The Penza Region was formed as a subject of the Russian Federation in its present borders on the 4 th of February 1939. It is located in the East European (Russian) Plain. The region occupies the central and the western part of Privolzhsky height.
Maximum E->W distance is 330 km and maximum N->S distance is 204 km . The Penza Region covers a total area of 43.3 thousand square kilometers.
The city of Penza is the administrative center of the Penza Region (it has a population of 519.3 thousand people).
The population of the Penza Region is 1,489.7 thousand people. People of over 80 nationalities live in the region.
Rural population currently stands at 35.7 % of the total population. There are 11 towns and 16 settlements of city type in the region. Major cities and towns are Kuznetsk (96.3 %), Kamenka (43.5 %) and Serdobsk (39.3 %).
The Penza Region is located within the temperate continental climate zone , at the junction of forested, steppe-forested, and native steppe zones.
Proximity to industrial centers together with the favourable transport - geographical location of this area makes it an ideal location for use of imported raw materials and fuel, cooperation, goods manufacturing and distribution.
Geopolitical location of the Penza region – its location on the Political - Administrative map – is rather advantageous due to the border regions (they are politically stable with similar ethnic population and religion) as well as a big geographical remoteness of the region from the international borders. The highly developed transport system and a little area are characteristic features of the region creating a favorable investment climate.
The Penza Region has quite favorable natural conditions for the development of agriculture. That's why the region is self-sufficient in foodstuffs.
Since 1961 the region is a member of The Povolzhye ( Volga ) economic region.
Natural conditions in the region are diverse. Plain relief with hillocks creates favorable economic conditions. The region is mostly occupied by the western part of Privolzhsky height and only the extreme west end is occupied by the eastern part of Oksko-Don plain.
There are more than 200 rivers in the region. The large rivers are Sura, Moksha, Khoper and Vorona.
Black earth occupying 68% of the soil is one of main natural resources. The prevalent types are alkali black earth soils followed by podzolic and ordinary black earth soils. In the North and North-East a great area is occupied of gray forest soils.
Natural vegetation covers about 1/3 of the surface area. Forest and meadow landscapes in the North and North-East are changing in the South by meadow-steppe and steppe landscapes . Mixed and broad-leaved forests cover 20% of the territory. They use the forest resources much more for water and soil conserving, recreation purposes than for industrial purposes. In general, steppes are ploughed. Only few parcels of virgin steppe are conserved (Poperechensk, Kuncherovsk, Ostrovtsov Steppe Reserves).
The fauna of the region is varied. Within the region limits there are about 60 species of mammals, 30 species of fish, and more than 200 species of birds. Many game-preserves and hunting preserves are situated in the Penza Region. The Penza Region is one of the regions with the most favourable natural conditions for health (flat country, moderate hot summer, reasonably cold winter, low swampy soil, comparatively big quantity of woodlands etc.).
Climate is moderately continental . From the west to the east, a more continental climate predominates. The precipitation is the most unstable climate element. The average annual precipitation level varies between 450- 500 millimeters . In dry years precipitation reaches only up to 350 millimeters per year, in humid years precipitation rises to 775 millimeters . Spring droughts are typical for the region, however summer and autumn droughts are rather frequent too.
