Tyumen region

Tyumen region was established in August, 1944
Administrative center - Tyumen.
Area - 1435.2 thousand sq. kms
Population - 3307.5 thousand.
Population density - 2.3 persons per sq. km.

History and culture

Tyumen region possesses an advantageous geographical location, mostly in Western Siberia between Europe and Asia on crossroads of ancient trade ways. This land absorbed a lot of achievements and mysteries of ancient civilizations including the mysterious trace of Arian tribes and treasures of golden Scythian barrows. Archeological investigations show that the territory of Tyumen region began to be colonized during the Stone Age already. In the Mesolithic period, about 10-12 thousand years ago, in the early post-glacier epoch, almost all of the region, from south to north, was inhabited.

This region, having large resources of hydrocarbons, is considered to be "Russia's energetic heart". Here the main part of the country's oil and gas resources is concentrated. Also here is a lot of brown coal, peat, iron and manganese ores, wood. In 1586 the building of Tyumen burg began; the burg became the first Russian town in Siberia. After Yermak's victory Tyumen region got the name of "Gates to Siberia". Here first cities over the Urals were founded - Tyumen and Tobolsk, that played an important part in expansion of Russian state eastwards.

Tobolsk is a special layer of Russian history, a city of ancient churches and great history, former capital of Tobolsk government, the largest one through all the history of Russian Empire that had territory from Urals to Northern America, including Alaska. Tobolsk and Tobolsk government history met Yermak, Mendeleev, Yershov, Alyabiev, Gumboldt, Pallas, Messerschmidt, Miller, Steller, Alexander Dumas and Daniel Defoe.

Tyumen land played an important part in Siberia colonization, but also in was associated with a lot of sad pages of Russian history. The first "political exiled" to go to Tobolsk appeared to be the Uglich bell that sounded the alarm over the body of Dimitry, assassinated son of Ivan Grozny, calling to uprise against the Boyars. The bell passed 300 years in Tobolsk exile. Protopope Avvakum experienced Tobolsk exile, prince Menshikov and members of the Dolgorukys family passed through Tobolsk to Berezovo exile. Hannibal, the "Moor of Peter I", served in Tobolsk garrison after getting into disfavor. Alexander Radischev also lived in Tobolsk exile. The Decembrists' stay in Tobolsk and Yalutorovsk made one of the most bright and dramatic pages in Siberian history.

The family of Nicolas II, last Russian Emperor, lived in Tobolsk for nine months and left it for their last way to "Russian Golgotha".

Pokrovskoe village located on the way from Tyumen to Tobolsk is the birthplace of Grigory Rasputin. Just here Nicolas II stayed near Rasputin's home with his family on their way to execution in Ekaterinburg.