children’s holiday camps, where tourists are treated by worldclass standards.

KA L I NI NGR A D R E GI ON

TREASURE HUNTING Kaliningrad Region is Mecca for history lovers. Many significant events have left their marks on this ground. When leaving the capital of the region in virtually any direction, you will soon find yourself in front of walls of a medieval castle or churche, see places where old Prussian settlements and ancient battle fields were. To read this chapter of the region history it would be difficult to plan a particular route, so we recommend to make several trips with seeing other attractions. More and more people prefer dynamic amusements, and there is plenty of opportunities for them in Kaliningrad in summer. First of all, it is a variety of water events – sea tours with boat, jet ski, kayak, canoe and small craft. Equestrian sports lovers can visit the annual international hurdle race tournament competition or the biggest stud farm in Chernyakhovsk. Horse riding and horse riding lessons are most popular services provided in the region. Any route can be chosen in the Petrovo village, in Chernyakhovsk, or in Svetlogorsk surroundings. The Kaliningrad Region is rich in fish – there are more than 60 species. Bays, lakes and numerous rivers – it is a paradise for fishermen.

ECOTOURISM Perhaps, the Kaliningrad Region is one of the few regions in Europe, where so many unique ecological tourism destinations are on a limited area. Nature lovers will appreciate the varied landscapes of the Curonian Spit National Park, intact relic Tsellau swamps, fantastic beauty of Red Woods – the legendary Rominten. And on the coast of a real pearl – Lake Vistytis, guests can be at one with nature.

LEN IN G RA D RE G I O N

LENINGRAD TOTAL AREA –

83,908 KM2 POPULATION –

1,751,135 PEOPLE

History of the Leningrad Region has its roots deep in the past. The region is rich in monuments of the first millennium AD. The oldest city in Russia is Staraya Ladoga on the Volkhov River, the 1260th anniversary of which was recently celebrated by Russia. According to legend, Prophetic Oleg lies there in a burial mound on the high bank of Volkhov. Located at the intersection of sea, road, rail and river routes, with its common borders with the states of the European Union, Leningrad Region is an attractive area for investors. It holds a leading position in Russia for economic development, and trades with more than 130 countries. Industrial production is the most important branch of the economy in Leningrad Region. In terms of per capita production, it is ahead of most of the regions of Russia. The regional industries include branches of national importance: petrochemical industry, pulp and paper industry, chemical industry, nonferrous metallurgy, building materials, mechanical engineering, particularly shipbuilding and ship repair, and instrument engineering.

Leningrad Region has many interesting authentic locations. In the north, medieval city of Vyborg is spread out. Until the mid 20th century it was a part of Finland. Not far from St. Petersburg, Sablinsky caves are located – these are abandoned underground mines for the extraction of silica sand in the modern Tosnensky District. A reserve and waterfalls are there. In Gatchina, the Priory Castle, palace of the Emperor Paul I where the Russian autocrat sheltered the Maltese Knights, has been restored. In the late 19th – early 20th century, many summer houses and estates were built in these lands. Ilya Repin and Nicholas Roerich lived and worked there, and famous Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov was raised near Gatchina. The region is popular among residents of St. Petersburg and lovers of Karelian Isthmus nature. Health resorts, recreation centres, and housing estates are developed and homesteads are being furbished along the coast of the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.

L E NI NGR A D R E GI ON

REGION Dear friends! Leningrad Region is an original and self-sufficient entity of the Russian Federation, one of the most economically and socially advanced regions. For inward investment, it has been one of the most attractive regions of the country for a long time. The Region Government pays special attention to preserving favourable investment climate. Many businesses representing world-class companies operate in the region. Manufacturing operations of such companies as Ford, Caterpillar, Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, Nokian Tyres, Rockwool, and International Paper run successfully in the Leningrad Region. Cross-border cooperation is well developed, and twin-city relations are getting stronger. The economy reliably feeds the public sector, and therefore the Leningrad Region has good potential for the development of education, health, culture and social welfare. The past year in our region was marked by the revival of spiritual culture. Big restoration and renovation projects on historical and natural monuments and places of worship were started. We have something to show to the most discerning travellers. Anyone who has been to the Vepssky Forest national nature park, Lake Yastrebinoye, Sablinsky caves, Nizhnesvirsky State Nature Reserve, in the Beryozovye Islands and Lindulovskaya Grove sanctuaries will remember their beauty for life. Leningrad Region is open to cooperation; its residents are always happy to welcome guests and are willing to make new friends!

A. Drozdenko, Governor of Leningrad Region

L EN I N G R AD R E G I O N

MOTHER OF RUSSIAN CITIES Historians say that the foundation of Rus was laid there. According to the Hypatian Codex, Rurik was called to Staraya Ladoga to reign in 862. Staraya Ladoga was founded on the left bank of the Volkhov River, where famous trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks was established. Archaeologists have proven that the first buildings in the area appeared in 753. Today, the Ladoga Historical and Architectural and Archaeological Museum Preserve operates in Staraya Ladoga. 150 monuments of history and architecture are on the area of 190 hectares. The earliest monuments belong to the 8th century. In the 15th century, Ladoga Fortress, also called Rurik Castle was build there. It features an acknowledged masterpiece of world architecture – St. George’s Church. It was built in the 12th century, but frescoes on its walls are still visible. The image of St. George is unique: he is depicted without the traditional spear and strikes the snake with a sign of the cross. Staraya Ladoga features female Assumption Monastery, where wife of Peter I Evdokiya Lopukhina was imprisoned from 1718 to 1725. The monastery includes another gem of ancient architecture – Church of the Assumption with frescoes of the 12th century. The Ladoga Historical and Architectural and Archaeological Museum Preserve is a unique monument of history. It holds more than 200,000 exhibits. There are many places in the Leningrad Region, which are reminiscent of the glorious military past of Russia: Oreshek Fortress in Shlisselburg, fortresses in Ivangorod on the Narva River on the Estonian border, in Koporye, Korela, and Yam. Monuments related to the legendary Road of Life and Nevsky Bridge-head remind of the events of World War II and the heroic exploits.

L E NI NGR A D R E GI ON

IMPERIAL RING The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest research centres specialising in the study of nuclear technology are in the Leningrad Region. The town of Sosnovy Bor has the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, which provides power to not only the region and St. Petersburg, but also the neighbouring regions. In Gatchina, under the auspices of Kurchatov Institute National Research Centre, a major international scientific and educational centre is being developed (ISEC). Large-scale project named Imperial Ring after the St. Petersburg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gatchina road involves the establishment of the ISEC at the premises of B.P. Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PNPI). Not only fundamental scientific research is done there, but also nuclear physics innovations are tested and applied there. Wide range of PNPI activities is a good basis for the modern scientific and educational centre.

SKI ROUTES The Government of the Leningrad Region pays great attention to physical fitness and sports. Considerable funds are spent on construction and reconstruction of fitness centres, stadiums, and athletic grounds. Sports centres located in Vsevolozhsky District, and Toksovo and Kavgolovo villages are most popular with winter sports enthusiasts. Ski centre and amusement park provide services there. The Kavgolovo sports centre features springboard. When St. Petersburg was planning to apply for the Winter Olympics, it was assumed that main competitions will be held in this area. Now the Centre is refurbished; there are always many tourists and lovers of skiing and freestyle.

L EN I N G R AD R E G I O N

TO SACRED PLACES Pilgrimage tourism is being developed in the Leningrad Region. The region has 9 monasteries open to the public. To visit them, one should buy a special tour or travel independently. Tikhvin Assumption Monastery is most revered in the region. It was founded in 1560 by order of Ivan the Terrible. It reposits one of the best known holy images in Russia – the miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God Odigitria (i.e. “Guide”), which, according to legend, was written by Luke the Evangelist. During World War II, the Icon was taken to the United States, and 63 years later it was returned to Tikhvin Monastery. The architectural ensemble of the Monastery is composed of a fully restored Assumption Cathedral and the Church of the Intercession with a refectory that were built in the 16th century, belfry, and cells. Konevsky Monastery on the Konevets Island in the western part of the Lake Ladoga is also visitable. It was founded in 1393 by St. Arseny Konevsky and is regarded as the twin monastery with the Valaam Monastery, also located on an island group in the Lake Ladoga in the modern Republic of Karelia. The main church of Konevsky Monastery is the church of the Nativity of the Theotokos founded by St. Arseny in 1428. A miraculous image of Mother of God, brought by St. Arseny from Mount Athos is still there.

