Bashkir Republic

a constituent republic of E central Russia, in the S Urals: established as the first Soviet autonomous republic in 1919; rich mineral resources. Capital: Ufa. Pop: 4 012 900 (2002). Area: 143 600 sq km (55 430 sq miles) Also called: Bashkiria (bæʃˈkɪərɪə), Russian Bashkortostan (bæʃˈkɔːtɔˌstɑːn, baʃkɔrtɔˈstɑːn)