Leading industry in most foreign european countries. Section ii regional features of the development and distribution of productive forces

The territory of foreign Europe has a length from north to south of about 5 thousand km, from west to east - 3 thousand km. In terms of size, the countries of foreign Europe are relatively small

u1082? and. Their economic and geographical position is determined by two factors: first, the neighboring position of countries in relation to each other; secondly, the coastal position of most countries.

In Western Europe, there are both countries with a constitutional monarchy and republics. Mainly dominated by unitary states, but there are also federal

Natural conditions and resources create favorable conditions for the development of industry, agriculture, transport, recreation and tourism.

Among the minerals, the reserves of coal, iron ore, bauxite and potassium salts are especially distinguished.

Agroclimatic resources allow growing crops of temperate and subtropical zones. The best preconditions for forest management are in Sweden and Finland. Spain, Italy, France and others have large natural and recreational resources.

In countries Western Europe the first type of population reproduction prevails. By nationality the population of Western Europe is homogeneous. The overwhelming majority of peoples belong to the Indo-European family, mainly to the Slavic, Germanic and Romanic groups. The distribution of the population is greatly influenced by urbanization. A characteristic feature of urbanization is a very high concentration of the population in cities and urban agglomerations.

The economy of the region ranks first in the world for the export and import of goods. Foreign Europe ranks first in terms of reserves of gold and currency and the development of international tourism.

The economic strength of the region is determined by four countries: Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy.

The place of Western Europe in the international division of labor is determined by the development of industry. Its structure includes mechanical engineering, chemical industry, fuel and energy industry, metallurgical industry and light industry.

In the structure of agriculture, large specialized high-commodity production is distinguished. Under the influence of natural and historical conditions, three types of agriculture were formed in the region: the North European type with a predominance of meat and dairy cattle breeding, the Central European type based on crop and livestock production, and the South European type based on crop production.

The framework of the transport network of foreign Europe is made up of international highways of the meridian and latitudinal directions.

There are about 400 urban agglomerations in Western Europe. The most significant of them are located within the central axis and extend over the territory of 8 countries 73? By more than 15 thousand km. More than 120 million people live within this axis and more than half of the region's economic potential is concentrated.

The economic regions of Western Europe are divided into four groups:

1) highly developed regions where new sectors of the economy are developing;

2) old industrial areas;

3) areas of new development;

4) backward agrarian regions.

Within foreign Europe, according to UN documents, there are four sub-regions: Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria), Western Europe

u1088? opu (three G7 countries, Benelux countries, Austria and Switzerland), Northern Europe (Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Finland and the Baltic countries) and Southern Europe (Mediterranean countries).

There is another division of overseas Europe into sub-regions: Western and Central-Eastern Europe. The Western includes 24 countries that have long embarked on a journey 0? market economy and in the old terminology are called "capitalist". The Central of Eastern Europe includes 15 post-socialist countries that until the 80s of the twentieth century were part of the world socialist system.

CHAPTER 12. MACRO REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

12.1. Foreign Europe.

Foreign (in relation to the CIS countries) Europe is one of the most densely populated and economically developed regions of the world. Its relatively small territory (5.1 million square kilometers) is home to more than 500 million people, or about 9% of the world's population. Foreign Europe ranks first in the world economy in terms of industrial and agricultural production, in the export of goods and services, in development international tourism.

Its economic development is facilitated by:

1. Foreign Europe is formed by 39 sovereign states, differing in size of territory (among them there are large, medium, small and even the so-called "dwarf" states - Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Vatican), population (dominated by small states with a population up to 10 million people), the form of government (most countries in the region are republics and only Andorra, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden - constitutional monarchies, and the Vatican is a theocratic monarchy) and administrative-territorial devices (Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Spain - federal states, the rest of the region - unitary states), the level of economic development, structure and specialization of the economy.
2. In socio-economic terms, the states of Foreign Europe are divided into economically developed countries and countries with economies in transition. The states of Western Europe (a total of 24 countries with a population of about 370 million people) are among the leading in the world in terms of GDP per capita (they rank among the countries of the world from 2nd to 44th), Germany is distinguished by a particularly high level of economic development, France, Italy and Great Britain, according to the world classification, are large industrialized countries (included in the "big seven" countries of the world). Other states of Western Europe belong to the small industrialized countries of the world. The countries of Eastern Europe (a total of 15 countries with a population of over 130 million people) are moving from a centrally planned economy to a market economy system. The per capita GDP in Eastern Europe is two to three times less than in Western Europe.
3. There are significant differences between the countries of the region in the structure and specialization of the economy. For example, in the economies of Germany and Great Britain, industry is sharply dominated, in Italy, Greece and Portugal, a fairly high share of agriculture, and in Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and Liechtenstein, the service sector dominates.
4. The population of Europe Abroad is characterized by relative national homogeneity, since the overwhelming majority of the peoples of the region belong to the Indo-European language family. The dominant religion is Christianity. Natural population growth is very low (about 1.5%) and in some countries (Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, etc.), there is even a natural population decline. The population includes a significant stratum of older people. A large share (approximately 1/3) of the economically active population is employed in the service sector. The unemployment rate is very high (in the EU countries it is about 11.5% of the labor force). The distribution of the population is determined mainly by the geography of cities (the level of urbanization in the countries of the region is 70-90%).

Natural resource prerequisites for development, leading industries

The natural resources of foreign Europe are quite diverse, but the reserves of many of them are small.

Big economic value have oil and natural gas (Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Romania), bituminous and brown coal (Ruhr and Saar basins in Germany, Upper Silesian in Poland, North Bohemian and Ostravo-Karwinsky in the Czech Republic and Slovakia), iron ores (Lorraine basin in France and Kiruna basin in Sweden), bauxite (Greece, France, Hungary, Yugoslavia), lead-zinc (Ireland, FRG, Italy), copper (FRG) and uranium (France, FRG, Sweden) ores, potash salt (France, Germany, Poland).

There are large reserves of valuable building materials: granite and quartzite (Finland, Sweden), marble (Italy, Greece), valuable coniferous wood (the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula - Sweden, Norway and Finland).

In general, Europe Abroad is provided with mineral raw materials much worse than other large regions of the world. This circumstance determines, firstly, a more modest importance of the extractive industries, and secondly, the dependence of industry on imports of mineral raw materials.

Foreign Europe imports about half of its energy resources and a large amount of other types of raw materials consumed in its economy.

The basis of the economy of foreign Europe is industry. The leading industry is mechanical engineering. Foreign Europe is the birthplace of mechanical engineering, the world's largest manufacturer and exporter of machinery and industrial equipment.

Mechanical engineering is oriented here on the availability of a highly qualified workforce, a developed scientific base and infrastructure.

All the main branches of mechanical engineering were widely developed: the production of machine tools and forging and pressing machines (Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, etc.), power equipment, electronic equipment, television and radio equipment (Germany, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and others), automotive (France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.), shipbuilding (Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, France, Netherlands, Poland, Finland). Has reached large sizes military engineering, in particular aircraft construction (Germany, France, Great Britain stand out).

Foreign Europe also occupies a leading position in the world in the production and export of chemical products (plastics, synthetic and artificial fibers, pharmaceuticals, nitrogen and potash fertilizers, varnishes and paints).

The raw material base of the industry is made up of oil and natural gas (both domestic and imported), associated petroleum gases and refined products, resources of local deposits of coal and brown coal, potash and sodium chloride.

The share of Germany, France, Great Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands is especially large in the production and export of chemical products.

One of the oldest branches of industry in foreign Europe is metallurgical. Ferrous metallurgy has developed in countries with metallurgical fuel and raw materials: Germany, Great Britain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Poland, etc. Large metallurgical plants have been created in seaports (Genoa, Naples, Taranto in Italy, etc.) with an orientation towards imported raw materials and fuel.

The most important branches of non-ferrous metallurgy - aluminum, lead-zinc and copper - have also been predominantly developed in countries with sources of mineral raw materials and cheap electricity (France, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain specialize in aluminum smelting; Germany, France, Poland and Yugoslavia stand out for smelting copper; Germany, Belgium - for lead and zinc).

The branches of international specialization are the timber industry, focusing on the sources of raw materials (Sweden and Finland), clothing (Portugal) and footwear (Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, etc.), focusing on the reserves of cheap labor.

In the fuel and energy balance of foreign Europe, the leading place is occupied by oil and natural gas produced both in the region itself and imported from the countries of the Near and Middle East, Africa, the CIS (Russia), etc.

Most of the oil and natural gas production comes from the North Sea (sectors of the UK and Norway) and the Netherlands (the Groningen field in the north-east of the country). Coal (hard and brown) is mined in Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In the electric power industry of most of the countries of foreign Europe (France, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Sweden, etc.), the role of thermal power plants and nuclear power plants is great. The exception is Norway and Iceland, where hydroelectric power plants are the main type of power plants.

Natural prerequisites for development, leading sectors of agriculture

The position of most of Europe Abroad (except for the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard) in the temperate and subtropical zones, positive temperature regime and high moisture availability throughout the year (the exception is the Mediterranean region, where sustainable agriculture needs artificial irrigation), the presence of natural meadows and pasture lands are favorable for the cultivation of many types of agricultural crops (grain, industrial, subtropical, etc.), the development of animal husbandry.

The main disadvantage in the complex of favorable conditions is the relative limited resources of agricultural land.

The region fully covers its needs for agricultural products at the expense of its own production, and for some of its types (grain, meat, milk and dairy products, sugar, eggs) exceeds domestic needs and occupies a prominent place in the world for their export.

The livestock profile of agriculture is generally characteristic of Foreign Europe. Crop production, as a rule, serves the needs of animal husbandry. For this reason, in many countries, fodder crops occupy large areas; part of the harvest of grain crops (wheat, barley, corn) is fed to livestock.

Livestock breeding has a dairy and meat bias. Its main industry is cattle breeding, mainly dairy and milk-and-meat production. In some countries, the importance of pig breeding (Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania) and sheep breeding (Great Britain, Spain).

The main grain crops are wheat, barley, corn, rye. Approximately 1/3 of the grain harvest falls on France, the only major exporter of grain in the region.

Of other types of agricultural products, the role of the production of potatoes is significant (France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland), sugar beets (France, Germany, Italy, Poland), grapes (Italy, France), olives (Italy, Spain), hops (Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia), tobacco, nut and essential oil crops (Greece, Italy, Spain).

The region's share in the world production of fiber crops (cotton, flax) is insignificant.

Foreign Europe is an area of ​​developed fishing. Some of its countries (Iceland, Norway, Portugal) are among the leaders in sea fishing.

In accordance with natural features in the territory of Foreign Europe, three regions of agricultural specialization have developed. The agriculture of the Nordic countries (Iceland, Ireland, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden and Finland) is characterized by the predominance of dairy farming, and in the crop growing serving it - fodder crops and gray breads (rye, barley).

The countries of Western, Central and Eastern Europe (Central European region), along with the raising of dairy and dairy-meat cattle, specialize in pig and poultry farming. In plant growing, a high proportion of grain, industrial and food crops (potatoes, vegetables, etc.), large areas of arable land are allocated for fodder crops. For agriculture countries Southern Europe(Mediterranean regions) is characterized by a significant predominance of crop production, while livestock production plays a secondary role. The specialization of agriculture is primarily determined by the production of fruits, citrus fruits, grapes, olives, almonds, nuts, tobacco, and essential oil crops.

Transport. The main role in the transportation of goods and passengers is played by automobile transport(highways of international importance: Lisbon - Paris - Stockholm, London - Frankfurt am Main - Vienna - Belgrade - Istanbul, etc.), the importance of inland waterways (especially the Rhine and Danube rivers). Dense network railways crosses overseas Europe in latitudinal and meridian directions. The main latitudinal highways: Lisbon - Madrid - Paris - Berlin - Warsaw (further to Minsk and Moscow), London - Paris - Vienna - Budapest - Belgrade - Sofia - Istanbul (further to the Middle East), Paris - Prague (further to Kiev). The most important meridional routes: Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris - Madrid - Lisbon, London - Paris - Marseille, Copenhagen - Hamburg - Frankfurt am Main - Zurich - Rome, Gdansk - Warsaw - Vienna - Budapest - Belgrade - Athens. Pipeline and air transport is well developed.

Maritime transport and services are of international importance seaports: London, Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Marseille, Genoa. The largest of them is Rotterdam, with a turnover of 250-300 million tons per year.

Foreign Europe is the main center of international tourism. The most visited areas by tourists are the Alps and the Mediterranean.

