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The Republic of Karelia is situated in the northwest of Russia; it is a part of the Northwest federal district of the Russian Federation. It was founded on June 8, 1920 as the Karelian Labour Commune in territory of former Olonets province. On July 25, 1923 it was transformed into Karelian ASSR, on March 31, 1940 - in Karelian-Finnish SSR. On July 16, 1958 the republic has restored the status of Karelian ASSR, and since November 13, 1991 the republic has its modern name.
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The area of Karelia is 180,5 thousand square km. (1.06% of the total territory of Russia). Its length from north to south is 660 km., from west to east on the latitude of the town of Kem is 424 km. Karelia borders on Finland in the West, on Leningrad district in the South, on Murmansk and Archangelsk district in the East. In the North-West the Republic is washed by the White sea. The western border line of Karelia coincides with the state border of the Russian Federation on Finland and its length is 798 km. Distance from the administrative centre of republic, city of Petrozavodsk to Moscow makes 925 km., 401 km. to St.-Petersburg,1050 km. to Murmansk, and 703 km. to Helsinki.
As of January 1, 2009, population of the Republic of Karelia makes 687.5 thousand people. Urban population makes 76.4 %. The share of the population younger than working-age age makes 15.4%, working-age population makes 64.5%, people older than working-age age make 20.1%. Population size involved in economy is 351,400 people, unemployeds make 32,300 people. Official unemployment rate makes 2.6% of the economically active population.
The expected life interval at birth makes 65.5 years, middle age of population of the republic makes 38.55 years. Population density of the republic makes 3.8 persons per 1 square kilometer.
Official language in Karelia is Russian. The republic is a multinational subject of the Russian Federation. Representatives of 213 nationalities live there. On the information of the All-Russia population census of 2002, national pattern of the population is the following: Russians are 76.6%, Karelians are 9.2%, Byelorussians are 5.3%, Ukrainians are 2.7%, Finns are 2.0%, Veppsians are 0.7%.
The republic consists of 16 municipal districts (Byelomorsk, Kalevala, Kem, Kondopoga, Lahdenpohja, Louhi, Medvezhiegorsk, Muezersky, Olonets, Pitkäranta, Prionezhsky, Pryazha, Pudozh, Segezha, Sortavala, Suojärvi) and two urban districts (Petrozavodsk and Kostomuksha), where 109 settlements (22 urban, 87 rural), 808 inhabited localities, including 13 towns, are located.
The republic develops according to the Social and Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Karelia through to 2020, the Land-Use Planning Scheme of the Republic of Karelia, the Program of Economic and Social Development of the Republic of Karelia through to 2010. The overall objective of long-term social and economic development is improvement of the quality of life in the republic on the basis of steady balanced development of economy, formation of the future development potential and the republic's active participation in the system of international and inter-regional exchanges.
Program-target methods were widely used in implementation of the objectives. 28 budgetary target programs operated in 2008. For their implementation it has been apropriated 1,9 billion roubles from the budget of the Republic of Karelia.
Consolidated budget of the republic is characterized by growing social orientation. More than 64% of on-budget expenditures of 2008 (18,7 billion roubles) was allocated for social policy, maintenance of establishments of the social sphere and their development.
In 2008 measures of social support and social assistance were rendered to more than 300,000 people, or about 44% of population of the republic. 4,5 billion roubles from the budget of the Republic of Karelia was allocated in 2008 for exercise of powers established by the legislation on granting guaranteed measures of the govenrment social support to some categories of citizens.
Further growth of really possessed population monetary income is provided, having made 103.7% to the standard of 2008. Real increase in the amount of the granted monthly pension has made 109.8%.
On October 7, 2008 Fitch Ratings international agency has changed the forecast on the Long-term rating of the Republic of Karelia on the international and national scales upwards from Stable to Positive.
Due to increase of the "rating of readiness of the Republic of Karelia for the information society" Karelia has managed to raise from the 10th to the 7th place on the Russian regions's readiness for the information society.
Power
According to the Constitution of Russia the Republic of Karelia is the subject of the Russian Federation. The Republic of Karelia is establishing its system of bodies of the government independently according to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and general principles of organization of representative and executive public authorities, and established federal laws.
