Saratov is located in the Lower Volga region.The population of Saratov is 920 thousand with an additional two million people living in 47 surrounding cities and 38 rural regions. The Saratov oblast is about 100 thousand square kilometers.



Saratov is known as the city of students. Ten higher education institutions offer degrees in economics, agriculture, veterinary science, law medicine, technological and agroengineering. It is also the home of the Russia Conservatory. Saratov has four science Institutes: the Institute of Plant biology and Physiology of plants and Microorganisms, the Institute of the Social and Economic problems of the development of the Agro-industrial Complex, branches of the Radio and Electronics Institute and of the Blagonravov Engineering Institute.



Saratov has five theaters: the Opera House, Drama Theater, The Puppet Theater, theater of Musical comedy and the theater for young spectators. The Saratov conservatory is the third biggest in Russia.