12.2. Overseas Asia.

Foreign (in relation to the CIS countries) Asia occupies the south of the Asian continent and the islands adjacent to it in the south, east and southeast (Andaman, Nicobar, Maldives, Lakandiv, Sri Lanka, Japan, Rkzhu, Philippine, Big and Small Sunda, Moluccan).

In terms of the size of the territory (27 million sq. Km), Foreign Asia is second only to Africa, and in terms of the number of inhabitants (3.5 billion people) it far surpasses all other large regions of the world.

On the political map the region is represented by 38 sovereign states, the vast majority of which are developing countries.

V international division labor Foreign Asia acts primarily as a major supplier of mineral and agricultural raw materials to the world market. Its share is especially large in the production and export of oil, natural gas, tin, tea, jute and natural rubber.

Some geographic features region:

1. Most countries Overseas Asia have a coastal position, providing them with access to the seas of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans... And only Mongolia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos are located in the interior of the continent.
2. The nature of the physical and geographical position of the region (its northern regions are located in temperate latitudes, the rest - within the subtropical, tropical and equatorial belts) determines the high supply of thermal resources, sufficient to ensure that throughout its territory, with the exception of temperate zone, shoot two, and in the tropics - three harvests per year.
3. About 50% of all humanity lives in the countries of Foreign Asia and most of the rural population of the world is concentrated. The number of men exceeds the number of women. With the most high density(130 people per 1 sq. Km) the population is distributed extremely unevenly. 3/4 of the region's population is concentrated in less than 1/10 of the territory. Most of the population of Overseas Asia lives in four countries: China, India, Indonesia and Japan. Least populated countries - Mongolia and Saudi Arabia(the average population density is 1 and 3 people per 1 sq. km, respectively). Most densely populated coastal areas and valleys large rivers(the population density reaches 1500-2000 people per 1 sq. km).
4. The ethnic and religious composition of the population of Foreign Asia is extremely complex. More than 1,000 peoples live here, belonging to the most diverse language families and groups (Indo-European, Semitic, Turkic, etc.). Most countries are multinational states. Foreign Asia is the homeland of all world religions, the peoples inhabiting it profess Islam (Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.), Hinduism (India, etc.), Buddhism (China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, etc.) ). Judaism (Israel), Christianity (Philippines, Lebanon, Indonesia, etc.), Confucianism (China), etc.
5. In terms of the level of socio-economic development, the countries of Foreign Asia differ significantly from each other. In some of them (Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait), the GDP per capita is one of the highest (35-38 thousand dollars), in others (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives and others) - the lowest (less than $ 200) in the world.

There is also a group of states whose economies are currently developing especially dynamically (at a higher rate than in industrialized countries) and which have a significantly higher level of economic development compared to the rest of the group of developing countries. These include states that have received the name "newly industrialized countries" - the Republic of (South) Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey and countries with economies in transition - socialist China and Vietnam.

The leading branch of the economy of the overwhelming majority of the countries of Foreign Asia is agriculture.

The location of agriculture in the vast area of ​​Overseas Asia is highly dependent on environmental factors.

Most of the territory of Foreign Asia is occupied by mountain systems, hills and plateaus, not very suitable for agriculture. Compared to extensive mountain ranges the area of ​​lowlands is small. The low-lying regions of Foreign Asia (all of them are located along its western, southern and eastern outskirts) are well supplied with moisture, since they are located in the monsoon (eastern and southern part of the region) and Mediterranean ( Western part region) climate. High thermal and moisture supply (the amount of precipitation reaches 1000-2000 mm per year) in combination with the fertile soils of the alluvial plains makes it possible to develop here almost any direction of agriculture. More than 90% of its arable land is concentrated in this part of the region.

In the rest of the territory of Foreign Asia, the climate is unfavorable for agriculture: too humid in the equatorial regions (the amount of precipitation reaches 3000 mm or more per year) and too dry in the desert, semi-desert and alpine regions of South-West and Central Asia (the amount of precipitation barely reaches 50 mm in year). Successful farming here is possible only with land reclamation.

The main food crop of Overseas Asia is rice. Its countries (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, etc.) provide over 90% of the world's rice production. The second most important grain crop in Foreign Asia is wheat. In coastal, well-humid areas, winter wheat is grown, in the arid continental part, spring wheat. Among other cereals, sowings of corn and millet are significant. Despite the fact that Overseas Asia produces the vast majority of rice and about 20% of the world's wheat harvest, many of its countries import grain. The main export crops of Foreign Asia are tea, cotton, jute, sugar cane, natural rubber. Cotton and sugarcane are grown almost everywhere, with hevea plantations located in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The overwhelming part of the world tea production comes from India, China and Sri Lanka, jute - from India and Bangladesh.

Overseas Asia occupies a prominent place in the world for the production of soybeans, copra (dried pulp of a coconut), coffee, tobacco, tropical and subtropical fruits, grapes, various spices (red and black pepper, ginger, vanilla, cloves), which are also exported.

The level of development of animal husbandry in Overseas Asia is lower than in other regions of the world. The main branches of animal husbandry are cattle breeding and sheep breeding, and in countries with non-Muslim populations (China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan) - pig breeding. Horses, camels, and yaks are bred in desert and high-mountainous regions. Export products of animal husbandry are negligible and mainly consist of wool, hides and skins. Fishing is of great importance in coastal countries.

Leading industries

In most of the developing countries of Overseas Asia, the industry is represented mainly by the mining industries. The reason for this is their good supply with mineral resources and the general low level of development of processing (closing) industries.

The role of Foreign Asia is great in the world mining of coal, iron and manganese ores (India and China stand out), tin (Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Thailand), bauxite (India), chromite (Turkey, Philippines)! polymetallic, nickel and copper ores (China, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.), potash (Jordan) and table salt (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh). However, the main thing that determines the importance of this region in the international division of labor is the production and export of oil and natural gas. Oil and gas are produced by many countries of Foreign Asia, but the main production areas are the countries of Western (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, etc.) and Southeast (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) Asia.

The share of Overseas Asia in the manufacturing industry of the world, especially the heavy one, is small. Its leading industries (ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical and textile industries) are mainly represented by their enterprises in Japan and China and in a small group of developing countries that have recently achieved significant success in the development of their economies (India, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, Iran, Iraq). Large metallurgical plants have been established in India (in Bhilai and Bokaro) and China (Anshan plant, etc.), Japan and Turkey.

Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by the smelting of tin (China, Malaysia, Thailand), copper (Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines), aluminum (India, Japan, Iraq), lead and zinc (Japan, China).

V machine-building complex dominated by enterprises specializing in the production of household electrical appliances, radio electronics (production of radios, televisions, tape recorders, washing machines, calculators, vacuum cleaners, etc.), cars and ships. A special role in the mechanical engineering of the region belongs to Japan, which occupies a leading place in the world in the production of automobiles, and is the world leader in the field of electronics, robotics and other industries.

In the chemical complex, the production of mineral fertilizers (primarily nitrogen), household chemicals and pharmaceuticals, polymer materials(Japan, India, China, oil-producing countries).

Main industries textile industry- cotton and silk fabrics production.

Transport. For intraregional interregional transportation, dirt and motor roads, and river routes are of great importance. The length and density of railway lines is small, some countries (Laos, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, etc.) have no railways at all. International transportation are mainly carried out by sea transport. Japan has a large sea fleet (it ranks first in the world in terms of its tonnage) and oil-producing countries (Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.).

12.3. Africa.

Africa, together with the islands belonging to it (the largest of them is Madagascar) has an area of ​​30.3 million sq. km, the population is more than 750 million people.

In terms of the size of its territory, Africa surpasses all other large regions of the world, and in terms of the main indicators of economic and social development, it is significantly inferior to them. Africa ranks last in terms of industrialization, transport availability, health and science development, crop yields and livestock productivity.

In the international division of labor, Africa is represented by the products of the extractive industry, branches of tropical and subtropical agriculture. Its share is especially large in the world production of gold and diamonds, uranium and bauxite, phosphorites, coconuts in palm oil, coffee and cocoa.

Some geographic features of the region:

1. Among other continents, Africa occupies a special geographical position. The equator crosses it almost in the middle and divides it into two parts, approximately equally located (to the north and south) in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical latitudes. Therefore, a huge amount of heat enters the entire territory of Africa evenly throughout the year, and the seasons in its northern and southern parts opposite: while in the northern hemisphere it is summer, in the southern hemisphere it is winter.

The nature of the geographical position provides the possibility of year-round navigation off the coast of Africa, since the seas washing it do not freeze.

The Strait of Gibraltar separating Africa and Europe (its distance is only 14 km) and the Suez Canal connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas are of great importance for shipping. Many African countries are landlocked.

2. Africa is ahead of all other regions of the world in terms of natural population growth (more than 3% per year), as it stands out for its high birth rate. However, Africa is the region with the highest mortality rates. As a result, the age structure of the population is characterized by a high proportion (about 45%) of children and adolescents under 15 years of age.

With an average density of 25 people per 1 sq. km, the population is distributed very unevenly across Africa. The most densely populated sea coasts, coastal regions of South Africa, Zambia, Zaire and Zimbabwe. In these areas, the population density ranges from 50 to 1000 people per 1 sq. km. In the vast areas of the Sahara, Kalahari, Namib deserts, the population density barely reaches 1 person per 1 sq. km.

Despite the world's highest rates of urbanization, Africa lags behind other regions in terms of the share of urban population (about 30%).

Linguistically, half of the African population belongs to the Niger-Kordofan family, and a third to the Afrozian family. Residents of European descent make up only 1%.

3. Africa is characterized by significant population migration (external and internal). The main centers of attraction for labor from the African continent are Western Europe and Western Asia (especially the countries of the Persian Gulf). Within the continent, migration flows of labor mainly go from the poorest countries to the richer ones (South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, Zaire, Zimbabwe).

4. Africa is represented on the political map by 55 states, the overwhelming majority of which are developing countries. The only economically developed country is South Africa. Among the countries, the overwhelming majority are republics (with the exception of Morocco, Lesotho and Swaziland, which are constitutional monarchies). The administrative-territorial structure of states, with the exception of South Africa and Nigeria, is unitary.

5. Geopolitically and economically, Africa is divided into two parts: North Africa and Tropical Africa.

North Africa includes an area (about 10 million square kilometers with a population of 160 million people) adjacent to the Mediterranean, inhabited mainly by Arabs professing Islam. The countries located on this territory (Algeria, Egypt, Western Sahara, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia), due to their geographical position (coastal, neighboring in relation to the countries of Southern Europe and Western Asia) and higher (in comparison with the states Tropical Africa) level of economic and industrial development, are distinguished by greater involvement in the international division of labor (export of oil, gas, phosphorites, etc.). Tropical Africa includes the territory located south of the Sahara, within which, in turn, Western, Central, East and South Africa are distinguished. The overwhelming majority of the population of the countries located on their territory belongs to the equatorial (Negroid) race. The ethnic composition of the population is very variegated (there are more than 200 peoples), multinational states prevail. The main sphere of activity of the population is agriculture (with the exception of countries South Africa, in the economy of which industry and the service sector play a decisive role). Tropical Africa is the most economically backward, least industrialized and least urbanized part of the developing world. Of the 49 countries within its borders, 32 belong to the group of "least developed countries of the world". Average per capita GNP in the countries of Eastern, Western and Central Africa several times (5-7 or more times) less than in the countries of North and South Africa.

Economy: minerals, leading industries

Extractive industries dominate in Africa's industry, the share of manufacturing industries is small, many branches of modern industry ( precision engineering, instrument making, machine tool building, etc.) are generally absent.

Among other continents, Africa ranks first in reserves of diamonds, gold, platinum, manganese, chromite, bauxite and phosphorite. There are large reserves of coal, oil and natural gas, copper, iron, uranium, cobalt ores.

The main branches of the extractive industry are developed in the places of occurrence of the largest and most well-developed minerals:

South Africa is distinguished by the concentration of reserves and mining of coal (South Africa), gold (South Africa, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Tanzania) and diamonds (Zaire, South Africa, Botswana), manganese, chromium (South Africa), iron (Angola), copper (Zaire, Zambia and South Africa) and uranium (South Africa, Namibia) ores;

North Africa - phosphorites (Morocco, Algeria »Tunisia), oil and natural gas (Algeria, Libya);

Western Africa - bauxite (Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon), oil (Nigeria), iron (Mauritania, Liberia, Gabon) and uranium (Niger) ores.

