Largest urban agglomerations and super-agglomerations in Russia

Abstract

The paper attempts to analyze trends in development of the largest Russian urban agglomerations, which took place after the latest population census during 2010-2018. Research methodology is based on a functional approach engaging transport accessibility isochrones for delimitation of agglomeration cores. Core delimitation along with an analysis of population sizes and development index dynamics was carried out for 36 major agglomerations. The results of these calculations are presented for 4 alternatives: from “minimum” up to “maximum” indicators corresponding with the microzoning network developed by E.E. Leyzerovich. As no changes in number of agglomerations by development classes were unveiled the number of developed agglomerations still remains low. Tendencies of continued population concentration in major agglomerations and their cores are observed. Monocentric attribute of most of the largest agglomerations is shown based on a case study of the Moscow capital agglomeration. The study of the Central Russian megalopolis, which is a higher-level agglomerative structure under the process of formation, revealed its fragmentation and underdevelopment of lower-level agglomerations within.