Crimea, the subtropical jewel of Russia since 1783, pairs its rich history and culture with its pleasant climate to make it a perfect destination for relaxation and exploration. Sharing its latitude with Venice, Crimea offers travelers year round comfort. Agriculture also benefits from the climate, where it generated $660 million in exports last year, primarily exporting grain to North Africa and the Middle East. The high tech sector is also seeing rapid development, even though it is still in its early stages. Several companies from Russia, China, Turkey, Israel and Austria are looking into highway renovation in the region.