The mining industry in Africa is weakly connected with other sectors of the economy, most of its products are exported. A few branches of heavy industry (smelting of copper, alumina and aluminum, the production of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers, mining equipment, the oil refining industry, etc.) occupy a very modest position in the economy of African countries.

Among the branches of the manufacturing industry, the textile and food industries have received the greatest development. The leading branches of the textile industry are the production of cotton fabrics (Egypt, Sudan, Algeria), food - the production of vegetable oils (palm, peanut, olive), coffee, cocoa, sugar, wine, canned fish.

Economy: natural conditions, leading branches of agriculture

The prevailing flat relief (the Atlas, Futa-Djallon, Cape and Drakonov mountains are located only on the outskirts of the continent), a high supply of thermal resources (the sum of active temperatures is 6,000-10,000 ° C), the presence of fertile soils (red-yellow, black, brown soil equatorial forests, brown soils of subtropics, alluvial soils of river valleys), vast natural pastures (areas of savannas, steppes and semi-deserts occupy about half of Africa's area) are favorable for various types of agricultural activities.

However, the conditions of moisture supply significantly limit the possibilities for the development of agriculture in this region. In almost 2/3 of Africa's territory, sustainable agriculture is possible only with land reclamation. In the equatorial region of Africa, where the amount of precipitation is 1500 mm or more per year, there is an excess of moisture, in the semi-deserts and deserts of the northern and southern hemispheres (Sahara, Namib, Kalahari), on the contrary, its lack. Most favorable for farming natural conditions the windward slopes of the Atlas and Cape mountains, the Mediterranean regions, the eastern marginal regions of South Africa, where the amount of precipitation is 800-1000 mm per year.

The leading branch of agriculture in Africa is crop production. In the structure of crop production, two areas are distinguished: the production of food crops for local consumption and the production of export crops.

Crops consumed in African countries include millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, corn, cassava (or cassava), yams, and sweet potatoes (yams).

Major crops of the African continent - millet and sorghum are cultivated almost everywhere. Corn is the main food crop of the savannah zone. Wheat crops are concentrated in North Africa and South Africa. Rice is mainly grown in well-humid regions of East Africa (Nile Valley, Madagascar, etc.) - The scale of wheat and rice production does not cover the domestic needs of the region, so many African countries import wheat and rice.

The main export crops of Africa are coffee, cocoa, tea, cotton, peanuts, bananas, agave (sisal). Most of the coffee production is provided by Ethiopia and the Republic of Cote d "Ivoire, cocoa beans - Ghana and the Republic of Cote d" Ivoire, raw cotton - the countries of East Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique), peanuts - Nigeria, Senegal.

Africa is a major supplier of coconut kernels and palm oil and olives to the world market. Oil palm - culture of Western and Equatorial Africa... The olive tree grows mainly in countries North Africa(Tunisia and others). The countries of North and South Africa produce citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruits, etc.), tea, tobacco, and grapes.

Livestock production is characterized by low productivity. Nomadic, semi-nomadic and distant pasture animal husbandry prevails. The main branches of animal husbandry are sheep (wool and meat and wool), cattle (mainly meat), camel breeding.

Transport. The length of the railways is short - vehicles cover larger areas. For some countries of Central and East Africa, inland waterway transport is of great economic importance. In terms of length and intensity of use, the basins of the Congo, Nile and Niger rivers stand out.

External transportation is carried out by sea transport. More than 90% of exports of African countries are mineral and agricultural raw materials and food. The main export items are oil (Nigeria, Libya, Algeria), copper (Zambia, Zaire), iron ore (Liberia, Mauritania), manganese ores (Gabon), phosphorites (Morocco), uranium (Niger, Gabon), cotton (Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Mali, Tanzania, etc.), coffee (Ethiopia, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, etc.), cocoa beans (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, etc.), peanuts (Senegal, Gambia , Sudan), olive oil (Tunisia, Morocco), tobacco (Malawi, etc.), citrus fruits, grape wines (Algeria, Tunisia, etc.).

Import African countries mainly machinery and equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs.

12.4. Latin America.

Latin America is the Western Hemisphere region located between the United States and Antarctica. It includes Mexico, the countries of Central and South America and island states Caribbean (or West Indies). Most of the population of Latin America speaks Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil) languages, belonging to the Romance group, or Latin languages... Hence the name of the region - Latin America.

All Latin American countries - former colonies European countries (mainly Spain and Portugal).

The area of ​​the region is 21 million sq. km, population - 500 million people.

Lagging behind Asia and Africa in terms of territory and population, Latin America is ahead in terms of industrialization of production. In contrast to these regions of the world, the leading role in the economy here belongs to the manufacturing industry.

Some geographic features of the region:

1. All Latin American countries, with the exception of Bolivia and Paraguay, either have access to the oceans and seas (Atlantic and Pacific oceans), or are island. The EGL of Latin America is also determined by the fact that it is in relative proximity to the United States.
2. The ethnic composition of the population of Latin America is extremely complex. More than half of its population are descendants of mixed marriages: mestizos, mulattos. In Haiti, Jamaica and Small Antilles the bulk of the population are blacks. Most of the Andean countries are dominated by Indians, and in Brazil, in addition to mulattoes and blacks, there is a large proportion of "whites".
3. Latin America is one of the least populated regions in the world. The average population density is only 24 people per 1 sq. km. Along with densely populated areas (the island states of the Caribbean, the Atlantic coast of Brazil, most of the metropolitan areas, etc.), vast areas are almost deserted. Most (72%) of the population is concentrated in cities.
4. In terms of the availability of water resources, Latin America ranks first among other large regions of the world. The Amazon, Orinoco, Parana rivers are among the largest in the world. A huge wealth of Latin America is its forests, which occupy more than 1/2 of the territory of this region.
5. There are 53 sovereign states and several dependent territories within Latin America. All independent countries, either republics or states within the British-led Commonwealth (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica). Unitary states prevail. The exception is Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, which have a federal form of administrative-territorial structure.
6. All Latin American countries are developing countries. In terms of the pace and achieved level of economic development, they occupy an intermediate position in the developing world - they are superior in this respect to the developing countries of Africa and are inferior to the countries of Asia. Greatest successes in economic development achieved Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, which are part of the group of newly industrialized countries of the world. They account for 2/3 industrial production Latin America and so much of its regional GDP. Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru can also be attributed to the newly industrialized countries. Haiti is a subgroup of least developed countries.
7. Within their region, Latin American countries have created several economic integration groupings, the largest of which - South American Common Market of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (MERCOSUR), which accounts for 45% of the population, 50% of the total GFS and 33% of Latin America's foreign trade.

Economy: leading industries

Mining industry. Latin America is a prominent world producer and exporter of non-ferrous metal ores: bauxite (Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana), copper (Chile, Peru, Mexico), lead-zinc (Peru, Mexico), tin (Bolivia) and mercury (Mexico) ores.

The importance of Latin American countries is also great in the world production and export of iron and manganese (Brazil, Venezuela), uranium (Brazil, Argentina) ores, native sulfur (Mexico), potash and sodium nitrate (Chile).

Latin America is one of the oldest oil and gas producing regions in the world. In terms of production and export of oil and natural gas, Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador stand out.

The main manufacturing industries - mechanical engineering and chemical - are essentially developed in three countries - Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Most of the rest of the countries do not have mechanical engineering and chemical industries.

Machine building specializes in automotive, shipbuilding, aircraft construction, production of electrical household appliances and machines (sewing and washing, refrigerators, air conditioners), etc. The main areas of the chemical industry are petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and perfumery.

The oil refining industry is represented by its enterprises in all oil-producing countries (Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, etc.). The world's largest (in terms of capacity) oil refineries have been established on the islands of the Caribbean Sea (Virginia, Bahamas, Curacao, Trinidad, Aruba, etc.).

Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy is developing in close contact with the mining industry. Copper smelters are located in Mexico, Peru, Chile, lead and zinc - in Mexico and Peru, tin - in Bolivia, aluminum - in Brazil, steel - in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina.

The role of textile and Food Industry... The leading branches of the textile industry are the production of cotton (Brazil), woolen (Argentina and Uruguay) and synthetic (Mexico) fabrics, food - sugar, canning, meat-processing, fish processing. The largest cane sugar producer in the region and in the world is Brazil.

Natural conditions, leading branches of agriculture

The natural conditions of Latin America are generally favorable for the development of agriculture. Most of its territory is occupied by lowlands (La Plat-skaya, Amazonian and Orinoco) and plateaus (Guiana, Brazilian, Patagonia plateau), convenient for agricultural use. Due to its geographical location (almost the entire territory of the region is located in tropical and subtropical latitudes) Latin America receives a lot of heat and sunlight. Areas with a sharp lack of moisture occupy a relatively small territory (southern Argentina, northern Chile, the Pacific coast of Peru, northern regions of the Mexican Highlands), the prevailing red-brown, chernozem, black and brown soils, combined with an abundance of heat and moisture, are capable of producing high yields of many valuable tropical and subtropical crops.

Vast areas of savannas and subtropical steppes (Argentina, Uruguay) can be used for grazing land. The main difficulties for agricultural activities are created by significant afforestation and swampiness of low-lying areas (especially the Amazon lowland).

The leading agricultural sector in Latin America is crop production. The exceptions are Argentina and Uruguay, where the main industry is animal husbandry.

Export crops - cotton, sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, bananas - are grown mainly in countries tropical America... The main producers and exporters of cotton are Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Central America (Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador), sugar cane - Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Central American countries, coffee - Brazil and Colombia, cocoa beans - Brazil, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, bananas - Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama.

In subtropical countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile), grain farming, viticulture, and sugar beet production (Chile, Uruguay) are most developed.

The main crops of Latin America are wheat, rice, corn. The largest producer and exporter of wheat and corn in the region is Argentina.

The leading branches of animal husbandry are cattle breeding (mainly meat production), sheep breeding (wool and meat-wool production), pig breeding. Argentina and Uruguay stand out for the size of cattle and sheep, Brazil and Mexico for pigs.

In the mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, llamas are bred. World significance has fishing (Chile and Peru stand out).

Transport. A decisive role in domestic transport belongs to road transport, sea transport prevails in external ones, rail and river transport are poorly developed.

Most of the exports are raw materials: oil, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, cotton, wool, leather, etc., imports - machinery and equipment.

12.5. North America.

North America includes the United States and Canada, as well as a number of islands located in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. The largest of the islands is Greenland, with an area of ​​over 2 million square meters. km.

Square North America within the specified boundaries 21.9 million sq. km, population - more than 300 million people.

Some geographic features of the region:

1. The distinction between North and Latin America is based on the signs of a historical, geographical, ethnic character. It is largely due to the ethnic composition of the people who settled in these parts of America in the past. The ethnic composition of the settlers in different parts of America varied. In North America until the middle of the 19th century. Immigrants from the countries of North-Western Europe (primarily from the British Isles) predominated sharply, in Mexico and almost all of South America - immigrants from the states of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

English became the predominant language in the USA and Canada, and south of the r. The Rio Grande, which runs the border between the United States and Mexico, is Spanish. As a result, America was divided into two main socio-cultural and ethnic areas. - North America, which includes countries with a predominance in English(USA and Canada) and Latin America.

2. Between North and Latin America there are significant differences in natural conditions. If most of Latin (excluding southern South America) is in tropical belt, then the main part of North America is in the temperate zone. Its significant areas with a harsh climate (Alaska, most of the territory of Canada) are of little use for human life and are almost never mastered by them (settlement and economy are of a focal nature).

3. The differences between North and Latin America in terms of socio-economic development are very sharp. The states of North America - the USA and Canada - are among the (seven) largest industrially developed countries in the world.

The United States of America is not only the absolute leader of the whole of America, but also of the world economy. The United States surpasses all countries in the world in the number of goods and services produced and their exports, has the highest level of GDP in the world (8 trillion dollars, or 21% of the total GDP of the world; GDP per capita is about 30 thousand dollars) and a progressive structure of the economy (the service sector prevails, the share of which in the country's GDP is 76%; more than 20% is accounted for by industry and construction, and about 3% is accounted for by agricultural products). The US industry consumes about one third of the world's raw materials. The United States has the most developed mechanical engineering and is the largest manufacturer of science-intensive products (about 40% of the world production of these products). The United States possesses the world's largest scientific and technical potential, the basis of which is a cadre of highly qualified scientists and engineers (in terms of their share in the workforce, the United States leads the world), ranks first in total R&D (annual investments in R&D in the United States exceed similar ones). expenses of Great Britain, Germany, France and Japan combined). The United States has a highly developed agricultural sector, which has achieved the world's highest labor productivity.

