ROSTOV DISTRICT
The Rostov district population as of 01/01/2006 was 70,000, including 33,200 people living in Rostov.
The district area is 2,081.8 sq. km.
The administrative centre is the city of Rostov.
The distance from the district center to Yaroslavl is 58 km.
History
Rostov is one of the most ancient towns of Russia. The time it was first mentioned in "The Nestor's Tale of Bygone Years" as of 6370th summer since the Creation, (which is under the year 862 according to the modern chronology), it was spoken of as an already existing town.
From the second half of the XI century Rostov became a central town of the north-eastern Russia, the territory that formed the basis for modern Russia. It became the eparchy centre at the same time. At the beginning of the XIII century an independent Rostov province was formed, quickly becoming one of the most powerful political centres of the Russian Land. Rostov is the largest Church centre, as the territory of the Rostov eparchy was stretching far beyond the boundaries of the modern Yaroslavl Oblast, the Rostov hierarchs being the most influential members of higher orders of clergy.
Since 1137, during Yuri Dolgoruky's reign, Rostov was given the name "the Great" and retained it for five centuries.
Socio-economic background
There are several Federal roads running through the district's territory: the Moscow-Archangelsk highway and the northern branch of the Transsiberian railroad,
All the settlements are electrified and 60% gasified presently.
Two gas mains run through the territory: Yaroslavl-Moscow and Gryazovets-Moscow.
Telephone communication is developed. Mobile and paging communications are provided by all known federal and interregional operators. Internet access is given in all middle-sized and large settlements of the district.
Natural resources
Rostov the Great is located on the bank of Lake Nero, the key element of the local ecological system.
Sapropel, an ecologically-friendly organic fertilizer, is a unique natural lake resource, 1/5th of its deposit in the Central Federal region of Russia is found in the lake. There are more than 10 small rivers in the district. The lake and rivers are rich in fish. There are sources of drinking water having improved properties that are good for commercial use.
Forests are of local industrial interest, though wood supplies are not sufficient, mainly hardwood of little value. However, the forests, old rural parks and green belt of Rostov have significant recreational potentialities.
Apart from wood, the district forests make a good source of other valuable natural resources, such as mushrooms, berries, raw produce for making medicinal herbs and technical stuff.
Though the deposits of peat being large, local resources utilized in construction are of primary importance. The main geological rocks found in the district are sandstone, speckled clay, limestone. Commercial production of crushed stone is carried out. The microclimate and soils together form favourable conditions for growing vegetables, green peas, chicory, other agricultural produce normally planted in the area. Not specified by kind, the worth of all entrails of the Rostov municipal district amounts to about US$ 1,000,000,000 according to findings of the geological services of the Central Administrative board of natural resources and environmental protection of the Yaroslavl Oblast.
The most developed in the Rostov municipal district are the following economical activities: mechanical engineering, metal-work production, food industry, construction materials.
Food industry made the largest contribution to commercial production of the district in 2005. It made up 60% of annual output. Goods produced by CJSC "Atrus" - 80% (43% of the district's total production), "Porechsky" Cannery factory CJSC - 12% (11% of the district's total production), "Yaroslavl cheeses" Ltd. - 8% (4% of the district's total production) account for its major components.
Electrical equipment, electronics and optical equipment manufacturing makes up 4% of district's commercial production and is represented by the output of OJSC "Fingo" and OJSC "The Rostov optical-mechanical plant".
Agriculture
There were 18 collective farms of various forms of ownership and 316 farms registered in the Rostov municipal district as of 01.01.2006. Gross production volume of argri-food enterprises grew per 13% as compared to 2004 and amounted to 197,000,000 roubles.
The main line in cattle breeding is dairy husbandry, in plant cultivation - fodder, grain, potato and vegetable growing.
Rostov municipal district is steadily ranked second after the Yaroslavl district in milk yield in the Oblast.
