Sparrow Hills
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sparrow Hills (Russian: Воробьёвы го́ры, in 1935–1999: Lenin Hills, Ле́нинские го́ры) is a part of the right bank of the Moscow River and one of highest point in Moscow with an altitude up to 220 m (60–70 m above the river level).
The observation platform, which gives a good panoramic view of the city, is situated on a steep bank 85 m above the river (200 m above the sea level). The Luzhniki Stadium (formerly, the Lenin Stadium), where the opening and closing ceremony for the 1980 Summer Olympics took place, is right below across the Moscow River. Next to it is the beautiful Novodevichy Convent, with its towers built in the remarkable Naryshkin architectural style.
Not far from the observation platform is the famous Luzhnetsky Metro-Bridge (known to Muscovites as Metromost). The two-level Metro-Bridge traverses the river to link Komsomolsky Prospekt with Vernadsky Prospekt. It serves two urban transport systems: motor vehicles and the Moscow Metro (subway). The glass-walled subway station Vorobyovy Gory (translates as Sparrows' Hills) is located at the lower level of the bridge.
The hills, immortalized by many Russian poets and writers, were named apparently after the village Vorobyovo (literally: Sparrows' Village) that used to be located nearby. Moscow State University and the Church of the Life-giving Trinity are located on the Hills.
