BRIEF GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND  

Pskov region is located in the northwest of Russia in the area influenced by the Baltic Sea. It borders on the west with Estonia and Latvia, on the south with Belarus, on the north with Leningrad region, and on the east with Novgorod and Tver region. Its population numbers over 840 000. The region covers more than 55 000 sq. km.

The main waterway of the region is the Velikaya (Great) River. It flows over 430 km from south to north, fed by more 250 tributaries along its route. The Velikaya flows into Pskov Lake, which is linked to Chudskoye lake and, further on - through the Narva River - to the Baltic Sea. In size the two lakes located in the northwest of the region occupy fourth place among the lakes of Europe and are the main natural point of interest of Pskov region.

The geographical relief of Pskov region is determined by two lowlands: the Pskov lowland to the west (the Velikaya River basin) and Priilmenskaya to the east (towards Ilmen Lake in Novgorod region). Between them there are three hills running north to south: the Luzhskaya, Sudomskaya, and Bezhanitskaya elevations.

The climate of Pskov region is moderate. The proximity of the Baltic Sea is reflected in the area's high humidity, which makes the winters milder and the summers humid. Winter here lasts about a hundred days. The average temperature in winter is - 5   C  - 7   C , although - 30   C is not totally unheard of. However, really cold days do not last long. The first part of winter is warmer than the second half, and there are sometimes blizzards in February. The snow melts in March, but there may be cold spells in May. The ice melts on the rivers in late March, the average temperature of which is + 4   C. Foliage appears on trees in early May, and the meadows blossom in June. The temperature during Pskov's hottest month - July - is + 16   C +18   C, but there are also days when the temperature reaches +32   C. Autumn is warmer than spring. The trees shed their leaves in October. November is cold and overcast, with frequent drizzles. Winter arrives in December when the rivers and lakes freeze over, but there is often a
snowfall before then.

Pskov region is located in a forest zone. 32 % of its territory is covered by forests, haymeadows and pasturelands cover 16 % and arable land makes 20 % of the total area. Most of the forestland is to be found in northern Pskov region. The most widespread tree is the pine (49%), second place is taken by the birch (23 %), and third place by the fir (12 %). The basic types of deciduous trees are the ash, linden, maple, elm, and oak. Every year Pskov region produces more than one million cubic meters of timber.

The map of Pskov region contains names of animals long inhabiting the local forests: Medvedevo (Bear Village), Losevo (Elk Village), Sobolev (Sable) Stream, the Kunya (Marten)
River. There also are wolves, foxes, wild goats, wild boar, polecats, beavers, hares, squirrels. There are more than 7 000 elk in the region and roughly 260 species of birds. Animal breeding farms produce blue fox, silver fox, and mink.

There are more than 40 species of fish living in Pskov's many rivers and lakes. The most interesting of them is the tiny European smelt (of the salmon species), a special type of which is only found in the area of Chudskoye Lake. It goes to spawn in the Velikaya and Pskova Rivers. Even Pskov's ancient chronicle mentioned that in certain years smelts were countless.

Pskov region provides fire-resistant clays, gypsum, lime slabs, and peat for industry and construction.
The beauty of Pskov and its neighborhoods has been extolled for over a thousand years. This beauty derives from the deserted sites of ancient towns on hilltops, its dove-grey, rose-tinted boulders on steep slopes, the gentle beauty of Pesno Lake which charmed N. Rimsky-Korsakov, and Zhizhitsy Lake which enchanted M. Mussorgsky. Its beauty comes from the stratified canyons of the Velikaya River, and its thundering water as it passes over the rapids, its nights filled with nightingale songs and the copper disc of the moon as it hangs over the dark silhouette of the ancient fortress, and its bright streams and golden autumn which so captivated A. Pushkin. Its beauty also comes from the scarlet ash berries glistering along the roadside in autumn and lowering, legend filled woods.

(from Raduga Publishers Guidebook "Pskov")

Contact info:
Joint Stock Company "Intourist"
22, Oktyabrsky Pr.
180000 Pskov
Russia
phone/fax: +7 8112 164565, +7 8112 165783
e-mail: turizm-1@ellink.ru (incoming department)