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Founded: 1717, 1943
Governor: Alexander Alexandrovich Zhilkin (elected December 5, 2004)
Population: 1,007,200 (2002 census)
Area: 44,100 square km (17,023 sq. miles)
Capital: Astrakhan (population 506,400), 1,500 km from Moscow
Federal district: Southern
Economic region: Volga
Time zone: Moscow, GMT +3, EST +8
Geography: Astrakhan is Russia's gateway to the Northern Caucasus and also connects Russia to Iran, via the Caspian Sea. The Volga River flows through the region and it shares a border with Kazakhstan.
Urban population: 68%, Rural population: 32%
Ethnic make-up: More than 130 nationalities, including Russians (72%), Kazakhs (13%) and Tatars (7.2%)
Economy: Astrakhan is the capital of the Caspian fisheries. Besides the fishing industry, Astrakhan is known for processing fish and producing caviar, smoked and canned fish. Astrakhan is also an important transfer point for sea and rail shipping.
Astrakhan's Foreign trade in 2006 totaled $541.1 mln. According to the regional ministry for international cooperation, exports grew faster than imports: 26.8% up from 20.9% in 2005, with the value of exports increasing from $247.3 mln in 2005 to $313.5 mln in 2006. Growth rates of imports dropped from 74.9% in 2005 to 51.5% in 2006, with the value of imports rising from $150.2 mln in 2005 to $227.6 mln in 2006. There is a foreign trade surplus of $85.9 mln according to 2006 year end results.
Official website: http://www.astrobl.ru
Contact information
Governor
Alexander Alexandrovich Zhilkin
14-15 Sovietskaya Ulitsa
Astrakhan 414000
Tel.: +7 (8512) 22 85 19; 22 17 67
Fax: +7 (8512) 22 95 14
Email: adm@astranet.ru
Chairman of the State Duma
Pavel Petrovich Anisimov
Tel.: +7 (8512) 22 96 44
Press service contact
Alyona Vyacheslavovna Gubanova
Tel.: +7 (8512) 39 09 18; 22 84 69
Email: pressa@adm.astranet.ru
last updated August 10, 2005
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