Kirov area

Geographical location
Kirov  area is situated in the north-east of the European part of Russia. Its area is 120.8 thousand sq. km, length from north to south - 570 km, from west to east - 440 km

Natural resources
More than 60% of the territory is covered with forests. Reserves of timber are 345 million cubic meters. In the region there is the field of phosphorus. Its supplies make up 2 billion tons. There are great reserves of limestone, clay, sand, gravel, shale. Supplies of peat comprise 435 million tons.
The region is rich in mineral springs and mud-cure.

Administrative division
The region is divided into 39 districts. There are 18 towns, 58 town settlements, 584 village administrations, 5020 villages. Regional centre is Kirov (founded in 1374) with the population 501 thousand people. The town is situated on the river Vyatka. Population of the region is more than 1,600,000 people, in towns - 70%, in villages - 30%. Density of population is 13.5 persons per sq. km.

Science and education
Complex of scientific organizations and enterprises of bio-technological industry are concentrated in the region. Volgo - Vyatsky centre of applied bio-technology will be a big exporter of new technologies.