Federation Council representatives: Bato-Zhargal Zhambalnimbuyev (2010 to 2013), Konstantin Surkov (2010 to 2013)
Population: 1,116,974
Area: 431,500 square km (166,559 sq. miles)
Capital: Chita (population 309,000), 6,074km from Moscow
Federal district: Siberian
Economic region: East Siberia
Geography: the region is located in the Eastern Transbaikal area and has borders with the Buryat Republic, Yakutia, Mongolia, and China. The largest rivers are the Shilka and Argun, which feed into the Amur River. More than 50 percent of the region is covered with mountain taiga forests. The southern part of the region is steppe. The Region is also home to the largest rail border crossing between Russia & China (Zabaikalsk).
Time zone: Moscow +6, GMT +9, EST +14
Urban population: 64%, Rural population: 36%
Ethnic make-up: includes Russians (88.4%), Buryats (4.8%) and Ukrainians (2.8%)
Economy: The region's leading industrial sectors are mining and metallurgy. Agricultural specialities include reindeer, cattle, and sheep. Cultivated crops include rye, oats, barley, and spring wheat. Chita is also one of Russia's premier resort areas, second only to the Caucasus in this respect. The region is famous for mineral water and has a huge number of lakes with deposits of various therapeutic muds.
