Rostov

Oblast (region) in the southwestern Russian Federation; area 100,800 sq km/38,919 sq mi; population (1996) 4,425,000 (68% urban). Industries include engineering, coalmining, and food processing. Wine is produced, wheat, sunflowers, and vegetables are grown, and livestock are raised.

Geography The region is located in the floodplain of the lower River Don, and borders on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Azov in the west. There is a mild continental climate. There are black earth (chernozem) soils, steppe vegetation, coal deposits in the west (eastern extremity of the Donets Basin), iron ore, and natural gas. Cities include Rostov-on-Don (Rostov-na-Donu), Shakhty, Taganrog, and Novocherkassk.

Economy Industries include engineering (producing agricultural machinery, locomotives, machine tools, and boilers), coalmining, and food processing. Wine is produced extensively. Wheat, sunflowers, and vegetables are grown, and livestock (sheep and horses) are raised.

Rostov

Historic town in southern Yaroslavl oblast (region) of the Russian Federation, situated on Lake Nero, 160 km/99 mi northeast of Moscow; population (1990) 35,700. Rostov, which was first chronicled in 862, was the capital of Central Russia in the 11th century, and of Rostov- Suzdal principality in the 12th century. Many outstanding buildings dating from the 13th to 17th centuries remain in the town, the most notable of which is the late 17th-century Kremlin (fortress), with its numerous churches. Tourism is the town's most important industry.

Rostov was overrun by the Tatars in the 13th century, and was conquered by Muscovy in 1474. It became a seat of the Orthodox metropolitan (head of an ecclesiastical province) in 1587, and was an important commercial centre from the 16th to 19th centuries.