Luhansk

Luhansk / Lugansk
Луганськ / Луганск
Coat of arms of Luhansk / Lugansk
Coat of arms
Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted.
Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted.
Luhansk / Lugansk (Ukraine)
Luhansk / Lugansk
Luhansk / Lugansk
Location of Luhansk
Coordinates:
Country
Oblast
Raion
Ukraine
Luhansk Oblast
Founded 1795
Government
 - Mayor Serhiy Ivanovych Kravchenko
Area
 - Total 257 km² (99.2 sq mi)
Elevation 105 m (344 ft)
Population (2004)
 - Total 445,900
 - Density 1,802/km² (4,667.2/sq mi)
Postal code 91000
Area code(s) +380 642
Sister cities Flag of the United Kingdom Cardiff
Flag of Poland Lublin
Flag of Bulgaria Pernik
Flag of Hungary Székesfehérvár
Flag of France Saint-Etienne
Flag of the People's Republic of China Dacing
Website: http://gorod.lugansk.ua/

Luhansk also known as Lugansk (Ukrainian: Луганськ [luˈɦɑnʲsʲk], translit. Luhans’k; Russian: Луга́нск, translit. [luˈgɑnsk]) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Luhansk Oblast (province). The city itself is also designated as its own separate municipality within the oblast, and is part of the Donbass region. The current estimated population is around 445,900 (as of 2004)

Contents

History

Luhansk university

The city traces its history to 1795, when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory there. It was the beginning of an industry that still thrives there today. Luhansk achieved the status of city in 1882. Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk was developed by the Soviet authorities into an important industrial center of the Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company.

St. Vladimir Cathedral in Luhansk

During the Soviet times the city was known as Voroshilovgrad (Russian and Ukrainian: Ворошиловград) in honour of the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, a native of Lugansk. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, but on March 5, 1958, the old name was reinstated in accordance with a new law that prohibited namings in honour of living people. On January 5, 1970, after Voroshilov died, the name was changed again to Voroshilovgrad. Finally, on May 4, 1990, a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR gave back the city its original name.

Sport

Luhansk is home to Zorya Luhansk which now plays in the premier league Ukrainian annual football championship and who plays into Avanhard Stadium. The other football team is Dinamo Luhansk.

Luhansk Pyramid

Main article: Mergeleva Ridge

On September 7, 2006, Archaeologists in Ukraine claimed an ancient pyramidal structure, which they allege outdates those in Egypt by at least 300 years, was discovered near Luhansk. The stone foundations of the structure are said to resemble Aztec and Mayan pyramids in South America.

Raions of Luhasnk

Famous people from Luhansk

See also

External links