Текст 1 About Myself

High presence of different nationalities has become an Astrakhan historic peculiarity. In Astrakhan there are more than 100 nationalities, 14 living in peace with each other religious confessions, 17 national cultural societies, 155 public unions (associations). Over 150 minorities and ethnic groups are found in Astrakhan, among them: Russians - 70.0%, Kazakhs - 14.3%, Tatars - 7.0%,, Ukrainians - 1.2%, Chechens - 1.0%, Belarusians, Jews, Armenians, Kalmyks and others - less than 1.0% (2002).

Astrakhan is one of the oldest Russian towns. It has a long and interesting history. Being located at the north of the Caspian Sea, it stood on the Great Silk Way and played an important role connecting West and East. During many centuries Astrakhan and its region was the place, where different civilizations met. Many peoples inhabited the Lower Volga since the ancient sea had retreated.