DAYS OF CINEMA Vyborg is one of the most cinematic towns in northwest Russia. It often served as film set for Russian and foreign film directors. Window to Europe Festival is held every summer in Vyborg. According to the Festival organisers, the Window to Europe enhances the prestige of the national cinema, and promotes the best works. Festival awarding ceremony is traditionally held within the medieval castle of Vyborg. Another festival is annually held in Gatchina. Its peculiarity is that it is dedicated to films based upon literary writings. Gatchina Palace Park is often the venue for summer festivals. Night music festival is held there. Stage for musical performances is placed on surface of the lake. The event brings together many devotees of classical and instrumental music. Night festivals are very popular in Gatchina: Lightfest is held late evening in August; during this event, monuments of architecture are been “dressed” in colourful attires, and then magnificent fireworks close the festival.

L E NI NGR A D R E GI ON

CLOSE TO FINLAND Vyborg can be reached from St. Petersburg by a high-speed train, or by car or a comfortable tourist bus using the Scandinavia highway. This town is located near the Finnish border, and to the mid 20th century it was a part of Finland. After World War II, Vyborg became a Russian town. Officially, Vyborg dates back to 1293 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the time of founding of the first castle of Vyborg by the Swedes. In 1710, it was captured by Russian troops and officially assigned to the Russian Empire according to the Treaty of Nystad of 1721. After Finland became independent in 1918, Vyborg became one of the largest cities in Suomi. Vyborg is now the centre of cultural and social life of the region. There are many educational, cultural and sporting institutions, as well as monuments of architecture built by such renowned architects of Northern Europe as Alvar Aalto. In Vyborg, the Leningrad Region Theatre of Drama and Puppets, numerous musical ensembles, associations of artists and other creative unions were founded; the Monrepos museum reserve is being restored. In 2013, Vyborg celebrated its 720th anniversary.

MURMA N S K R E G I O N

MURMANSK TOTAL AREA –

144,902 KM2 POPULATION –

780,401 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

MURMANSK (POPULATION – 302,468 PEOPLE)

The Murmansk Region is situated in the northwest Russia; it was established on May 28, 1938. It is situated on Kola, Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas. The region includes the following islands: Aynovskie Islands, Veliky Island, Seven Islands, Kildin, situated mostly beyond the Arctic Circle. The region borders Norway and Finland on the west, the Republic of Karelia and Arkhangelsk Region on the south. It is bounded by the White and Barents Seas. Murmansk is the administrative centre.

The territory of the Murmansk Region is located in two geographic zones – taiga and tundra, between which a narrow strip of wooded tundra stretches. The climate is peculiar and different from climate in other transpolar regions of Russia. Despite the northern location, the weather is rather mild there. Perhaps, the most typical feature of it – dramatic changes and instability associated with frequent changes of air masses.

M UR M A NS K R E GI ON

REGION Dear friends! The Kola Peninsula was once called the edge of the world. Today, different definitions are afloat: “northern outpost of Russia“, “gate to the Arctic“, “mineral storehouse of the country“, “land of aurora borealis.“ Murmansk Region is unique beauty, amazing natural wealth, wide open spaces and shining city lights. It is a long winter frost and warm hearts of people. Murmansk is glad to host guests. And even more hospitably we welcome people who are willing to invest their strength and ability in our region, to bring new ideas and offer new opportunities. On behalf of all the residents of the Kola polar region, I’m telling you, my friends: welcome!

M. Kovtun, Governor of Murmansk Region

The history of human presence in the territory of modern Murmansk Region has several millennia. The Kola land had long been inhabited by the Sami people – North natives. In the 11th-13th centuries, the Murmansk land was explored by Russian Pomors. In the 16th century, they founded the town of Kola and built the Pechenga Monastery. In autumn of 1916, new Russian port – Romanov-on-Murman was founded on the ice-free bay coast; in April 1917 it was renamed Murmansk. The rapid growth of industry and population of the region led to the establishment of an independent administrative unit in 1938 – the Murmansk Region.

MU R M AN S K R E G I O N

NATURAL WEALTH Today, the Murmansk Region surprises with its contrasts. Such industrial mining centres as Monchegorsk or Zapolyarny coexist with vast fantastically beautiful and untouched stretches of nature. In modern Murmansk Region, priority sectors are fishing, mining, chemical industry and non-ferrous metallurgy. The largest enterprises of the region – Apatit (Apatity, Kirovsk) – production of apatite concentrate; Kandalaksha Aluminium Smelter (Kandalaksha) – production of primary aluminium, Kola GMK (Monchegorsk, Zapolyarny, Nikel) – production of nickel, refined copper, sulphuric acid; Olenegorsky GOK – production of iron ore raw materials; Murmansk Trawl Fleet (Murmansk) – fishing. In recent years, ecotourism have become increasingly popular – mostly foreign tourists come to the region to stay in a place where ‘no man has ever set foot before.’

MURMANSK REGION HAS A LARGE RESEARCH POTENTIAL In Murmansk, there is Murmansk Marine Biological Institute which studies the state of biological resources of the seas and conducts environmental monitoring. Also, Polar Geophysical Institute, Morgeofizika Research Institute, and Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography are widely known in Russia and abroad. Subject of research is the biological basis for rational fishing in the East European seas and the North Atlantic, and the provision of fishing organisations with scientifically valid forecasts of fishery resources and conditions for catching fish and invertebrates. Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Apatity (KSC RAS) is an integrated research Institution in the European Arctic region that pursues fundamental research of the features of high-latitude areas of the Earth and provides the scientific foundation for the assessment of resource potential and the generation of a rational strategy for the Arctic development.

M UR M A NS K R E GI ON

POLAR OLYMPICS Every year in early spring (March-April), a popularly beloved Feast of the North is celebrated in the Murmansk Region. Its unofficial name is Polar Olympics. Competitions are held on the following sports: winter windsurfing, skating, biathlon, cross-country skiing and 50-kilometre ski marathon, alpine skiing, ice hockey. Reindeer herders’ competition is a trademark of the event.

In recent years, competitions in extreme sports have become popular: rock climbing, winter kiting and winter windsurﬁng. The competitions are conducted for participants from diﬀerent countries – both amateurs and professionals. Much attention is paid to other sports in the region. Thus, chess school is developed in Murmansk. In the 2013 Chess Championship of the Northwestern Federal District, the young athletes of the Murmansk Region won 25 medals, including 11 gold medals.

SLAVONIC LITERATURE DAY The culture of the region is vast and diverse: there are 11 museums, 168 libraries, more than 70 culture centres and palaces, folk art centres, 59 primary schools for aesthetic education, College of Arts, etc. Cultural and educational organisations also include associations of creative professions – writers, artists, theatre workers, cinemas, etc. The Kola land is an ever-living source of many cultural initiatives. It was in Murmansk where in 1986, at the suggestion of the regional branch of the Union of Writers of Russia, the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day was celebrated for the first time in decades, which was the revival of this holiday in Russia. Subsequently, it became a public holiday. Long traditions of indigenous people of the Kola region, the Sami people and the first Russian settlers Pomors have a special place in the cultural diversity of the region.

MU R M AN S K R E G I O N

A PARADISE FOR EXTREME LOVERS Kirovsk is a centre of alpine skiing and active tourism. There are three ski resorts in its territory. Mount Kukisvumchorr is the birthplace of freeride (backcountry skiing). Dozens of athletes from around the world come there to face off with each other in this extreme sport. The Murmansk Region is a paradise for extreme sports lovers. The Khibiny Mountains are crossed by ravines and fast-flowing rivers. Khibiny plateau is 1,200 metres above sea level. These places attract not only true lovers of extreme hiking and boating, but also climbers. When choosing a modern active leisure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; jeep or quad bike tours, guests of the region have a unique opportunity to see the monuments of nature and history. Murmansk is the only place from where you can travel to the North Pole with a nuclear icebreaker in summer. Tours lasting about two weeks are very popular among lovers of exotic travel.

CLOUDBERRY LAND Landscape and climatic characteristics of the region, its cultural and historical potential attract enthusiasts of different types of tourism to the Kola Peninsula â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from rafting on rapid rivers and fishing to alpine skiing, mineralogical, event, environmental, sports and extreme travel. The Murmansk Region is visited annually by more than 300 thousand visitors, including more than 40 thousand of foreign travellers exploring the Arctic Circle.

