Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast (Russian: Moskovskaia oblast', Moskovskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia. It is located in western Russia, and it completely surrounds Moscow. The oblast has no capital, and oblast officials reside in Moscow or in other cities within the oblast. As of 2015, the oblast has a population of 7,231,068 people.
Balashikha is the biggest city in the oblast, with a population of 215,494 people in 2010.
Geography
The oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain.
The largest rivers are Oka, Moskva and Klyazma.
History
In 1708 Moscow governorate became one of the 8 first ones in Russia.
In 1929 was established Central Industrial Oblast, in little time renamed in Moscow Oblast.
The Battle of Moscow was fought in the oblast.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the ethnic composition is:
Below is the religious composition of the city:
Russian Orthodox : 45.5%
Atheism : 9.0%
Other Christianity : 3.0%
Other Orthodoxy : 2.0%
Rodnovery : 1.0%
Islam : 1.0%
Other, undeclared or "spiritual but not religious" : 38.5%
The largest cities are:
Balashikha - 507,307
Podolsk - 309,250
Khimki - 257,757
References
Other websites
Official website of Moscow Oblast
Oblasts of Russia