Khabarovsk Territory

The Khabarovsk Territory is called the heart of the Far East not by chance. Located in the center of the Far-Eastern economic region it is the point of intersection of the most important transport ways connecting internal districts of Russia with the Pacific Rim Countries. It has a favorable geographic position, unique nature, rich natural resources, industrial and scientific potential, developed transport network and experienced personnel to expand its foreign economic ties, tourism and to attract foreign investors.

In the Middle Ages the Khabarovsk Territory was populated by the Tungus, the Manchus and the Nivkhs, in China these peoples are called «the Jurchens». Also it was the residence for Aur, Tungus, Natki and Gilyak tribes. Russian reclamation of the Khabarovsk Territory began in the XVII-th century and continued in the XX-th century.

The Khabarovsk Territory is one of the largest administrative-territorial units in the Russian Federation. Its area is 788.600 sq. km. The Territory stretches for 1800 kilometers from North to South. It borders on the Sakha Republic (Yakutiya), the Jewish Autonomous Area, the Primorski Territory, the Amur Region and the Magadan Region. The Khabarovsk Territory is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan.

The climate of the Khabarovsk Territory can be defined as a monsoon climate. Winter is long and severe. Summer is warm and humid. Climate conditions vary significantly from North to South and depend on the land relief and sea vicinity. The best period to visit the Territory is the end of summer while it is still warm and rainless: one may enjoy journey on foot or rafting. Winter is a perfect time for skiing and snowboarding.

The Khabarovsk Territory is rich in various natural resources: land, water, forest and other biological resources, numerous mineral resources. The Territory plays an important role in the economy of the Russian Far East and Russia due to such natural resources as timber, precious species of fish and fur animals, ferrous metals, water resources, etc. It is also rich in such mineral resources as coal, ores and gold. The Khabarovsk Territory is one of the largest suppliers of stanniferous raw materials.

There are more than 120.000 big and small rivers in the Khabarovsk Territory. One of the largest rivers accessible for sea-going ships is the Amur River. Energy resources of rivers are great, but their usage is limited because of salmon spawning.

The Khabarovsk Territory is also situated in the forest zone with highly diverse forests spread throughout the area of the Territory, although coniferous species dominate.

The population of the Khabarovsk Territory numbers about 2 million people. The density of the population in the Territory is 2.1 per square kilometer. The Territory is inhabited by more than 90 nations and nationalities such as the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Byelorussians, the Tatars and others.

The Khabarovsk Territory is the place of European and Asian cultures interaction, a great variety of nature, monuments and ancient history. One can meet traditional culture of native peoples in national villages. A unique archeological monument «Sikachi-Alyan petroglyphs» with petroglyphic drawing dated as of XII-th century B.C. was opened on the bank of the Amur River that is located in the distance of 75 km from Khabarovsk.

Post-text exercises

Ex. 5. Form derivatives from the following words and translate them into Russian:

1. Model: to create - creation

to locate; to connect; to define; to occupy; to administrate; to transport; to attract, to limit, to extract.

2. Model: territory - territorial

nature; industry; geography; biology, history.

Ex. 6. Give the English equivalents for the following word-combinations and use them in the sentences or situations of your own:

называться центром; Дальневосточный экономический регион, самые важные транспортные пути; международные экономические связи, благоприятное географическое положение; административно-территориальная единица, уникальная природа; полезные ископаемые; научный потенциал; простираться; граничить; занимать важное место; благодаря; быть расположенным; насчитывать; морские суда, поставщики, плотность населения, нерест лососёвых рыб, коренные народы, освоение земель, прогулки пешком, уникальный археологический памятник.

Ex. 7. Put questions to the underlined parts.

1. The Khabarovsk Territory is located in the center of the Far Eastern economic region.

2. It borders on the Sakha Republic (Yakutiya), the Jewish Autonomous Area, the Primorski Territory, the Amur Region and the Magadan Region.

3. The Territory is separated from Sakhalin by the Tatar Strait.

4. The Khabarovsk Territory is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan.

5. It has favourable conditions to expand its foreign economic ties, tourism and to attract foreign investors.

6. The climate of the Khabarovsk Territory can be defined as monsoon.

7. The Khabarovsk Territory is rich in various natural resources.

8. There are more than 120.000 big and small rivers in the Khabarovsk Territory.

9. The density of the population in the Khabarovsk Territory is 2.1 per square kilometer.

10. The Territory is inhabited by more than 90 nations and nationalities.

Ex. 8. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English:

1. Хабаровский край расположен в центре российского Дальнего Востока.

2. Освоение земель Хабаровского края русскими началось в 17 веке.

3. Хабаровский край - один из самых крупных регионов Российской Федерации.

4. Его площадь - 788,6 тысяч квадратных километров.

5. Территория края простирается с севера на юг почти на 1800 километров и с запада на восток на 125-750 километров.

6. Климат края - муссонный. Для него характерны холодная зима и влажное жаркое лето.

7. Хабаровский край обладает разнообразными природными богатствами, биологическими ресурсами, многочисленными полезными ископаемыми.

8. Край играет важную роль в экономике российского Дальнего Востока и России благодаря природным богатствам.

