Berezniki
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Berezniki (Russian: Березники́) is a city in Perm Krai, Russia, situated on the banks of the Kama River at . With a population of 173,077 as of the 2002 Census, it is the second-largest city of Perm Krai. The name Berezniki is derived from a birch forest originally situated on the city's location.
It was founded in 1932 as Soviet industry was rapidly expanding under Joseph Stalin. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the city's population dropped from 220,000 to about 190,000 due to increased unemployment[citation needed]. Nevertheless, the city was able to keep its main industries on track. Large chemical plants such as titanium and sodium factories as well as several huge potash mines are operational in Berezniki.
Even though industrial plants pollute quite heavily, the natural environment around the city is beautiful and unique in many ways. It is common for wild animals to cross streets in the outskirts of town. Forests and lakes are yet clean and peaceful. Many nature loving adventurers from all around Russia come here for off-road trails and expeditions.
Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin lived and attended a school in Berezniki.
On 28 August 2006, the magazine "Kommersant-Dengi" published its rating of 300 Major Russian Companies. JSC Uralkaly (Berezniki, Perm Krai) with a capitalization of $3,128.2 mln. is in the 26th position on the list, 6 points higher than a year ago. The company from Berezniki has the largest capitalization among Russian chemical companies and the companies of the Perm Territory present in the list.
Berezniki is served by Berezniki Airport.
[edit] External links
| Cities and towns in Perm Krai |  |
| Administrative center: Perm Alexandrovsk | Berezniki | Chaykovsky | Cherdyn | Chermoz | Chernushka | Chusovoy | Dobryanka | Gornozavodsk | Gremyachinsk | Gubakha | Kizel | Krasnokamsk | Krasnovishersk | Kudymkar | Kungur | Lysva | Nytva | Ochyor | Okhansk | Osa | Solikamsk | Usolye | Vereshchagino |
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