Moscow Oblast

Lore & Background

The oblast is mostly flat, with some hills with a height of about 160 m in the western and extensive lowlands in the eastern part. The western and northern parts contain the Moscow Uplands, whose average height peaks at about 300 m near Dmitrov and the upper point of 310 m lies near the village of Shapkino in Mozhaysky District. The northern part of the Moscow Uplands is steeper than the southern part. To the north lies the alluvial Verhnevolzhsk Depression, marshy and flat with heights between about 120 m and 150 m. To the south stretches the Moskvoretsko-Oksk plain, with its greatest height of 254 m in the area of Tyoply Stan within Moscow city limits. In the extreme south, after the Oka River, lies the Central Russian Upland with average height above 200 m and maximum of 236 m near Pushchino. Most of the eastern part is taken by the Meshchera Lowlands, with average heights of 120–150 m; the lowest natural elevation is the water level of Oka River at 97 m. Moscow Oblast is located in the central part of the East European craton. The basement consists of Archaean and Proterozoic rocks; the lowest depth of the basement (1000 m) is to the south of Serebryanye Prudy, and the largest (4200 m) is to the east of Sergiyev Posad. Quaternary deposits are widely distributed; there were four glaciations in the area. The oblast is rich in minerals including quartz sand, clay, limestone, dolomite, phosphates, peat, and brown coal. The climate is humid continental, with average annual temperature from +3.5°C to +5.5°C; the coldest months are January and February with average temperatures of -9°C in the west and -12°C in the east, and a minimum of -54°C observed in Naro-Fominsk.

Reader's Guide

The oblast is highly industrialized with major industries including metallurgy, oil refining, mechanical engineering, food, energy, and chemical industries. Mineral resources include quartz sand (mined at Yeganovskoye field), clay (including refractory white clay near Gzhel and the Kudinovskoye deposit near Elektrougli), limestone (from quarries of Podolsky, Voskresensky, and Kolomensky Districts), dolomite (near Shchyolkovo), phosphates (Yegorevskoye and Severskoye fields), and peat (mines around Yegoryevsk). There are also mineral springs near Zvenigorod, Klin, and Serpukhov, and deeper salt waters used in the local food industry and spas.

Did You Know?

• The highest point in Moscow Oblast is 310 m near the village of Shapkino in Mozhaysky District.
• The lowest natural elevation is the water level of the Oka River at 97 m.
• The oblast has no official administrative center; its public authorities are located in Moscow and Krasnogorsk.
• The minimum temperature of -54°C was observed in Naro-Fominsk.