| Barnaul (English) Барнаул (Russian) |
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View of Barnaul |
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Location of Altai Krai in Russia |
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Barnaul
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| City Day | One of Sundays in August or September |
| Administrative status (as of October 2011) | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Altai Krai |
| Administratively subordinated to | city of krai significance of Barnaul[1] |
| Administrative center of | Altai Krai, city of krai significance of Barnaul[1] |
| Municipal status (as of July 2009) | |
| Urban okrug | Barnaul Urban Okrug[2] |
| Administrative center of | Barnaul Urban Okrug[2] |
| Head | Igor Savintsev (acting) |
| Representative body | City Duma |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 321 km2 (124 sq mi) |
| Population (2010 Census, preliminary) |
612,091 inhabitants[3] |
| - Rank in 2010 | 21st |
| Population (2002 Census) | 600,749 inhabitants[4] |
| - Rank in 2002 | 22nd |
| Density | 1,907 /km2 (4,940 /sq mi)[5] |
| Time zone | OMSST (UTC+07:00)[6] |
| Founded | 1730s[7] |
| Postal code(s) | 656xxx |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 3852 |
| Official website | |
Barnaul (Russian: Барнау́л) is a city and the administrative center of Altai Krai, Russia, located on the Ob River. Population: 612,091 (2010 Census preliminary results);[3] 600,749 (2002 Census);[4] 601,811 (1989 Census).[8]
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The city lies along the Ob River in the West Siberian Plain. It is the closest major city to the Altai Mountains to the south. Barnaul is also situated relatively close to the border with the countries of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China.
Administratively, it is incorporated as the city of krai significance of Barnaul—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1]
Municipally, the city of krai significance of Barnaul is incorporated as Barnaul Urban Okrug.[2]
The continental climate of Barnaul (Köppen Dfb) is defined by its geographical position at the southern end of the Siberian steppe: it is subject to long, frigid winters, with an average of −17.5 °C (0.5 °F) in January, but also enjoys a short warm season in the summer with an average high of +19.8 °C (67.64 °F) in July. Temperatures can vary in the extreme, from −40 °C (−40 °F) in the winter to above +40 °C (104 °F) in the summer.
The climate is relatively dry. Average rainfall in the area is 538 millimeters (21.2 in) per year, 75% of which occurs during the region's warmer season.
| Climate data for Barnaul | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −11.1 (12.0) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
8.9 (48.0) |
18.9 (66.0) |
24.5 (76.1) |
26.2 (79.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
17.7 (63.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
8.17 (46.70) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −20.3 (−4.5) |
−19.9 (−3.8) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.7 (53.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.3 (52.3) |
5.7 (42.3) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−2.98 (26.65) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 28 (1.1) |
18 (0.71) |
17 (0.67) |
25 (0.98) |
40 (1.57) |
44 (1.73) |
64 (2.52) |
43 (1.69) |
28 (1.1) |
44 (1.73) |
28 (1.1) |
24 (0.94) |
403 (15.87) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 88 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organisation (UN) [9] | |||||||||||||
Barnaul was one of the earlier cities established in Siberia. Originally chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, the site was founded by the wealthy Demidov family in the 1730s. In addition to the copper which had originally attracted the Demidovs, substantial deposits of silver were soon found as well. In 1747, the Demidovs' factories were taken over by the Crown, and soon became the major silver center of Russia.
By the 18th and early 19th centuries, 90% of Russian silver was produced in the Altai region. Barnaul was the site of the country's largest silver-smelting factory, and as production expanded, so did the population. In 1771, the once-small settlement acquired the status of a mining town that was one of the largest in Siberia.
By the 1900s, Barnaul had grown into a major center of trade and culture of the region, especially after the construction of the Turkestan-Siberia Railway.
Although the city was thousands of miles away from the actual fighting, hundreds of thousands of citizens from The Altai Krai fought and died at the front in the course of the Second World War, a fact commemorated by a large memorial in central Barnaul.
The same period saw Barnaul's economic importance increase dramatically as a result of the relocation of major Soviet industrial facilities from the west of the country to the safety of distant Siberia. As a result, Barnaul continues to host one of the largest ammunition factories in Russia.
Barnaul is an important industrial center of Western Siberia. There are more than 100 industrial enterprises in the city, employing approximately 120 thousand people. Leading industries in the city work with diesel and carbon processing; as well as production of heavy machinery, tires, furniture and footwear. It is also home to a newly established diamond faceting industry, which the city hopes will expand and become a major source of revenue in the future. Barnaul is currently one of the only locations in Russia which has an industry specializing in diamond-faceting.
The main business street of the city is Leninsky Prospect, which runs southwest from the Ob River through the center of the city. In recent years, a number of new high-end shopping centers have appeared to meet demand for products desired by the city's nouveau riche. Another industry quickly changing the face of Barnaul's downtown area is the restaurant industry: while choices had been extremely limited until recently, a growing number of establishments catering to people of differing income levels are becoming more common, coinciding with the upturn in the region's economy.
Barnaul has air, railway, road and riverboat links to other parts of Russia. The city lies approximately 220 kilometers (140 mi) south of Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia and the third-largest in Russia. It is at a junction of the Novosibirsk–Almaty and Biysk train lines. There are also frequent buses to nearby cities Biysk and Gorno-Altaysk. It takes about four hours to reach the Altai Mountains in the south by car along the Chuysky highway.
Barnaul airport located about fifteen minutes from the center of the city, which offers daily flights to and from Moscow and Saint Petersburg among other more local flights. Barnaul is approximately four hours by plane from Moscow, and slightly longer to Saint Petersburg. It also takes approximately four hours by plane to reach Vladivostok on the Pacific coast of Russia.
Any part of the city can be reached using public transport, whether by bus, trolley, or taxi.
Although Barnaul's main roads have undergone recent renovation, most other roads are in serious disrepair.
Barnaul is an important regional center of scientific development. Five universities, including I. I. Polzunov, Altai State Technical University, Barnaul State Pedagogical University, Altai State Medical University and Altai State University, as well as 35 libraries are located in the city. Barnaul also has five theatres and three museums. The city's Museum of Local Lore was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest in Siberia, displaying local artists' work as well as unique artifacts from the Altai region.
Since 1957 FC Dynamo Barnaul has been the city's professional football club. The club has recently advanced from the Russian Second Division to the Russian First Division before being relegated again to Russian Second Division in 2009.
Barnaul is twinned with: