Mid – Volga recreational region Includes Samara, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Pensa regions, republics of Mordovia and Tatarstan T.T. Khristov, ©2015

Volga river. The left bank is lowlands, the right one – Volga hills (up to 500 m above sea level). Steppes and semi-steppes, decidious forests. Natural features

Climate Becomes drier to the south and east. Summer - relatively hot, winter quite cold, not much snow yet.

Water resources Volga with tributaries (Kama, Sura) and water reservoirs, the biggest – Kuibyshev reservoir, km of width. Islands, sandy beaches. Yachting, Kanoeing Fishing East of Saratov region – salty lakes.

Rep. Tatarstan Capital - Kazan Population – about 3,8 mln. Big cities: Elabuga, Neftekamsk, Almetyevsk.

Tatarstan

History In VII century – 1240 the state of Volga Bulgaria has been here. The Kazan state, captured by Russians in the 16-th century.

1)Population,2)resources, 3)industry 1)Tatars – 52,9%; Russians - 39,5%, other. Religions: orthodox Christianity and Islam. 2) Oil and gas near Almetyevsk. 3) Oil, chemical process industry, mechanical engineering.

Natural resources Forests occupy 16% of territory. Nizhnaya Kama national park Volga – Kama sanctuary

The types of tourism (1) Cultural. The heritage of Kazan, Elabuga, Bulgar, other. Medical. Izhminvody resort. The water contains iodine and bromine – is similar to waters of the Red and Dead seas.

The types of tourism (2) River cruises, water sports, recreation. Event – tourism. Numerous sport and other events. Water sports world championship in Business tourism. Oil region

Kazan Kremlin was several times captured and rebuilt again. Contains cathedral and a newly-resotred mosk Kul – Sharif. The Kremlin is in UNESCO heritage list.

Kazan mayor’s resedence

Kazan university

Theater

Modern theater

Bauman pedestrian street

Entertainment center “Pyramid”

Elabuga

The tower, th centuries

Marina Tsvetayeva’s museum

Sviyazhsk

Naberezhni chelni

Bulgar The remainders of Bulgar – the capital of Volga-Bulgaria state. In UNESCO heritage list. On the territory: mosk, white parlour (Ak pulat), sauna, other objects.

Ruins of Bilyar

Aisha – the festival of the songs

Sabantui – the holiday at the beginning if the agricultural cycle

Kurban – Bairam, offering sacrifices

Ulyanovsk region

Natural and cultural resources, resorts National park Sengileev hills. Undory mineral water springs. Lenin’s bitrh place.

National park Sengileev hills

Undory

Lenin’s memorial in Ulyanovsk

Undory, Accension church