Tatarstan

Coordinates: 55°33′N 50°56′E / 55.550°N 50.933°E / 55.550; 50.933
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Republic of Tatarstan
Республика Татарстан
Official titular nation transcription(s)
 • TatarТатарстан Республикасы
2021 Census)[8]
 • TotalIncrease 4,004,809
ISO 3166 codeRU-TA
Vehicle registration16, 116, 716
Official language(s)Tatar[10] • Russian[11]
Websitetatarstan.ru

Tatarstan (Tatar: Татарстан; Russian: Татарстан), officially the Republic of Tatarstan,[a] sometimes also called Tataria,[b] is a republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe. It is a part of the Volga Federal District; and its capital and largest city is Kazan, an important cultural centre in Russia. The region's main source of wealth is oil with a strong petrochemical industry.

The republic borders the

2021 Census, the population of Tatarstan was 4,004,809.[8]

Tatarstan has strong cultural, linguistic, and ethnic ties with its eastern neighbour, Bashkortostan.[16][17]

The official languages of the republic are Tatar and Russian.[18]

Etymology

"Tatarstan" derives from the name of the ethnic group—the

Tatar ASSR" during Soviet
rule.

Geography

Map of the Republic of Tatarstan

The republic is located in the centre of the

Ural mountains
.

Oak is the dominant tree species at 87% of the total area, followed by aspen, linden, birch, and Scots pine. The total forest cover has decreased from 51.2% to 17.1% over the last 300 years.[15]

The Volga-Kama Nature Reserve is situated in Tatarstan.

Borders

  • Neighbours:
    Mari El Republic
    (W/NW).
  • Highest point: 381 m (1,250 ft)[19]
  • Maximum N–S distance: 290 km (180 mi)
  • Maximum E–W distance: 460 km (290 mi)

Rivers

Kama River
View over the Toyma River from Devil's Tower in Yelabuga
Sviyaga
rivers

Major rivers include:

  • Azevka River
  • Belaya River
  • Ik River
  • Kama River
  • Volga River
  • Vyatka River
  • Kazanka River
  • Zay River

Lakes

Major reservoirs of the republic include:

The biggest lake is Kaban. The biggest swamp is Kulyagash.

Hills

Basins

Natural resources

Major natural resources of Tatarstan include

tons of oil deposits.[21]

Climate

Administrative divisions

Tatarstan's administrative and territorial divisions form 43 municipal districts and 2 urban districts (Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny), as well as 39 urban settlements and 872 rural settlements. The republic also recognises cities of republican significance, the list of which is established by the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan. The districts consist of cities of district significance, urban-type settlements and rural settlements with subordinate territories that make up the primary level in the system of administrative-territorial structure of the Republic. Cities of national significance can be geographically divided into districts in the city.

History

Middle Ages