9. В крае более 120 000 больших и малых рек. Одна из самых больших рек, доступных для прохода морских судов, - река Амур.

10. Население Хабаровского края насчитывает около 2 млн. человек.

11. В крае проживает более 90 наций и национальностей.

Ex. 9. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. The Khabarovsk Territory is the point ... intersection ... the most important transport ways connecting internal districts … Russia ... the Pacific Rim Countries.

2. The Khabarovsk Territory is one ... the largest administrative-territorial units ... the Russian Federation.

3. It is separated ... Sakhalin ... the Tatar Strait, and is separated ... the Kamchatka Region ... the Sea of Okhotsk.

4. The Territory borders ... the Sakha Republic (Yakutiya), the Jewish Autonomous Area, the Primorski Territory, the Amur Region and the Magadan Region.

5. It is washed ... the Sea ... Okhotsk and the Sea ... Japan.

6. Climate conditions vary significantly ... North ... South, and depend ... the land relief and sea vicinity.

7. The Territory is rich ... various natural resources.

8. It plays an important role ... the economy ... the Russian Far East and Russia due ... such natural resources as timber, precious species ... fish and fur animals, ferrous metals, water resources, etc.

9. One ... the largest rivers accessible ... sea-going ships is the Amur River.

10. The Territory is inhabited ... more than 90 nations and nationalities.

Ex. 10. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is the Khabarovsk Territory called the heart of the Far East?

2. What countries and regions do the transport ways of the Khabarovsk Territory connect?

3. What conditions does the Territory have to expand its foreign economic ties, tourism and to attract foreign investors?

4. What is its area?

5. Is the Khabarovsk Territory located in the center of the Russian Federation?

6. What seas is it washed by?

7. How can the climate of the Khabarovsk Territory be defined?

8. What biological resources is the Khabarovsk Territory rich in?

9. What mineral resources is the Khabarovsk Territory rich in?

10. What is the population of the Territory?

Ex. 11. Read the dialogue and put it into reported speech.

Nick: Hello, Peter!

Peter: Hello, Nick!

N.: It's been a long time since I saw you last. What a pleasant surprise!

Where have you been all this time?

P.: Oh, I've been to Alaska on business.

N.: Was it successful?

P.: Fine, thanks. How are things with you?

N.: Very much the same. Thank you. Did you enjoy your stay in Alaska?

P.: Oh, very much. It's a vast, exotic and wonderful land. Alaska occupies the north-western part of North America. It's the 49th state of the USA.

N.: But as far as I know the coast of Alaska was discovered by the Russian pioneers in the 17th century. This discovery was officially fixed by Chirikov's expedition in 1741. Don't you remember when Alaska was sold to America?

P.: In 1867 for 7.2 mln. dollars.

N.: What natural resources is Alaska rich in?

P.: Alaska's primary resources of revenue are based оn the extraction of resources: fish, timber, coal, gold, and of course, oil. Second to these is tourism. They make a lot of money up there every year simply because so many people want to see this wonderful land for themselves.

N.: I've read that the climate is mild there. What's the weather like in winter?

P: Right you are. It's not cold. 15^оC below zero, even 21^оС below zero temperatures are still recorded almost every year, the coldest being 26^оС below zero. This tremendous range of temperatures lends a special zest to life for Alaska's residents. Summer is frantic, three-or-four month burst of activity.

P.: Thanks a lot for your excellent information. If I have a chance I'll visit Alaska. Good-bye.

N.: Good-bye.

Ex. 12. Act as an interpreter. Sum up the dialogue.

A.: Where is the Khabarovsk Territory situated?

B.: Хабаровский край расположен в центре российского Дальнего Востока. Это один из самых крупных административных, экономических, транспортных регионов Российской Федерации.

A.: What countries does it border on?

B.: Хабаровский край граничит с республикой Саха (Якутия), Еврейской автономной областью, Приморским краем, Амурской и Магаданской областями.

A.: What is its area?

B.: Территория края простирается с севера на юг почти на 1800 километров и с запада на восток на 325-750 километров.

A.: What natural resources is the Khabarovsk Territory rich in?

B.: Хабаровский край обладает большими и разнообразными природными богатствами - земельными, водными, лесными и другими биологическими ресурсами, многочисленными полезными ископаемыми.

A.: What mineral resources is the Khabarovsk Territory known for?

B.: На территории Хабаровского края имеются залежи каменного и бурого угля, крупные запасы апатитовых и железных руд. В пределах Хабаровского края добывается золото. Хабаровский край - один из крупнейших поставщиков оловосодержащего сырья.

A.: What is the population of the Territory?

В.: В крае проживает около 2 млн. человек. Плотность населения составляет 2,1 человека на 1 кв. км. На территории края проживают более 90 наций и национальностей: русские, украинцы, белорусы, татары и др. Среди малочисленных народов Севера - нанайцы эвенки, ульчи, нивхи, эвены.

Ex. 13. Speak on the topics:

1. Geographical position of the Khabarovsk Territory.

2. The climate of the Khabarovsk Territory.

3. Natural resources of the Territory.

4. Population of the Khabarovsk Territory.