M UR M A NS K R E GI ON

DINNER AT THE SAMI’S AND WEDDING ON ICE Ethnographic tourism that develops with the participation of indigenous peoples becomes increasingly popular in the Murmansk Region; these peoples of the North live their traditional life which has hardly changed over the past century. For lovers of exotics, special itineraries have been prepared to include homestays with small peoples of the North, familiarity with their life and ceremonies, cooking national dishes, involvement in setting Lavvu – the Sami tent. The Tersk coast of the White Sea is of particular interest. Major cultural monuments of Russian Pomors are there. The most well-known monument is the wooden Assumption Church in the Varzuga village, a steepled church of the 17th century. In the south of the region, several ancient Babylonian Labyrinths and rock drawings – petroglyphs were found. Another attraction is the Snow Village sightseeing and tourist centre in Kirovsk, a unique structure made of snow and ice. Unique halls, corridors, rooms, galleries, ice furniture, sculptures, slides are dazzling the guests. Since 2011, an ice marriage room has been in operation in the Snow Village.

NENE TS AU TO N O M O U S D I S T R I C T

NENETS TOTAL AREA –

176,810 KM2 POPULATION –

42,789 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

NARYAN-MAR (POPULATION – 22,912 PEOPLE)

The Nenets Autonomous District is included into the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation. It was formed in July 1929 (until 1977 – Nenets National Area). The highest executive body is the administration of Nenets Autonomous District, the highest legislative body – the Assembly of Deputies. The District is located in northeast of European Russia, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, almost entirely beyond the Arctic Circle. The longest distance from north to south – 320 km, from west to east – 950 km. The District borders with Mezensky District of the Arkhangelsk Region in the west, with the Komi Republic – in the south, with the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District – in the east. It is washed by the White, Barents and Kara Seas. The District includes the major islands: Kolguyev, Vaygach, Dolgy and Gulyaevskie Koshki. The NAD territory is the original land of the Nenets. More than 70 nationalities inhabit the region.

NE NE T S AUT ONO M OUS DI S T R I CT

AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT The Nenets Autonomous District – is the real Far North. Most of its territory is washed by the White, Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas of the Arctic Ocean, and is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The Nenets Autonomous District has exotic natural landscapes of the Nenets Tundra harmoniously combined with industrial landscapes. NAD is attracting more attention. The reason is quite natural – Russia’s Euro-Arctic pantry is located at a strategic site: there are huge hydrocarbon reserves on its land and continental shelf, as well as the Northern Sea Route along the shores the value of which is increasing year by year. Previously seemed far, now this end of the earth is gradually turning into a venue for international conferences and forums. The region is also attractive in terms of tourism, primarily theme one – there are few places on the earth with such a big number of natural reserves used for hunting and ﬁshing. It is well known by professionals who have long since chosen rivers and lakes of the District. Recently, we have been engaged in establishment of an appropriate infrastructure. It is easy to get to NAD from the centre of the country: just two and a half hours by plane from Moscow or St. Petersburg – and you will turn out to be in the real Zapolyarye. We welcome all who are willing to visit our severe, but believe me, beautiful land!

I. Fyodorov, Governor of Nenets Autonomous District

The ﬁrst settlements on these territories appeared during the Paleolithic Age. The Nenets migrated here from the lower Ob River in the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. Severe climate of the region is explained by its location beyond the Arctic Circle, as well as by the inﬂuence of the Atlantic and Arctic air masses. The average annual air temperature is negative throughout the region: from minus 1 in the South-West to minus 9 – in the North-East. The average January temperature is minus 16, the average July temperature – plus 12.

The main activity of the Nenets is the traditional farm industries – deer farming, hunting and fishing. The District gave birth to many famous people who influenced a lot the history of Russia. Among them there are the Nenets poet, novelist and translator Vasily Ledkov; first Nenets scientist, writer Anton Pyrerka; presenter, director and producer Andrey Razbash; Nenets poet, novelist and painter Prokopy Yavtysy.

N E N E T S AU T O N O M O U S DI S T R I CT

OIL DEPOSIT Geological exploration has been conducted in the region since the late 1960s. Commercial oil and gas extraction has been carried out since the mid-1980s. The District was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples in 1972 for achievements in the economic and cultural development, and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1979. The NAD territory has over 1028 enterprises and organisations. Fuel industry comprises 98.6% of industrial production. A leading industry is oil extraction. Such largest oil companies as Lukoil-Komi, LLC, Polar Lights Company, LLC, OJSC Northern Oil (OJSC NK Rosneft) and OJSC Total E&P Russia are operating in the region. Due to natural climatic conditions agriculture primarily consists of traditional industries – fishing and deer farming. There are 1.2 billion tons of recoverable oil and more than 520 billion cubic metres of gas within the District. The region has 89 discovered deposits, including 77 oil and 6 oil and gas condensate deposits.

The Varandey Oil Export Terminal, being a unique in the Arctic, and the Offshore Ice-Resistant Fixed Platform Prirazlomnaya located in the coastal zone, allowed the region to become a pioneer in the development of the Arctic shelf. Hydrocarbon potential of the Timan-Pechora Basin Province with shelf of the Barents and Pechora Seas is the consolidated large mega province with a unique hydrocarbon base. Active construction of infrastructure facilities carried out in order to transport hydrocarbons onshore and offshore is associated with the development of the Northern Sea Route, shelf infrastructure based on Prirazlomnoye oilfield development, Varandey Oil Export Terminal and ground pipeline system. Nowadays the Prirazlomnoye oilfield is being initiated; it is the first oilfield found on the Arctic shelf of the Barents Sea. It is located 55 km north-west of the coastal village Varandey. Thus, the Nenets Autonomous District will be the ﬁrst Russian region where hydrocarbon production will be carried out both on the mainland and on the shelf zone of the Russian Arctic.

OLYMPIC FLAME IN THE FAR NORTH In November 2013 Naryan-Mar received the fire of Sochi Olympics. The Games Torch visited deer farming brigade called Harp and near the Pyatumboy River. Photos of the torchbearer, running next to deer in a snowy haze, were broadcasted by news agencies around the world. The main sports activities in the region are: powertlifting, single combating, boxing, indoor soccer and volleyball. Inhabitants of the region are fond of ski racing held under the Northern Lights Holiday. The founder of this competition –is Ivan Chuprov, one of the authors of the Republican sports classification in national sports. In 1969, Ivan Chuprov conducted his first Northern Lights Sports Festival in order to cultivate physical education and sport among local residents. Later on the festival was conducted every year. In 1999, it acquired a name of Chuprov. Today, this event is the most popular sports event for District residents. Its main event is ski racing for professionals and amateurs of all ages. Among other sports events there are also ice hockey competitions, chess tournaments and northern all-around competitions.

NE NE T S AUT ONO M OUS DI S T R I CT

KHAYAR STANDS FOR “SUN” The Khayar Ensemble is widespread and famous among the citizens of Nenets Autonomous District. The word “khayar” stands for “sun” in the Nenets language. Clear northern “sun” that shines from every song and dance, sparkles on deer horns and dewdrops covering up the morning tundra. The Khayar Nenets Folk Ensemble is one of the ﬁrst amateur artistic bands among the Far North people, which started its history in 1962. In October 2011, the Khayar Ensemble participated in the Russian region marathon under the Sochi Cultural Olympics. The event included performances of the most talented creative bands of Russia. The Khayar Ensemble adequately represented the Nenets Autonomous District

showing creative ﬁve dances programme: “Rhythms of the Tundra”, “Dance with Trochee”, “Dance with Tambourines”, “Sengakotsya”, “Khym-Ha”. The performance was warmly accepted by viewers, and newspapers wrote that there were three suns shining in Sochi: besides the host of heaven, there was a professional ethnic theater Solntse (Sun) from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District and the Khayar Folk Ensemble from NAD all of them featuring in the future Olympic Games capital. The Ensembles repertoire has about 40 shows reﬂecting a distinct culture of the Far North indigenous people, inhabiting the Nenets Autonomous District territory. Wealth of the Nenets culture allows the Ensemble to create interesting and original shows.

NENETS LITERATURE DAYS The Nenets Literature and Language Days have been organised in order to develop and preserve the Nenets language in the region. This large and important event has long since become an annual event. It includes contests among Nenets teachers from district schools, excursions to a museum, book presentations, documentary films exhibitions, workshops for kids and young people to create cartoons based on the Nenets tales. In 2013, the Nenets Literature Days ended up in a round table discussion on“The study, preservation and development of the Nenets language in the Nenets Autonomous District: experience, problems and ways of interaction of state and municipal authorities, local governments, institutions and organisations of the Nenets Autonomous District, public associations and civil society”.

