Geography and climate

Geographic features and climate

KHABAROVSK KRAI is located in the center of the Russian Far East. Its territory is crossed by overland, water and air routes, which connect inner regions of Russia with ports of the Pacific Ocean, and the CIS and West Europe countries with the States of Asia Pacific Region.

Khabarovsk krai is one of the largest regions of the Russian Federation. Its area is 787.0 thousand square meters, which is 4.5 percents of the entire territory of Russia, or 12.7 % of the Far-Eastern economic region. The territory of the krai spreads over for almost 1800 kilometers from north to south, and for 125-170 kilometers from west to east. The distance from its center to Moscow is 8533 km by rail, and 6075 km by air.

The region is washed by the waters of the Okhotsk Sea and the Sea of Japan (the Tatar Strait). The cost line extent (including Islands, the largest of which are the Shantars) is 3390 kilometers.

On the coast of the Tatar Strait there are water areas convenient for constructing ports, such as the Chikhachev Gulf and Vanino Bay, and a unique complex of deep-through, well protected and wide bays, which form the Gulf of Sovetskaya Gavan. This Gulf and the neighboring Vanino Bay are accessible for ships in winter season. A well developed river net is typical for the region. Its biggest part belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin (the Amur Basin Rivers), the smallest part – to the Arctic Ocean basin (the Lena Basin Rivers).

The region borders on China. The nearest neighbors in the Russian territory are Primorsky krai, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Amur and Magadan Oblasts, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic.

Climate

The climatic conditions in Khabarovsk krai change when moving from north to south, they depend on closeness to the sea and on form and pattern of relief. The annual precipitation changes from 400—600 mm in the north to up to 600—800 mm in valleys and eastern slopes of the ranges. In the north of the region the 90% of precipitation fall from April till October, there is especially much precipitation in July and August.

Seasons of the year in the region have strongly marked seasonal differences. Winter in the region is long, with little snow and is severe. The average temperature of January begins from -22°C in the south and is down to -40 °C in the north, on the coast from -18 °C to down to -24 °C. Spring in the most part of the territory begins in March and is featured by unstable weather: warm sunny days are quickly and often changed by cold and rainy ones. Summer is very hot (+28°С - +33°С) and humid. The average temperature of July in the south is +25 °C, in the north around +15 °C. The beginning of the autumn is regarded to be the best year season: it’s dry and warm, the cold comes in November. Winter is featured by clear weather with strong frosts (down to -35°С) and winds, and that’s why the clothes should be very warm (fur coats, feather jackets and etc.). Recommended seasons for visiting are the end of spring – the beginning of summer, the end of summer – the beginning of autumn.

Air temperature