Kaluga Oblast

Kaluga Oblast lies in the central part of the East European Plain. The oblast's territory is located between the Central Russian Upland (with and average elevation of above 200 metres (660 ft) and a maximum elevation of 275 metres (902 ft) in the southeast), the Smolensk–Moscow Upland and the Dnieper–Desna watershed. Most of the oblast is occupied by plains, fields and forests with diverse flora and fauna. The administrative center is located on the Baryatino-Sukhinichy plain. The western part of the oblast — located within the drift plain — is dominated by the Spas-Demensk ridge. To the south is an outwash plain that is part of the Bryansk-Zhizdra woodlands, with average elevation up to 200 m.

From north to south, Kaluga Oblast extends for more than 220 km (140 mi), from 53°30′ to 55°30′ northern altitude, and east to west – for 220 km. Its area is 29,800 square kilometres (11,500 sq mi).

The oblast's territory is crossed by major international motor and railways, linking Kaluga with Moscow, Bryansk, Kyiv, Lviv and Warsaw.

Kaluga Oblast borders on:

• Bryansk Oblast to the south-west
• Oryol Oblast to the south
• Tula Oblast to the east
• Moscow Oblast to the north-east
• Smolensk Oblast to the north-west
• the federal city of Moscow (from July 1, 2012)

Protva River flowing through the oblast near Borovsk

The territory of Kaluga Oblast has been inhabited since ancient times. The oldest human sites discovered by archeologists date back to the Mesolithic period (10,000–6,000 BC). The first mentions of Kaluga's towns are associated with events in the 12th century, specifically, the feudal war between the Olegovichi and the Monomakhovichi (Kozelsk - 1146, Serensk - 1147, Vorotynsk -1155, Mosalsk - 1231).

In the 14th century, Kaluga lands were the place for constant confrontations between Lithuania and Moscow. Traditionally, it is considered that Kaluga was established as a frontier settlement to protect the Moscow principality from Lithuania's attacks.

In 1480–1481, Kaluga's territory was the place of the great stand on the Ugra river, resulting in the liberation of Russian lands from the Tatar yoke and Moscow's transformation into a sovereign state.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, with active development of trade and crafts, the city was advanced in the arts of wood carving and jewelry. After the reunification of Russia and the Ukraine in 1654, Kaluga's role as a trade intermediary between Moscow and the Ukraine contributed also to its economic development.

On August 24, 1776, Catherine the Great issued a decree establishing Kaluga Viceroyalty to unite Kaluga and Tula Governorates. The center of the viceroyalty acquired a new image. During the rule of Paul I, in 1795 Kaluga Viceroyalty was transformed into a governorate.

During the Great Patriotic War, the territory was liberated from German occupation by the Soviet Army's 10th, 16th, 33rd, 43rd, 49th, 50th, and 61st Armies, the 20th Tank Brigade, 1st Air Army, 1st Cavalry Corps, and the Normandy squadron.

The modern oblast was founded in accordance with the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 5, 1944. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kaluga Oblast became a federal subject of the Russian Federation. In March 1996, the Charter of Kaluga Oblast was adopted.

2012

• Births: 11 835 (11.8 per 1000)
• Deaths: 15 806 (15.7 per 1000) [14]
• Total fertility rate:[15]

2014 - 1.69 | 2015 - 1.84 | 2016 - 1.79 (e)

Religion

A Rodnover temple in Kaluga countryside.

Religion in Kaluga Oblast as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)[19][20]
Russian Orthodoxy			48.6%
Other Orthodox			2%
Old Believers			0.6%
Other Christians			7.9%
Islam			0.6%
Rodnovery and other native faiths			1.6%
Spiritual but not religious			25.9%
Atheism and irreligion			8.9%
Other and undeclared			3.9%

Kaluga Oblast is a centre of the Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) movement, being the headquarters of the Union of Slavic Native Faith (Rodnover) Communities (Союз Славянских Общин Славянской Родной Веры) located in Kaluga city. The region has many temples dedicated to the Slavic gods.

Within the framework of administrative divisions, the oblast is divided into twenty-four districts and four cities of oblast significance.

Within the framework of municipal divisions, the territories of the administrative districts are incorporated into twenty-four municipal districts and the territories of the two cities of oblast significance are incorporated as urban okrugs. Two other cities of oblast significance are incorporated as urban settlements within corresponding municipal districts.

