OREL or ORLOV, a province of the Russian S.F.S.R., sur rounded by those of Bryansk, Kaluga, Tula, Tambov, Voronezh and Kursk. Area 29,973 square kilometres. Pop. (1926) 1,883,423. The province is much smaller than the pre-1917 province of the same name, Bryansk being now a separate province. Orel forms part of the recently constituted Black Earth Area (Central). The province consists mainly of dissected plateau, drained by the Oka and its tributaries, flowing into the Volga, and the Sosna. On the water-partings between the streams, the Kurgans or arti ficial mounds, some containing burials and some being remains of earthworks, stand out sharply. In the Bolkhov and Dmitrov districts, the soil is podzol (see RUSSIA: Soils), but the rest of the province is covered with black earth. The forests have practically all disappeared and there is a great scarcity of wood and of fuel. For climate, the difficulties of agriculture and general social conditions see VORONEZH. Average January temperature 14.8°, average July 67°.
The chief crops in 1926 were rye, oats, potatoes, millet and hemp. Very little wheat or sunflower seed is grown. Cattle, sheep and pigs are bred ; in pre-World-War times Orel was noted for horse breeding, but their numbers diminished greatly owing to war requisitions and they are slow to recover. Livensk and Malo archangel have however recovered their former position as regards horse breeding. Factory industries include the making of chem
ical manure from the phosphorites of the province, iron-mining and smelting in the Zinoviev district, near Dmitrovsk, and at Elets, flour-milling, distilling, leather and chalk. Koustar (peasant) industries include the making of ploughs, rope, makhorka tobacco, carpets, and, in the Elets district, lace. The province suffered much during the Civil War 1917-20, and Elets changed hands several times. The chief towns are Orel and Elets.
In the 9th century a Slav tribe, the Vyatichis, was established on the Oka river and paid tribute to the Khazars. They recognized the rule of Rurik from 884 and were later absorbed in the prin cipality of Chernigov. Their wealthy towns and villages were devastated by the Mongols in 1239-42 and the region was reduced to poverty. The Russians erected forts and established colonies in the i6th century. In 16ro Orel then known as the Ukrayna or Ukraine (i.e., "border region") was the scene of civil warfare un der the false Demetrius. From 1917 to 1920 it was again the scene of civil struggles.
Orel, the chief town of the above province, situated at the confluence of the Orlik with the Oka river, and at the junction of roads and railways linking it with Moscow, Bryansk, Kharkov and the east, in 53° N., 36° 8' E. Pop. (1933) 91,300.