Verkhneuslonsky District
Verkhneuslonsky District (; ) is a territorial administrative unit and municipality of the Republic of Tatarstan within the Russian Federation. The district is located in the west of the republic on the right bank of the Volga River and encompasses a total area of . According to the 2010 census, the municipality had a population of 16,641 people. Its administrative center, the selo (village) of Verkhny Uslon, accounts for 27% of the district's total population. The modern Verkhneuslonsky district was first established in 1931. Since the 16th century, the main occupation of the local population has been the mining of rock and as of 2020 the area was still famous for its brick-making industry. In 2012, the Innopolis special economic zone (SEZ) was established in the district. The special economic zone bears the same name as the city of Innopolis it is located in and became the fifth economic zone of a technology-innovation type in Russia. The district hosted the Colombian men's national football team during the 2018 Russia World Cup. Geography The Verkhneuslonsky district is located in the northeastern part of the Volga Uplands, on the right bank of the Volga at the confluence of the Volga with the Sviyaga and Sulitsa rivers. Other large rivers in the region are the Klyancheyka, Changara (tributaries of the Sulitsa) and Biy (tributary of the Sviyaga) and form a total length of at least 15 km. The region shares borders with Zelenodolsky district in the north and north-west; with Kamsko-Ustinsky, Apastovsky and Kaybitsky districts in the south and south-west; with the Laishevsky district of Tatarstan and the Kirovsky district of Kazan in the east across the watershed of the Volga river. Agricultural land covers 84.8 thousand hectares with more than 54 thousand hectares considered arable land while forested areas occupy 23 thousand hectares. The Upper Uslon region is characterized by a temperate climate and the transition of soil and vegetation zones from forest to steppe. The soils are of the clay type and contain limestones, clays, dolomites, sands and sandstones. The terrain is undulating-flat with cliffs, river valleys and numerous ravines. Flag and Coat of Arms In March 2006, the Council of the Verkhneuslonsky Municipal District approved its new heraldic insignia. The dominant color of the coat of arms is red symbolizing courage, strength, labor and beauty. Against this background, at the center of the canvas, there is a high and steep bank or “uslon” that is reflected in the region’s name. A falcon sits on the rock recalling the popularity of falconry in the region in ancient times. The bird, ready to fly, symbolizes the linkage of time, the residents aspirations for the future and also symbolizes courage, intelligence, and swiftness. Since most of the district's borders are located along the Volga and Sviyaga, there is a blue wavy strip at the bottom of the emblem representing the geographical features of the area. The flag is based on heraldic elements of the coat of arms. Like the coat of arms, it