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Novosibirsk

   The 1.5-million people Novosibirsk is the third largest city of Russia (after Moscow and St.Petersburg) and the chief city of Western Siberia (see the map). Born in 1893 as a future site of a railroad bridge crossing the great Siberian river Ob where the latter is crossed by the famous Trans-Siberian Railroad (built in 1890s - 1900s), it oficcialy became a town in 1903.

  After its foundation in 1893 and until 1926, Novosibirsk (pronounced nO-vo-see-bEErsk) was called Novonikolayevsk. Even if you do not know Russian, it is not difficult to guess the meanings of the two names. The original name refers to Nicolas II (Nikolay II Alexandrovich Romanov), the last Emperor and Sovereign of Russia the Great, the Little and the White, the Grand Duke of Finland, the Tsar of Poland etc etc etc. In 1926, "by the demand of the people", it was renamed. All the names of the revolutioners have alread been taken ;-), so that the name Novosibirsk ("New Siberia") naturally came up.

  Novosibirsk is one of the biggest cities in Russia.The City of Novosibirsk lies on bouth banks of the Ob river. The day when construction of the new bridge across the Ob river was started is consedered to be the day when Novosibirsk was founded. In 1993 Novosibirsk celebrated it's 100th anniversary and Novosibirsk growing rate is so high,that we can call the city the Russian Chicago.The city of Novosibirsk occupies the area of 477.2 square kilometres. Novosibirsk local time is Greenwich Mean Time plus 6.  Administratively Novosibirsk is segmented into 10 administration districts. The executive power is exercised by the Mayor and the prefects of the districts. The municipal authorities are elected by the citizens of Novosibirsk. Elections are held once in four years.

  What is Novosibirsk

  The beginning of the 20th century. Actually, the camp of the workers, who were building the bridge across river Ob' to continue the Trans-Siberian Railway was settled in the 1893. This camp was not taken away after the bridge was finished, but became a town - Novosibirsk.
  Rich cultural life of Novosibirsk is provided by six theatres, a local orchestra and a musical conservatory. The Novosibirsk Opera House is an architectural masterpiece itself and includes two ballet and opera groups well-known in the world.
The city was considered to be the business capital of Siberia, so the largest Siberian banks and the Siberian Stock and Commodity Exchanges are situated there.
  Novosibirsk is an interesting mix of a big city and provincial town. The monumental central avenue (with Stalinist buildings), squared functionally planned streets, famous University, large railway station, and village-like suburbs, helpful people and reasonable prices – all in one city.
  In the 1957 Siberian Branch of Academy of Science was opened in the city. In fact, they built special town "Akademgorodok" (Academy town) in the pine forest on the shore of the Ob Sea (man-made huge reservoir on the Ob-river). Nowadays it is a town with a 100.000 inhabitants, great ecology and the famous Novosibirsk University. On weekends, students usually go out to the Ob Sea for a swim and nice time with friends.

    Novosibirsk has become the chief industrial, cultural and academic center of Siberia. Manufacturing includes mining equipment, turbines, textiles, chemicals, heavy machine tools, metallurgy production. It is the home of one of Russia's best universities, a number of institutes and a scientific research center. Novosibirsk boasts opera and ballet companies, several theaters, museums, and art galleries, and numerous sports facilities. Novosibirsk is the third city in Russia (after Moscow and St. Petersburg) in which a subway system was established (The Novosibirsk Metro, opened in 1985).

  Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, one of the most impressive in Russia, was built during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and the grand opening took place on May 9, 1945-Victory Day. The Novosibirsk Philharmonic is among the best orchestras of Russia and in general, according to foreign critics, and it has come to represent the culture of Siberia.

  The creation of Novosibirsk Akademgorodok in 1950s was the first large center of science created far from Moscow or Leningrad (St.Petersburg) by a group of prominent scientists (Lavrentyev, S. L. Sobolev, S. A. Khristianovich and others), who attracted gifted researchers from the country's western regions to the development of Siberian science. Today Akademgorodok is the seat for the Siberian Branches of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation, with a unique complex of scientific and research institutes, Academy of Agriculture and Academy of Medicine.

  Siberia has been opening up to the West and offers a range of still unexplored experiences and opportunities. As the cultural, scientific and educational center of Siberia, surrounded by picturesque wooded and field areas, Novosibirsk is an excellent place for immersion in the Russian language and culture, and provides many opportunities to experience the hospitality and cordiality for which Siberians are famous.

 

Train from Moscow: 2.5 days		Plane from Moscow: 4 Hours
Population: 1.6 million