Mordovia
From Free net encyclopedia
The Republic of Mordovia (Template:Lang-ru; Moksha: Мордовскяй Республикась; Erzya: Мордовской Республикась) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). The direct transliteration of the republic's name is Respublika Mordoviya in Russian, Mordovskäj Respubikasj in Moksha and Mordovskoj Respublikasj in Erzya.
Template:Federal subject of Russia
Contents |
Geography
The Republic is located in the eastern part of the East European Plain of the Russian Federation. Western part of the republic is situated in the Oka Don Plain; its eastern and central parts—in the Volga Elevation.
- Area: 26,200 km².
- Borders:
- internal: Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (N), Chuvashia (NE/E), Ulyanovsk Oblast (E/SE), Penza Oblast (S/SW), Ryazan Oblast (W/NW)
- Highest point: 324 m (crossing of the road from Bolshoy Maresev with the roads to Mokshaley, Pyaigiley, and Picheury)
Time zone
Image:RTZ2.png Mordovia is located in the Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD). UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).
Rivers
There are 114 rivers in Mordovia. Major rivers include:
Lakes
There are approximately 500 lakes in Mordovia.
Natural Resources
Natural resources include peat, mineral waters, and other.
Climate
Climate is moderately continental.
- Average January temperature: −11°C
- Average July temperature: +19°C
- Average annual precipitation: ~500 mm
Administrative divisions
- Main article: Administrative divisions of Mordovia
Demographics
The Mordvin people are a Finnic group speaking two related languages, Moksha and Erzya, both considered to be dialects of the Mordvinian language.
- Population: 888,766 (2002)
- Urban: 531,478 (59.8%)
- Rural: 357,288 (40.2%)
- Male: 408,556 (46.0%)
- Female: 480,210 (54.0%)
- Females per 1000 males: 1,175
- Average age: 38.7 years
- Urban: 36.8 years
- Rural: 41.3 years
- Male: 35.9 years
- Female: 41.2 years
- Number of households: 332,995 (with 866,749 people)
- Urban: 197,923 (with 525,808 people)
- Rural: 135,072 (with 340,941 people)
History
Early history
Earliest archaeological signs of human beings in the area of Mordovia are from the neolithical era. Finnic-Ugric mordvins are mentioned in written sources in 6th century.
Mongol rule
Mongols conquered vast areas of Eastern Europe in 13th century, including the area of Mordvins. Mongols established the khanate of Golden Horde in 1241, unders whose subjugation the area of Mordovia also belonged. Mordvins fought sometimes with Russians against Mongols. The Golden Horde disintegrated in 1330's, which resulted in Mordvins becoming subjects of Khanate of Kazan, the successor monarchy.
Russian rule
When Russia annexed the khanate of Kazan in 1552, also lands of Mordvins became subjugated to tsardom of Russia. Mordvin elite assumed rapidly Russian customs and language. In rural countryside, mordvin culture however was preserved. Russians started to convert Mordvins to christian faith in mid-1700's. Mordvins gave up their own shamanist religion only slowly, however, and many of shamanist features were preserved as parts of local culture though population became nominally christian. Translations of literature to Mordvin language(s) were mostly religious books. In 1700's, Latin alphabet was used in writing Mordvin, but in mid-1800's, it was canged to cyrillic alphabet.
Part of the Soviet Union
During the Russian revolution and civil war, Mordovia was held mostly by opposers of bolsheviks. When bolsheviks prevailed in war, Mordovia became a part of union. In 1925, soviet government founded autonomic districts and village councils in the area of Mordvins. During the soviet era, two written languages were developed: based on erzya dialect in 1922 and on moksha dialect in 1923, both using cyrillic script. Autonomic district of Mordvins was founded 16.7.1928 and it was elevated to autonomic area 10.1.1930. The Autonomic area was formed as the Autonomic Socialist Soviet Republic of Mordovia 20.12.1934. Mordvinian National Okrug was established on July 16, 1928. On January 10 it was transformed into Mordvinian Autonomous Oblast, then, on December 20, 1934, into Mordvinian ASSR.
Part of the Russian Federation
When Soviet union disintegrated, ASSR of Mordvins proclaimed itself as Republic of Mordovia in 1991, and remained a part of Federation of Russia. The Republic of Mordovia in its present form exists since January 25, 1994.
Politics
The head of government in the Republic of Mordovia is the Head of the Republic. As of 2004, the head of the republic is Nikolay Ivanovich Merkushkin, who was elected in February of 1998.
Economy
The most developed industries are machine building, chemical, woodworking, and food industries. Most of the industrial enterprises are located in the capital Saransk, as well as in the towns of Kovylkino and Ruzayevka, and in the urban settlements of Chamzinka (Erzya: Chaunza) and the adjacent Komsomolsky.
Culture
There are many museums in Mordovia. The largest ones include the Mordovian Republican United Museum of Regional Studies and the Museum of Mordvinian Culture in Saransk.
The National Library of the Republic of Mordovia is the largest library in the republic.
The State Puppet Theater of the Republic of Mordovia, located in Saransk, is well-known in Russia. Most of the plays played in this theater are Russian fairy-tales.
Education
The most important facilities of higher education include Mordovian State University and Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute in Saransk.
Religion
The prevailing confession is the Russian Orthodox Church.
See also
External links
- Template:Ru icon Official website of the Republic of Mordovia.
- Template:Ru icon Official website of Mordovian State University.
- Template:En icon Template:Ru icon Template:Fr icon International Relations Office of Mordovian State University
- Template:Ru icon Official website of the National Library of the Republic of Mordovia
- Template:Ru icon Official website of the State Puppet Theater of the Republic of Mordovia.
ca:Mordòvia cv:Мордва Республики de:Mordwinien et:Mordva Vabariik es:Mordovia eo:Mordvio ko:모르도바 공화국 it:Mordovia nl:Mordovië ja:モルドヴィア共和国 no:Mordovia pl:Mordwa ru:Мордовия sr:Мордовија fi:Mordva sv:Mordvinien