N E N E T S AU T O N O M O U S DI S T R I CT

VAYGACH ISLAND Vaygach Island occupies a boundary position between the Barents and Kara Seas, Europe and Asia. Therefore the island is considered a unique natural and historical object. To date, 276 species of plants belonging to 46 families have been discovered in the Vaygach Island flora. More than one third of the species is listed in the NAD Red Book. The island is one of the main places for waterfowl birds mass nesting in the western Arctic. It is situated on an ancient sea route from Europe to the eastern sector of the Arctic, it is not surprising that the Stone Age encampment and modernity monuments have been found here. Nowadays, the island has 230 objects of cultural heritage. Vaygach Island is considered the centre of the sacral world of the Nenets and is called Hebidya Ya, which stands for “holy land”. The basis of the Nenets religion is the belief in spirits. They have two most important gods which occupy their pantheon. The first is the personification of the shining sky Num which gives welfare to humans. The second – Nga, chief spirit of the lower world, kingdom of disease and death. Numerous spirits and gods were worshiped in sacred places. The oldest of them was situated on Vaygach Island – here, even the Nenets from the Urals sacrificed to idols.

NE NE T S AUT ONO M OUS DI S T R I CT

TOURS TO THE TUNDRA Tundra is decorated with all the colours of the rainbow at any time of the year: in winter it has white winter snow, blue ice and the northern lights splendor, in summer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; blue lakes eyes, multicolour birds, diversity of flower and moss carpets. Here, you can enjoy both the expanse and bizarre canyons with winded gray boulders, noisy icy streams rifts and thousands of resonant drippings. Rich vegetation is represented by mosses and lichens, mushrooms, berries, herbs, various kinds of deciduous and coniferous trees. The fauna of the North is one of the most amazing. Here, there are some rare and valuable species of fish, birds, and fur-bearing animals. Ethnographic and ecological tourism are the main types of tourism in the region.

OPEN-AIR MUSEUM PUSTOZERSK One of the most important and attractive tourist destinations is the historical, cultural and landscape Open-Air Museum Pustozersk. Its territory is famous for a variety of landscapes: spruce-birch and birch forests, ďŹ&#x201A;ooded meadows, drift sands and marshes, willow and dwarf birch thickets, rivers and lakes. The uniqueness of the Open-Air Museum Pustozersk may be found in a variety of its flora and fauna, combined with a rich historical past and a bunch of cultural heritage objects. Despite the harsh climate of the region, the Nenets Autonomous District may become one of the most interesting places for ecological and ethnotourism.

NOVGO RO D RE G I O N

NOVGOROD TOTAL AREA –

54,501 KM2 POPULATION –

625,855 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

VELIKY NOVGOROD (POPULATION – 219,925 PEOPLE)

Novgorod Region, one of the oldest historical and cultural territories of Russia, has been recognised as the birthplace of Russian statehood. The region borders with Pskov, Leningrad, Tver and Vologda Regions. The modern territory of the region is situated in the northwest of the Russian (East European) Plain, within Priilmenskaya Lowland and the northern branches of the Valday Hills at the moderate latitudes of the northern hemisphere, within the forest zone. The climate is moderate continental, close to the maritime one. The administrative centre of the region is Veliky Novgorod, one of the oldest cities in Russia, which in 2014 will celebrate the 1155th anniversary. Veliky Novgorod is called the Father of Russian Cities.

Lives of many famous Russians are referred to Novgorod land. A poet Gavriil Derzhavin used to live in the estate Zvanka of Novgorod Governorate; Fyodor Dostoyevsky worked in Staraya Russa; a genius pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninov, who mentioned Veliky Novgorod as his small homeland and the source of creative inspiration, was born in Novgorod Region.

NO VGO R OD R E GI O N

REGION Dear friends! Novgorod land with its vast historical heritage has a special place in our country. ‘At the dawn of Russian history, we are obliged to Novgorod people that we are as we are – Russians,’ academician Dmitry Likhachov said. When coming here, every Russian feels that he or she has returned home, because this place is really our common home – Motherland of Russia. In 862, an agreement of Ugro-Finnic and Slavic tribes with the Varangian prince Rurik laid the first stone in the foundation of the future Russian state. Three more centuries later, the first Russian republic bearing the proud name of Novgorod the Great was established in the vast territory from the Baltic Sea to the Urals. And in 1478, after the Novgorod lands were annexed to the Principality of Moscow, a new state emerged on the map of Europe – Russia. The Novgorod Veche Republic which embodied the national forms of self government and representative democracy can be rightfully considered the antecedent of a modern civil society in Russia. Today, the Novgorod Region is one of the most dynamically developing regions of Russia. We have an advantageous geographical position and high investment potential. The volume of investment in fixed assets in the region in 2012 was almost 45 billion roubles. According to preliminary estimates, in 2013, the region’s economy received more than 50 billion roubles of investment. There are places to invest capital profitably and reliably in the Novgorod Region. These are serious business projects in the industry, construction and agriculture. Today, the Novgorod Region has a great potential for the development of tourism. 4,845 cultural heritage sites are located in the region. 37 unique monuments and ensembles were included in the UNESCO Heritage List. More than 200,000 tourists come to our place every year. We are happy to host visitors from all over Russia and any country in the ancient Novgorod land. We have something to show and to be proud of!

S. Mitin, Governor of Novgorod Region

Thanks to the convenient geographical situation of the region, it has a good communication with Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are electriﬁed railways, as well as a highway between St. Petersburg and Moscow along its territory. The highway Scandinavia – Centre lays across the territory of the region. The main directions of cargo ﬂows are Finland, Germany, Sweden.

Novgorod Region has a rich historical past and a unique cultural heritage. The most valuable historic and cultural monuments are concentrated in Veliky Novgorod and its surroundings. In 1992 as per the decision of the UNESCO Conference, 37 Novgorod architectural monuments were inscribed on the List of World Cultural Heritage.

NOVGOROD REGION

MAIN TRADE ROUTE For several centuries the Novgorod Region served as a link between Medieval Europe, and Russia. Hanseatic merchants did a brisk trade in Veliky Novgorod, since our goods were highly rated in Europe. Now the region is one of the largest industrial and tour-

ist centres in northwest Russia. There are modern enterprises of such well known companies as Cadbury, IKEA, Ursa and Akron. Over the last years the region industry development has been progressing beyond the average performance. Thus, according to the index of industrial production for 10 month of 2013 the region ranked 27th in Russia and 1st in the Northwest Federal District. Nowadays the main trade routes are still crossing the Novgorod Region. Here, roads and interchanges are being renovated and constructed. A new

bridge will be built across the Volkhov River in 2015 which will become a part of the highway Veliky Novgorod – Luga with a way to Moscow. It is expected to spend 18 billion roubles for the execution of bridge, overpasses, new highway and necessary infrastructure. Novgorod has become closer to Moscow and St. Petersburg since January 2013. The enhanced comfort high-speed electric train Lastochka manufactured by Siemens, daily runs between the cities. Now, the ancient capital of Russia can be reached in 2.5 hours from St. Petersburg.

SPORT ACHIEVEMENTS In 2013, the torch relay for Sochi Winter Olympics passed through the Novgorod Region. Nina Trofimova, Olympic rowing champion, took part in the abovementioned relay race. She is the prize winner of the Olympic Games which took place in 1976 in Montreal, and in 1980 in Moscow. Now Nina Trofimova trains young rowers at the sports school in Veliky Novgorod. Different types of sports are being developed in the region. There is a recently opened multifunctional sports complex in Veliky Novgorod, as well as a centre with a universal game room in Staraya Russa and a sports complex with artificial ice in Valdai. The centre of canoe slalom is under construction in Okulovka. Nowadays Novgorod Region is hosting international competitions. For example, one of the World Cup final laps in acrobatics was held here, and 280 sportsmen from 10 countries participated in it. In July 2013, the 4th World Cup series in roller skiing took place in the centre of Veliky Novgorod. More than 100 sportsmen from 12 countries took part in competitions.

