VOLGAURAL REGION

Volga-Ural Region: translation

While lacking administrative legitimacy, the Volga-Ural region is a historical and cultural concept with the Russian Federation. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, theVolga Riverbasin and the foothills of theUral Mountainsare home to a sizable percentage of Russia’snational minorities. During the Russian Civil War, a confederation ofTatars,Bashkirs,Mari,Udmurts,Mordvins, andChuvashand other non-Russian groups was established known as the Idel-Ural State, using the Tatar name for the Volga. The region is rich inoilreserves and possesses a fairly well-developedindustrialbase. In 2001, the Russianmilitaryconsolidated two of its districts to create the Volga-Ural Military District with its command at Yekaterinburg.