Regional flags and emblems
PROFILE
Established 5 December 1936
Capital Saratov
The Saratov Region is part of the Volga Federal District
Area 101,200 sq km
Population 2 385 800 (2024)
Ethnic groups
(2020 National Census, %)
Russian – 89,70
Kazakh – 2,90
Tatar – 1,71
Other – 5,69
Administrative divisions (2024)
Municipal districts – 37
City districts – 4
Rural towns – 37
Rural districts – 256
Geography and climate
The Saratov Region is located in the southeastern section of European Russia in the Lower Volga area.
It borders on the Volgograd, Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, Ulyanovsk, Samara and Orenburg regions; it also shares a state border with Kazakhstan.
The region has 358 rivers and 14 reservoirs, including the Saratov and Volgograd reservoirs. The Volga River, with its tributaries the Tereshka and Bolshoy Irgiz, is the main river.
The Saratov Region has a temperate continental climate. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of –10.2°C and July is the hottest with an average temperature of 21.5°C.
The Saratov State Zoological Nature Sanctuary and the Khvalynsky State National Nature Park are located in the region.
The Volga River divides the region into the Left Bank (Trans-Volga area) and Right Bank areas. The Right Bank is mostly occupied by the Volga Upland (up to 370 m high). The left bank is a relatively high altitude plain. The Caspian Depression is located in the southern part of the Trans-Volga area. The Saratov and Volgograd reservoirs occupy parts of the region.
Government
The legislative branch in the Saratov Region is the Saratov Regional Duma, which is the permanent, representative and only legislative body in the region.
The Saratov Regional Duma has 40 deputies, with 30 running in single-mandate constituencies and the other 10 in the single regional electoral district, where winners are identified in proportion to the number of votes cast for regional lists of candidates nominated by electoral associations. The current Duma was elected in September 2022. Its term ends in September 2027.
The executive branch in the Saratov Region is represented by the Governor of the Saratov Region, the Government, ministries, committees and other executive authorities.
The Governor is the region’s highest-ranking official, who leads the executive branch, heads the regional Government and is responsible for its performance. The Governor is elected for five years by Russian citizens who permanently reside in the region. The term of office of the current incumbent expires in September 2027.
The Government of the Saratov Region is the permanent supreme executive body in the region.
Economy and natural resources
The economy of the Saratov Region is growing. Industrial production accounts for over 30% of the regional GDP.
The region is rich in natural gas, oil, oil shale, construction materials, sulfide mineral waters and sulfide therapeutic muds.
The region’s main industries are machine building and metal processing (aviation, trolleybuses and bearing industries, machine tooling), chemical, oil and consumer goods manufacturing. The region has oil and gas pumping companies. It also has many construction companies.
Saratovneftegas, Rosinvest-Oil, Saratovorgsintez, Elevatormelmash, Khvalynsk Hydraulics Plan, Lukbeloil and Volsktsement are among the leading regional companies.
Power, gas and water are produced and distributed by Rosenergoatom’s Balakovo Nuclear Power Station, as well hydroelectric stations, thermal stations and heat and power stations.
Agriculture accounts for about 10% of the regional GDP. The region is a leading agricultural producer of grain, sunflower and livestock products.
Saratov is a major transport hub that connects central Russia with the Urals, Siberia and Central Asia. It is also a large river port on the Volga. The transport system includes railway, ports, aviation, roads and pipelines. The Saratov-Moscow, Saratov-Penza, and Central Asia-Centre pipelines cross through the region.
Culture and tourism
The Saratov Region is a unique historical and cultural region in the Volga area. It has an interesting cultural heritage that includes about 3,000 landmarks, with over 50 with federal status.
The region has 17th−20th century landmarks, including the Trinity Cathedral, the Church of the Intercession of the Theotokos, as well as the university (1909) and conservatory (1912) buildings in Saratov. The region’s 11 cities are included in the list of historical Russian cities: Saratov, Balashov, Khvalynsk, Novouzensk, Pugachev, Petrovsk, Volsk, Balakovo, Engels, Atkarsk, and Marks.
The region is home to many famous scientists, cultural and public figures including Nikolai Vavilov, Nikolai Chernyshevsky, Alexey Tolstoy, Lev Kassil and artist Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. The history of the region is connected with leaders of Stepan Razin’s peasant rebellion, who stood near the Belogorskoye village in 1667, Yemelyan Pugachev and Vasily Chapayev. Writer Dmitry Furmanov and inventor Pavel Yablochkov lived in the region. Pyotr Stolypin started his political career here. This is also where the first world’s cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin spent his childhood.
The city of Engels was founded in 1747 as salt traders’ Pokrovskaya Sloboda and a place to store salt extracted from Lake Elton. German colonists have been living there since late 18th century. On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin landed near the city.
The Saratov Region is popular with pilgrims. The Vavilov Dale spring near the village of Ivanteyevka, which is located on the banks of the Maly Irgiz and Chernava rivers is one of the most worshipped orthodox holy places.
Those who enjoy skiing can visit the Roshcha Ski Base in Saratov as well as ski bases in Volsk and Khvalynsk districts.
The main tourist areas include the Volgograd and Saratov reservoirs, the Khoper, Medveditsa and Tereshka Rivers with their tributaries, and forests along the banks of the Volga River. There are many hotels, health resorts and campgrounds on the banks and islands of the Volga River, with hotels located near the village of Chardym between the Volga and Chardym rivers being the most popular.
The Saratov Region has mineral springs (with balneal, therapeutic and table waters) and muds used in health resorts, hospitals, preventative clinics and health care centers.