NO VGO R OD R E GI O N

STUDYING THE HISTORY Yaroslav Day is a day of enlightenment, science and education; it is annually celebrated in Novgorod Region. Celebrations are held at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University. In 2013, this higher education institution of the region celebrated its 20th anniversary. University staff and students annually receive more than 20 patents, produce 40 monographs and publish more than 400 scientific articles. There are industrial parks created in Novgorod Region, as well as development plan approved for innovative industrial centres and business parks. The archaeologists are actively engaged in researches and applied developments in the region. Large-scale excavations are carried out in the monasteries and the ancient kremlin’s territory. Artefacts found in Veliky Novgorod, are considered famous European cultural and scientific phenomenon due to the excellent condition of the discovered archaeological buildings and objects, as well as due to the role played by the city in Medieval Europe. Novgorod’s geographical location – between north, south, east and west of Europe – laid the foundation of unique material and spiritual culture of the region.

TO THE MUSIC OF RACHMANINOV The famous countryman, composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninov, is especially revered in Novgorod Region. There is a music school and a festival named in his honour, as well as a monument recently placed in the park of Veliky Novgorod, which immediately became its landmark. The 140th Rachmaninov birth anniversary was celebrated in 2013 in Novgorod Region. Concerts, musical gatherings and a contest of young performers were held in the regional cities. Novgorod Region is famous for traditional folklore festivals. The 37th folk festival was conducted at Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture in 2013. The groups and masters from Russia, music and dance ensembles from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico, Poland, Finland, Ukraine and Estonia participated in it.

NOVGOROD REGION

TRUE RUS In June 2009 the international cultural and economic forum XXIX Hanseatic Days of the New Era took place in Veliky Novgorod. To fountain was installed in the city in order to celebrate the holiday. It has a form of a granite circle symbolising a negotiating table. The images of 16 state coat of arms encrusted with coloured mosaic, are placed around its perimeter: all these states are members of the Hanseatic Union of the New Era. This fountain has become a symbol of Veliky Novgorod which welcomes visitors from around the world. More than 200 thousands of tourists and 820 thousands of excursionists visit the region every year, thus, Novgorod Region is considered one among three most popular places to travel and rest in northwest Russia. According to the data provided by the Regional Goverment, tourists ﬂow is annually increasing by 15–20%. The region has a developed hotel business; there is a four stars hotel in Veliky Novgorod. Tourists from Moscow and St. Petersburg can visit Novgorod and spend a few hours on sightseeing the ancient capital of Russia. Historical Kremlin, or Citadel, as it was once called, was founded by Prince Yaroslav. It served as an administrative, social and religious centre of Novgorod. The public assembly and governor’s elections used to be held here; it is a place from where Alexander Nevsky’s armed forces went to the battle. Nowadays the Kremlin is a cultural and tourist centre. The main expositions of the Novgorod State Museum Preserve can be found here. A monument, commemorating the millennium of the Russian state, was unveiled in the centre of the Kremlin in 1862. The country’s centuries-old history is represented by the main events and persons. The monument is crowned with a sculptural group – an angel with a cross and a female ﬁgure personifying Russia, who bowed her knees before the angel.

VALDAY GIFT Valdai occupies a special place in the map of Novgorod Region. The unique Russian Bell Museum is located in the church Named after Martyr Catherine. There is a Valdaysky National Park established within the region. It was created in order to preserve the unique lake-forest complex of Valday Hills. It has all necessary conditions for ecotourism lovers. The park is 105 km long from north to south, and 45 km long from west to east. An amazing landscape is found here due to such scenic lakes as Borovno, Valday, Velie and Seliger. In 1994, the Valdaysky National Park became one of the National Parks of European Federation. It was also given the status of a high international biosphere reserve in 2004 within the framework of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme.

NO VGO R OD R E GI O N

THE RUSSIAN TROY The main sights of the Region are gathered in its main city Veliky Novgorod. Yaroslav’s Court is probably the only place in Russia where seven multi-style temples are located in a small area. According to historical records, one of the churches, precisely St. Nicholas Cathedral, was established by the ﬁrst Russian architect named Pyotr. Walking along the picturesque Ilina street, you can see the Church of the Transﬁguration with stunning frescoes of the famous Byzantine painter Theophanes the Greek. St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest stone church in Russia, is situated in

Veliky Novgorod, and it was erected in the Kremlin in 1045–50. It had a city treasury, as well as an ancient library. Nowadays the cathedral possesses the unique frescoes of XI–XII centuries, iconostasis of XV–XVII centuries and the miraculous icon of Our Lady of the Sign considered as a Russian national relic. A unique building, Hall of Facets or Tsarina’s golden chamber, has been recently restored. It is the ﬁrst Russian facility in the Gothic style. The residence of the Archbishop of Novgorod is found near the chamber walls of the Kremlin;

it is famous for challenging water and sewer system comparable to the modern achievements of engineering. You can touch the frozen history and ﬁnd yourself at the centre of past events inside the complex Theatre of Time: Troy Excavation, which historians justly call Russian Troy.

WELCOME! Novgorod Region is the origin of kvass. It is produced in an industrial way. Local plant produces several varieties of traditional Russian drink. Famous bread kvass is offered to try in cafes and bars. The Veliky Novgorod’s restaurants serve a drink made in their own recipe – with horseradish and spices. Local restaurants offer the variety of Russian cuisine. Experts recommend to try porridges, cabbage soup, roast suckling pig, pickled mushrooms and sbiten.

PSKO V REGIO N

PSKOV

Dear friends! Geographical location of Pskov Region, its rich historical and cultural heritage and abundant natural resources provide opportunities for implementation of investment projects in many sectors of the economy. Apart from the existing region advantages, we acquired an additional privilege in July 2012 which is the decision to establish a special economic zone of production and industrial type Moglino in Pskov Region. The corresponding decree was signed by the Head of the Government of RF on July 19, 2012. Agriculture is rapidly growing in Pskov Region: the largest in the North-West pig-breeding complex and fodder plant construction project is under development, as well as dairy farming and fish farming projects are being implemented. The Pskovsky tourism and recreation cluster has been designed in order to improve the region’s competitiveness in the tourism market. The project is included in a federal target programme “Development of Domestic Tourism in the Russian Federation (2011-2018)”. Pskov Agency for Regional Development operates in Pskov Region the main task of which is to contribute to investment processes and infrastructure development within the region. The Agency collaborates with entrepreneurs and potential investors. Projects progress tracking is carried out which is intended to help an investor overcome bureaucratic barriers and land issues, as well as provide consulting support in the field of regional and federal legislation. I am convinced that the provided information about Pskov Region would interest potential investors and contribute to new projects within the region.

A. Turchak, Governor of Pskov Region

Pskov Region is a land with an amazing history. Its capital city is the ancient city of Pskov, situated on the Velikaya River. This land has always been boundary region. Over the course of history its inhabitants were participants and witnesses of heroic battles, they guarded the frontiers of the country and were engaged in trade aﬀairs. The ﬁrst mention of Pskov refers to 903, when to the Prince of Kiev Igora bride “named Olga” was brought from this place. Pskov Region is situated in the northwest of the Russian Plain. The Region has well-established relations with the neighbour countries: Belarus, Latvia and Estonia, so it is considered to be the gateway to Europe.

P S KO V R E GI ON

REGION TOTAL AREA –

55,399 KM2 POPULATION –

661,507 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

PSKOV (POPULATION – 206,154 PEOPLE)

Pskov Region has a unique geopolitical position. It borders with Leningrad, Novgorod, Tver and Smolensk Regions, as well as with Estonia, Latvia and Belarus. Large border crossings and customs terminals operate here. Length of Region territory from north to south is 380 km, from west to east 260 km. The region is adorned with the necklace of ancient culture sites: Pskov, Izborsk, ensemble of the PskovoPechersky Dormition Monastery. The city of Velikie Luki celebrates its 850th anniversary in 2016. As the

historian Nikolai Karamzin wrote about Velikie Luki: “It’s a rich trading ancient key centre of the southern possessions”. In the parents’ estate of Mikhailovskoe, situated in Pskov Region, great writer Pushkin lived and worked for several years. In the 19th century the picturesque lands of Pskov Region were built-up with noble estates. Vasiliy Tatishchev, Sofia Kovalevskaya, the composers Modest Musorgsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and poet Alexander Blok lived here.

