Krasnodar Territory

Founded: 1937

Governor: Alexander Nikolayevich Tkachev (re-elected to a second term March 14, 2004, appointed 2007)

Population: 5,160,656 (2010 census)

Capital: Krasnodar (population 713,400), 1,539 km from Moscow

Other major cities: Sochi (341,900), Novorossiisk (228,700), Armavir (187,800)

Federal district: Southern

Economic region: North Caucasus

Time zone: Moscow, GMT +3, EST +8

Geography: Krasnodar is located in the western part of the Caucasus. The Republic of Adygea is located entirely within Krasnodar Territory. It borders on Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory, and Abkhazia, as well as the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

Urban population: 53%, Rural population: 47%

Ethnic make-up: Russians (85.1%), Armenians (5%), also Greeks, Turks, Tatars and Germans.

Economy: Krasnodar is the breadbasket of Russia and its economy is heavily agricultural. The food industry has developed around agricultural production and is represented by the winemaking, oil-pressing, meat, dairy, and canning sectors. Tourism is also a major business in Krasnodar, which includes the resort town of Sochi, a favorite holiday and business destination of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev. In 2014 Sochi will host the Winter Olympic Games, which has boosted investment in sporting transport and tourism infastructure in the region. In 2018 both Sochi and Krasnodar will host World Cup games, which should bolster this area of regional development. There are also plans to invest heavily in tourism in the Russian Caucasus, which should benefit Krasnodar due to its relatively stable political climate.