Another country in the North American continent - Canada (area of ​​9.97 million sq. Km, population - 30 million people) in terms of its economic potential, although it surpasses many countries of the world, is significantly inferior to the United States (Canada's GDP is about 10% of the US GDP) ... Canada is a federal state made up of provinces and territories. The Canadian economy is more focused on the production of goods for export than the US economy. The role of the extractive industry and agriculture in it is much higher than in the United States. In the international division of labor, Canada is represented primarily by the products of the mining, metallurgical and forestry industries, and agricultural sectors. It is one of the world's leading exporters of nickel, zinc, aluminum, copper, iron ore, uranium, molybdenum, titanium, gold, oil, lumber and paper, cars, wheat (about 20% of world exports of this crop), oats, barley. Distinctive feature The Canadian economy is closely connected with the US economy (which is largely facilitated by the common language, the huge length of the common border, the convenience of communication between the regions of both countries, etc.), the focus of most of Canada's products on the US consumer market. In turn, the United States exports more goods to Canada than to any other country (about 25% of American exports go to Canada).

4. The United States and Canada, together with their southern neighbor Mexico, form an integration group on the North American continent - the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA), an agreement on the creation of which was signed between these three countries in 1994. The agreement provides for the formation and development of the entire the North American continent of an integral market space (free trade zone) with free movement of goods, services, capital, labor, etc.

12.5.1. United States of America.

USA is one of largest countries the world. In terms of territory (9.7 million sq. Km), the United States ranks fourth in the world (after Russia, Canada and China), in terms of population (270 million people) - third (after China and India).

By state structure USA is a federal republic of 50 states and federal district Colombia (the capital of the United States, Washington, is located on its territory). The main 48 states are located in the southern part of the North American continent, the state of Alaska occupies its northwestern part. The Hawaiian Islands, representing a separate state (Hawaii), are located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean.

Economic and geographical location. The position of the main part of the United States between two oceans (Pacific and Atlantic) is favorable for communication with other countries. The United States is especially conveniently located in relation to Canada and the countries of Latin America, with which contacts are possible both by land and by sea.

Population. The modern American nation is the result of a mixture and fusion of various ethnic and racial groups. Three-quarters of the total US population are actually Americans (i.e., the descendants of immigrants from all parts of the world). A special group in the composition of the American nation is formed by black Americans (blacks, African Americans), whose share in the country's population is about 12%. The proportion of indigenous people-aborigines (Indians, Eskimos, etc.) is small (less than 1%).

The average population density in the United States is 28 people per sq. km, the most densely populated areas are in the north-east of the country (Atlantic coast, Lakes region), where the population density in some places exceeds 350 people per 1 sq. km, the least - mountain states (on average 4 people per 1 sq. km). In Alaska, the average population density is less than 1 person per 4 sq. km,

Three quarters of the US population lives in cities. The main role in the resettlement of people belongs to large cities, millionaire cities, urban agglomerations (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, etc.).

Natural resource prerequisites for the development of the economy

Most of the US territory is favorable for economic development. Only the Cordilleras, which occupy almost the entire western half of the country, are the most difficult for economic use. Plains located in the center, in the east and south (the Great and Central Plains, Mississippi, Atlantic, Florida and Mexican lowlands) receive heat and moisture in quantities sufficient for the cultivation of all crops of the temperate zone, and in the south - and subtropical. The soils prevailing here (burnizem) are highly fertile.

Dry steppes (prairies), mountain valleys and intermontane basins can be used for grazing land.

There are large reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, iron, copper, lead-zinc and uranium ores, gold, silver, platinum, tungsten and molybdenum, phosphorites, sulfur, potassium salts.

The country is rich in water (the Colorado, Columbia, Mississippi rivers with tributaries, Missouri and Ohio, Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario), plant (forests occupy more than half of the US) and biological resources.

Economy: leading industries, peculiarities of their location

In the US economy, industry and agriculture are equally highly developed, as well as branches of the non-production sphere.

The structure of industrial production is characterized by a significant predominance of manufacturing industries.

Leading heavy industry industries in the United States - mechanical engineering and chemical industry.

Mechanical engineering represented by all well-known industries. The role of transport engineering (automotive, locomotive and car building, shipbuilding, aircraft building), machine tool building, agricultural engineering, high-tech industries - aerospace and electronic industries, radio engineering, etc. is especially important. Most of the machine-building centers are located in the northeastern part of the country (Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, etc.) and on the Pacific coast of the United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, etc.).

Chemical industry(production of plastics, chemical fibers, synthetic rubber, mineral fertilizers, dyes, detergents, etc.) is mainly concentrated in the centers of the states of the North (St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore), where its development is associated with use of waste coal industry and metallurgical industries (waste coal coking, etc.), and on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur), rich in oil, natural gas and sulfur.

Metallurgy. The main regions of the US iron and steel industry are Lakeside (the largest centers of Pittsburgh, Chicago, Gary, Cleveland, Buffalo), based on the use of their own resources of iron ore (the Lake Superior region) and coking coal (Appalachian Basin) and the Atlantic Ocean (Baltimore, Philadelphia), based on the use of imported iron ore (mainly from Canada, Venezuela and Brazil).

Nonferrous metallurgy (smelting of copper, lead and zinc, aluminum, etc.) has developed in the states of the Mountain West, which have large reserves of copper, lead-zinc and molybdenum ores and powerful hydropower potential (the Columbia and Colorado rivers).

Fuel and energy industry. In the structure of energy consumption in the United States, a large share (about 70%) of oil and natural gas. Most of the oil is produced on the Gulf Coast (Texas and Louisiana), California and Alaska. These same areas (except Alaska) provide most of the production of natural gas. The main coal mining area is the Appalachian Basin. The vast majority (about 90%) of electricity is generated by heat and nuclear power plants... In terms of total capacity, US nuclear power plants rank first in the world. Large hydroelectric power plants have been built on the Columbia and Colorado rivers. The largest of them - Grand Coulee (4.1 million kW) is located on the Columbia River.

The leading branches of the light (textile, clothing, etc.) and food (flour, meat, canning, dairy and sugar) industries not only satisfy the country's needs with their products, but also export them in large quantities.

Agriculture: main industries and areas

The production structure of agriculture in the United States is characterized by approximately equal development of crop and livestock production. The leading branch of plant growing is grain farming. The main crops are corn and sorghum (feed grain), wheat, rice. Corn is grown mainly in the states of the northern Central Plains (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana), wheat (mainly winter) and sorghum - in the steppe regions of the Great Plains. The main rice growing area is the Mexican Lowland, Mississippi Valley, California.

The main industrial crops are cotton, sugar beet and sugar cane, soy, and tobacco.

Vegetable growing, potato growing, horticulture are developed.

The leading branches of animal husbandry are meat and dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding, sheep breeding, poultry breeding. Agriculture in the United States is characterized by regional specialization of production.

Agriculture in the northeastern part of the country (Lakeshire region), where many major cities, has a suburban character and is specialized in the production of milk, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and berries.

The states located south and west of the Great Lakes (northern Central Plains, Great Plains) are the main producers of grain (corn, wheat and sorghum). Animal husbandry specializes in beef cattle, pig and poultry farming.

The states of the southeastern part of the country specialize in the production of industrial crops (cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, etc.).

In the states of the Mountain West, grazing livestock is of the greatest importance - beef cattle, sheep breeding.

The states of California and Florida are the main areas of horticulture and viticulture, and citrus production.

Transport and economic links

In domestic transportation of goods, the decisive role is played by rail. Automobile transport serves passenger and cargo transportation over short and medium distances. Major trunk pipelines connect the states of the South (Texas and Louisiana) with the industrialized states of Lakeside. Most of the inland waterways are transported along the Great Lakes, the Mississippi and the coastal canal system. External transportation of goods is carried out mainly by sea transport. The largest seaports in the United States are New York and New Orleans.

Despite the enormous volume of production of fuel and mineral raw materials, the country's needs for fuel and raw materials are so great that the United States, while exporting them, imports a large amount of fuel and raw materials. The United States imports oil, natural gas and uranium concentrates, chromites and manganese ores, bauxite, tin, nickel, cobalt, diamonds, etc.

There is a large share in imports of finished goods - consumer electronics, metalworking machines, footwear, textiles, etc. industrial products(mainly machinery and technical products and consumer goods) and agricultural products.

The main trade partners of the United States are the member countries of NAFTA, the states of the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and Western Europe.

12.6. Australia and Oceania.

Australia, New Zealand and numerous islands in the central and southwestern Pacific Ocean form a special region - Australia and Oceania.

Some geographic features of the region:

1. Australia and Oceania do not represent a single whole, either in natural, cultural or socio-economic terms. Oceania is formed by several thousand islands located in a vast area (60 million square kilometers) in the central and southwestern Pacific Ocean, between 29 ° N. sh. and 53 ° S. sh. and 130 ° east. d. and 109 ° W e. The total land area of ​​Oceania is relatively small and is only about 1.3 million square meters. km (six times less than the area of ​​Australia). Moreover, her two largest islands- New Guinea (area 829 thousand sq. Km) and New Zealand (265 thousand sq. Km) occupy almost 90% of its land area and only 10% (i.e., about 200 thousand sq. Km) - the rest are a few thousand islands.

2. Islands of Oceania, being in the tropical and subtropical zone The southern hemisphere, have a warm, mild climate (one of the most comfortable the globe) with temperature and quantity atmospheric precipitation sufficient for growing crops cultivated in these latitudes - coconut palm, bananas, cocoa, coffee, tea, tobacco, sugar cane, cotton, tubers (taro, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava), etc. Natural conditions allow you to harvest several crops crops per year.

Oceania is also rich in various minerals: deposits of coal (New Zealand), combustible gas, iron ore, copper and manganese ores, platinum, silver (New Guinea), nickel (New Caledonia), gold (Fiji), phosphate raw materials (Nauru ) and etc.

3. Oceania - the area of ​​settlement of the Papuans, Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians, was discovered by Europeans in early XVI v. ( Mariana islands in 1521, during circumnavigation Fernando Magellan in 1519-1522). Most numerous groups modern population are formed by aborigines (Papuan peoples and peoples speaking the languages ​​of the Austronesian family) and immigrants and their descendants (Anglo-Zealanders, Americans, British, Indians, French, Anglo-Australians, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc.) - Most countries in Oceania are characterized by high fertility, natural growth and low mortality. In most countries, men numerically predominate over women, there is a high proportion of young people, the bulk of the population is employed in agriculture, mining, services (tourist services). Migration flows of people between countries are significant. In terms of average population density (8.1 people per 1 sq. Km.) Oceania is almost four times larger than Australia. The population is unevenly distributed - along with densely populated islands (Tuvaku, Nauru, Mbau, etc.), there are also uninhabited islands.

4. In socio-economic terms, all the countries of Oceania are developing, mainly agricultural, with a specialization of the economy - tropical agriculture (growing various vegetables and fruits, cotton, coffee, cocoa, etc.) and animal husbandry (raising cattle, sheep, pigs , bird). The industry is characterized by the dominant position of mining industries (on Nauru Island - mining of phosphorites, on New Caledonia - nickel, etc.) and industries processing agricultural products (production of coconut oil, tea, tobacco products, sugar, juices, fruit canning, fish processing industry, etc.). The products of these industries and agriculture determine the nature of the participation of most oceanic states in foreign trade. In terms of per capita GDP, Oceania countries are differentiated into states where this indicator reaches $ 15,000 (Nauru), $ 1,500 (Fiji), $ 900 (Papua New Guinea, Solomon islands, Vanuatu), from 400 to 600 dollars (Western Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuwaku).

5. Australia was "discovered" by Europeans twice - the first time at the beginning of the 17th century. by the Dutch navigator V. Janszon (its northern coast), somewhat later, in the second half of the same century, by the English navigator James Cook ( East Coast). At first, this continent was the site of a convict settlement (criminals from England) and only in the second half of the 19th century, after the discovery of rich gold deposits, it became an area of ​​mass free immigration.

12.6.1. Australia (Commonwealth of Australia).

Australia is a federal state, part of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain.

The Commonwealth of Australia consists of six states; New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, as well as two territories - the Northern Territory and the Capital Territory.

The country is located in Southern hemisphere and occupies the territory of the entire Australian continent and adjacent islands (Tasmania, King, Kangaroo. Flinders, Barrow, etc.).

Australia's area is 7.7 million square meters. km, population - 18.2 million people. The capital is Canberra. Official language- English. The majority of the population is Christian.