P S KO V R E G I O N

SIDE BY SIDE WITH EUROPE There is the majestic monument to Alexander Nevskiy at the stone throw of Pskov. In 1242, together with his troop Alexander Nevskiy won a battle with the Teutonic Knights. As the legend tells the battle took place in April and thin ice of Lake Peipus did not resisted warriors, worn heavy armour. This is how the very nature helped the defenders of the Rus. Lakes are the unique pride and treasure of Pskov Region. The fishery and industry are developed here. Lots of tourist complexes are built along the shores. More than 3,700 lakes are situated in the krai territory. The largest of which is Lake Peipus. Its area is 3,521 sq. km. Over 30 rivers and streams run into this lake. The Narva River takes its beginning from here. The cross-border location of Pskov always encouraged the development of foreign trade. Despite the constant military clashes, the Pskovians successfully traded with Narva, Riga, Dorpat, Polotsk and cities of the Hanseatic League. But it took almost another 100 years before Pskov in 1348 gained its independence after signing of the Treaty of Bolotovo. The Pskov Veche Republic flourished until 1510. The region experienced several revolutions, wars, territorial disputes. Now Pskov Region, as in previous years, attracts the attention of business people. The region is one of the richest peat lands in European Russia. Peat fund of the Region includes more than 300 fields with reserves of 563.5 mln. tons of peat. Mechanical engineering, in particular, the electrical industry holds the leading position in the local economy. The region accounts for a quarter of low power electric motors manufacturing in the country. Until nowadays the stone fortresses in Pskov, Izborsk, Porkhov, Pechory are the witnesses of fame, wealth, greatness and spiritual strength of the krai. Tourists willingly visit the Region to see the frescoes of Mirozhsky and Snetogorsk Monasteries, the Dormition Church in Melyotovo. There are large reserve museums in the region: Pskov State United Historical, Architectural and Fine Arts Museum-Reserve “Pogankin Chambers”, Izborsk State Historical Architectural and Nature Museum, Mikhailovskoye Pushkin State Museum-Reserve.

INFLUENCE OF PUSHKIN’S HERITAGE In 2013, Pskov Region Universal Scientific Library celebrated its 180th anniversary. These days the solemn meeting took place. On the basis of library the regional centre of B. Yeltsin Presidential Library was opened. Pskov Region is one of the regions in the Northwestern Federal District with the largest number of readers. The heritage of the Russian literature classics is studied here. The scientific and practical international conferences and symposia, lecture series take place in Mikhailovskoye Pushkin State Museum-Reserve. Recently the University was opened in the Region. In 2011, by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation five federal educational institutions were associated. Now the students study in the Pskov State University.

P S KO V R E GI ON

SKI TRACK OF RUSSIA Every year the residents of Pskov Region participate in the traditional festival of winter sports “Ski Track of Russia”. The approach to the cross-country ski in the region is a professional one. The national team member Mikhail Devyatyarov studied in Velikie Luki State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports. The Russian skier is the World Champion of 2005, winner of the Cup of Russia in 2006. In 2010, Mikhail Devyatyarov participated in the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The region was also gloriﬁed by the skier Mikhail Ivanov, champion of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in the race for 50 km.

The target programme for the development of sport is adopted in Pskov Region. In particular, by the end of 2015 it is planned to increase the share of the region population, actively engaged in physical activities, to 20%. It is planned to build at least 16 new sports facilities. By 2015, it is decided to increase the number of medals won by the athletes of region in basic sports at the Russian and oﬃcial international championships and competitions to 40. The national teams should include at least 30 persons, representing Pskov Region. For these purposes the authorities of Pskov Region are ready to spend more than a billion roubles.

MASLENITSA CELEBRATION Pskov Region is the main stage for Maslenitsa, which is a folk festival of farewell to winter. The all-Russian festival is held annually in early March. At this time there are bright fairs on the streets and squares of Pskov with pancakes cooking, fish, caviar, kvass and mead served. The creative collectives from Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine and Estonia make performance in the Philharmonic Hall. The festive cavalcade of Maslenitsa corteges march on the main street of Pskov. Celebration takes place in Velikie Luki as well, but Pskov hold the right to be called the capital of the Russian holiday. Traditionally, Maslenitsa ends with the burning of Winter effigy and colourful fireworks.

P S KO V R E G I O N

MIRACLE AT LAKE PEIPSI Pskov Region is visited by tourists from 65 countries. People from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Finland, Germany and Sweden are more likely to come to the Region. In 2013, Pskov Region was visited by more than 350,000. travellers. Tourism is a part of the regional economy. Cultural and educational tourism is the most popular one, therapeutic and recreation tourism is actively developing as well. In 2005, the four-star hotel offering spa services was opened in Pskov. The emergence of new hotels and recreation centres not only greatly improved the quality of services provided, but also influenced the development of business and convention tourism. The country hotel Pleskov, country recreation centre Lukomorye and cottage complex Chud Farmstead are particularly popular in Pskov Region. There are 3 state museums and 8 museum branches, 16 municipal museums, 5 educational institutions preparing specialists in the sphere of tourism in the territory of region. The region has more than 370 monuments of federal significance. The event tourism is actively developing in Pskov Region. Each year the festival All-Russian Maslenitsa is held, and the festival of small towns Gardarika takes place in May. In Velikie Luki the guests can feel themselves as the witnesses of the Battle on the Ice and participants of the annual festival of historical reconstruction of the early Middle Ages called Helga. The meetings of balloonists and traditional festival of balloon travellers are organised in Velikie Luki.

BLACKSMITHING Pskov land was always famous for its blacksmiths. It even used to be called the blacksmithing capital of Russia. Every year the festival Day of Hardwareman is organised. Traditionally the protagonists of the holiday are blacksmiths. On this day the blacksmiths open their craft secrets to guests, participate in the competition of professional artists by forging sophisticated iron sculptures and bouquets. You can look at the unusual things here, as well as participate in master classes and enjoy the atmosphere of celebration. The stuntriding shows and competitions in weightlifting are organised during the feast. The athletes demonstrate iron grip and limitless human capabilities. The annual festival Day of Hardwareman won the Russian Event Award and became one of the favourite holidays of Pskov.

P S KO V R E GI ON

PILGRIMAGE IN PECHORY The ethnic minority Setu inhabit in Pechory district and Izborsk land. Here the folk crafts are revived and folk festivals take place. The Setu State Museum, which is unique in the territory of the Russian Federation, is opened in the village of Sigovo. It is situated in 14 km from Izborsk in the remained traditional manor of the late 19th – early 20th centuries. Not far from Museum is situated Malsky Monastery, which is another cultural and religious centre of the Setu people. The pilgrimage tours are very popular in Pskov Region. One of the most visited places is Pskov Caves Farmstead. Holy Dormition Pskov-Caves Monastery is one of the largest in Russia. Since its emergence in the late 15th century, it has never been closed. The founder of the Monastery was the Reverend Jonah. When choosing this picturesque place for prayer retreat, he built a small cave church in the mountain, which was consecrated in the name of Assumption in 1473. Since then, the Monastery is famous for its caves, which became an underground necropolis. Currently, the Monastery includes 11 churches, three of which are the cave churches. The heart of the convent is Assumption Cathedral, the ﬁrst monastery church, located in the cave and consecrated in 1473. This is one of the oldest monastic buildings in Russia. Every year on August 28 the main monastery holiday, the Assumption Day, is celebrated in Pechory. At this time the pilgrims come here from around the world, communion and sacred procession take place.

TASTY FISH BROTH As in all border regions in Pskov Region different traditions are organically combined. Here people like the European, Latgale, Estonian and Russian cuisine. But the preference is still given to the latter one. Guests are served with sour cabbage soup, pancakes, famous honey of Pskov. Smelt fish is served as a snack. This small lake fish is dried and offered for beer. Very tasty fish broth is also cooked with smelt.

R EPU BL IC O F K A R E L I A

REPUBLIC TOTAL AREA –

180,520 KM2 POPULATION –

636,932 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

PETROZAVODSK (POPULATION – 268,946 PEOPLE)

History of Karelia has its roots in the days of the melting of ice masses – in 7000–6000 BC. It was the time when ﬁrst settlements appeared in the territory of modern Karelia. The Republic is located in the northwest of Russia. Karelia is bounded by the White Sea on the east, and borders with Finland on the west.

Karelia has mild winters and short summers. Because of frequent cyclones weather is unsteady in the Republic: in winter, it features sustained thaw with heavy snowfalls shifting to cold snap, in summer temperature drops are also possible. The whole territory of the region is covered by a web of rivers and lakes. Most part of the Karelia is a pine-dominated forest area, often waterlogged. The Republic has a well-developed industrial base: metallurgy, mining and woodworking are predominant industries. Such industries are based on local natural resources.

