3. Bashkortostan

The Republic of Bashkortostan - a sovereign republic within the Russian Federation - is located along the South Urals and the adjacent plains. Its territory is 143,600 square kilometers and the population is over 4 million people. In terms of population, Bashkortostan ranks seventh among Russian's republics, territories and regions. About a hundred nationalities inhabit the Republic. The indigenous population is Bashkirs.

From the point of natural conditions Bashkortostan can be divided into three parts -western, mountains and Bashkir Trans-Urals, The western part is located upon the Russian Plains. It is most favorable for life and business activities. It is here that the majority of the population lives. Highland Bashkortostan encompasses the South Urals Mountains least auspicious to farming and manufacturing and thus least developed. Bashkir Trans-Urals form a narrow strip to the east of the Urals Mountains along the Republic's eastern border merging with the West Siberian Plains.

Bashkortostan’s climate is continental with moderately warm, sometimes hot summers and cold winters.

More than 600 rivers and 800 lakes trim the beauty of the Republic's nature. Many of the rivers, including the Urals and the Aghidel belong to the Caspian Sea basin.

Bashkortostan is rich in forests, the predominant species being birch-tree conifers, lime - tree, oak and maple. About 6 million cubic meters of timber are annually procured and more than half of these are subsequently processed. The Republic accounts for nearly of all lime - tree forests of Russia. It is the lime - tree that makes Bashkir honey world-famous.

The mineral riches of Bashkortostan include iron ore, copper, gold, zinc, aluminum, chromium, brown coal, natural gas, salt, manganese, gypsum, lime-stone and many other deposits numbering well over three thousand.

Oil is the main mineral resource of the land. Oil-related industries - power generation, oil refining, chemical, gas and petrochemical - have become most prominent.

Diverse natural riches and a convenient geographical location promote the development of manufacturing and agri­business. Bashkortostan ranks second in the Urals region as regards its manufacturing potential, and outstrips Russia's republics and many of the CIS countries in terms of national income.

The Republic of Bashkortostan offers extensive facilities for exports and import of raw materials, fuel and manufactured items, maintaining trade and business ties with both the West and the East.

The BAL (Bashkir Airlines) carrier connect Ufa with the largest cities in Russia, the post - Soviet republics and abroad.

The length of railways is 2.900 km. and that of navigable river routes is 960 km.

Topical Vocabulary

adjacent – примыкающий, близлежащий

in terms of population - по численности населения

to rank – занимать

to inhabit – населять

to divide – делить

favorable – благоприятный

to encompass – окружать

auspicious – благоприятный

strip – полоса

to merge – сливать(ся), соединять(ся)

continental – континентальный

moderately – умеренно

to trim – украшать

predominant – преобладающий, господствующий

birch-tree – береза

lime-tree – липа

oak – дуб

timber – строевой лес

to procure – доставать, добывать

prominent – известный, видный

diverse – разнообразный

to promote – способствовать, содействовать

to outstrip – обгонять, превосходить

income - доход

Answer the questions:

1. Where is the Republic of Bashkortostan situated?

2. What is its population?

3. What parts is Bashkortostan divided into?

4. What mineral riches does Bashkortostan include?

5. What makes Bashkortostan world-famous?

Translate into English:

1. Республика Башкортостан является суверенной республикой в составе Российской Федерации.

2. Западная часть страны является благоприятной для жизни и предпринимательской деятельности.

3. Республика насчитывает почти все липовые леса России.

4. Нефть является главным богатством страны.

5. Башкортостан занимает второе место в Уральском регионе по промышленному потенциалу.