Krasnodar

Krasnodar (Russian: Краснода́р) is a city in Southern Russia, located on the Kuban River about 148 kilometers (92 mi) northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai (also known as Kuban). Population: 744,933 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[2] 646,175 (2002 Census);^[3] 620,516 (1989 Census).^[6]

Name

The city was founded on January 12, 1794 (Gregorian calendar) as Yekaterinodar (Екатеринода́р). The original name meant "Catherine's Gift" simultaneously in recognition of Catherine the Great's grant of land in the Kuban region to the Black Sea Cossacks (later the Kuban Cossacks) and in recognition of Saint Catherine, the Martyr, who is considered to be the patron of the city. After the October Revolution, Yekaterinodar was renamed Krasnodar (December 1920). There are two potential meanings for the new name of the city: Krasno- (Красно-), meaning either 'beautiful' (an older root) or 'red' (especially relevant considering the political atmosphere of the time); and -dar (-дар), meaning 'gift'. Thus, the city's name means either beautiful gift or red gift (i.e. 'gift of the reds')..

History

The origin of the city starts with a fortress built by the Cossacks in order to defend imperial borders and claim Russian ownership over Circassia, which was contested by Ottoman Turkey. In the first half of the 19th century Yekaterinodar grew into a busy center of the Kuban Cossacks. It was granted town status in 1867. By 1888, about 45,000 people lived in the city and it became a vital trade center of southern Russia. In 1897, an obelisk commemorating 200 year old history of Kuban Cossack Host was built in Yekaterinodar.

During the Russian Civil War the city changed hands several times between the Red Army and Volunteer Army, many Kuban Cossacks were committed anti-Bolsheviks who supported the White Movement.

During the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Krasnodar was occupied by the German Army between August 12, 1942 and February 12, 1943. The city sustained heavy damage in the fighting but was rebuilt and renovated after the war.

In the summer of 1943, the Soviets began trials, including of their own citizens, for collusion with the Nazis and participation in war crimes. The first such trial was held at Krasnodar on July 14–17, 1943. This was the first public trial of the mass murder of Jews during the Holocaust. The Krasnodar tribunal pronounced eight death sentences, which were summarily conducted in the city square in front of a crowd of about thirty thousand people.

Famous Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, soprano Evgenia Kononova, cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, counterrevolutionary Andrei Shkuro and rhythmic gymnast Inna Zhukova were born in Krasnodar. Another notable native of Krasnodar is Greece basketball international Lazaros Papadopoulos, who emigrated to Greece with his Pontic Greek parents when he was 10 years old.

Main sights

Krasnodar is home to the steel lattice hyperboloid tower built by the Russian engineer and scientist Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov in 1928; it is located near Krasnodar Circus.

Other attractions include St. Catherine's Cathedral, the State Arts Museum, a park and theatre named after Maxim Gorky, the beautiful concert hall of the Krasnodar Philharmonic Society, which is considered to have some of the best acoustics in southern Russia, State Cossack Choir and the Krasnodar circus

The most interesting place of Krasnodar is Krasnaya Street (which translates as "Red, Beautiful Street"). There are situated many sights of Krasnodar. In the beginning of this street one can see the Central Concert Hall; at the other end one can see the Avrora cinemacenter. A "Triumphal Arch" is situated in the middle of Krasnaya Street.

Theatre Square is home to the largest splash fountain in the Europe.^[7] This fountain was officially inaugurated on 25 September 2011 along with the official ceremony to celebrate the City Day in Krasnodar.

Economy

Encompassing 14 billion RUB, Krasnodar is the economic center of southern Russia. For several years, Forbes magazine named Krasnodar the best city for business in Russia.^[8] In the industrial sector of the city has more than 130 large and medium-sized enterprises.

The main industries of Krasnodar:

• Agriculture and food industry - 42.8%;
• Energy sector - 13.4%;
• Fuel industry - 10.5%;
• Machine construction - 9.4%;
• Forestry and chemical industries - about 4%;

and other.

In Krasnodar a highly developed commercial area. Krasnodar has the largest turnover in the SFD. Retail trade turnover in 2010 reached 290 billion RUB. Krasnodar is the first in Russia in the number of malls (per capita). Note that in the crisis year 2009 turnover of Krasnodar continued to grow, while most of the cities showed a negative trend of circulation of goods.

