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Surface Area: 143.600km2
Population: 3.944.000
Capital : Ufa
Geographical
Position
Bashkiria Republic
extends towards the western parts from the Southern Ural Mountains until the rivers of
Belaya and Kama. Towards the west and south ends from the Yamantau Mountain that is the
highest peak of the Southern Ural Mountains, the height decreases gradually. The mountains
that are covered with forests are substituted with steppes decorated with greens from the
trees that generally shed leaves and the savannas through which the Belaya River flows.
History
After the collapse of
the Kazan Khanate in 1552, both the Turkish tribes (Tatar-Bashkurd) rebelled against the
Russians, but they had to get under the dominion of the Russians at the end of the 18th
century. In this period that lasted for four centuries, Tatars and Bashkurds lived and
combined together as a union. As a matter of fact, there were not any kind of difference
between the theological schools in Kazan city and the schools in the cities and towns such
as Orenburg, Kargah, Ufa, Troyskiy, Isterlibash, etc. in Başkurd country in respect of
the principles of education and training. There were several Bashkurds among the
instructors as well as the instructors from Kazan. There was not any kind of
discrimination or alienation.
Thus, Habibünneccar,
Zeki Velidi Togan and Şeyhzade Babiç and the others who were among the famous authors,
historians and poets of the last eras wrote their works of art in the written language of
Kazan, not the dialect of Başkurds. However, these works were translated into the
southwestern Bashkurd dialect in an artificial manner pursuant to the Bolshevik
revolution. 9 years after the revolution, the first book written in Bashkurd language was
published in 1926. When the project for the establishment of the Tatar-Bashkurd Soviet
Republic fizzled out, a Bashkurd SSR was established that was connected to USSR on the
date of 23rd March 1919. In respect of the ethnical structure, Bashkurds resemble to
Tatars. According to the historical resources, the relations of Tatar-Bashkurd had started
approximately ten thousand years ago. The mythology and the epics have a significant place
in the lives of Bashkurd people. The epic of Ural-Batur can be considered among the most
important ones.
Ethnical
Structure of the Population
The rates of the
population of Bashkiria that has a total population of approximately 4.000.000: Bashkurds:
24 % Tatars: 21.3 % Russians: 36.7% Ukranians, White Russians and others: 18 %
Administrative
Structure
The country is located
in the region where the continents of Asia and Europe meet. Its capital is the city of
Ufa. Bashkiria has been divided into 5 provinces (Ufa, Sterlitamak, Beloret, İşimbay,
Sibay, Belebey) and 17 cities in respect of local administrations. Furthermore, there are
53 sections pertaining to these cities (districts- small regions). Bashkurds have mostly
settled down in the rural areas rather than the cities. 68% of Bashkurds live in Bashkiria
Autonomous Republic and the remaining 32% lives in the region of Ural. Apart from
Bashkiria, Bashkurds still live in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and the other regions of the Russian Federation.
Economy
The economical
structure of Bashkiria depends on agriculture, stockbreeding and industry. There are 647
kolkhozes and 95 Sovkhozes in the country. The principal agricultural products are rye,
oats, corn, linen, sugar beet, potato, and sunflower. There are important petroleum,
natural gas and pipelines in Bashkiria. The refineries and the petrochemical plants
constitute the main element of the economy. There are also coal, copper, bauxite, gold,
manganese, and chromium in the country. 40 million tonnes of petroleum and 3.5 million m3
of natural gas are produced annually. The manufacture industry is developed and the
petroleum, natural gas, iron-steel, coal, electricity, cement, sugar, timber, cotton and
woollen textile have a considerable importance in the economy. The other productions are
the manufacture of aeroplanes, fertilisers, leather, tobacco, ship construction, and the
production of railway and road transportation vehicles. There are big power stations in
Ufa, Sterlitamak, İsinbay, Kumertau, and Karmavoua. The transportation is carried out
through railways, road and airline transportations.
Education
Just like in the
other Turkish Republics, the education level of Bashkiria is well developed. The education
is given in the languages of Russian and Bashkurd Turkish. There are many kindergartens
and secondary schools for 10 years of education. There are 71 units of kindergartens with
65.000 students, 3175 units of secondary schools with 563.00 students and 9 units of
Universities with 54.000 students.
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