Bashkortostan

I

Introduction

Bashkortostan, also Bashkir Republic, autonomous republic, central Russia, located in the Volga economic region on the border between Europe and Asia, and extending west from the Southern Ural Mountains. Bashkortostan is bordered on the north-west by the republics of Tatarstan and Udmurtia, on the north-east by Perm Kray (territory), on the east by Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts (provinces), and on the south and west by Orenburg Oblast. The republic was previously known as Bashkirya. It has an area of 143,600 sq km (55,444 sq mi). Ufa is the capital and largest city.

II

Land and Resources

Bashkortostan has three main physiographic regions: hilly uplands in the west, the flood plain of the River Belaya in the centre, and the mountains of the Southern Urals in the east. The highest point is Mount Yamantau (1,638 m/5,374 ft). Four-fifths of the republic is in the Kama river basin; the Belaya, which flows into the Kama, is the principal river of Bashkortostan. In the east the republic is bordered by the Ural River. More than a third of the republic is forested. Designated conservation areas in Bashkortostan include the Bashkiria National Park (1986) and the Bashkirsky (1930) and Shulgan Tash (1986) nature reserves.

Bashkortostan has a continental climate. Temperatures average between -14º and -17.5º C (6.8º and 0.5º F) in January, and 16.5º and 20.5º C (61.7º and 68.9º F) in July.

III

Population

Bashkortostan has a population of about 4,090,600 (2002 estimate). The average population density of the region is 29 people per sq km (74 per sq mi). Almost two-thirds of the population is urbanized; about 25 per cent lives in Ufa (2004 estimate, 1,036,026). Other large cities are Sterlitamak (1997 estimate, 259,000) and Salavat (1995, 163,744). Russians are the largest ethnic group in the republic with about 36 per cent of the population, followed by the indigenous Bashkirs (30 per cent), and Tatars (24 per cent). Although no longer the predominant ethnic group, the Bashkirs continue to hold cultural and political privileges.

The Bashkir language is related to the Kipchak group of the western branch of the Turkic languages and is essentially the same language as that spoken by the Tatars (see Altaic Languages). Institutions of higher education include the Bashkir State University, Ufa State Aviation Technical University, Ufa State Petroleum Technical University, and Bashkir State Pedagogical Institute.

IV

Economy

Bashkortostan is rich in oil and gas, and also has a variety of other mineral deposits, including iron ore and gold. The main cities are industrial centres. The petrochemical industry is particularly important; other industries include engineering, glass and cement production, and timber-processing. Industrialization, particularly in Ufa, has led to considerable air pollution problems.

The central river plain is the focus of agriculture, although some 50 per cent of Bashkortostan's territory is suitable for farming. Wheat, barley, and oats are the main crops grown, and livestock is kept. The republic has relatively good communications. The Belaya and Ufa rivers are navigable, and Ufa has an airport.