Capital: Rostov-on-Don (population 1,048,124), 1,226 km from Moscow
Other major cities: Taganrog (255,100), Shakhty (245,200), Novocherkassk (176,700), Volgodonsk (169,100), Bataisk (104,200), Novoshakhtinsk (11,2040)
Federal district: Southern
Economic region: North Caucasus
Time zone: Moscow, GMT +3, EST +8
Geography: Rostov Region is located in the southern part of European Russia with a coastline on Taganrog Bay in the Sea of Azov. It borders Ukraine, Stavropol and Krasnodar territories and the Voronezh and Volgograd Regions. It connects central Russia with the North Caucasus and has an outlet to the Black Sea. The Don river flows through the territory.
Urban population: 68%, Rural population: 32%
Ethnic make-up: more than 26 nationalities, including Russians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Belarussians, Germans, and Koreans
Economy: Rostov is one of Russia's major economic producers. The region produces 100% of the mainline electric locomotives and steam boilers and three-quarters of the combine harvesters manufactured in the country, and is a Russian leader in the areas of heavy helicopter engineering and production of ship navigation systems. In addition, the region produces 16.5% of all ferrous metals in Russia. The region has been the country's second-largest agricultural producer for many years, focusing on grains and sunflowers.
