The city of Vladimir

The work was done by Maria

Shestakova

�Main information

Vladimir is situated in the center of the Russian Plain of the RSFSR,190 kilometers to the north-east of Moscow. It extends for 17 kilometers along the elevated left bank of the River Klyazma (a tributary of the Oka), intersected by deep gullies and valleys through which small rivers flow. The town covers almost 60 square kilometers, and has a population of 300,000. Its oldest part, where the ancient architecture stands, is situated on the high plateau between the Klyazma and the Lybed (which now flows underground), sloping gently down to the valley of the River Rpen (the Irpen in the past) in the east.

Klyazma

The Klyazma is 140-145 meters wide where it flows through Vladimir. When the snow melts in the spring the water level sometimes rises to six meters, and it has been remarked that at this time Vladimir resembles a coastal town.

Climate

Vladimir and the surrounding area have a continental climate. For five months of the year, from November to March, the average temperature is below zero, the coldest month being January (-11.4°C). Snow normally lies from late November to early April, The summer is quite hot, although rain is not unknown. The average temperature in July, the warmest month, is 18.1 °C.

Vegetation

Long ago forest stretched right up to Vladimir. Now little natural vegetation survives in the town itself. Linden trees and poplars predominate, and maples and rowans are frequent. Larches have appeared recently, and birches are common in parks. Occasionally you come across trees not native to these parts, such as the blue spruce, horse chestnut and thuya. There are roughly 30 square meters of greenery per inhabitant.

Birds

The local bird population includes the sparrow, jackdaw, crow and pigeon. Swifts and swallows are common, as are chaffinches and starlings. In summertime seagulls soar over the Klyazma and the Rpen, while rooks build their nests in the tall trees in the old graveyard and the gullies. Tits and bullfinches are common in winter and much loved by the local residents.

Relief

Relief of the area is an undulating plain with heights ranging from 68 to 271 meters above sea level, traversed at roughly equal intervals by 150 small rivers. There are about 300 lakes, none of them large, most of them being less than two square kilometers in size.

Forest

As much as 40 per cent of the area's territory is covered by forest, with pines, birches, aspens and spruce. Oak, linden, ash and others, are rarer. The largest mammal is the elk; there are also spotted deer, wild goat, wild boar, wolves, Ussurian raccoons, and lynx. Fox, hare, squirrel, marten, stoat and beaver are also common species.

Mineral resources

The region is poor in mineral resources. Limestone, peat, and fire and brick clays are of industrial importance, while there are natural sources of mineral waters. Mechanical engineering and metal working are the major industries, alongside the textile, chemical and glass industries. Vladimir Region is responsible for a sizeable proportion of the national output of excavators, electric motors, diesel locomotives, radios and record players, motorcycles, linen and cut-glass. The town of Gus-Khrustalny is a famous center for glass and crystal.

Agriculture

Agriculture concentrates on beef and dairy production and potato cultivation. The main cereals grown are wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat and pulses. Vegetables are grown in suburban allotments, onions and cucumbers doing particularly well here.

Railway

Both a railway and highway link Vladimir and its region with Moscow.

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The work was done by Shestakova Maria