Central Black Earth Region

The central black earth region (Russian Центрально - Чернозёмная область ) is situated in the central part of Russia Eurasian chernozem belt. It includes the Oblast Voronezh, Lipetsk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, Tambov Oblast, Oryol Oblast and Kursk Oblast. Between 1928 and 1934, these areas were administratively combined in a Central Chernozem Oblast with the capital in Voronezh.

The central black earth region is known for its fertile black earth soils, which gave it its name. Although the region was used primarily agricultural, promoted here, the Soviets and the industry, based on the iron ores of the Kursk magnetic anomaly.

The area includes a 42- km ² Biosphere Reserve, which was created in 1935 on the border between Oblast Kursk and Belgorod Oblast. It serves as a model of the forest-steppe in Europe and consists of typical virgin Steppenand ( Zelina ) and deciduous forests.