R E P UBL I C OF KA R E L I A

OF KARELIA Dear participants, Games Makers and guests of the XXII Olympic Winter Games! On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Karelia, I would like to welcome you to the grand sports celebration in Sochi! The Olympic brotherhood has no limits or barriers, the Olympic movement knows no boundaries or distances – it unites athletes and spectators around the world. Unity of nations, brilliant victories, excitement of fair competition, demonstration of unlimited possibilities of human being – this is the Olympics. And we are all proud and excited to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games in our country. Karelia is a part of Russia. Our region fascinates with its amazing nature – endless forests, clear lakes, mysterious petroglyphs, white nights, the real gems of the North – Kizhi and Valaam. Karelia is often referred to as the northern fairy tale. The Republic is famous for its national traditions, rich history and culture. And, of course, Karelia is a sporting region, where various competitions are held, where many Olympic champions were raised, where people love sports. We will be happy with the whole world to support the Olympiс athletes, rejoice over new sports records and achievements, and enjoy the power of spirit and athlete skills. We are certain that the Sochi Games will be held in an atmosphere of good will, consensus and mutual respect. We wish all athletes to show the best results, excel themselves, and be swifter, higher, stronger. We wish all Games Makers and guests of the Sochi Olympics the holiday spirit, unforgettable impressions and bright emotions. And let each of us proudly say, ‘These are my Olympics!’

A. Khudilainen, Head of the Government of Republic of Karelia

REP U B L I C O F K A R E L I A

RESERVE REGION Karelia is a real reserve with unique geological history. There is no such ratio of land and water anywhere else: for each Karelian family consisting of three generations, there is one lake. Kuzova Islands are situated on the sea route from the port of Kem to Solovetsky Islands. This unique natural phenomenon includes 16 uninhabited islands. Nemetsky Kuzov (140 m) and Russky Kuzov (123 m) are the highest points of the archipelago. Each of the 16 islands is unique in beauty and landscape. Climatic conditions of the region are not very beneficial to agricultural production: the share of cultivated land is only 1.2% of the total area, so agriculture is represented by such sectors as livestock farming, trout breeding, poultry industry, animal breeding, and crop farming. Also, fishing is developed.

KARELIAN SKI TRAILS Most wins of Karelian athletes were in ski sports which are very popular in the forest region. Cross-country skier Fyodor Terentyev was the ďŹ rst Karelian champion. Also, the region is gloriďŹ ed by Yuri Kalinin, a strong ski jumper, Valery Postoyanov, the world champion in shooting, and Evgenia Medvedeva, a famos skier and Olimpic champion. Today, all necessary conditions for international competitions are provided in Karelia. In 2014, several sports centres are planned to be built in the Republic of Karelia. Life in Karelia is full of sporting events: during the year, more than 200 events are held, half of which have the republican status. 13,000 people attended events associated with the Ski Track of Russia competitions, and more than 10,000 people took part in the Cross of the Nation.

R E P UBL I C OF KA R E L I A

NATURE RESEARCH Republic of Karelia has its scientific potential which is represented by academic sector of science – Karelian Research Centre (KRC RAS), and by higher education institution – Petrozavodsk State University (PSU). KRC RAS is Regional Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Its main advantage is that 7 diverse scientific institutions are combined under its roof. Schools of thought in telmatology, plant ecological physiology, animal ecology, biochemistry, dendrology, and Precambrian geology were formed in the Centre. These research schools in KRC RAS provide for postgraduate study in which more than 60 young professionals – the talent pool of the Karelian science – are trained every year. KRC RAS researchers conduct studies on more than 300 scientific topics each year. Achievements of recent years include shungite nanodesign technology with the creation of new generations of materials, production technology for especially pure quartz varieties, technology for clonal micro-propagation of plants with desired characteristics, weather forecast technology, technologies of application of carbon nanostructures in medicine as anti– and pro-oxidants and immunostimulative agents. KRC RAS researchers work on more than 20 science and application topics every year in republican research and technology programmees.

MUSICAL KARELIA Petrozavodsk is the cultural centre of Karelia. It is a city with a high concentration of cultural institutions: theatres, libraries, museums, educational institutions. National Museum of the Republic of Karelia, and the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia are of particular importance for the region. Residents and guests of the region enjoy visiting Musical Theatre of the Republic of Karelia, Drama Theatre of the Republic of Karelia, National Theatre of the Republic of Karelia and Puppet Theatre of the Republic of Karelia. Many local on-stage performance groups have won affection: Symphony Orchestra of the Karelian State Philharmonic, Onego Russian Folk Orchestra, Kantele Karelian National Song and Dance Ensemble. Petrozavodsk provides full music education services, including children’s music schools, Music College named after C.E. Rautio, and A. Glazunov Petrozavodsk State Conservatory. Three awards in the field of culture, art and literature have been established in Karelia. Titles of honour are awarded on a competitive basis every two years.

REP U B L I C O F K A R E L I A

NATURAL GIFTS Different types of tourism are popular in the Republic of Karelia. Guests come to the region for the purposes of hunting and fishing, recreation in cottages and holiday centres, treatment in health resorts, rafting and kayaking. There is room for those who enjoy outdoor activities and for connoisseurs of art: more than four thousand cultural, historical and natural monuments and sites are registered with government. The Republic has unique architectural and cultural and historical sites on Kizhi Island, and Valaam Island. They were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are national treasures of Russia. The Russia’s largest Onega Regatta – the most respectable sailing championship is held every year on Lake Onega in the end of July. The Europe’s largest plain waterfall Kivach is 100 kilometres from Petrozavodsk, on the Suna River. The first Russian spa resort Marcial Waters founded 280 years ago by Peter I is just fifty kilometres from Petrozavodsk. Routes “Kizhi Necklace“» – on Zaonezhie Peninsula, “Valaam – the pearl of Lake Ladoga“ – on Valaam Islands, and journeys to Besovy Sledki where the White Sea petroglyphs can be seen are very popular among tourists. In recent years, exciting ecological routes have been opened, tours in Vodlozersky National Park and Paanajärvi National Park, and in Kostomuksha Nature Reserve are provided. A route from the city of Kem to the Solovetsky Islands is operating. Routes on the Karelian rivers – Shuya, Chirka-Kemi, Onda, Vodla, Keret and Okhta are also very popular tourist destinations.

R E P UBL I C OF KA R E L I A

KALITKI Fish is the predominant ingredient in the Karelian cuisine. Karelian national menu always includes kalaruokka, a fish soup. Its recipes may vary, but most typically, it is a dish of whitefish. In most cases, barley or rye flour is used. The Karelians often use mushrooms and wild berries in their cuisine. One of the most common national dishes is kalitki, small unleavened rye pasties baked with different filling.

KOM I REP U BL I C

KOMI TOTAL AREA –

416,774 KM2 POPULATION –

880,639 PEOPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

SYKTYVKAR (POPULATION – 240,111 PEOPLE)

The process of settlement of the Komi Republic began since before Christ. Archaeologists have found up to 89 sites of primitive people. Because of the harsh climate and the lack of year-round communication routes these lands long remained sparsely populated. The most important goods exported by the region were furs. Ukhta began to develop actively after coal reserves were found there. Most part of the territory is occupied by tundra, pristine rivers, marshes and forests. Wilds of this kind cannot be found anywhere else. Reindeer husbandry is welldeveloped in Komi. One third of the total number of reindeer in European North is in Komi.

Dominant industries include power engineering, fuel industry, forestry, pulp and paper industry, and woodworking. Fuel energy plants produce about 70 % of the products; 12.3 % falls on the coal industry, about 40% – on oil producing and refining industries.

