Saratov region

The Saratov region is located in the southeast of the East European Plain as part of the Volga Federal District, surrounded by the Penza, Ulyanovsk, Tambov, Volgograd, Samara, Voronezh regions and Kazakhstan. 4 December 2016 year, transferring time one hour forward, the Saratov region changed the time zone.

The Volga River divides the region into two parts - the left-bank, low-lying and arid, and the right bank, elevated and possessing a less pronounced continental climate. 358 rivers flow through the territory - on the Left Bank the majority refers to the Volga basin (Eruslan, Irgiz, Karaman), and on the Right - to the Don (Khoper, Ilovlya, Medveditsa). Also, the region's water resources comprise a large number of lakes, reservoirs and underground waters.

The relief of the Saratov region is heterogeneous and consists of:

· Plains - Osko-Don and Syrtova;

· Elevations - Privolzhskaya (the highest part of which in the east is the Khvalyn Mountains) and the spurs of the General Syrt;

· The valleys of the Volga;

· Near the Caspian lowland.

Population and features of the province

The largest cities of the Saratov region include Saratov, Balakovo and Engels. 3 / 4 population of the region is the urban population and 1 / 4 - rural. Of the ethnic groups inhabiting the territory, Russians are the predominant part, and Ukrainians, Tatars, Kazakhs and other nationalities also live in the region. In Saratov in the Victory Park is the museum "National Village of the Peoples of the Saratov Region", where each nationality inhabiting the region has its own farmstead, the doors of which are hospitably flung open during the holidays. Visitors can get acquainted with folk culture and try national cuisine.

The Saratov region is rich in minerals: gas, mineral waters with a high content of hydrogen sulfide, oil, phosphorites, building materials (limestone, clay, chalk, marl, sand), combustible shales. The main industrial branches are:

· Light - production of knitwear (top and linen), cotton and raincoat fabrics;

· Chemical and petrochemical;

· Manufacturing of building materials;

· Machine building;

· Food - flour-grinding, meat and dairy and butter-fat industries.

Agriculture is represented by sheep breeding (meat, wool), cattle breeding (milk, meat), poultry farming and the production of grain crops.