This chapter provides all basic political, economic, and demographic data on a territorial unit of the Russian Federation, the Vologda Oblast. The oblast is extremely rich in forestry resources, so the timber industry naturally dominates the regional economy. The oblast also houses significant peat, limestone, salt, and gravel fields. The oblast trades and has established joint ventures with companies from over 80 foreign countries, including Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States. Vyacheslav Pozgalev was appointed governor of Vologda Oblast in March 1996 and was elected to the post shortly after, winning an overwhelming majority of the vote. Vologda is a member of the Northwest interregional association. The association includes the republics of Karelia and Komi; Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Kirov, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, and Pskov oblasts; Nenets Autonomous Okrug; and the city of St. Petersburg.