The capital is the historical city of Pskov.
Borders: with Estonia and Latvia to the west, Belarus to the south, and Russian oblasts (Leningrad, Novgorod, Tver, Smolensk) to the north and east.
It is the westernmost contiguous Russian territory (Kaliningrad lies separately).
Founded: August 23, 1944.
Geography and nature: The landscape is flat to slightly hilly, with many lakes (more than 3,000, including the large Lake Peipus / Chudskoye), rivers (Velikaya, Lovat, Shelon), swamps, and mixed forests (pine, spruce, birch, oak).
The climate is temperate continental: cold winters (avg. -8°C in January) and mild summers (avg. 17°C in July).
Economy and society: The economy is relatively underdeveloped compared to other Russian regions: little industry, agriculture (flax/linen, potatoes, livestock farming, dairy) and agricultural product processing.
It is one of the poorer and demographically shrinking regions of European Russia.
Approximately two-thirds of the population lives in cities.
Tourism:
The Krom (medieval citadel) of Pskov.
Old churches and monasteries, including the Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery (one of the oldest in Russia).
Izborsk (old fortress), Pushkinskie Gory (Pushkin Hills, literary museum landscape) and other historical sites.
The area is suitable for cultural tourism, nature (lakes, forests), and as a day trip from Saint Petersburg, although the tourist infrastructure is still modest.
In short: an old, rural, and historically rich border region with beautiful nature and medieval heritage, but economically one of the weaker regions of Russia.
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