My native land Kuzbass

My native land Kuzbass! Author : Larisa Vladimirovna Rahmatullina School №61 named after Ilgizar Ale[androvich Kasakin

Dear friends! If you look closely at the map of Siberia, it will show you the outline of heart. And it beats, And the Fatherland listens to the working rhythm of Kuznetsk region. I invite you to the exciting virtual excursion to Kuzbass. Welcome! The area of the region is 95,725 square km. According to this indicator the region ranks the 34 -th in the Russian Federation.

In July 6, 2021 celebration of the 300th anniversary of Kuzbass will be held Kuzbass is a region widely known as the industrial heart of Russia. But our region is not only famous for its industry. Here, in the heart of the Siberian taiga there is a unique natural-historical and ethno-cultural complex with a huge tourist potential.

The region's population reaches 2 657 854 people. The native inhabitants of Kuzbass are: Teleuts and Shors, Kalmaks and Siberian Tatars. Shors Teleuts Kalmaks Siberian Tatars

There are 20 cities in Kuzbass. The region has the highest population density outside the Urals (30.2 people per 1 sq. km), 87% of which is concentrated in urban areas. Kemerovo Novokuznetsk Poluysaevo Mezhdurechensk Prokop’evsk Andzhero-Sudzhensk Belovo Leninsk-Kuznetsk Kisiloyvsk

A variety of minerals is found in the region: hard and brown coal, iron and polymetallic ore, gold, phosphate, building stone and other mineral resources. By the combination and availability of natural resources the region can be called unique.

On July 6 in 1721, Mikhailo Volkov found coal deposits ("Gorelaya Gora") near Verkhotomsky Ostrog (the present city of Kemerovo). This discovery was the beginning of the industrial development of the Kuznetsk coal basin. The evidence of establishing large coal reserves in the Kemerovo region was submitted to Peter I .

There are also metallurgical plants in Kuzbass such as The Novokuznetsk Aluminum Plant, West Siberian Metallurgical Plant, Anzhero-Sudzhensk branch of JSC «Kuznetsk ferroalloys» and others. They say that the quality of Kuzbass coal is the best in the world.

The animal world of Kuzbass is diverse. Large animals include elk and maral, Siberian ROE deer and reindeer. Brown bear, lynx, and Wolverine are the most common carnivores. Of commercial importance are the squirrel, muskrat and birds — capercailzie, hazel grouse, black grouse.

The vegetation is also very diverse. There are plants of tundra and Alpine meadows, vegetation of steppes and forest-steppes, pine forests and much more.

Forests cover 63.9 thousand km2, which is 67 % of the entire territory. There are 87 local forest districts. Coniferous stands occupy 48.2 % including pine, spruce, fir, larch and cedar. Soft-leaved stands occupy 51.8 % including birch, aspen and willow tree. Linden and poplar stands are about 0.1 %.

The region's cultural heritage includes more than 1,300 architectural, historical and cultural monuments including 24 of Federal significance. 

Kuzbass is a region rich not only in coal but also in people who were born or raised in the region. Vladimir Mashkov Famous actor, artistic Director of the Oleg Tabakov Theater. Oleg Tinkov The Russian businessman, founder of the Bank "Tinkoff» Alexander Golovin a famous footballer Elena Malysheva Russian TV presenter, doctor of medical Sciences, Professor Leonov Aleksey Arkhipovich Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, cosmonaut of the USSR Vladimir Alekseyevich Chivilikhin — Russian Soviet writer, essayist

A competition to identify seven of the most unique and significant historical, cultural and natural sites located on its territory was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the region. Tomskaya Pisanitsa (Yashkinsky district) – a rock with petroglyphs‑rock paintings of the bronze age, a unique ancient monument of rock art. In ancient times Tomsk Pisanitsa was a natural sanctuary.

Kuznetsk fortress (Novokuznetsk) is a unique masterpiece of military engineering art of the XIX century, a monument of history and architecture. At the end of the XVIII century the city of Kuznetsk (now Novokuznetsk) remained an important stronghold on the Eastern flank of the Grand linear border system from the Caspian to the Altai.

Monument “The Memory of the Kuzbass miners" (Kemerovo) is a symbol of heroic mining work, a reminder of the high price paid for "black" gold. The monument is located in the protected area of the city's historical and architectural Museum "Krasnaya Gorka" which includes the territory of the former Kemerovo mine with the oldest industrial and civil buildings of the early XX century.

Mariinsk Open‑air Museum City is the rarest example of a district Siberian city of the late XIX and early XX centuries.

"Golden Shoria" (Tashtagol) is a sculptural composition and a majestic symbol of Mountain Shoria. All the power of Siberian nature and the secrets of the ancient land are absorbed in the majestic six-meter monument.

Azasskaya cave (Tashtagolsky district) is a beautiful and mysterious place associated with the legendary snowman. In total, 115 caves are registered in the Gorno‑Shor District of the Kuznetsk Alatau, 12 of them are classified as the largest.

Celestial Teeth (Mezhdurechensky district) is a picturesque mountain range in the Kuznetsk Alatau, a real Paradise for tourists. This area known in other regions of Russia. To the East of The celestial Teeth there is the valley of the Haratas River called the Golden Valley.

So, my dear friends, our excursion has come to end. We have just visited wonderful places located in different parts of our region. Homeland for everyone begins with their home, with their family, with their village, with their region. And in the everyday life of the era and in each of us we hear the pulsating proud name – Kuzbass! Happy birthday, my dear region Kuzbass!