Geography. The region is located in the southeast of the East European Plain within the Peri-Caspian Lowland, in the middle latitudes, in the zone of deserts and semi-deserts used mostly as grazing lands. It borders the Republic of Kalmykia and the Volgograd Region and has a state border with Kazakhstan.
Climate. The climate is moderate, severely continental, with hot temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter.
Average temperature
- -5…-9°С in January
- +24-25°С in July
Population
Economy. Today, the Astrakhan Region’s economy is one of the most dynamic in the Southern Federal Region. The dominant industries are shipbuilding, light, food, mechanical engineering, and metalworking industries.
Logistics.
- Highways: the federal highway Р22 Caspian (Moscow –Kashira – Volgograd – Astrakhan), highway Р216 (Astrakhan –Elista–Svetlograd – Stavropol), highway Р215 (Astrakhan – Makhachkala), the international transport corridor (E40) Astrakhan –Atyrau (Kazakhstan))
- Two railway stations: Astrakhan – 1 station and the Verkhny Baskunchak station
- Astrakhan Airport is an international airport located 10 km north of the city center.
Tourist attractions
- Astrakhan Kremlin is an outstanding monument of Russian military engineering and architecture. There are 22 sites in the Kremlin. Many of them have preserved their original appearance. In the tourist season, visitors can familiarize themselves with the exhibitions of Artilleriyskaya (Pytochnaya) tower, Zhitnaya tower, and Krasnye Vorota tower. At any time of year, guests of the region can see the exhibitions of the Powder Magazine, the Guardroom, and the exhibition of the Tseykhgauz Museum and Exhibition Complex.
- Lake Baskunchak is a big salt pearl. This is the largest salt lake in Europe and Russia, a unique natural wonder, and a source of high-quality edible salt. It is located in the north of the Astrakhan Region, in the Akhtubinsk District, in the territory of the Bogdinsky-Baskunchaksky Reserve.
- Boris Kustodiev House Museum. Astrakhan is the motherland of the famous painter where he learned the ropes of painting. The museum opened in the house that belonged to his relatives he visited on a regular basis. The exhibition consists of the painter’s original paintings and sketches, his personal belongings, family photos and documents. Kustodiev’s workshop was recreated, although it was not in the house before. On the interactive screen, you can see the master’s works in various museums all over the world.
The capital is the city of Astrakhan, founded in 1558.
Population
It is an old city in the Volga Delta, an administrative, business, and cultural center in the Astrakhan Region. Astrakhan can be called the Volga Venice: it is situated on 11 islands connected by more than 50 bridges.