Governing in the Republic of Karelia is carried out by the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, Government headed by the Head of the Republic of Karelia, and other enforcement authorities, area bodies of federal authorities, and judicial bodies.
The unicameral Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia is constantly operating representative and unique legislature of the republic.
Head of the Republic of Karelia Sergey Katanandov is the chief executive and the chief executive officer of the Republic of Karelia.
Government of the Republic of Karelia is a constantly operating superior executive public authority which operating procedures are defined by the law of the Republic of Karelia of April 27, 1999 N348-ZRK. The Government is formed of heads of enforcement authorities by the Head of the Republic of Karelia. The Government includes positions of the Prime Minister of the Government and his assistants. Government of the Republic of Karelia provides observance of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws and other normative legal acts of the Russian Federation, the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Karelia, decrees and orders of the Head of the Republic of Karelia.
Judicial authority in the republic is exercised by federal courts (Supreme court of the Republic of Karelia, town and regional federal courts, Arbitration court of the Republic of Karelia), Constitutional court of the Republic of Karelia, justices of the peace.
Representations of federal enforcement authorities operate in territory of the republic. Their activity is coordinated by the Chief Federal Inspector of the administration of plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwest Federal District for the Republic of Karelia.
Local government authorities are not included into the system of bodies of the government. Aming their competence there are municipal property administration, formation, approval and filling of local budgets, establishment of local taxes and duties, maintenance of public order, as well as decision of other local issues.
127 municipal formations are formed in territory of the republic. Institutions of local government in municipal units of the republic are represented by the heads of local self-government, representative body of local self-government (its function is executed by the Council elected according to the Law of the Republic of Karelia On election of deputies of representative bodies and heads of local self-government) and local administration (the municipal unit's executive-administrative body).
Nature
Karelia is the country of rocks, boulders and tens of thousands of lakes. Various, and frequently unique relief of Karelia reflects geological history of the region of the last 3,5 billion years. Most of Karelia's territory is a rolling plain with strongly pronounced traces of a glacier. Wavy stone solid earth even now has some traces of ancient mountains. Karelia is often figuratively called a severe land of lakes and woods, emphasizing the leading elements of its landscape, unique combinations created by spaces of fantastic contours of a number of lakes and devided by rocky-subdued interfluves covered with taiga greens.
Karelian woods, rivers and lakes are of a very special role in preservation of biodiversity of the Northern Europe. More than 49% of the area of the republic is covered with forest (basic breeds are pines, furtrees, alders and aspens); fauna comprises brown bears, reindeers, elks, mountain hares, European beavers, Greenland seals (in the White sea); fish species include salmons, trouts, navagas, herrings, cods, flounders.
Quarter the republic's territory is watery surface. There are more than 61 thousand lakes and 27 thousand rivers in Karelia. The largest are the Ladoga lake (its area is 17,7 thousand square km) and the Onega lake (its area is 9,9 thousand square km). The largest rivers are Vodla (400 km), Vyg, Kovda, Kem, Suna, Shuya. The total length of the river net is about 83 thousand km.
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Climate is transitive from maritime to continental, notable for long, although rather soft winter and shotr and chilly summer. The average temperature in February is -9-13°C, July - +14+16°C. Precipitation is about 500 mm a year.
More than 50 types of minerals, located in more than 400 deposits and ore occurences were discovered in Karelia. The minerals are: iron ore, titan, vanadium, molybdenum, precious metals, diamonds, mica, construction materials (granites, diabases, marbles), ceramic raw material (pegmatites, spars), appatit-carbonate ores, alkaline amphibole asbestos.
The Republic of Karelia has favorable economic-geographic location thanks to which it is the advanced post of Russia on the western boundaries of the state. Hundreds of kilometers of highways, railways and waterways connecting countries and regions run through Karelia.
Economy
Economy of the Republic of Karelia is found on processing of local kinds of natural resources (timber and minerals), use of tourist and recreational potential and favourable economic and geographical frontier location. These factors define specialization and regional features of economy of the republic.