Australia is one of the economically developed countries of the world, but its economy is mainly focused on raw materials. In the international division of labor, Australia plays a leading role in the production and export of wheat, meat, sugar, wool, various types of mineral raw materials (bauxite, polymetals, iron ore, coal, etc.).

Geographical position... A distinctive feature of the geographical position of Australia is its considerable distance from other continents. The country is surrounded on all sides by the waters of the World Ocean, its northern and eastern shores are washed by the Pacific Ocean, western and southern - by the Indian.

Population. The main core of Australia's population is made up of Anglo-Australians (descendants of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland) and immigrants from different countries the world. Australian Aborigines make up less than 1% of the country's population.

Australia is characterized by significant immigration, which accounts for up to 20% of population growth. The average population density in Australia is 2 people per sq. km. Most of the population (over 2/3 of the country's inhabitants) is concentrated on the eastern and southeastern coasts, which are naturally favorable (here the density in some places reaches 10-50 people per 1 sq. Km). The rest of the territory is poorly populated.

Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world: more than 85% of its population is urban. Largest cities- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle. Almost all of them are ports.

Natural conditions, their economic assessment

The relief of Australia is predominantly flat. Mountains occupy less than 5% of the territory of this continent. The Dividing Range ( highest point- Mount Kostsyushko - 2230 m) does not represent an insurmountable obstacle for economic development. The climate in most of Australia is unfavorable for agriculture. Sufficient precipitation (500 mm per year) falls only on the elevated eastern and southeastern outskirts of the mainland. Areas of vast deserts (they occupy 2/5 of the country's area) of Central and Western Australia have insufficient moisture and can only be used as pastures for sheep.

The river network is poorly developed. The only high-water river Murray with a tributary Darling.

Household. Among the industries most important to the Australian economy are the mining, metals and food industries. The products of these industries are not only widely used domestically, but are also exported in large quantities.

Australia occupies a prominent place in the world for the reserves and production of bauxite, iron, lead, zinc, copper, manganese, tungsten and uranium ores, and coal. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy is closely connected with the mining industry, the main branches of which are the aluminum industry, smelting of copper, tin, lead and zinc, special steels and alloys.

The leading branches of the food industry - meat, dairy, flour, sugar, fruit and vegetable canning - process local agricultural raw materials. The enterprises of these industries are mainly located in port cities in the southeast of the country (Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide).

Mechanical engineering (production of trucks and cars, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, various devices, etc.), oil refining, chemical (production of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, plastics and chemical fibers, etc.) and light industry (production of footwear, fabrics and knitwear) in are mostly of local importance.

Agriculture in Australia has a livestock bias. The leading branches of animal husbandry are sheep and meat and dairy cattle breeding. The country ranks first in the world in terms of sheep population, production and export of wool, lamb, beef and veal. Horse breeding, camel breeding and poultry breeding are well developed. In connection with the livestock-raising orientation of agriculture in general, the cultivation of forage crops is of great importance in crop production (up to 49% of the arable land is occupied).

The main export crops of Australia are wheat, sugar cane, and cotton. The main area of ​​their cultivation is the east and southeast of the country. For the production and export of wheat, Australia is one of the first places in the world. Important branches of plant growing are horticulture, viticulture, and vegetable growing.

Transport. In the transportation of goods, a large role (up to half of the cargo turnover) is played by sea transport, passengers - by automobile and aviation. The length of the railways is short. Internal water transport almost not,

The main export items are mineral raw materials (iron ore, coal, bauxite, etc.) and agricultural products (wool, wheat, meat, sugar). Australia imports mainly manufactured goods. Internal differences. Different parts of Australia differ in the level of development and specialization of the economy. Four economic regions are distinguished:

1. Southeast (includes the states of New South Wales, Victoria and southeast South Australia, the territory of the federal capital) - the leading region of the country. More than 70% of the population, about 80% of manufacturing products, almost half of mining, more than half of agriculture, and about the same length of railways are concentrated in its relatively small territory (20% of the country's area). Here are the largest centers of Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide.
2. Northeastern (Queensland with the administrative center of Brisbane) is distinguished by the cultivation of sugar cane and tropical fruit crops (bananas, papaya, pineapples, etc.), cattle breeding (half of the country's livestock), the production of meat, sugar, bauxite and alumina, mining oil.
3. West-Central (covers the states of South (except for the southeast) and Western Australia and the Northern Territory) - the largest in area (half of the country's territory) and the driest (here are the Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert and Great desert Victoria), the least populated (one tenth of the country's population lives) and economically developed region of the country. It is distinguished by the mining industry (occupies a leading place in the country in the extraction of gold, iron ore, nickel, copper, uranium, manganese) and agriculture (production of wheat, oats, barley, cotton; extensive beef cattle breeding). The major centers are Perth (Western Australia) and Darwin (Northern Territory).
4. Tasmania, thanks to its island position, favorable climate (warm, even, humid), richness of hydro resources and minerals (copper, tin, tungsten, zinc, iron ore, coal and others), - an area of ​​developed tourism and agriculture (vegetables, fruits, dairy farming), hydropower and non-ferrous metallurgy (production of copper, aluminum, zinc, etc.). The main center of the district and administrative center Tasmania State - Hobart.

12.7. Commonwealth of Independent States (Eurasian macroregion).

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), formed at the end of 1991 as a result of the collapse of the USSR, stands out as a special region of the world. The territory of the Commonwealth occupies most of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, from the north it is washed by the waters of the Arctic seas, from the east - the Pacific, in the west and southwest - the Atlantic Oceans.

By the size of the territory (22.25 million sq. Km), this region of the world surpasses Foreign Europe, North and Latin America, Australia and Oceania. The vast extent of the region (from west to east - more than 10 thousand km, from north to south - 4500 thousand km) is associated with its position within several latitudinal - natural areas (arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, forest, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, subtropical) and time zones (located in 11 time zones - from the second to the twelfth).

As part of the Commonwealth 12 independent states-Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan.

All countries of the Commonwealth, after proclaiming their state independence, have chosen a single republican form of government.

More than 100 nations and nationalities live in the Commonwealth countries, differing in language and ethnic composition, culture and life.

The peoples inhabiting the CIS are closely linked by the length of the period of life they lived together. The economic development of a huge, once united country led to the territorial mixing of nationalities, the blurring of sharp lines between them, to the integration of their national economies. Within the CIS, despite the emergence of interethnic political borders, a single geopolitical, informational and economic space continues to exist, which includes, among other things, a common labor and raw materials market, a kind of system of resettlement of people and the location of production.

12.7.1. Republic of Belarus.

The area of ​​the republic is 207.6 sq. km, population -10.3 million people, the capital is Minsk. Branches of economic specialization are mechanical engineering, chemical, light and food industries, animal husbandry, flax and potato growing.

Natural conditions. Plain terrain, moderate continental and humid climate, sod-podzolic soils, significant waterlogging and waterlogging of lands (mainly in the south of the republic - in Polesie).

Natural resources. Potash and sodium chloride (Starobinskoe and Lyubanskoe deposits), oil (Rechitskoe and Ostashkovskoe deposits in the Gomel region), raw materials for building materials (glass and molding sands, limestones, chalk, marl, dolomites, etc.), water (Dnieper river with tributaries of the Berezina and Pripyat, Western Dvina, Neman, Bug, etc.) and forest (pine, spruce, oak, alder, birch, aspen) resources.

Population. More than 80% of its population are Belarusians, there are also Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, etc. The average population density is 50 people per 1 sq. Km. km. The central part of the republic is most densely populated, the lowest density is in Polesie.

Household. The specialization and structure of the economy of the republic is significantly influenced by high security labor resources, territorial proximity to raw materials and industrial areas and the centers of Russia and Ukraine, good transport links with them. The main industries - mechanical engineering and chemical - are heavily dependent on imported raw materials. Metal, oil, gas, coal, apatite, etc. are mainly imported from Russia and Ukraine.

Machine building specialization - production of computers, automatic lines and machine tools, televisions, radios, refrigerators and other household appliances (Minsk, Vitebsk, Brest, etc.), agricultural equipment (Gomel) and tractors (Minsk), heavy vehicles (Minsk, Zhodino , Mogilev), equipment for peat, light and food industries (Gomel, Mozyr, Grodno, Baranovichi, etc.).

The main areas of the chemical industry are the production of chemical fibers, plastics and synthetic resins (Mogilev, Polotsk, Grodno), potash (Soligorsk), nitrogen (Grodno) and phosphoric (Gomel) fertilizers, wood chemistry (production of turpentine, rosin, ethyl alcohol, etc.) ...

Large oil refineries have been established in Novopolotsk and Mozyr.

Leading industries light industry- textile (production of linen, cotton, woolen and silk fabrics) and leather and footwear - they use local (flax, leather, chemical fibers) and imported (cotton, wool, raw silk) raw materials. Textile industry enterprises are located mainly in Vitebsk (Orsha, Vitebsk) and Minsk region (Minsk), leather and footwear - in Minsk, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Gomel, Lida and other cities.

Among the major industries, only the food industry is fully provided with its own raw materials. Its composition is diverse, the leading ones include butter and cheese making, processing of potatoes (into alcohol, starch, etc.). meat, fruit and vegetable canning, sugar.

The woodworking (production of plywood, cardboard, furniture, wood-based panels), glass and cement industries are also of great importance for the economy of the republic.

Fuel and energy industry. The fuel balance of the republic is dominated by imported fuel (oil and gas), the specific weight of local fuel (peat, own oil) is small. Thermal power plants (Lukomolskaya, Berezovskaya, Smolevichskaya, etc.) form the basis of the electric power industry.

Agriculture. Its leading industries - dairy and meat cattle breeding and pig breeding - have been developed in all regions of the republic. In agriculture, there is a high proportion of grain and fodder crops (root crops, corn for silage, etc.) * The main grain crop is rye, the main industrial crop is flax. Rye is grown everywhere; flax crops are concentrated in the north and north-east of the republic. Sugar beet is cultivated in Grodno and Minsk regions. One of the main areas of agriculture in the republic is growing potatoes.

Transport. The republic has a dense network of railways, which mainly carry out internal and external transportation of goods. Railways, highways and pipelines connecting Russia with the countries of Eastern, Central and Western Europe pass through the territory of the republic (the Moscow-Warsaw highway, the Druzhba oil pipeline, the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, etc.).

12.7.2. Republic of Ukraine.

The area of ​​the republic is 603.7 sq. km, population - 52 million people, the capital is Kiev. In terms of the size of the territory, Ukraine is the third CIS country (after Russia and Kazakhstan), in terms of population and volume of production it is second only to Russia.

Branches of economic specialization. Comprehensively developed economy with the leading role of coal and metallurgical industry, branches of machine-building, chemical and agro-industrial complexes.

Natural conditions. Predominant flat surface(the mountains - the Carpathians and the Crimean ones - occupy the western and southern outskirts of the republic), a warm and mild climate (with the exception of the southeastern regions of Ukraine, characterized by a high continental climate), highly fertile chernozem soils (accounting for 70% of the area land resources), huge areas of natural pastures and meadows (Carpathians, Polesye part of Ukraine) allow you to successfully engage in many types of agricultural activities, including subtropical agriculture (on the southern coast of Crimea).

Within the republic, in the latitudinal direction, forest, or woodland (characterized by high humidity, low summer temperatures, podzolic and boggy soils), forest-steppe and steppe (characterized by a long warm period, gray forest, chernozem and chestnut soils) zones successively replace each other.

Mountainous regions constitute a special natural area.

Natural resources. The territorial combination of various species is characteristic mineral resources: fuel (coal and brown coal, oil, gas), ore (iron, manganese, mercury and other ores) and nonmetallic (table and potassium salts, phosphorites, native sulfur, marble, chalk, limestone, kaolin, cement raw materials, etc. .).

Population. 75% the inhabitants of the republic are Ukrainians, whose share is especially high in the western and central regions of Ukraine. The share of the Russian population (21%), Jews, Belarusians, Poles, Bulgarians, Moldovans is high. The population density is 86 people per 1 sq. km. The urban population is 69%.

The economy of Ukraine has a complex sectoral and territorial structure.

