Udmurtia

I

Introduction

Udmurtia (also Udmurt Republic), autonomous republic, central Russia, bordered on the north and west by Kirov Oblast (province), on the east by Perm Oblast, and on the south by the republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. Udmurtia has an area of 42,100 sq km (16,255 sq mi). Izhevsk is the capital.

II

Land and Resources

The landscape of much of northern and eastern Udmurtia is dominated by the foothills of the Ural Mountains. The republic lies on a hilly plain that descends from the Upper Kama Upland (elevations up to 330 m/1,083 ft) in the north to lower lands in the south and swampy lowlands in the west. The largest river is the Kama, the chief tributary of the Volga, which originates in the north-east of the republic. Other rivers are the Siva, Izh, Cheptsa, and Kilmez'. The climate is continental with average January temperatures ranging from -15.5° C (4.1° F) in the north to -14.2° C (6.44° F) in the south. In July, temperatures range on average from 17.5° C (63.5° F) in the north to 19° C (66° F) in the south. Precipitation varies from 400 to 600 mm (16 to 24 in) per year. More than 40 per cent of the republic is covered with forests of spruce, pine, birch, aspen, and lime.

III

Population

Udmurtia has a population of 1,616,200 (2002 estimate). The average population density is 37 people per sq km (97 per sq mi), and the republic is almost 70 per cent urban. Izhevsk has a population of 632,100 (2002). Russians make up 60 per cent of the population and indigenous Udmurts, 29 per cent; Tatars (7 per cent) are the largest minority group.

Udmurts, who call themselves Utmort or Ukmort, speak a language that belongs to the Permian branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. It has two major dialects and has used the Cyrillic alphabet since the late 18th century. Higher education institutions include the Udmurt State University, Izhevsk State Technical University, and Izhevsk State Medical Academy.

IV

Economy

Udmurtia is highly industrialized, with large numbers of factories located in the cities of Izhevsk, Sarapul, Votkinsk, and Glazov. Industry includes oil production, electrical power, locomotive and motorcycle manufacturing, and timber. The manufacture of small arms is a major activity in the capital, Izhevsk; among the city’s largest employers is a factory that produces Kalashnikov machine guns. Agriculture centres on meat production. The republic is connected by road, rail, pipeline, and air to the rest of the Russian Federation.