Ulyanovsk Oblast

Ulyanovsk Oblast (Russian: Улья́новская о́бласть, Ulyanovskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It is located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Ulyanovsk. Population: 1,292,799 (2010 Census).

Geography

Ulyanovsk Oblast borders with the Chuvash Republic (N), the Republic of Tatarstan (NE), Samara Oblast (E), Saratov Oblast (S), Penza Oblast (W), and the Republic of Mordovia (NW).

It is located on the northern edge of Central Steppes. A quarter of its territory is covered with deciduous forests; the rest is covered with steppes and meadows. The oblast is divided in half by the Volga River. Hilly areas to the west of the Volga are known as Volga Upland (elevations up to 358 m (1,175 ft) ). Eastern part of the oblast is mostly flat. The water table occupies about 6% of territory.

Ulyanovsk Oblast has moderately continental, highly volatile climate. Temperature averages at +19 °C (66°F) in July, and −11 °C (12°F) in January. As weather systems move in and out of the area, average daily temperatures often change more than +25 °C (77°F) in the matter of days. Fixed snow cover is typically present from November to the beginning of April. Overnight frosts occur until late May, restricting agriculture to cold-resistant plants such as rye and winter wheat. Annual precipitation drops out 400 mm (16 inches) a year.

Ulyanovsk

Ulyanovsk (Russian: Улья́новск; IPA: [ʊˈlʲjanəfsk]) is a city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River 893 kilometers (555 mi) east of Moscow. Population: 613,786 (2010 Census); 635,947 (2002 Census); 625,155 (1989 Census).

The city, originally founded as Simbirsk (Симби́рск), is the birthplace of Alexander Kerensky and Vladimir Lenin (originally named Ulyanov), for whom it was renamed in 1924. It is also famous for its writers such as Ivan Goncharov, Nikolay Yazykov and Nikolay Karamzin and painters (Arkady Plastov and Nikas Safronov).

History

Simbirsk was founded in 1648 by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort of "Simbirsk" (alternatively "Sinbirsk") was strategically placed on a hill on the Western bank of the Volga River. The fort was meant to protect the eastern frontier of the Russian Empire from the nomadic tribes and to establish a permanent Imperial presence in the area.

In 1668, Simbirsk withstood a month-long siege by a 20,000-strong army led by rebel Cossack commander Stenka Razin. Also in Simbirsk another country rebel, Yemelyan Pugachev, was imprisoned before execution. At the time Simbirsk possessed a wooden kremlin, which was destroyed by a fire during the 18th century.