The Orenburg region lies to the South-East of the European part of Russia. Its main river is the Ural River which flows into the Caspian Sea. The region occupies a very favourable geographical position. It is situated at the cross-roads of the most important ways that connect Europe and Asia. The Orenburg region is one of the largest in Russia. Its territory is 124000 square km. The region stretches for some 750 km from east to west.
The region's climate is sharp continental. It means that summers are very hot with much sun and winters are cold with much snow. There are many springs of mineral waters. Many of these waters are used for medical purposes. The region is famous for the Buzuluk pine forest where one can meet wild animals: elks, deer, boars, wolves, foxes, hares, squirrels, black grouses and others. The steppes and old mountains occupy a large part of the region's territory.
The Orenburg region disposes of great amount of mineral resources. Their variety distinguishes the Orenburg region not only in the country but also abroad. The well known geologist Fersman called our region "The Pearl of the Urals". There are more then 2500 deposits of 75 economic minerals: gas, oil, oil shale, brown and stone coal, ferrous and non-ferrous metal-ores, rare metals, stone salt, jasper and other. The unique gas condensate deposits come to nearly 10 percent of all gas stocks in the country. This deposit is characterized by gas saturation.
Building materials are also here: sand, clay, limestone, chalk, gypsum, asbestos, crushed stone. The Orenburg region has white and grey marble deposits.
The Sol-Iletsk stone salt is distinguished by the unique purity.
The leading part in the industrial structure of the region belongs to the fuel and energy complex, machine-building, metallurgical branches and agricultural enterprises.
Enterprises of the machine-building complex produce blacksmith's and press equipment, boring, electrotechnical devices, means of transport (buses).
Metallurgical enterprises produce non-ferrous and ferrous metals, cast iron, rolled goods, nickel and aluminum, copper rolled goods.
The region disposes of favorable conditions for food-stuffs production: high-quality wheat, sun-flower seeds, fruit, vegetables, gourds, as well as milk and meat. Cattle-breeding and sheep-breeding are developed in the region.
The Orenburg region is divided into 35 administrative districts. There are 12 towns in the region, among them are Orsk, Buzuluk, Kuvandyk and others. The region's population is more than 2,2 ml. people of more than 80 nationalities.