Federation Council Representatives: Nikolai Fyodorov (2010 to 2015), Lebedev (2002 to 2011)
Population: 1,313,900 (2002 census)
Area: 18,300 square km (7,064 sq. miles)
Capital: Cheboksary (population 440,800), 880 km from Moscow
Other major cities: Novocheboksarsk (125,900) Federal district: Volga
Economic district: Volga
Time zone: Moscow, GMT +3, EST +8
Geography: Chuvashia is surrounded by the industrially developed centers of Russia: it borders on Nizhny Novgorod Region in the west, the Republic of Mari El in the north, the Republic of Tatarstan in the east, and the Republic of Mordovia and Ulyanovsk Region in the south. The Volga is the main river flowing through Chuvashia and there are more than 350 lakes.
Urban population: 61%, Rural population: 39%
Ethnic make-up: includes Chuvash (67%) and Russians (27%)
Economy: The economy of Chuvashia is dominated by manufacturing. Chuvashia's economy specializes in engineering and metalworking, light industry, forestry and woodworking, and the food industry. The main industrial centers are Cheboksary, Novocheboksarsk, Kanash, Alatyr, and Shumerlya.