In 2008 there has been provided essential growth of revenues and expenditures of consolidated budget of the Republic of Karelia. Yield income in consolidated budget of the Republic of Karelia in 2008 has made 28,8 billion roubles, that is 29% more than in 2007. 76% of total revenue was earned income of consolidated budget of the Republic of Karelia.
It has been assigned 29,1 billion roubles for expenditures of consolidated budget of the Republic of Karelia in 2008 that by 25% exceeds the level of 2007. Deficiency of the budget in comparison with 2007 has reduced three times.
The major parameter of economic development of the Republic of Karelia is its Gross Regional Product (GRP.) The GRP in 2004 has made 54,0 billion rbl., in 2005 - 76,3 billion rbl., in 2006 - 86,4 billion rbl., in 2007 - 104,6 billion rbl., in 2008 - 106,7 billion rbl.
In the republic there are more than 19 thousand enterprises and organizations. Investments into the fixed capital in 2008 have grown by 6.7 % having reached 22,8 billion rbl. Average gross monthly salary has made 16892 rbl.
The greatest investment growth rates in recent years were observed in extraction of metallic ores, timber processing, production of food, electric equipment and vehicles, construction, transport and communication, electric power, financial and bank spheres.
On results of the IRPEХ rating Estimation of Russian Regions' Competitiveness held by Regionalistica (Regional Policy Institute) in 2008 and presented in the Ministry for Regional Development of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Karelia is on the 38th place and is included in the group of regions with average level of competitiveness.
The republic is related to industrial regions with moderately favorable investment climate (basically due to high and diversified investment potential).
The basic are logging, woodworking and pulp-and-paper industries - 41.2%; ferrous metallurgy - 18.0%; electric power industry - 14.8%; engineering industry and metal working, nonferrous metallurgy, food-processing industry - from 5 to 9% each.
Timber resources make 965,9 million cubic metres of wood, 370 million cubic metre of them is coniferous woods. Allowable cut makes 9 million cubic metre of timber a year.
10% of iron ore extracted in Russia, 23% of paper made in the country, 9% of cellulose, 7.3% of industrial wood, 4% of saw-timber, about 60% of paper sacks account for the republic.
Economy of Karelia which is a frontier region is export-oriented. On breadth of foreign economic relations, on the volume of export per capita Karelia is among in the leading regions of Russia. Exports now account for more than 50% (and up to 100% on a number of branches) of total production. The foreign trade surplus in 2008 has made $1068 million, volume of export has made $1481 million, import has made $413 million. One third of external turn of the republic falls to the share of Finland.
One of priority directions of international cooperation was work within the limits of Baltic and Barents Euro-Arctic Regions, initiation and support of projects in the line of EU. Award of the rank of the European Region of 2003 to the republic testifies to the international recognition of success of this direction of work.
Basic industrial centres are Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga, Segezha, Kostomuksha, Pitkäaranta.
The Republic of Karelia is a transit territory. Transport complex development in Karelia is, first of all, related to implementation of projects of international transport corridors (Arkhangelsk and Karelian) to comprise perspective Euro-Asian sub-lateral transport main line of BELKOMUR (the White Sea - Komi - Urals).
The transport complex of Karelia is presented by almost all types of transport - railways, highways, internal water and sea ways, air tracks and pipelines. Railway and motor transport account for most of transport services, smaller part falls to share of water and air transport.
Railway transportation plays an integral role in the structure of transportations. 89% of 25 million tons of cargoes transported in 2008 has fallen to its share. Transport infrastructure of Karelia it characteristic for its pronounced transitness. Transport infrastructure development remains a priority direction in the economy of the Republic of Karelia.
Upon introduction of information technologies, communication and telecommunications should be considered the most dynamically developing branch of economy. In the telecommunication services market of the republic there works more than 14 operators.
Now cellular communication is available in all regional centers of Karelia, on the basic tourist objects such as Kizhi island, Valaam island, the Marcial waters spa, on federal and republican highways.
In 2008 the network of public Internet centers has grown by 20 and now it comprises 176 centers, including 135 established on the basis of post offices, 30 on the basis of establishments of culture, including libraries, 8 on the basis of municipal institutions.