Kaluga Region is one of the most economically advanced territories of the Russian Federation. Major international corporations implementing projects in the region include Volkswagen, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen, Mitsubishi, GE, Samsung, Continental, Berlin-Chemie/Menarini, Novo Nordisk, STADA CIS, etc. There is active development in traditional economic segments, as well, represented by manufacturers of turbo generators and gas turbine engines, railway equipment, building materials, electronics, optical systems and much more.

The main regional transport hubs are located in Kaluga, Obninsk, and Sukhinichi.

M3 "Ukraine" is the main automobile highway, with a traffic density of up to 13,800 vehicles/day, which passes through the towns of Balabanovo, Obninsk, Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga, Sukhinichi, and Zhizdra. An equally important role is played by Moscow - Warsaw federal highway, with a traffic density of up to 11,500 vehicles/day, which passes through Belousovo, Obninsk, Maloyaroslavets, Medyn, Yukhnov, and Spas-Demensk. In addition, there is also a highway of regional importance Vyazma-Kaluga-Tula-Ryazan, with a traffic density of up to 6,750 vehicles/day, and the road section M3 "Ukraine" which passes through the town of Balabanovo. The total length of automobile roads with hard surface is 6,564 km. The density of hard surface road network of common use is 165 km per 1,000 km².

The trunk railroad Moscow – Kiev is passing through Balabanovo, Obninsk, Maloyaroslavets, and Sukhinichi. In addition, there are also single-track diesel lines located in the oblast. There is a large locomotive and diesel multiple unit depot located in Kaluga. The total length of the railroads of common use is 872 km. The density of the railroads of common use is 29 km per 1000 km².

There are four airfields in the oblast, including Grabtsevo airport located near the city of Kaluga (closed in 2008), military airfields in the town of Ermolino, and a large military airfield in Shaikovka.

The part of the Oka river flowing from Kaluga is one of the domestic waterways of Russia. There are tourist cruises from Serpukhov to Tarusa and from Serpukhov to Velegozh. In addition, there are two motor ships “Louch” operating along the Kaluga—Aleksin route. The total length of the navigable and conditionally navigable waterways is 101 km. Of special importance is Moscow - Kaluga express (3 departures a day, time en route - 2 hours and 40 minutes).

The city transportation in Kaluga has a well-developed trolleybus system.

The most popular among tourists are the administrative center Kaluga, Optina Pustyn monastery, the City of Military Glory - Kozelsk, Obninsk Science Town, the towns of Maloyaroslavets and Meshchovsk where Napoleon's army was stopped, the Goncharovs country estate in the Polotnyany Zavod, Svyato-Tikhonova Pustyn monastery and Svyato-Pafnutyev Borovsky monastery, the town of Tarusa, and Vorobyi zoo. A number of various tourist paths have been opened in the unique nature reserves—Ugra National Park and Kaluzhskye Zaseki. There are 15 health centers and summer resorts with over 3,500 beds in Kaluga Oblast.

Archstoyanie

John McLaughlin in the Mir Gitary festival

These are some of the regular events that are organized for tourists:

• Arkhistoyanie festival
• Pustye Kholmy festival
• Bike festival in Maloyaroslavets
• Belyi Krolik festival
• Mir Gitary festival
• Zheleznye Devy rock music festival (in Kaluga)

As early as the 16th century, Kaluga was a major commercial port acting as a connecting link between Lithuania and Moscow. Back then, the city exported wooden utensils known far beyond the provincial boundaries. Starting in the 1680s, stone churches were built on the sites of wooden churches. By the latter half of the 18th century, there were 183 stone and 2235 wooden buildings in Kaluga. The 17th-century Korobov mansion with its semidomes and patterned cornices is a fine example of the civil architecture of the period.

Kaluga Oblast Government building

The Charter of Kaluga Oblast is the fundamental law of the oblast. The Legislative Assembly of Kaluga Oblast is the province's standing legislative (representative) body. The highest executive body is the Oblast Government, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters of the province. The Oblast administration supports the activities of the Governor who is the highest official and acts as guarantor of the observance of the oblast Charter in accordance with the Constitution of Russia.

• Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky (1857–1935) — rocket scientist.
• Saint Ambrose of Optina (1812–1891) — a minister of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hieromonk.

• Upper Oka Principalities

• Official website of Kaluga Oblast (in Russian)
• Official website of Anatoly Artamonov, Governor of Kaluga Oblast (in Russian)