Birobidzhan is a city and the administrative center of the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR). The city is located on the banks of the Bira River, which flows through the entire city and joins the Amur River. The city's name is derived from the names of two rivers, Bira and Bidzhan. The local peoples referred to this area using these two names. Birobidzhan District has its own coat of arms. The city's time zone is the same as Vladivostok, which is 7 hours ahead of Moscow time.
As for the climate, the region experiences dry and cold winters followed by humid and hot summers.
The district is economically developed. It is home to light industry enterprises, such as textile, knitwear, and shoe factories. Additionally, the city has machine-building plants that produce convoys and crawler-mounted silage harvesting combines. Birobidzhan also produces furniture, transformers, and food products (dairy and meat products, pasta).
Birobidzhan CHP (Combined Heat and Power Plant) generates and supplies heat to the city's residents.
In 1990, Institute for National Educational Problems was established here. It develops methods and content for Jewish education in the country. Additionally, Sholom Aleichem Priamursky State University is the region's leading institution, where one can study Yiddish and Jewish culture. The city has a regional philharmonic orchestra, three theaters, and 2 cinemas. For children, there are choreographic schools and studios, a circus school, and a folk song and dance ensemble. Birobidzhan has four museums.
The city's residents are actively involved in amateur sports. They enjoy boxing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and track and field athletics. Such facilities as stadiums, swimming pools, and specially equipped halls for athletics promote sports in the area.