Fuel and energy complex. The main role belongs to the coal industry (Donetsk and Lvov-Volyn coal and Pridneprovsk brown coal basins) and energy. The most intensive development is underway for coking coal and anthracites in the Donetsk basin. Most of the electricity is generated by thermal power plants in Donbass (Uglegorskaya, Starobeshevskaya, Slavyanskaya, Luganskaya GRES, etc.), hydroelectric power plants of the Dnieper cascade (Dnieper, Dneprodzerzhinskaya, Kakhovskaya, Kremenchugskaya, Kievskaya, Kanevskaya HPPs) and large nuclear power plants (Zaporizhzhya, Khmenynskaya). Oil (Borislavskoye and Drohobychskoye fields in the Carpathian region) and natural gas (Sheblinka region in the Kharkiv region and Dashava in the Carpathian region) are produced in amounts that are far from covering the needs of the republic's economy. Ukraine receives a large amount of oil and gas from Russia.

The metallurgical complex includes the extraction and processing of iron and manganese ores, the smelting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The development of ferrous metallurgy in Ukraine is favored by a combination of iron ore (Krivorozhskoe, Kremenchugskoe, etc.) and manganese (Nikopolskoe, Bolshoi Tokmak) deposits, coking coal (Donbass), non-ferrous - large energy sources and some types of ore raw materials (mercury ores in the Nikitovka area of ​​Donetsk region and etc.). Ferrous metallurgy enterprises are located in Donbass (Donetsk, Makeevka, Gorlovka, Kramatorsk, etc.), Pridneprovye (Kryvyi Rih, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Dneprodzerzhinsk), and Priazovye (Mariupol), non-ferrous - in Pridneprovye (smelting of aluminum, magnesium and titanium in Zaporozhye ) and Donbass (zinc smelting in Konstantinovka and mercury in Gorlovka).

Mechanical engineering is represented by both metal-intensive and labor-intensive industries. Heavy mechanical engineering (production of metallurgical, mining and power equipment, heavy machine tools, lifting and road-building machines, etc.) is predominantly developed in the regions of metallurgy (Kramatorsk, Donetsk in Donbass, Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog in the Dnieper region, Mariupol in the Azov region) or not far away from them (Kharkov), precision engineering (instrument making, electrical engineering, electronics, etc.) - in large centers of western and southern Ukraine (Kiev, Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk, Poltava, Odessa, Simferopol, etc.),

Ukraine has all types of transport engineering: production of diesel locomotives (Lugansk), wagons (Kremenchug, Dneprodzerzhinsk), trucks and cars (Kremenchug, Lutsk, Zaporozhye), buses (Lviv), river (Kiev) and sea (Nikolaev, Kherson, Kerch) ships And many types of agricultural machinery ~ production of tractors (Kharkov), corn-harvesting (Kherson) and sugar-beet harvesters (Dnepropetrovsk, Ternopil), various agricultural machinery (Kirovograd, Odessa, Lvov).

Branches of specialization of the chemical industry - extraction of cookery (Artyomovskoye and Slavyanskoye deposits in the Donbass) and potash (Kalushskoye and Stebnikskoye in the Carpathian region) salts, native sulfur (Razdolskoye deposit in the Carpathian region), phosphorites (Krolovetskoe deposit in Sumy region), soda production (Lysychansk in Donetsk region), phosphorus (Odessa, Vinnitsa, Sumy, etc.), potash (Kalush, Stebnik) and nitrogen (Gorlovka, Dneprodzerzhinsk, etc.) fertilizers, chemical fibers, plastics and synthetic resins (Severodonetsk, Gorlovka, Kiev, Cherkassy , Chernigov, Zhitomir, Odessa, etc.).

The food industry (flour, sugar, butter, meat, vegetable and fruit canning, wine, etc.) is based on the processing of local agricultural raw materials.

Other industries include cement, glass, textile (production of cotton, linen and woolen fabrics), sewing, leather and footwear.

Agriculture. The crop and livestock sectors are equally well developed. More than half of the sown area is under grain crops (winter and spring wheat, corn, rice, rye, oats and barley, millet, buckwheat). The sown area has a high proportion of industrial (sunflower, sugar beet, fiber flax, etc.), fodder (root crops and herbs), vegetables and melons. Potato growing, horticulture and viticulture are developed.

Branches of specialization of animal husbandry - breeding of cattle of dairy and meat direction, pig breeding, fine-fleece and semi-fine-fleece sheep breeding, poultry breeding. In accordance with the natural characteristics in Ukraine, several areas of production specialization of agriculture have developed.

Polesie is the main region of flax and potato growing, dairy farming. Among cereals, the proportion of gray breads (rye) is high.

The forest-steppe and steppe parts of Ukraine are the main area of ​​grain farming (winter and spring wheat, corn, rice, millet, etc.), the production of sugar beets and sunflowers, dairy and meat and meat and dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding and sheep breeding (in the eastern , arid part of the steppe zone).

Transcarpathia and South coast Crimea - the main areas of horticulture, viticulture, tobacco growing, production of essential oil crops. The high-mountainous regions of the Carpathians are an area of ​​developed sheep breeding.

Transport. In the transport complex of Ukraine, the leading place belongs to (in terms of the volume of cargo and passenger turnover) railway transport.

Territorial organization of the economy. V economic complex In Ukraine, there are three territorial parts that differ in terms of development, structure and specialization of the economy: Donetsk-Dnieper, South-Western and Southern economic regions.

Donetsk-Pridneprovsky district (Donetsk, Lugansk, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Kirovograd, Poltava, Sumy and Kharkov regions) occupies eastern part Ukraine, neighbors with the comprehensively developed, densely populated North Caucasian and Central Black Earth regions of Russia. Among other economic regions of Ukraine, this region is distinguished by a combination of energy resources (coal, natural gas, hydro resources) and various mineral raw materials (iron and manganese ores, potash and sodium chloride, phosphorites, mercury ores, etc.); branches of heavy industry - coal, heat and hydropower, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, machine-building. Eastern regions district (Donetsk, Lugansk) poorly provided with water resources.

The South-West region unites the regions of central and western Ukraine (Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zhitomir, Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kiev, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy and Chernigov). This region of Ukraine is the largest in terms of area (269.5 thousand sq. Km) and population (22.3 million people), better than others provided with labor resources and water (the Dnieper rivers with Pripyat and Desna, Dniester, Southern Bug, Tissa and etc.).

The South-West region is not very rich in minerals (only chemical raw materials are of great economic importance - native sulfur, potash and table salts in the Carpathian region), does not have such a powerful energy and metallurgical base, like Donetsk-Pridneprovsky district. Accordingly, the structure and specialization of its economy have developed - precision engineering, the chemical industry (using its own and imported raw materials), agriculture, light and food industries, processing local agricultural raw materials (district - largest manufacturer in the republic of winter wheat, sugar beet, vegetables, fruits, sugar, flour, shoes, fabrics, etc.).

Yuzhny economic region(Nikolaev, Odessa, Kherson regions, Crimea) occupies part of the Azov and the entire Black Sea coast of Ukraine. The geographical position has a great influence on the development of the economy of the region - its participation in the interregional division of labor in Ukraine is determined by the extraction of iron ore, marble and limestone, the production of sea vessels and agricultural machinery, grain, sunflowers, grapes, fruits, wine and canned food. One of the main functions of the region is the organization of recreation and tourism, provision of interregional and international transport links.

12.7.3. The Republic of Moldova.

The area of ​​the republic is 33.7 thousand square meters. km, population - 4.4 million people, capital - Chisinau.

Branches of economic specialization: production of vegetables, grapes, industrial and essential oil crops, food industry (especially wine and fruit and vegetable canning).

Natural conditions (prevailing flat relief, long growing season, abundance of solar heat and light, mild winters, chernozem soils) are extremely favorable for the development of agriculture.

The republic is located within two natural zones: forest-steppe and steppe. The southern - steppe part of Moldova (South Moldavian steppe) is insufficiently humidified ( annual quantity precipitation on average - 300-350 mm), northern - forest-steppe (Balti steppe) and central - elevated (Codri) do not experience a lack of atmospheric moisture (500-550 mm).

Natural resources. The republic does not have any significant resources for the specialization of industry.

Population. Moldovans make up the majority of the population (65%). Of other nationalities, most of all are Russians and Ukrainians (in Transnistria), Gagauzians (in the south of the republic). The average population density in Moldova is more than 130 people per 1 sq. km, the highest among the countries of the Commonwealth.

Household. The basis of the economy of Moldova is the agro-industrial complex (AIC). The main link in the agro-industrial complex is agriculture.

Agriculture is dominated by agriculture, the leading branches of which are viticulture and fruit growing. Most of the vineyards are located in central regions(Codri) and Transnistria. Natural conditions make it possible to grow various grape varieties (for winemaking, fresh consumption). Apples, pears, cherries, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, etc. are grown in the orchards. Vegetable growing (tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sweet peppers, cucumbers, etc.) geranium, etc.) and industrial (sunflower, sugar beet, tobacco) crops. Sunflower is grown in the south, sugar beet - in the north of the republic. The main crops are winter wheat and corn. Moldova fully meets its grain needs.

Livestock raising. Its leading industries are dairy and meat cattle breeding, pig breeding and sheep breeding. Sheep breeding is most developed in the southern steppe regions of the republic.

Branches of specialization of the food industry (winemaking, fruit and vegetable canning, sugar, tobacco, oil processing, etc.) process local agricultural raw materials. The enterprises of these industries are located in Tiraspol, Bender, Chisinau, Rybnitsa and other cities.

The agro-industrial complex includes mechanical engineering (production of garden tractors, refrigerators, food equipment in Chisinau, refrigerated trucks - Tiraspol, agricultural machines - Balti, refrigeration units - Straseni, etc.), glass, metal and woodworking industries (production of glass containers , metal lids, oak barrels for wine).

Among other sectors of the economy, the production of cotton (Tiraspol) and silk (Bender) fabrics, knitwear (Chisinau, Rybnitsa, Soroki), footwear, fur, carpets, and garments stands out.

Electric power industry. Thermal power plants (Moldavskaya TPP, Chisinau and Baltskaya TPPs) operate on imported fuel. The Dubossarskaya HPP was built on the Dniester.

12.7.4. Republic of Georgia.

The area of ​​the republic is 69.7 thousand square meters. km, population - 5.4 million people, capital - Tbilisi.

Branches of economic specialization: production of tea and citrus crops (tangerines, oranges, lemons), fruits and grapes, food and textile (silk) industry, extraction and processing of manganese ores, health resort facilities.

Natural conditions. Most of the territory of Georgia is mountains (Greater and Lesser Caucasus). Lowlands (Colchis, Alazan) occupy small areas. The nature climatic conditions Georgia is divided by the Likh ridge into two regions: humid subtropical (Western Georgia) and continental subtropical (Eastern Georgia).

Natural resources: manganese (Chiatura deposit) and copper (Madneulsky deposit) ores, bituminous and brown coal (Tkibuli, Tkvarcheli), hydro resources (rivers Kura, Aragvi, Alazani, Rioni, Inguri, Bzyb, etc.), mineral springs (Tskhaltubo, Borjomi, etc.).

Population. The indigenous inhabitants of Georgia - Georgians, Abkhazians and Adjarians, Ossetians make up the majority of the population. The most densely populated is the flat part of the republic.

Household. In its structure, first of all, there are branches associated with the processing of local agricultural raw materials: tea and tobacco, winemaking, production of silk and woolen fabrics, footwear.

An important link in the economic complex of Georgia is the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials: manganese (Chiatura), copper and polymetallic ores (Madneuli mining and processing plant near Tbilisi, production of ferroalloys (Zestafoni).

Mechanical engineering mainly serves the leading sectors of the republic's economy: the production of machinery and equipment for the tea, wine-making, canning, silk-weaving industry (Batumi, Tbilisi, etc.), mining equipment and trucks (Kutaisi), electrical equipment, electric locomotives (Tbilisi), etc. ...

Local coal (Tkvarcheli) and imported iron ore(Ukraine, Azerbaijan) there is a metallurgical plant in Rustavi. The development of the chemical industry is associated with the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant (coke oven and imported natural gas are used) - the production of nitrogen fertilizers, chemical fibers and synthetic resins. The products of the woodworking industry are diverse (production of furniture, plywood, paper, matches, etc.).

Electric power industry. Most of the electricity is provided by hydroelectric power plants (Zemo-Avchal, Rion, Sukhum, Khram, etc.).

Agriculture in Georgia is diversified. Along with agriculture, animal husbandry is of great importance (especially in the mountainous and arid southeastern regions of the republic).

The main branches of agriculture are the production of labor-intensive subtropical and industrial crops (tea, tobacco, sugar beets, sunflowers), horticulture and viticulture.

Plantations of tea, tobacco, citrus fruits, subtropical crops (persimmon, figs, pomegranate, etc.), sugar beet crops are mainly located in the coastal regions of Western Georgia.

