Kovrov

Town in Vladimir oblast (region), western Russian Federation; population (1996 est) 163,000. Kovrov lies on the River Klyazma, a tributary of the Oka, 225 km/140 mi east of Moscow. It is an important centre for manufacturing and transportation: engineering works (making excavators, motorcycles, and mopeds), textile mills, and food factories are sited here. Kovrov stands at a major rail junction.

In the Middle Ages, Kovrov was a village in Suzdal principality; it has been a town since 1778, and its commercial and industrial development dates from the 19th century.