Re: Ecology in the Soviet Union, part 1

[valis <valis@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On 25 Nov Louis wrote, in part:     [....................]

> Podiapolski recalls the outcome of the meeting with Lenin:
>
> "Having asked me some questions about the military and political situation
> in the Astrakhan' region, Vladimir Ilich expressed his approval for all of
> our initiatives and in particular the one concerning the project for the
> zapovednik. He stated that the cause of conservation was important not only
> for the Astrakhan krai [does anybody know what this means?], but for the
> whole republic as well."^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is the first that I've noticed this query, and certainly no one has
addressed it publicly.  That's no misprint; a krai is simply an area of
land, usually associated with a city or other distinct location.
This is a very old indigenous word, not borrowed like rayon (region)
or respublika; I'm not sure whether it's an administrative designation,
ethnic or geographical, as I'm answering without reference material.

                                                                   valis