8 Bashkortostan

The republic of Bashkortostan is located in the southern part of the Ural mountains. The area of the republic is 143.6 square kilometres, the population is over 4 million people. Many nationalities inhabit Bashkortostan, Bashkirs, Russians and Tatars are the most numerous among them.

The natural riches of the republic include iron ore, copper, zinc, oil and natural gas. Bashkortostan is one of the major industrial centers of Russia. Among the leading branches are oil refining, petrochemical, chemical and microbiological.

Bashkortostan ranks among the leading agricultural regions. Plant growing and cattle breeding are on a high level here. Our republic is a great producer of grain and vegetable crops, wheat, rye, buckwheat, barley, oats and millet. Our farmers successfully grow different vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, sugar beet, onions, cabbage, etc. Bashkir farmers breed cows, sheep, pigs and poultry. Horse breeding, cattle breeding and bee keeping are traditional occupations of Bashkirs.

The nature of our republic is very beautiful. Forests cover more than 40 per cent of its territory. Clean rivers and lakes are a nice place for people to rest. No wonder, that people from different parts of Russia come to Bashkir health resorts, rest homes and tourist camps.

The capital of Bashkortostan Ufa was founded in 1574. Now it is a big beautiful city, the centre of political, economic and cultural changes in the republic. All principal higher educational institutions are concentrated in Ufa. The city has five theatres, a lot of cinemas, several museums and centres of entertainment.

8.1 Dialogues

• What bus will take me to Nesterov museum?

• I advise you to go on foot. It’s not far from here.

• Can you explain the way, please?

• No problem. Turn left at the crossroads and go straight on for 100 or 120 metres. Nesterov museum will be on your right.

• Is it a modern building?

• Oh, no. It’s a nice old building.

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• Have you been to Nesterov museum?

• Только вчера.

• Тебе понравилось?

• I have never thought that there is such a nice, rich, and wonderful museum in Ufa.

• Что тебе так сильно там понравилось?

• I liked all the pictures there. Before I didn’t have a chance to see any paintings, only in magazines. They are nothing compared to real ones.

• Почему он называется музей Нестерова? Кто такой Нестеров?

• Nesterov was a well known painter. Back in 1920s he donated to his native city a collection of his own paintings and those by the masters of the 19^th century.

• Я поговорю со студентами моей группы и приглашу их пойти в музей.

• Я уверена, вам понравится.

* * *

• Where can we have a good time in Ufa?

• Это не проблема. Сейчас в Уфе так много центров развлечений, кафе, бистро. Можно пойти в кино или театр.

• Let’s first go for a walk in Yakutov park. My friend told me that there is a nice lake there and a modern café on the bank of the lake.

• Замечательная идея. Я много раз была в парке, но ни разу не заходила в кафе. Я даже не знаю, как оно называется.

• And after that we can go to a cinema.

• Давай пойдем в Молодежный театр. И там я тоже никогда не была.

• It’s so nice that I came to visit you. Thanks to me you will know your native city better.

* * *

• Мои родители приедут ко мне на выходные. Хочу повести их к памятнику Салавату Юлаеву.

• I like Salavat Yulaev monument very much. The view from it is beautiful.

• Это любимое место студентов. Мы с группой тоже туда часто ходим..

• Я думаю, тебе надо сводить их и к памятнику Дружбы народов. Там тоже очень красивый вид: река Белая, корабли на реке. Я думаю, погода не изменится, и будет тепло и солнечно.

• I’ll take my parents to Yulaev monument and Peoples Friendship monument. I am sure, we will have a good time, and they will like both places.

• People like to take photos of themselves near monuments. Не забудь фотоаппарат.

• I will not.