KO M I R E P UBL I C

REPUBLIC Dear friends! Let me greet you on behalf of all citizens of the Komi Republic and congratulations on a remarkable event – the XXII Olympic Winter Game in Sochi! Komi is a dynamically developing industrial northern region of Russia, which has always had special relations with physical fitness and sports. In the north, survival without a good physical health and strong spirit would not be possible. The Republic has always been renowned for the people, workers, and of course, athletes. Famous Olympiс skiers Raisa Smetanina, Vasily Rochev and Nikolay Bazhukov are still in the ranks and prepare a new generation of athletes. The 2013 pre-Olympic year was declared the Year of Physical Fitness and Sports in the Republic. The Olympic Torch Relay and the work of the House of the Russian Olympic Team were outstanding and memorable events of this year. These events aroused great interest: over 90,000 people took part in them. But the main task we set for ourselves was to increase the number of people engaged in sports and living a healthy lifestyle. To do this, we set our hands to develop sports infrastructure actively. In this regard, a special emphasis was made on development of rural localities, so that residents of the Republic could have equal access to physical exercises. By two indicators – the number of residents actively engaged in sports and the level of sports infrastructure development – the Republic holds first positions in the Northwest and leading positions in general in Russia. We won the All-Russian competition for the best organisation of sports activities in our Group. And this is a significant, tangible and concrete result of the Year of Sports. From 2010 to 2013, a total of 35 sports facilities, including 2 multi-purpose sports centres, swimming pool, 12 skiing lodges, 7 multi-purpose athletic grounds, 3 indoor rinks were built (including facilities to be built by the end of 2013). But, in 2013, the Year of Physical Fitness and Sports will not end. Focus on health improvement cannot be temporary. And that high bar to promote the sport and solve the widespread problems in the development of sports infrastructure, which was set this year will remain for future years. To hold that bar is a goal I set for the Government of the Komi Republic. We will continue to invest in the development of sport, with particular emphasis on popular and children’s sports. Healthy future of the Republic, new records, and therefore new awards in the collection of the region and the country all this depends on the rising generation. In these remarkable days of the Olympics, I wish everyone good health, happiness, great mood, brilliant victories and lively impressions, and further success in sports and work!

V. Gayzer, Head of the Komi Republic

KO M I R E P U B L I C

OLYMPIC EXPANSES Komi has one of the best ski resorts in Russia. Every winter for more than 30 years it has been receiving visitors from 43 members of the Russian Federation, CIS countries and outside the CIS. Every year, specialists prepare more than 100 km of different courses. In summer, the resort is not vacant at all: there is a children’s recreation camp for training and sports activities and recreation Olympian, which accommodates more than 200 young skiers of the Republic; also, roller ski trail and simulators for the overall complex of physical exercises are available. Sporting competitions of various levels are regularly held in Syktyvkar and other cities of the Republic: Championships and National Cups, Ski World Cup races, and bandy tournaments. Master teams of the Republic participate in the open national championships in bandy, ice hockey, basketball and football. Many athletes have achieved significant results. Olympiс champions in ski racing Raisa Smetanina, Nikolay Bazhukov and Vasily Rochev Sr. from Syktyvkar are prominent athletes. Also, Olympic participant Marina Pylaeva (short track), multiple world champion in powerlifting Viktor Furazhkin, European champion in swimming Arkady Vyatchanin and other athletes are known in the country and abroad. The 2013 pre-Olympic year was declared the Year of Physical Fitness and Sports in the Republic. The Olympic Torch Relay and the work of the House of the Russian Olympic Team were outstanding and memorable events of the year. The events aroused great interest – over 90,000 people took part in them.

NATURE’S STOREHOUSE Komi is often called nature’s storehouse. Unique stocks of the region, the mode of occurrence, diversity and quality of mineral resources make the Republic unique. Depths of the earth contain coal, oil and gas, bauxites and titanium ore, salt, gold, diamonds, nonferrous metal ores and rare metal ores, fluorite, oil shale and building materials. Komi potential is in fuel and energy raw materials. The country also has large reserves of natural gas, gas condensate, bitumen, oil, peat and timber. Ore minerals are diverse in composition. They are found in the Polar Urals, Nether-Polar Urals, and Middle and South Timan. Currently, the Republic has identified, explored and evaluated deposits of ferrous, nonferrous, rare, precious metals, and diamonds.

KO M I R E P UBL I C

SCIENCE AND EDUCATION Academic research is done in Komi. Pechora Brigade of Polar Commission of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was sent to the Republic as early as in 1933. Now, Komi Republic is a research centre of Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Key research areas are related to research in local geology of combustible, metallic and nonmetallic minerals, human and animal ecological physiology in the North, biodiversity issues, biology and ecology of populations. The research centre includes seven institutes for: biology, geology, language, literature and history, physiology, chemistry, social and economic and energy problems of the North, as well as Vylgortskaya experimental biological research station. System of higher education began working in 1932 as the State Pedagogical Institute was opened. In 1967, Ukhta Industrial Institute, now Ukhta State Technical University, was organised. In 1972, Syktyvkar State University opened its doors for students. Komi higher education institutions include Branch of St. Petersburg Mining Academy, Syktyvkar Forest Institute, Public Administration Academy, Syktyvkar Branch of Kirov State Medical Academy. The Republic has over 540 schools, more than 20 colleges and specialised secondary school (including branches), and more than 30 trade schools. Also, Komi has its outstanding, world wide known scientists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; writer and lexicographer Kallistrat Zhakov, sociologist Pitirim Sorokin, and geologist Alexander Chernov.

THEATRE SQUARE Komi system of museums includes more than 90 museums and museum branches. National Museum of the Komi Republic is the biggest museum with resource centre functions. It has departments of nature, history, ethnography, and literature memorial museum named after I.A. Kuratov. The main Republican museum holds works of Russian and foreign masters. More than 5,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures and applied art objects are exhibited in the museum. The Republic has five professional theatres. The oldest theatre is State Academic Drama Theatre named after V. Savin which was founded in October 1930. In Syktyvkar is the State Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Komi Republic. Vorkuta has a theatre for the smallest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Komi Republican State Puppet Theatre, performing on tours all over the Republic.

KO M I R E P U B L I C

PECULIARITIES OF THE NATIONAL TOURISM Komi land has always been famous for its hospitality. Guest houses welcome tourists every year. Most of them are in Izhemsky and Udorsky Districts. Hospitable hosts will always welcome you there to tell about the history and culture of the region, give master classes in weaving, braiding birch bark, and making souvenirs. In the Komi Republic, mountainous regions are of greatest interest for tourists: the Polar Urals, NetherPolar Urals and Northern Urals. Hiking trails, ecotrails, ski trails, and resort and ski facilities are developed in the mountains. Travellers often visit villages where

wooden architecture still exists. Tourists can be seen in Ust-Vym village, settlements of Sizyabsk, Vazhgort, Koni, Otla, Krivoye. Folk traditions are valued in the Pechora village of Ust-Tsilma, where for nearly 500 years, Gorka ritual feast is held every year. Not far behind in popularity is Lud annual folk festival in the village of Izhma. In Komi, there are about 70 thousand lakes and many full-flowing river rich in fish: salmon, whitefish, nelma, grayling, vendace, perch, etc., so fishermen and hunters from all over Russia often come to the Republic. Tourist infrastructure is well-developed in the region: 122 hospitality properties serve to accommodate travellers.

FOLK TOURISM To understand the unique character of the region, tourists should visit folk festival. For more than 500 years, every July 11th, people gather on the river bank after sunset to dance in circle. Researchers say that today’s Ust-Tsilma Gorka is the only circle dance festival. Particular attention should be paid to the reindeer holiday. Its main event is reindeer sled race. On this day, tourists can visit herders’ camp to try on national clothes and see a real chum. It is interesting to visit the world’s first elk farm where unique experiment in the elk domestication is carried out. This farm is over 60 years old, and adults and children come from all over the world to see the miracle – pet elks. Lovers of water travel can test themselves in the turbulent flows of such mountain rivers as Shchugor, Podcherye, and Kozhim. The Komi Republic, as northern region, has all the prerequisites for the development of winter sports and tourism. Many churches are in the region, with most known to be ancient churches in village of Yb, ensemble of UstVym village, a wooden bell tower in Moshyuga village. Cathedral of St. Stephen of Perm impresses with its grandeur even against the background of high-rise buildings.

KO M I R E P UBL I C

SEVEN WONDERS OF KOMI Komi Republic is famous for seven geological monuments which are inscribed in the List of Wonders of Russia. These are: Manpupuner stone pillars (Troitsko-Pechorsky District), Lekiz limestone rock formations (Ilych River, Troitsko-Pechorsky District), Bogatyr-Shchele (Bolshaya Synya River, Pechora), Shchugor River (Vuktyl), city of Inta, ancient vallage of Yb (Syktyvdinsky District), etc. Mountain lakes are one of the characteristic elements of landscape in the NetherPolar Urals. Most water bodies are located at 500 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1000 m above sea level. The most scenic glacial waters are elevated at 1000 m or more.

HUNTING SEASON For better understanding the Komi Republic, you should try national dishes of wild game, fish, venison, mushrooms and berries. In the north, frozen venison steak is most ordinary dish. Meat and fish dishes are served with such side dish as potatoes and various vegetables. Meat is often stewed in milk or cream sauce, or oil mixtures. Soups with meat, cabbage, potatoes, barley, fish, and mushrooms are the most popular entrees. For desserts, the Komi like to have thick jelly and fresh berries with sugar and milk.

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