Kalmykia: the capital, the population, culture

The focus of this article will be the Republic of Kalmykia. The capital of this region, Elista, is completely different from other cities in Russia. It is worth to come here at least in order to get acquainted with the enchanting world of Buddhist wisdom. Kalmykia can not yet be called a tourist paradise, but the region is developing steadily, new hotels are emerging. In this region of the ancient nomads you can live in a real kibitka, see the herds of wild horses, ride a camel. How to get to the Republic of Kalmykia, where to get a job, what to see and try, and what to bring with you as a souvenir, read this article. We will also cover the difficult history of the steppe people and its modern way of life.

Location:

The Republic of Kalmykia is located in the European part of the Russian Federation. In the south, it borders the Stavropol Territory. Nevertheless, most of the indigenous population of the republic profess Buddhism. This is what makes Kalmykia interesting. You do not need to fly to Thailand or Mongolia to see pagodas, prayer stupas and sculptures of Buddha sitting in meditation. All this is in Elista. Kalmykia, located in the south of Russia, is quite large. Its area is seventy-six thousand square kilometers larger than the territory of Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands or Denmark. It extends from south to north by four hundred and fifty-eight kilometers, and from east to west by 423 km. In the south, the natural boundaries of the republic are the rivers Kuma and Manych. In the southeast it is washed by the Caspian Sea. From the north-east the territory of Kalmykia approaches the Volga. And in the north-western part it is restricted by the Ergeninskaya Upland.

Climate

Due to its large territory, the Republic of Kalmykia is located immediately in three natural zones - deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. The relief here is mostly flat, and therefore there are frequent strong winds, sometimes growing into dry winds. The climate in the republic is continental. The temperature in summer can reach +42 degrees. Winters are not very snowy, but with frosty frost. The continentality of the climate rises sharply from west to east. But in the south of the republic the average January temperature reaches just minus eight degrees Celsius. The coldest in the winter in the north-eastern regions. There frosts can reach -35 degrees Celsius and below. But the republic can boast a huge number of clear days. The sun here shines about 184 days a year. With this is associated and a long warm period - 250-270 days. And although the average July temperature is only +24.5 ° C, maxima are not uncommon. Without exaggeration, we can say that this subject of the Russian Federation disputes the title of the hottest region in the Volgograd Region.

Economy

On the territory of the republic there are deposits belonging to the Caspian province of the oil and gas bearing layer. Now the Ermolinsk and Burulsk wells are being exploited. Great potential in the development of the region is represented by wind power resources. The government of Kalmykia is taking the first steps to ensure that the movement of air masses does not cause damage to agriculture, but brings benefits. In particular, the Kalmyk wind power station is under construction now . A major problem for agriculture is the scarcity of fresh water. Precipitation falls a little - about two hundred to three hundred millimeters per year. Therefore, for the agriculture important reservoirs. The largest of them - Chograiskoye is located on the border of the Stavropol Territory.

The rivers and lakes of Kalmykia

The sandy coast of the Caspian Sea, full of small bays, represents a huge potential for the development of tourism in Kalmykia. Alas, while it is not used. The Volga crosses the territory of the republic only on the 12-kilometer section. Other freshwater arteries are Kuma (it separates Kalmykia from Dagestan), East and West Manych, Egorlyk. Most of the rivers of Kalmykia are small, drying out in the summer, and at other times carrying bitter-salt water. Therefore, the main landscapes in the republic are dry steppes and semi-deserts. However, we can not fail to mention the lakes Kalmykia is famous for. Photo of the Big Yashalty Lake, you probably already saw. The healing properties of his water surpassed the Dead Sea. So far, only one medical center is on its shore. It was built recently and, probably, other similar institutions will be built here soon. After all, for now the wild shore of the lake people come to treat a lot of diseases - from respiratory to reproductive.

Lake Manych-Gudilo, covered with legends, can not be ignored . It got its name because of the wind, which makes frightening sounds over the smooth surface. Places nesting waterfowl is Deed-Hulsun. Other important lakes are Sostinsky and Sarpinsky, Maloe Yashaltinskoe.

Flora and fauna of Kalmykia

Kalmykia, whose photo often represents boundless steppes and semi-deserts, is the most treeless object in the whole of the Russian Federation. Vegetation is represented here feather grass, rolling-field, other species adapted to arid climate and brackish soils. About one hundred and thirty species of birds nest on the lakes of the republic. Of these, twenty-three are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. But what Kalmykia is famous for is the fact that its territory is home to the only saiga population in Europe. To protect this endangered species from total extinction, in 1990 the "Black Lands" reserve was established. It stretched between Kuma and the Volga in an area of one hundred and twenty thousand hectares. Here is Lake Manich-Gudilo with the twelve islands mentioned above. Tourists come here to look at the nests of swans, bustards, curly pelicans, and also to watch the run of herds of wild horses. It's good to be on the Manych-Gudilo in windy weather. Then on the lake go giant waves (up to 12 meters!). And the wind howls so that it seems that all evil spirits from the Kalmyk legends have flown here on the Sabbath. However, on the shore of the lake there are no tourist bases yet. Accommodation is possible only in the private sector of the village of Yashalta or in guest houses of the reserve.