Vineyards and fruit plantations (apple, pear, apricot, peach) are ubiquitous.

Main crops - winter wheat and corn. Wheat is cultivated in Eastern Georgia, corn in Western Georgia. The main branches of animal husbandry are cattle breeding, sheep breeding (mountainous and eastern regions), pig breeding (western regions of Georgia).

Transport. The leading role in transportation is played by railway transport... Pipeline (Baku-Batumi oil pipeline, etc.) and sea transport are of great importance.

12.7.5. Republic of Armenia.

The area of ​​the republic is 29.8 thousand square meters. km, population - 3.8 million, people, capital - Yerevan.

Branches of economic specialization: copper and molybdenum industry, precision engineering, mining and processing of building materials (tuff, marble, etc.) "wine and brandy production.

Natural conditions. Mountainous surface (almost 9/10 of the territory of the republic is located at an altitude of 1000 m and above), continental and dry climate. Areas suitable for agriculture are limited (Ararat plain) and can only be used for artificial irrigation of lands.

Natural resources. Copper and copper-molybdenum ores (Alaverdi, Zangezur, Kajaran and Agarak deposits), building materials (tuffs, granites, marble, pumice, etc.), springs mineral waters(Arzni), water resources (the Arake river with the Hrazdan tributary, etc.).

Population. In its composition there is a very high proportion (almost 90%) of the indigenous nationality - Armenians. The most populated is the Ararat Valley.

Household. Heavy industry branches prevail: mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry.

Mechanical engineering specializes in the production of non-metal-intensive, labor-intensive types of products - the production of turbines and generators, computers, electrical measuring instruments, electric lamps and clocks, equipment for the food industry, etc. Mechanical engineering centers - Yerevan, Leninakan, Kirovakan.

Nonferrous metallurgy is represented by the smelting of aluminum (Kanaker, near Yerevan), the extraction and processing of copper-molybdenum ores (in the Zangezur and Alaverdi regions), noble and rare metals. Armenia exports copper and molybdenum concentrates to Russia (Urals).

The chemical industry uses waste from non-ferrous metallurgy (sulfur-containing components of copper ores) and imported raw materials (natural gas, apatite, etc.). On this basis, the production of sulfuric acid, phosphoric fertilizers (Alaverdi, Hrazdan), chemical fibers, plastics, synthetic rubber and tires (Kirovakan, Yerevan), etc.

The food industry is represented by many industries (tobacco, sugar, fruit and vegetable canning, meat, butter and cheese making, etc.), the main of which is wine and cognac.

The extraction and processing of tuff (Ar-tek) is of great importance.

Electric power industry. On the Hrazdan and Vorotan rivers, there are cascades of hydroelectric power plants, the Armenian NPP is mothballed. Most of the electricity is provided by thermal power plants (Hrazdan State District Power Plant, Yerevan Thermal Power Plant, etc.).

Agriculture. The specialization of agriculture in Armenia is determined by horticulture and viticulture. The area under crops of grain (wheat, corn, barley) and industrial crops (cotton, tobacco, sugar beet) is insignificant. Vegetable growing is developed. The main agricultural region is the irrigated lands of the Ararat valley. Dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats are bred. Sericulture is well developed.

Transport. The main types of transport are rail and road.

12.7.6. Republic of Azerbaijan.

The area of ​​the republic is 86.6 thousand square meters. km, population - 7.5 million people, capital - Baku.

Branches of economic specialization: extraction and processing of oil and natural gas, production of cotton and grapes.

Natural conditions. About half of Azerbaijan's area is occupied by flat territories - the Kura-Araks and Lankaran lowlands. The climate of the Kura-Araks lowland is dry subtropical, the Lankaran lowland is humid subtropical.

Natural resources. Oil ( Absheron peninsula, the coast and the bottom of the Caspian Sea) and natural gas (Karadat deposit), iron (Dashkesan deposit) and polymetallic ores (Filizchay deposit), alunites (Zaglik deposit), mineral springs.

Population. Most of the republic is made up of Azerbaijanis (78%), Armenians and Russians. The most densely populated are the Apsheron Peninsula and the Lankaran Lowland.

Household. The oil and gas industry is of great importance in the economic complex of Azerbaijan. Many other industries are associated with them or are of a service and related nature. Oil is extracted on the Absheron Peninsula, from the bottom of the Caspian Sea. Gas production is carried out on the Apsheron Peninsula (Karadag region). With oil and gas industry the development of the oil refining (refinery in Baku) and chemical (production of artificial fiber, plastics, synthetic rubber and tires in Baku, Sumgait and Karadag) industry, energy (thermal power plants in Baku, Sumgait, Ali-Bayramlinskaya GRES) and other industries, specialization of mechanical engineering (production of oil and gas equipment in Baku and Kirovabad) and ferrous metallurgy (rental of pipes for oil industry in Sumgait).

An important place is occupied by the food industry (fish, meat, wine, canning, tea, tobacco, butter and cheese, etc.) and the textile industry (production of cotton and woolen fabrics in Kirovabad and Baku and silk fabrics in Stepanakert).

Agriculture. Most of the agricultural production in the republic comes from crop production. Cotton, rice, wheat, maize are grown on the irrigated lands of the Kura-Araks lowland; fruit growing, viticulture and silkworm growing are developed in the foothill zone. On the Lankaran lowland there are plantations of tobacco, tea and citrus crops.

Livestock raising. Breeding of coarse-wooled and fine-wooled sheep, dairy and meat cattle is of great importance.

Transport. All types of transport are developed - rail and sea (they occupy the first and second places in freight turnover, respectively), automobile, pipeline. A railway line to Iran (Tabriz) runs through the republic. The ferry crossing Baku - Turkmen-Bashi (Krasnovodsk) connects the railway network of the country and Turkmenistan.

12.7.7. The Republic of Kazakhstan.

The area of ​​the republic is 2 717 thousand sq. km, population - 16.5 million people, capital - Astana.

Branches of economic specialization: diversified specialization of the economy with the leading role of metallurgical, fuel and energy and agro-industrial complexes.

Natural conditions. Kazakhstan is a predominantly flat country. Mountains located in the south (Tien Shan, Karatau, Dzhungarskiy Alatau) and east (Tarbagatai, Rudny Altai) of Kazakhstan occupy a small part of the republic's territory. The climate is sharply continental and dry. Agriculture without irrigation is possible only in the northern (forest-steppe and steppe), foothill and mountain regions of the republic. Huge areas of Western, Central and Southern Kazakhstan, occupied by semi-deserts and deserts (60% of the territory of the republic), due to an acute lack of atmospheric moisture can only be used for pastures.

Natural resources. An exceptionally successful combination of mineral resources for ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, chemical, fuel and energy and other industries, iron ores (Karacharskoye, Sokolovskoye, Sarbaiskoye, Ayatskoye, Lisakovskoye deposits in the Kustanai region, Atasu group of deposits in the Karaganda region), chromites (Aktobe region) and manganese ores (Mangyshlak, Dzhezdy), copper (Dzhezkazgan, Sayak, Kounradskoe deposits in the Central and Nikolaevskoe deposit in East Kazakhstan), polymetallic (Zyryanovskoe, Belousovskoe, Tekeliyskoe, Achisayskoe and other deposits in Eastern and Southern Kazakhstan) and nickel ores (Mugodzhary), bauxites (Arkalyk), gold, titanium, molybdenum and other nonferrous metals, phosphorites (Karatau and Aktobe deposits regions), sodium chloride and potash (Aral Sea region, Balkhash region, etc.), oil (Mangyshlak, Buzachi, Tengiz, Ural-Emba basin), coal and brown coal (Karaganda, Ekibastuz, Maykyubinsky, Ubagansky basins).

The minerals of most of the deposits are shallow and available for open pit mining.

Due to the dry climate, the republic is poor surface waters... Only rivers originating in the mountains outside the republic (Irtysh, Syr-Darya, Ili) are of irrigation and energy importance.

Population. The majority of the population of Kazakhstan is made up of Russians (41%), Kazakhs (36%) and Ukrainians. The most densely populated are the northern, southern and eastern (foothill) regions of the republic.

The average population density (6.1 people per 1 sq. Km) is the lowest among the CIS countries.

Industry. It is dominated by heavy industry sectors.

The metallurgical complex of Kazakhstan includes mining, enrichment and smelting of copper, lead and zinc, aluminum and other non-ferrous metals, and ferrous metallurgy.

Copper metallurgy is developed in Central (Balkhash, Dzhezkazgan mining and metallurgical plants, etc.) and East Kazakhstan (Glubokoe), lead and zinc - in East (Ust-Kamenogorsk, Irtysh, Zyryanovsk and other plants) and South Kazakhstan (Chimkent and Tekeli factories, the Achisai polymetallic plant), aluminum - in Northern Kazakhstan (bauxite mining at the Arkalyk deposit, alumina and aluminum production in Pavlodar).

Ferrous metallurgy is represented by mining and beneficiation iron ore(Sokolovsky, Sarbaisky, Li Sakovsky, Kacharsky GOKi), a conversion plant and a metallurgical plant in Temir-Tau, ferroalloy production in Aktyubinsk and Ermak.

Fuel and energy complex. The main areas of coal mining are the Karaganda and Ekibastuz basins. Karaganda coal is coking coal. The Ekibastuz basin is characterized by shallow bedding and thick (up to 150-200 m) seams, low quality and high ash content of coal. Oil is produced in two regions - Mangyshlak (Uzen, Zhetybai) and Embinsk. Local oil is processed at the Guryev refinery. Large refineries have also been built in Pavlodar and Chimkent. Large thermal (Ekibastuz, Ermakovskaya, Karagandinskaya GRES, etc.) and hydroelectric power plants (Ust-Kamenogorsk, Bukhtarminskaya and other hydroelectric power plants on the Irtysh, Chardarya - on Ili) were built on the open-pit coal of Ekibastuz and Karaganda and the rivers of South Kazakhstan. The power industry also includes a nuclear power plant - Shevchenko NPP.

Leading branches of the chemical industry - the extraction of sodium chloride and potassium salts, phosphate-fertilizer (Dzhambul, Chimkent, Aktyubinsk), nitrogen-fertilizer (Karaganda), sulfuric acid production (Chimkent, Ust-Kamenogorsk "Balkhash), are based on the use of local resources mineral raw materials (phosphorites, salts) and waste of ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy (coke oven and sulfur dioxide).

Mechanical engineering performs mainly service functions; production of mining and metallurgical equipment (Ust-Kamenogorsk, Alma-Ata, Karaganda), equipment for the oil industry (Guryev), tractors (Pavlodar) and agricultural machinery (Akmolinsk), etc.

The main branches of the food industry are flour, meat (meat processing plants in Semipalatinsk, Aktyubinsk, Petropavlovsk, etc.), butter and cheese, sugar, fish; light - leather, shoe, sheepskin coat, production of woolen and cotton fabrics.

Agriculture. Kazakhstan is one of the largest grain and livestock regions in the CIS.

The main grain crop is spring wheat, which occupies most of the republic's area. Winter wheat, rice and millet are also grown.

The most important industrial crops are sunflower, cotton, sugar beet and tobacco.

Important branches of animal husbandry are cattle breeding, horse breeding and camel breeding.

The main branch of animal husbandry is sheep breeding. Sheep of fine-fleece and semi-fine-fleece direction, karakul and coarse-haired fat-tailed sheep are bred.

Horticulture and viticulture are well developed.

Areas of production specialization of agriculture:

• areas of forest-steppe and steppe Kazakhstan - the main area of ​​grain farming. In combination with cereals (spring wheat, millet), sunflower and fodder crops are grown, cattle for meat and dairy production are raised;
• the region of semi-desert and desert Kazakhstan - the area of ​​pasture animal husbandry - sheep breeding, camel breeding, horse breeding;
• the region of foothill Kazakhstan (the valleys of the rivers Syr-Darya, Talas, Chu, Ili) - an area of ​​irrigated agriculture - rice cultivation, production of cotton, tobacco, sugar beet and other industrial crops, horticulture and viticulture.

Transport. The overwhelming part of the country's freight turnover (over 95%) is accounted for by rail, the share of other types of transport (road, pipeline, river, aviation) is small. The basis of the railway network is made up of latitudinal (Trans-Siberian, South-Siberian, passing in their sections through Northern Kazakhstan) and meridional (Orenburg - Tashkent, Semipalatinsk - Alma-Ata - Lugovaya - Chimkent - Arys, Petropavlovsk - Akmola - Karaganda - Mointy - Chu) highways.

