Yaroslavl Oblast

Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by the Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additionally, the city of Yaroslavl, the administrative center of the oblast, is served by major highways, railroads, and waterways. The population of the oblast was 1,272,468 (2010 Census). Geography The climate of Yaroslavl Oblast is temperate continental, with long, cold, and snowy winters, and a short but quite warm summer. Average January temperature is about , while the average in July is . Formerly almost all territory was covered with thick conifer forest (fir, pine). After much of this was harvested, now a large portion of territory has been replaced by second-growth birch-and-aspen forests and crop fields. Swamps also take up considerable areas. Large animals have been much reduced in numbers, but there are still some bears, wolves, foxes, moose, and wild boars. A great number of wild birds live and nest in the oblast.