Geography of Krasnodar
Krasnodar is a city in southern Russia and the capital of Krasnodar Krai. It sits on the right bank of the Kuban River, about 1,300 km south of Moscow and roughly 120 km from the Black Sea. The city lies on the East European Plain, in the Kuban River valley, at a low elevation of about 19 meters above sea level. The Kuban River curves around Krasnodar, creating a wide riverbed about 150 meters across. The river’s movement has formed floodplain lakes nearby, such as the Old Kuban Lake. Krasnodar covers about 339 square kilometers and stretches about 20.6 km from north to south and 30.1 km from east to west.
The area is seismically active; earthquakes of moderate intensity (4–5 on the scale) have been recorded in 1978 and 2002.
Krasnodar has a transitional climate between temperate continental and dry subtropical. Summers are long and hot (May–September). The average annual temperature is about 12–13 °C, with January averaging around 0.8 °C and July around 24.1 °C. The record high is about 40.7 °C and the record low around -32.9 °C. Rainfall is about 735 mm per year, fairly evenly spread, with June usually the rainiest month and August the driest. Humidity is about 72%.
The Kuban River is the longest river in the North Caucasus region and flows through Krasnodar. To regulate the river, the Krasnodar Reservoir was built in 1973. The Karasun River used to flow through the city; its area is now the Pokrovsky Lakes.
Environmental concerns include air pollution from traffic and industry, especially near highways and industrial districts. Krasnodar had one of the highest per-capita car rates in Russia, contributing to air pollutants. Water bodies around the city also show signs of pollution. Still, a 2017 study noted Krasnodar ranks high in air purity among large Russian cities.
Krasnodar is divided into four districts and many microdistricts, including Tsentralny, Festivalny, Cheremushki, Gidrostroiteley, Yubileyny and Komsomolsky.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:47 (CET).