The population of Kalmykia

According to Rosstat data for 2015, two hundred eighty and a half thousand people live in the republic. And in the 2010 Census this figure was 289,481. This decline in the population is due to internal migration. But in recent years, this outflow has decreased. Kalmykia gradually ceases to be a depressed region. Taking into account the huge territory of the republic, it can be judged that the population density is small: about four people per square kilometer. Citizens make up forty-five percent of all the inhabitants of the region. And if you remember that in the Republic of Kalmykia the capital has a population of 103,730 people, it turns out that the density of the population is even less. In addition to Elista, there are two other cities - Lagan and Gorodovikovsk. According to the 2010 Census, the ethnic composition in the republic is as follows: the majority (57%) - Kalmyks, 33% - Russians, the remaining 10% - other nationalities.

Authorities

The People's Khural of the Republic adopts laws and acts. This Parliament includes twenty-seven deputies. Khural represents the legislative power. The highest official is the Head of the Republic. He heads the executive branch and forms the Government of Kalmykia. For seventeen years the Head of the Republic was Kirsan Nikolaevich Ilyumzhinov. This man has done a lot to make Kalmykia, the capital of Elista and other cities and villages become European. In 2010, he was replaced by Alexei Maratovitch Orlov on the proposal of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

History of the region

It is not simple and sometimes tragic. Various peoples wandered through these steppes. Cimmerians, Sarmatians and Scythians, as well as the Khazars, Huns, Polovtsians and Pechenegs succeeded each other, leaving after themselves mounds and remains of ancient settlements. This explains the many-sided culture of Kalmykia. In the XIII century, these lands were part of the Golden Horde. More than two hundred monuments of culture and history have been preserved in Kalmykia. Five of them are protected by the Russian Federation. The Kalmyk people, just like the Crimean Tatars, became victims of deportation. By order of Stalin, people were evicted from their native villages. Thousands of them never returned home. Memorial "Exodus and Return", dedicated by Ernest Neizvestny, is dedicated to these tragic pages in the history of the Kalmyk people. The monument is in Elista.

Modern culture is inextricably linked with the prevailing religion in the Republic. After all, Kalmyks are the only people in Europe professing Buddhism. Everywhere here you can meet khuruly - characteristic Lamaist complexes. For a long time, Kalmyks were forbidden to practice their religion. There was not a single functioning temple, and the old ones were destroyed. The most ancient of the surviving ones is Khurul in Tsagan-Aman village, dating from the beginning of the 20th century.

How to get there

The majority of the guests of the Republic of Kalmykia are the capital of Elista. There is one airport in the city. It takes regular flights from Moscow, Stavropol, Rostov-on-Don and Mineralnye Vody. Travel by bus from the capital of Russia, although it will cost less than an airplane (1800 rubles), but lasts more than a day. To get to Elista by train, you need to get to Stavropol first. There it is necessary to change seats in another train, moving along the branch from the station "Divnoe". From Stavropol to Elista you will spend eight hours on the road, if you choose land transport. Bus connection also connects the capital of Kalmykia with Volgograd and Astrakhan.

Elista

This city is called the Buddhist capital. It was founded in the late nineteenth century. The capital of Kalmykia Elista is a small city. It is home to only one hundred thousand people. Therefore, to get to know him, you can rely on your own feet. Although the city is constantly scurrying minibus, and there are no traffic jams in the city. Color Elista enchants tourists. Especially striking is the abundance of prayer stupas and Buddhist temples. It is recommended to visit the Golden Abode of Sakyamuni. This is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. It consists of seven levels. It is decorated with a twelve-meter statue of the Enlightened, covered with gold leaf and inlaid with real diamonds. The temple contains holy relics: for example, the clothes of the 14th century Dalai Lama. In the Pagoda of the Seven Days there is a two-meter prayer drum from a tantric monastery in India. It is written in gold letters in several languages of the mantra.

What to try and what to buy

In restaurants and cafes Elista prices are acceptable. On average, the dinner will cost three hundred or four hundred rubles. Be sure to try the pelmeni "berigi", fried in butter patties "borts", soup from giblets, mutton and tea "jomba".

In memory of the Republic of Kalmykia, the capital offers a variety of souvenirs. This is mainly clothing made from camel wool and felt products - for example, yurt boxes. It is necessary to visit the special area of Elista - City-Chess. Here everything is devoted to chess. And on the main street of the mini-town - the avenue of Ostap Bender, there is a monument to the Great Combinator. City-Chess built Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, former head of Kalmykia and concurrently President of the International Chess Association.