Perm Krai
Russian krai formed in 2005, rich in minerals and history.
Perm Krai is a federal subject of Russia, classified as a krai, situated in Eastern Europe. Its capital city is Perm. The region came into existence on 1 December 2005, following a 2004 referendum that approved merging Perm Oblast with the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug. During a transitional period from 2006 to 2008, the Komi-Permyak Okrug kept its autonomous status and a separate budget that continued to receive all federal transfers. From 2009 onward, its budget fell under the krai’s budgeting laws; this gradual approach was adopted because the okrug depended heavily on federal subsidies, and a sudden cut would have harmed its economy. The Permian Period, the final stage of the Paleozoic era, takes its name from this region.
Geographically, Perm Krai lies east of the East European Plain and along the western slope of the Middle Ural Mountains. Almost all of its area—99.8%—is in Europe, with only 0.2% in Asia. The krai stretches 645 kilometers from north to south and about 420 kilometers from west to east. Its borders, which are irregular, total more than 2,200 kilometers in length. It shares borders with the Komi Republic to the north, Kirov Oblast to the northwest, the Udmurt Republic to the southwest, the Republic of Bashkortostan to the south, and Sverdlovsk Oblast to the east. The highest point is Mount Tulymsky Kamen, rising to 1,496 meters.
The rivers of Perm Krai all flow into the Kama River basin, the largest tributary of the Volga. There are over 29,000 rivers in the krai, with a combined length exceeding 90,000 kilometers. Only two rivers are longer than 500 kilometers: the Kama River at 1,805 kilometers and the Chusovaya River at 592 kilometers. About 40 rivers range from 100 to 500 kilometers in length, including the Sylva (493 km), Kolva (460 km), Vishera (415 km), Yayva (403 km), Kosva (283 km), Kosa (267 km), Veslyana (266 km), Inva (257 km), and Obva (247 km). Many smaller rivers exist, some historically significant—for instance, the Yegoshikha River, at whose mouth the city of Perm was founded.
The climate is continental. Winters are long and snowy, with average January temperatures ranging from −18 °C in the northeast to −15 °C in the southwest. The lowest recorded temperature is −53 °C, observed in the north.
Perm Krai is rich in minerals. Extracted resources include oil, natural gas, gold, diamonds, chromites, peat, limestone, and b
- Formed
- 1 December 2005
- Administrative center
- Perm
- Population (2021 Census)
- 2,532,405
- Area
- Europe (99.8%) and Asia (0.2%)
- Highest point
- Mount Tulymsky Kamen (1,496 m)
- Known for
- Permian Period, mineral wealth, merger of Perm Oblast and Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug
Lore & Background
Perm Krai was created on 1 December 2005 following a 2004 referendum that merged Perm Oblast and Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug. During a transitional period from 2006 to 2008, Komi-Permyak Okrug retained autonomous status and a separate budget, keeping all federal transfers. Starting in 2009, its budget became subject to the krai's budgeting law, a gradual process due to the okrug's heavy reliance on federal subsidies.
The region is located east of the East European Plain and on the western slope of the Middle Ural Mountains. Its borders stretch over 2,200 km, and it contains more than 29,000 rivers, most notably the Kama River (1,805 km) and the Chusovaya River (592 km). Forests cover about 71% of the area, with coniferous trees predominant.
Perm Krai has a continental climate with long, snowy winters. Average January temperatures range from -18°C in the northeast to -15°C in the southwest, with a record low of -53°C. The region is rich in minerals, including oil, natural gas, gold, diamonds, and the vast Verkhnekamskoye potassium salt deposit. The Permian Period of the Paleozoic era was named after rock strata found in this area.
Reader's Guide
Perm Krai holds significance as a major administrative and economic region of Russia, formed through a modern merger of two federal subjects. Its vast mineral resources, especially the Verkhnekamskoye potash deposit—one of the world's largest—underpin a substantial nonferrous metallurgy industry, with processing plants in Berezniki and Solikamsk. The region also has a long history of coal mining, peaking in 1960 at 12 million tonnes, and is a center for engineering, including military production, aircraft and rocket engines, and mining equipment.
Demographically, Perm Krai has experienced population decline from 3,099,994 in 1989 to 2,532,405 in 2021. However, its birth rate has been notably higher than some European regions, with a 2008 increase of 8% over 2007. The region's legislative assembly, formed in 2006, consists of 60 deputies elected for five-year terms, with United Russia consistently winning the majority of single-member constituencies.
Culturally and historically, the naming of the Permian Period after the Perm region links the area to global geological science. The krai also contains three nature reserves—Basegi, Vishera, and Preduralie—and is home to diverse flora and fauna, including 62 mammal species and over 270 bird species.
Did You Know?
- The Permian Period of the Paleozoic era is named after the Perm region.
- Perm Krai was formed on 1 December 2005 from the merger of Perm Oblast and Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug.
- The Verkhnekamskoye deposit of potassium salts is one of the largest in the world, covering about 1,800 km².
- Only two rivers in Perm Krai exceed 500 km in length: the Kama (1,805 km) and the Chusovaya (592 km).
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