Mordovia
The Republic of Mordovia (Moksha: Мордовскяй Республикась; Erzya: Мордовской Республикась; Russian: Респу´блика Мордо´вия) 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.
Республика Мордовия
Мордовскяй Республикась
| align=center width=175 | |- Flag of Mordovia Coat of arms of Mordovia |- Saransk|- Area
- total
- % water72nd
- 26,200 km²
- negligible|-Population
- Total
- Density62nd
- est. 888,766 (2002)
- est. 33.9/km²Political status - Federal district - Economic Region - Cadaster # - style="border-bottom: 1px #aaa solid;" |Russian, Moksha, Erzya|- Nikolay Ivanovich Merkushkin|- - Anthem -
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
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:- Alatyr River
- Issa River
- Moksha River
- Satis River
- Sivin River
- Sura River
- Vad River
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
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. 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.