About the project

Territory of Russia: general information

The section contains the materials on the territory of Russia in general (statistic data, information on area, climate, natural phenomenon, natural resources, etc.). Documents in subsections related to natural resources, are arranged in alphabetical order in accordance with place names. Reference editions are represented primarily by geographic dictionaries. Mapping of natural phenomenon and resources is represented by “Maps and plans” section.

Formation of the territory of Russia. Land reclamation

The section contains materials covering the process of formation and development of the Russian state territory and the national boundary. Documents, relating to the lands which are now beyond the Russian borders, were selected in view of the historical period while they were a part of the Russian or Soviet state. Material on the historical geography of the country is also available in “Maps and plans” section.

Russia – a maritime power

The section highlights the materials related to sea possessions of Russia. They cover such topics as struggle for access to seas, creation of strong points at seashores, research expeditions and round-the-world tours, description of sea resources, sea maps and sailing directions. Special attention is attended to the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route.

Regions of Russia

The section contains local history materials covering the history, potential and features of development of particular Russian regions in different historical periods. Special attention attended to the documents on the development of administrative and territorial division of the country and in particular to the formation of provinces as well as publications and archival documents on centers of population. The material is divided into three subsections in accordance with historical ages and is arranged in order of place names of administrative units within major geographical regions. Maps and illustrations on particular regions are available accordingly in “Maps and plans” and “Graphic materials” sections.

Communication lines

The section highlights publications, maps and archival documents reflecting the importance of the Russian water routes, dirt roads, highways, mail routes and railways for maintaining connection between different parts of the country. In perspective the materials on air lines will also be included.

Study of the territory of Russia

The section contains materials on the activity of the Russian geographic organizations and particular geographers and students of local history, scientific research in the field of geography as well as textbooks on different fields of geography (general, historical, economical, etc.) including educational atlases. Studies on particular Russian territories are available in the “Regions of Russia” section.

Maps and plans

The section contains maps which reflect natural, historical, political and economical features of development of the Russian territory, itineraries of research expeditions, plans of particular centers of population. The selection of works on cartography is highlighted. Since it was Irkutsk Regional State Universal Research Library which had made a major contribution to the collection development, the materials, for the most part, relate to Siberia. Maps are arranged in order of place names of administrative units within major geographical regions. Besides, educational atlases are available in the “Study of the territory of Russia” section; roadmaps are presented in the “Communication lines” section and sea maps – in the “Russia – a maritime power” section.

Graphic materials

The section begins with the collection of photographs by S. M. Prokudin-Gorsky made at the turn of 19th – 20th centuries from the holdings of the Library of Congress. The photographs are arranged in alphabetic order of place names. Selections of illustrations from the holdings of the Presidential Library, information centers of the Russian regions and countries of the near abroad are also arranged by groups in alphabetic order of place names.

Internet resources