Tourism comprises a large part of Krasnodar's economy. There is more than 80 hotels in Krasnodar.

Transportation

Like many other major cities in Russian Federation, the primary mode of local transportation in Krasnodar is the automobile, though efforts have been made to increase the availability of alternative modes of transportation, including the construction of light rail lines (projected), biking paths, wide sidewalks. Public transportation within Krasnodar consists of city buses, trolleybuses, trams, and marshrutkas. Trolleybuses and trams, both powered by overhead electric wires, are the main form of transportation in Krasnodar. Unlike Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar does not have a metro system.

The main airline is Kuban Airlines (at Krasnodar International Airport), and the largest hotels in the city include the Intourist, Hotel Moskva, and Hotel Platan. Krasnodar uses a 220 V/50 Hz power supply with two round-pin outlets, like most European countries.

Culture

The oldest part of the city is Old Downtown Krasnodar, which consists of many historic buildings, several from the 19th century. Buildings have been preserved, restored or reconstructed, and the district is now a substantial tourist attraction.

There are several major theatre venues for Krasnodar:

• The Krasnodar State Academic Drama Theater named after Gorky
• The Krasnodar Ballet Theatre
• The Krasnodar State Academic Drama Theatre
• The Krasnodar Regional Puppet Theater
• The Krasnodar Musical Theater
• The Children's Ballet Theatre "Fugitives"
• The Krasnodar State Circus
• The Krasnodar Youth Theatre
• The Krasnodar Philharmonic named after Ponomarenko
• The state creative institution "Kuban Cossack Choir"
• The Creative association "Premiere"
• The New Puppet Theater

Krasnodar has several major museums. The Krasnodar Regional Art Museum named after Kovalenko, the oldest public art museum North Caucasus, is one of the finest.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Yekaterinodar was introduced in 1841 by the Cossack yesaul Ivan Chernik. The royal letter "E" in the middle is for Ekaterina II (Russian for Catherine II). It also depicts the date city was founded, the Imperial double headed eagle (symbolizing Tsar's patronage of Black Sea Cossacks), a bulawa of a Cossack ataman, Yekaterinodar fortress, and flags with letters "E", "P", "A", and "N" standing for Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I. Yellow stars around the shield symbolized 59 Black Sea stanitsas around the city.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification Krasnodar has a humid subtropical climate Mediterranean-type climate (CFA), average monthly air temperatures being similar to values ​​typical of New York City.^[9] Winters are cold and damp, with unstable snow cover. The average temperature in January, the area's coldest month, is 32 °F (0.3 °C). But temperatures in winter can for a few days be as low as 24.6 °F (−4 °C) and as high as 38.1 °F (3,4 °C). Summers are typically hot with a July average of 75.2 °F (24.0 °C).

The city receives 28.26 inches (718 mm) of precipitation annually, fairly spread throughout the year. Hurricanes are rare in the Krasnodar area. Extreme temperatures have ranged from -28,66 to 104 °F (-33,7 to 40 °C), recorded on January 23, 2006, and August 15, 2006, respectively.

International relations

Twin towns/sister cities

Krasnodar has five sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• Tallahassee, United States
• Karlsruhe, Germany
• Burgas, Bulgaria
• Harbin, China
• Ferrara, Italy

Notable people

• Anna Netrebko (b. 1971), opera singer
• Alexei Shatskyi (b. 1971), Russian - Montenegrin conductor, principal conductor of the Montenegrin Philharmonic
• Alexander Tamanian (1878–1936), Armenian neoclassical architect
• Gennady Padalka (b. 1958), cosmonaut
• Alexandre Bondar (b. 1972), writer and novelist
• Sergei Tiviakov (b. 1973), chess Grandmaster
• Eduard Kokcharov (b. 1975), handball player
• Natalia Chernova (b. 1976), gymnast
• Lazaros Papadopoulos (b. 1980), Greek basketball player
• Inna Zhukova (b. 1986), rhythmic gymnast

References

External links

• Official website of Krasnodar City Administration and City Duma
• Krasnodar photographs
• Krasnodar news
• With love from Ekaterinodar