Filming in Khabarovsk Krai of Russia

Khabarovsk Krai is a huge region the size of Turkey in the extreme southeast of Russia.

Geography and Climate

The region is the third largest in Russia with an area of 788,600 km² (490,013 mi²) that stretches for 1,800 km (1,118 mi) from north to south.

Amur is the biggest river. The shores of the Okhotsk and the Japanese seas have a total length of over 3,300 km (2,100 mi). Mountains cover 70% of the terrain.

Temperature and precipitation change substantially from North to South and depend on the proximity to the sea. In the winter, the average temperature varies from -22˚C (-7.6 ˚F) in the south to -40 ˚C (-40 ˚F) in the north. In the summer, it differs from +20 ˚C (68 ˚F) in the south to +15˚C (59˚F) in the north.

Nature

Khabarovsk region is home to extremely rare species. There are little more than 400 species of Amur tiger and less than one hundred Amur leopards. Some say that red wolf can still be found deep in the wild of the area.

History and Culture

First Russian colonists reached the area in the 17th century in search of fur.

After the 1917 revolution and the start of the Russian Civil War, Japan and the United States briefly invaded the region. In order to avoid a war with Japan, the Soviet Union created the quasi-independent Far Eastern Republic. It existed from 1920 to 1922.

In 1969, Soviet and Chinese armies clashed over the Damansky Island in the river Ussuri. Dozens from each side were killed. After the crash of the USSR, the tiny piece of land became part of China and is now known as Zhenbao.

Cities

Khabarovsk is the capital of the region, located only 30 km (18 mi) from China. It has a population of 610,000 people.

The second biggest city is Komsomolsk-on-Amur, populated by over 250,000. It's Russia's biggest Far Eastern industrial center.

How to Get There

Khabarovsk is located 6,140 km (3,800 miles) east of Moscow. It takes 7 hours and 30 minutes to get there by plane from the Russian capital. Flights from Khabarovsk to Bangkok, Tokyo, Beijing and Tashkent are available.

Population

Russians make up 90% of total population. Indigenous population is represented by:

Nanais,
Nivkhs,
Orochis,
Udegei,
Ulchis,
Evenks and Even people.

All of them have unique cultures, closely linked to Shamanism.

Interesting Facts

Russia's legendary Sukhoi (Su) fighter jets are manufactured in Komsomolsk-on-Amur;
Of all Russian rivers, Amur has the biggest variety of fish. There are 108 species;
Amur Pillars are unique stone structures as high as 70 meters (230 ft). They were shaped by rain and wind over centuries, but there is a legend that it's actually a family of shaman turned to stone;
You can see China from Khabarovsk -- just go to the bank of Amur;
Kim Il-sung, the future founder of North Korea and a Communist guerilla leader at the time. fled from the Japanese army to the region in 1940. His son Kim Jong-il was born in the village of Vyatskoye near Khabarovsk under the name of Yuri Kim;
During the storm, waves in the Okhotsk Sea can reach 10 meters (32 ft).