In 2005, the area under crop in the Rostov municipal district amounted to 32,900 hectares. Grain, potato, vegetables, fodder root, chicory are cultivated.
The leading enterprises were: CJSC " Tatishchevskoye", CJSC "Novy Put", CJSC "Krasny Holm", a small business JSC "Kirgizstan".
Favourable conditions are being improved for agri-food manufacturers:
-Preferential crediting of agricultural producers
-Facilities for leasing technical equipment and machinery
-Purchasing of pedigree cattle
-Introducing innovation techniques in stock keeping
Transportation
35 large and medium-sized enterprises of the district were employed into freighting. 827,000 tonnes of cargo and 47,796 freight ton-miles of goods were carried. Volume of freight traffic increased by 35.1% and freight turnover grew by 25.8% as compared to 2004. There is one state conveyance enterprise carrying passengers by road in the Rostov municipal district. The network of privately owned fixed-run taxis is developing quickly, the number of its routes is growing.
Investment potential
A lot of attention is paid by the local administration to improving the town's economy, developing its infrastructure, tourism. The administration meets the needs of investment groups, forming an investment zone with preferential tax treatment, simplifying the procedures of land acquisition and development.
Tourism
The flow of tourists to Rostov has been increasing and amounted to 228,000 thousand in 2005. The volume of tourist services amounted to more than 300 million roubles.
Rostov the Great is a part of the most attractive tourist route of Russia, "the Golden Ring".
The town's significant past conditions Rostov's present abundance in historical and cultural monuments. One of the most important monuments is the lacustrine basin's landscape itself together with the surrounding territory for thousands years attracting a lot of people and rich in archaeological monuments. The cultural layer of Rostov is the most valuable archaeological monument. The architectural constructions of Rostov, particularly the former Archbishop's Palace of the XVII c., now called the Rostov Kremlin, has become the classics not only of the Russian Art, but also the world one. Stone and wooden development of the XVIII-XX cc. are of great importance.
Among the world assets are the Rostov bell-ringing, a unique set of musical works of the XVII-XIX cc., inseparable from the amazing musical instrument - the famous Rostov cathedral bell-tower. Each of its 15 bells, from the biggest one, weighing 2 ,000 pounds (32 tonnes), up to the smallest one has its own special sound.
The State museum-reserve, the Rostov Kremlin, disposes of unique icons collections, Old Russian embroidery, collections of paintings and graphical works of the XVIII-XX cc., Old Russian manuscripts and documents, archaeology. It was included into the Registrar of the most valuable subjects of Russian cultural heritage.
Rostov enamels, traditional painting on enamel that has been developing in Rostov for several centuries, also stand out in particular. The Rostov enamel painters are known all over the world.
Significant cultural potentialities of the town made it one of the large tourism centres. Rostov was included into a special program of cooperation between European Union and Russia on preserving historical and cultural heritage. In the framework of this program European cultural heritage Days have been held in Rostov since 1997.
Two hotels, "The Boyarsky Dvor" and "The Moscow Tract", have been built recently for tourist accommodation. A privately owned "Nero" boarding house also receives guests.
One of the most popular cafes in the town, "The Pleshanov's Usadba," offers their services in organizing picnics, fishing hunting, horse-riding, boat-trips around Lake Nero. "Riverside" proposes beer festivals, snowmobile rides, entertainment programs, meeting the style and quality standards of the Bavarian restaurant.
"Teremok" restaurant and "Nero" cafe serve tourists. "Lion" cafe and "Nairi" kids' caf? are gaining popularity among inhabitants and visitors.
Entertainment industry is developing represented by "Vysshaya Liga" and "The Gallery" bars.
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Administration of the Rostov municipal district
152151, Yaroslavl Region, the city of Rostov, Sovetskaya Sq., 15
phone +7 (48536) 6-34-85,
fax +7 (48536) 6-32-54
The Head of administration of municipal district
Valeriy Ivanovich Tokarev