Kaluga Region

We learned on Thursday, January 24, 2008 that our dossier will be registered in the Region of Kaluga which is about three hours south-west from Moscow. Originally we were to be registered in two regions but due to changes in Russia, it is now only one. We have requested a boy. At referral, our son will be anywhere between the ages of 9 and 18 months. We have received information from two families that have adopted from this region (2005 and 2006) and had great experiences. Listed below is some information on the Region of Kaluga from the web.

Kaluga Region
GENERAL INFORMATION
Kaluga Region is a relatively small region (29 900 km2) situated on the East European Plain of central Russia between Moscow, Tula, Bryansk, Smolensk, and Orlov regions. The plain gradually gives way to the Smolensk Uplands (elevations to 279 m) in the western and northwestern parts of the region and the Central Russian Uplands in the eastern part. Scenic plains with numerous rivers and lakes bordered with spruce, pine, oak, and birch groves form the landscape of Kaluga Region.

Kaluga Region is part of the Central Federal District and is in a very convenient and favorable location owing to the well-developed transportation network that is typical of this federal district. Major international highways and railway lines, e.g., Moscow-Kaluga-Bryansk-Kiev-Lvov-Warsaw, pass through the region.

The region was formed on July 5, 1944. It is divided into 24 districts, 4 cities under regional administration, 13 cities under district administration, and 14 industrial communities. The largest cities are Kaluga (the regional center), Obninsk, Lyudinovo, Kirov, and Maloyaroslavets. The region has a mainly urban population of around 1 081 200 people (805 000 urban residents and 276 200 rural residents).

Kaluga Region has a mild continental climate with an average January temperature of -5.2°C and an average July temperature of +18.2 °C. Annual precipitation ranges from 365 to 1000 mm.

Russia's largest scientific research complex is located in Kaluga Region in the city of Obninsk. The research and development work carried out in the laboratories provides a solid basis for the development of high-tech industries. The most highly developed sectors in the region are engineering and metalworking, ferrous metallurgy, instrument making and electronics, construction, forestry, woodworking, and the light and food industries.

Human settlement in Kaluga Region dates back to the 15th to 13th centuries B.C. Tribes of Balts and Ugrians later occupied these lands before being conquered by Slavic tribes in the 8th and 9th centuries A.D. For several centuries after the founding of the Muscovite state, Kaluga's soldiers barred the way to conquerors and defended the borders. These lands were the location of fierce battles against the Tatar-Mongol horde.

The city of Kaluga is the administrative, industrial, and cultural center of Kaluga Region. The oldest record of Kaluga dates back to 1371. According to this record, the city had previously belonged to Lithuania. Later, in 1389, Dmitry Donskoi willed Kaluga to his son: "…and Kaluga and Roshcha to be given to my son Prince Andrei." In the 16th century, the city was a major commercial port connecting Lithuania and Moscow. Kaluga is also the birthplace of space science, for it was here that the renowned scientist and space pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky lived and worked. An astronautics museum was established in Kaluga as a memorial to him.

Some exciting information for the Region of Kaluga’s economy:

In recent years Kaluga has become one of the centers of the Russian automotive industry, with a number of foreign companies opening assembly plans in the area.

In May 2007, Volkswagen announced a new assembly plant in Kaluga, to be finished by 2009. It is expected that the investment will surpass 370 million Euro. The plant will begin assembly of the Skoda Octavia in 2008, and by 2009 production will begin with the models Passat, Touareg and Polo. At its peak, the VW Kaluga plant is planned to produce 115,000 vehicles per year.

On October 15, 2007, the Volvo Group broke ground on a new truck assembly plant, scheduled to be finished in early 2009. Once completed the plant is expected to have yearly capacity of 10,000 Volvo and 5,000 Renault trucks.[2]

On December 12, 2007, PSA Peugeot Citroën announced its decision to build a new assembly plant in Kaluga, scheduled to be finished in 2010. The plant is slated to produce midsize passenger vehicles.[3]

On December 28, 2007, Mitsubishi Motors announced its intent to build an assembly plan in Kaluga with the initial annual production capacity of 50,000 cars.[4]