KOSTROMA, a province of the Russian S.F.S.R., surrounded by those of Yaroslavl, Vologda, North Dwina, Nizhegorod, and Ivanovo-Vosnesensk, not coinciding exactly with the pre-1917 province of the same name. Area 33,346 sq.km. Pop. (1926) 809954 (mainly Great Russians). The north-east of the province is occupied by continuous coniferous forest, in which firs pre dominate, and there are extensive marshes in the north-east. Forest, much of it virgin, covers 6o% of the province. Of the remaining area, about half is under meadow and pasture, and half under crops. The soil is mainly sandy and clayey and the climate is severe, average January temperature —13.3° F, July 64.5° F ; frosts of —22° F are often recorded in January and the rivers are frozen for 15o to 16o days per annum.
Dairying is the chief agricultural occupation, and with better transport facilities could develop strongly in view of the demand in Moscow. Agriculture is developing on intensive lines with greater rotation of crops, better manuring and the sowing of grasses and lucerne. The chief crops are rye (40.1%) and oats (25.2%) ; barley, potatoes, grass, wheat, flax and vegetables are also grown. In the 18th century local flax was worked into linen for export, but the mass production of cheap cotton goods in western Europe in the latter half of the 19th century caused this industry to decline, and linen is now made to supply local needs only. The villages are small, averaging about zoo inhabitants
and except for Kostroma, no town has a population of 1 o,000 or more. In accordance with the poor agricultural guarantee for the peasant, koustar (peasant) industries to supplement income are widespread and include textiles and felt, especially for boots, the making of wooden articles, pitch and tar, the preparation of dried vegetables, especially cabbage, and other foodstuffs, the making of household implements and distilling and brewing. There is some hunting and fishing. The railway net is poor and only 27% of the rivers are navigable for steamers; in years of low water, navigation may be suspended on the Volga during July and August, thus curtailing the already short season. The Volga flows for a short distance through the south-west of the province; its tributary, the Kostroma, lies entirely in the province, flowing from north to south near the western boundary. The upper course of the Unzha, another tributary of the Volga, is included near the eastern boundary. Roads are poor, and non-existent in many parts; during autumn many become impassable bogs.