Agriculture of the republic is presented by such branches, as dairy cattle husbandry, trout-breeding, poultry farming, fur farming, plant growing. The basic agricultural production is concentrated in Kondopoga, Prionezhsky, Pryazha, Olonets, Medvezhyegorsk and Sortavala regions. Relative density of production outpot in the specified regions makes more than 70% in total farming of the republic.
The Concept of Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Karelia for the period through to 2012 the agriculture development is related to priority spheres. Agricultural consumer cooperative societies stimulating small business development in the branch are created in the republic, the number of farms grows.
Social Sphere
Education
Education system of the Republic of Karelia cjmprises more than 930 educational establishments of all types and kinds, including: 241 comprehensive schools, 7 licea, 4 grammar schools, 1 cadet boarding school, 106 educational establishments of additional education for children, 9 educational establishments for children with development deviations, 1 teaching and educational establishment for children with deviant behavior, 1 general educational sanatorium boarding school, 23 orphanages, 13 evening (shift) general educational establishments, 2 work training centres, 16 establishments of primary and 15 - of secondary vocational training.
Programs of higher vocational training are implemented in 20 establishments of higher vocational training of the Republic of Karelia, including 17 branches. More than 21% of the consolidated budget expenditures account for education.
As of January 2008 general educational establishments of the Republic of Karelia had 63,258 students.
With a view of the government support of development of languages and culture of Karelians, Vepsians and Finns the Ethnocultural Education in the Republic of Karelia republican target program is realized. On a competitive basis more than 40 educational establishments have received the status of educational establishments with ethnocultural education component.
The republic is keeping the leading positions in development of additional education in Russia. Information centre at the Karelian fund of education development is created in the republic, complete sets of computer equipment are installed in all schools, all general educational establishments have acess to the Internet, 18 interschool methodical centers providing support of information-computer technologies operate in every school.
Healthcare
In the sphere of public health services the republic is solving tasks of citizens' health preservation and improvement, provision of availability and improvement of quality of rendering the free-of-charge medical aid to the population, introducing healthy way of life.
Health-care expenditures of consolidated budget of the Republic of Karelia in 2008 have made 6,4 billion roubles, or 22% of aggregate consumption expenditure.
Basic directions of the Health priority national project are installing modern diagnostic and medical equipment in establishments of public health services of the republic, rendering hi-tech medical aid, first aid fleet replacement, preventive maintenance of diseases.
Vascular centers opened in 2008 in Petrozavodsk and three regions of the republic, cardiosurgery service was created on the basis of V.Baranov Republican hospital.
The network of treatment-and-preventive establishments of the republic is presented by 332 establishments, of them 55 medical institutions function in the system of obligatory medical insurance.
Physical training and sports
Educating a healthy and physically fit person focused on enjoying healthy way of life is one of the primary goals of the Government of the Republic of Karelia in the sphere of physical training and mass sports.
Positive dynamics of the basic parameters of development in the sphere of physical training and sports is preserved. The year 2008 became the record in the 5 past years on involving population in participation in the mass sports events. In comparison with 2005 the number of participants has made 28,4 thousand people, therefore, Karelia was awarded with the Cup of the Inter-regional Council of physical training and sports organizations of the Northwest and has won the 1st place in The Most Athletic Region in the Northwest nomination. In 2008 the share of citizens of the republic going in for sports regularly was stabilized and makes 14.9% (compared to 10% on the average across Russia).
The Republic of Karelia is legally regarded as an attractive place to hold international and All-Russia sports events. In 2008 in the republic there had been held more than 200 mass sports and recreation activitie including 100 competitions of the republic (championships, cups, tournaments of the Republic of Karelia) in 36 kinds of sports. The most popular among the population are the following sports events: Ski Track of Russia - 2008 skiing race in which more than 13 thousand people participated; Russian Azimuth (over 6,200 participants); Cross-Country Race of Nations (10 thousand participants).
The most impressive sports events of the year were: Onego-2008 international sailing regatta, Sambo-Wrestling Championship of Russia for juniors, Running Hope - Karelian Marathon international track and field athletics race at participation of 250 sportsmen from Germany, Finland, Estonia, Moscow and the Moscow area, St.-Petersburg and Karelia, two stages of the autorally and snow kiting Cups of Russia and two stages of Autorally Championship of Russia.
