TAMBOV, a province of the Russian S.F.S.R., surrounded by those of Voronezh, Orel, Tula, Ryazan, Penza, Saratov and Stalingrad. Area 46,742 sq.km. Pop. (1926) 2,721,173. It is much smaller than the pre-1917 province of the same name, part of which is now in Ryazan province, and is included in the recently created Black Earth area (Central) (q.v.). It consists of an undulating plain (450-800 ft.), intersected by deep ravines and broad valleys, the Don and its tributaries, the Voronezh, Vorona and Khoper, drain it towards the south, and the Tsna links it with the Oka on the north. Cretaceous and Jurassic deposits, thickly covered with boulder clay and loess conceal the underlying Devonian and Carboniferous strata. Phosphorite beds exist in the north-east and are used for the production of chemical manure; iron is mined in the Lipetsk district, which also has mineral springs, and limestone, clay and gypsum are worked. The soil is black earth, very fertile in the Borisoglyebsk district, but having a lower humus content towards the north, where wild cherry and almond abound, For climate, the difficulties of agri culture and general social conditions, see VORONEZH, noting how ever that Tambov has a smaller annual rainfall.
The population is mainly Great Russian in origin, settlement beginning from the principality of Moscow at a very early date, but Tatar raids prevented active colonisation until the end of the 17th century, when landowners who had received large grants of land from the tsars began to bring their serfs from central Russia. There were some Finnish tribes in occupation, and the Mordva still form an independent group in the province. After the disturbances of the 1917-20 civil war, and the retreat of Denikin's army (192o), the province was infested for some time by troops of bandits, and is only slowly recovering from the devastation and famine of that dreadful time.