12.7.8. The Republic of Uzbekistan.

The area of ​​the republic is 447.4 thousand sq. km, population - 23 million people, capital - Tashkent.

Branches of economic specialization: cotton growing, sericulture and karakul breeding, nonferrous metallurgy, oil and gas industry.

Natural conditions. All western and central part Uzbekistan is occupied by vast waterless plains - the Ustyurt plateau, the Kyzyl Kum desert. In the south and east high mountains Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan barely enter the territory of the republic. The climate is sharply continental and dry. The areas of Foothill (the valleys of the Zeravshan, Kash-Kadarya, Surkhandarya and Syr-Darya rivers, the Fergana Valley) and Western (lower Amu-Darya) Uzbekistan are convenient for irrigated agriculture.

Natural resources. There are large reserves of oil (Fergana) and natural gas (Gazli), coal (Angren), copper and polymetallic ores (Almalyk region).

Population. The majority of the population are Uzbeks (69%) and Russians (11%), many Kazakhs, Tajiks and Tatars. The republic's oases are densely populated (up to 500 people per 1 sq. Km).

Household. Leading in the economy of Uzbekistan is the agro-industrial complex (AIC). The main link in the agro-industrial complex is cotton growing, with which the development of many other industries in the republic is directly or indirectly connected. Cotton occupies most of the cultivated area. It is grown on the irrigated lands of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm region (the lower reaches of the Amu Darya), the Fergana Valley, the Zeravshan and other oases. Rice, jute, tobacco, mulberry, fodder (alfalfa) and melons are cultivated in the same areas, they are engaged in horticulture and viticulture, silkworm breeding, and dairy cattle breeding.

On the rainfed lands of the foothill zone of southern and eastern Uzbekistan, mainly grain crops are grown - wheat (winter and spring), barley.

The specialization of agriculture in the desert regions of Central and Western Uzbekistan is the sheep breeding of the Karakul, fine-fleece and other directions.

The processing of cotton and other local agricultural raw materials is directly related to the light and food industries - cotton ginning and oil-processing, the production of cotton (Tashkent, Fergana, etc.), silk (Samarkand, Namangan, Margelan) fabrics, carpets, dried fruits, canned fruit, winemaking and dr.

The agro-industrial complex also includes some branches of mechanical engineering and the chemical industry - the production of tractors, cotton harvesters and other agricultural machinery, equipment for the textile industry (Tashkent), nitrogen (Chirchik, Fergana, Navoi) and phosphorus (Kokand) fertilizers.

The extraction of oil (Fergana deposits), natural gas (deposits of Bukhara and other regions), coal (Angren basin), smelting of copper, lead and zinc (a plant in Almalyk), ferrous metallurgy (a processing plant in Bekabad) are of great importance for the economy of Uzbekistan. ...

Transport. Among the various modes of transport, railway dominates; in communications within the country, road transport plays an important role. From gas fields republics, pipelines have been laid to Kazakhstan and Russia (gas pipeline middle Asia - Center, etc.).

12.7.9. Republic of Turkmenistan.

The area of ​​the republic is 488.1 thousand sq. km, population - 4.5 million people, capital - Ashgabat.

Branches of economic specialization: oil, gas and chemical industries, production of long-fiber varieties of cotton, silkworm breeding, karakul breeding.

Natural conditions. The overwhelming part (90%) of Turkmenistan is occupied by deserts (Karakum Desert). The climate is sharply continental and dry. Agriculture is possible in a limited space - the foot of the Kopet-Dag ridge (where the most precipitation falls in the republic), the basins of the Tejen, Murghab, Amu Darya rivers and the Karakum canal zone. All these places are the oases of the republic. Waterless desert areas can only be used for pasture.

Natural resources. There are large reserves of oil (Cheleken, Kum-Dat, Nebit-Dag), natural gas (Shatlykskoye, Achakskoye and Mayskoye fields), sulfur (Gaurdak), Glauber (Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), sodium chloride and potassium salts (Western Turkmenistan), ozokerite - mountain wax, iodine, bromine (Cheleken).

Population. Turkmen make up about 70% of the total population, followed by Russians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tatars, Armenians, Azerbaijanis. The population density is 9.2 people per 1 sq. km. Most of the population lives in oases, in some desert areas there is no permanent population.

Household. In the economic complex of Turkmenistan, the importance of the branches of the heavy industry - fuel and chemical - is great. Leading industries fuel industry- oil and gas. Oil is extracted on the Cheleken Peninsula, the sea coast and from the bottom of the Caspian Sea, refined locally (at the Krasnovodsk refinery) and outside the republic. The main regions for natural gas production are the Central Karakum and the Murghab valley. Gas, like oil, is exported outside the republic.

The chemical industry is represented by the extraction of sulfur (Gaurdak), Glauber's salt (Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), iodine, bromine (Cheleken) and the production of mineral fertilizers - nitrogen (Mary) and phosphorus (Chardzhou).

Branches of specialization of light industry - production of cotton (Ashgabat, Mary), woolen and silk fabrics (Chardzhou), carpets (Ashgabat); food - fruit preservation, winemaking, fish.

Agriculture. Cotton growing is the main branch of irrigated agriculture (Tezhensky, Murghab, Chardzhou and Karakum oases) and the entire agro-industrial complex of Turkmenistan. On irrigated lands, in addition to cotton, grain (rice, winter wheat, corn) and fodder (alfalfa) crops, mulberry trees are grown, they are engaged in vegetable growing, melon growing, horticulture and viticulture.

Small areas of rainfed lands (foothills and slopes of the Kopet-Dag) are used for grain crops (wheat, barley).

The main branch of livestock breeding in desert pastures is Karakul sheep breeding, oases - sericulture and dairy cattle breeding. Camel and horse breeding are well developed.

Transport. The main railway lines are Turkmen-Vashi (Krasnovodsk) - Tashkent, Chardzhou - Makat, Tejen - Mashhad (Iran). The main part of internal and external transportation is carried out on them. Pipeline and sea transport are well developed.

12.7.10. The Republic of Tajikistan.

The area of ​​the republic is 143.1 thousand sq. km, population - 5.9 million people, capital - Dushanbe.

Branches of economic specialization: non-ferrous metallurgy, cotton growing, sheep breeding, silkworm breeding.

Natural conditions. Almost all of Tajikistan is occupied by mountains (Pamir). The areas of intermontane valleys convenient for agriculture (Vakhsh, Gissar, Fergana) are insignificant. Thermal conditions (long growing season, abundance of sunlight and heat) make it possible to obtain high yields of many thermophilic crops on irrigated lands, including long-fiber varieties of cotton.

Natural resources: oil, coal, lead, zinc, rare metals, rock salts, raw materials for building materials, hydro resources (the Pyanj and Vakhsh rivers).

Population. In addition to Tajiks (59%), there are many Uzbeks (23%) and Russians. The most densely populated areas are the Fergana, Vakhsh and Gissar valleys.

Household. Principal in agro-industrial complex Tajikistan - cotton growing and industries processing agricultural products (cotton, silkworm cocoons, vegetables, fruits, grapes, etc.).

Cotton growing, horticulture, viticulture, rice cultivation and silkworm growing are the main directions of the use of irrigated lands in all oases of the republic (Vakhsh, Gissar, Fergana). There are also processing industries here - cotton ginning, oil mill, cotton, silk weaving and woolen, fruit canning and wine industries.

Rainfed lands and pastures of foothill and mountain crops are used for growing grain (barley, wheat) and fodder crops, serve as a basis for the development of animal husbandry (they breed Karakul and Hissar sheep, yaks, etc.) -

Nonferrous metallurgy is represented by the extraction and processing of polymetallic ores (Karamazor), the production of aluminum (Tursunzade) and magnesium (Yavan), mercury, and tungsten concentrates.

Fuel and energy industry. A cascade of hydroelectric power plants has been created on the Vakhsh River - Nurek, Ragunskaya, Golovnaya, Perepadnaya, Centralnaya. Coal, oil and gas are mined in small quantities.

Chemical industry. Enterprises of the republic produce nitrogen fertilizers (Vakhsh nitrogen fertilizer plant), chlorine, soda.

Transport. The main mode of transport in the country is automobile. The Khujand - Dushanbe - Khorog - Osh highway connects the main regions of the republic.

12.7.11. Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

The area of ​​the republic is 199.5 thousand square meters. km, population - 4.5 million people, capital - Bishkek.

Branches of economic specialization: nonferrous metallurgy, mountain and pasture animal husbandry, production of industrial crops.

Natural conditions. Most of the republic is occupied by mountains (Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai). Alpine regions cannot be used for growing crops, but are extremely convenient (mountain steppes, subalpine and alpine meadows) for the development of animal husbandry. The natural conditions (warm climate, fertile soils) of the Talas and Chu river valleys, the Fergana valley and the Issykkul depression are favorable for agriculture.

Natural resources. Revealed deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, sulfur, etc. There are large reserves of antimony and mercury, lead and zinc, hydro resources (Naryn River).

The population is made up of Kyrgyz (48%), Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians and other peoples.

The population density is 22.7 people per 1 sq. km. Most of the population is concentrated in the Chui and Fergana valleys. Significant areas of the republic's territory (high-mountainous regions) do not have a permanent population.

Household. Leading members of the industry of the republic - mining and processing of mercury ores (Khaidarken combine), antimony and polymetals, coal (Osh region), production of electronic computers and cars (Bishkek), woolen, silk and cotton fabrics, footwear, meat, sugar and canned fruits and vegetables.

Electric power industry. Most of the electricity is generated by power plants located on the Naryn River (Uch-Kurgan, Toktogul, Kurpsay HPPs).

Agriculture. Mountain regions specialize in grazing livestock (sheep, horses and cattle for meat and dairy production); main agricultural regions of the republic (Chui, Talas, Fergana valleys and Issykkul hollow) - production of industrial (sugar beet, tobacco, cotton, medicinal poppy) and grain (winter wheat, rice, corn) crops, horticulture and viticulture, cattle breeding of dairy and meat direction ...

Transport. The dominant role in the transportation of goods (about 90% of all goods) is played by road transport.

The European Union (EU) is an integration group that is an economic, monetary and political union of 15 states: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Finland with the population more than 370 million people. Another 11 states are candidates for membership in the Union: Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus with a population exceeding 105 million people.

Member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Malta.

From the roots of cassava, yam tubers, flour (or starch) is made, the sweet potato tubers are eaten boiled, baked and fried. Main manufacturer of these cultures - Nigeria.

(except for the Arctic archipelago Svalbard) in the temperate and subtropical zones,

positive temperature regime and high moisture availability throughout the year (with the exception of the Mediterranean region, where sustainable agriculture needs artificial irrigation),

the presence of natural meadows and pastures favorable for the cultivation of many types of agricultural crops (grain, industrial, subtropical, etc.) for the development of animal husbandry.

The main disadvantage in the complex of favorable conditions is the relative limited resources of agricultural land.

The region fully covers its needs for agricultural products at the expense of its own production, and for some of its types (grain, meat, milk and dairy products, sugar, eggs) exceeds domestic needs and occupies a prominent place in the world for their export.

For Foreign Europe as a whole, the livestock profile of agriculture, meat bias, is characteristic. Its main industry is cattle breeding, mainly dairy and milk-and-meat production.

Depending on the natural and historical conditions in the region, there are three main types of agriculture:

1. The Northern European type is typical for countries such as,. This type is characterized by the predominance of intensive dairy farming and in the production of forage crops.
2. The Central European type is distinguished by the predominance of dairy and dairy-meat livestock, as well as pig and poultry farming. Denmark, called the "dairy farm of Europe", is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of butter, milk and eggs. Plant growing of this type not only serves livestock, but also meets the needs of the population for food. The main grain crops are wheat, barley, corn, rye. Approximately 1/3 of the grain harvest falls on the share - the only large exporter in the region. Of other types of agricultural products, the role of potato production is significant (France, Germany, Great Britain are distinguished), sugar beet (France, Germany, Poland).
3. South European type (, new Balkan countries) is distinguished by a significant predominance of crop production over mountain-pasture production. The main place in crops is occupied by cereals, but the industry of international specialization is the production of fruits, grapes, olives, almonds, tobacco, essential oil crops. Italy is the world leader in olive harvesting, grape harvesting and wine production, Spain is the leader in the export of oranges, and Bulgaria is the leader in the production and export of rose oil.

Foreign Europe is an area of ​​developed fishing. Some of its countries (Iceland, Norway, Portugal) are among the leaders in sea fishing.