Culture
Karelia represents a unique cultural region (area) which formation was influencedby its borderline position between the east and the west, German and Slavic, Catholic and Orthodox. Orthodoxy was the main uniting factor in populating the territory by the Finno-Ugric peoples (Karelians, Veppsians) and the Slavs that lived in the region since the 13 century.
Traditional crafts for Karelia were birch-bark and straw weaving, pearl beading and embroidery, spinning, weaving, wood- and bone-carving, pottery. Karelia was also famous for skilful jewellers, smiths (even gun-making), carpenters and boatmen, pearl craft had been developed, too. The art crafts developing today are Zaonezhie embroidery and Prionezhie ceramics.
In Karelia there are about 4 thousand cultural, historical and natural objects among the following should be pointe out: the State Historical-Arhitectural and Ethnographical Museum-Reserve Kizhi; Valaam archipelago consisting of 50 small islands in the northern part of Ladoga lake where the Transfiguration of the Saviour Valaam monastery is located; the Dormition Cathedral (the XVIII century) in Kem, the Dormition Church (1774) in Kondopoga; rune-snging villages of the White Seas coast area of Karelia where runes of Kalevala were born; The Ladoga lakeside monuments of architecture; petroglyphs of the White Sea and the East coast of Onego Lake; seidas on Kuzova islands in the White Sea; Kivatch waterfalls; Paanajärvi and Vodlozersky national parks.
Construction of the first Russian Spa resort Marcial Waters in Karelia is associated with the name of Peter I. According to the drawings of Peter I the Curch of Peter the Apostle in West-European style was constructed there in 1721. It is a unique monument of the kind in Karelia. In the interior of the church there remained the two-level iconostasis with 14 icons and carved ornaments of the beginning of the 18th century and two home-produced pig-iron furnaces.
Plural ethnic composition of the population of Karelia, active interethnic communications within economic activities, as well as features of historical development (slow industrialization of the republic) promoted preservation and development of various layers of traditional culture in different languages and dialects: both ancient (yoigi), and rather new (urban culture of the 19-20 centuries).
Petrozavodsk is the center of culture and professional art in Karelia, the largest establishments of culture are concentrated there: libraries, museums, theatres, concert halls, educational institutions, creative unions and scientific organizations.
The main libraries are National Library of the Republic of Karelia, Scientific Library of Petrozavodsk State University and Library of Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Science. Among museums there should be mentioned the oldest in the republic Karelian State Local History Museum (open in 1873), the Fine Arts Museum of the Republic of Karelia.
State Drama Theatre of the Republic of Karelia, National Theatre of the Republic of Karelia, Puppet Theatre of the Republic of Karelia and State Youth Theater of the Republic of Karelia Trade Master received much attention of the residents and guests of the capital.
Among the leading creative ensembles of the republic there should be also mentioned the Symphonic Orchestra of the Karelian State Philarmonic Society, Russian Folk Music Instruments Orchestra, Kantele State Ensemble of Dance and Song of Karelia.
Goal of the cultural policy pursued in Karelia is steady development of the region through preservation and use of historical and cultural potential of the Republic of Karelia.
Religion
Now in territory of the Republic of Karelia there operate more than 189 religious organizations representing 17 religions and trends. The church members are basically Christians. The Petrozavodsk diocese is headed by Manuil, Archbishop of Petrozavodsk and Karelia.
Monasteries: the Transfiguration of the Saviour Vazheozersky monastery (founded in approx.1530), the Dormition Murom monastery (founded in the XIVth century), Korniliy Paleostrovsky monastery (founded in the XII century, revived in 2000), the Kem Monastery of the Annunciation, the Hermitage of Mitrofany.
With a view of development a dialogue between the government and society, Concept of partnership between the bodies of the government, local self-government, business community, and non-government organizations on civil society development in the Republic of Karelia was signed in October, 2007. The Concept is focused on extension of forms of public participation in pursuance of the state social policy and strengthening of cooperation between the authorities, civil society institutes, and business community.
Karelia is a developing region where conditions for transition of economy to the innovative way are being created and where primary improtance is assigned to the task of improvement of the quality of life.
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