Zelenogorsk (Russian: Зеленого́рск; before 1948 Terijoki, a name still used in Finnish and Swedish), is a municipal town in Kurortny District of the federal city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, located in part of the Karelian Isthmus on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, and a station on the St. Petersburg-Vyborg railroad. It is located about 50 kilometers (31 mi) northwest of central Saint Petersburg. Population: 12,859 (2010 Census preliminary results);[1] 12,074 (2002 Census).[2]
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As of the beginning of the 21st century Zelenogorsk is actively developing in many directions. Various actions for improvement of quality of life and rest in Zelenogorsk have been carried out.
July 25 is the date of the annually celebrated City Day. On this day in 2009 a fountain was opened in the central square of the city park, and a sculpture named "Boots of the Traveller" was solemnly unveiled along the central avenue. [3]
At the Dachshund monument, parades of dachshunds have been held, and the museum of vintage vehicles has gained additional new exhibits.
At a concert in honor of City Day in 2009, known musicians, such as Music hall theatre of St. Petersburg, Edita Piekha, and others, performed. [3]
Following the Finnish War and until 1917, Terijoki was part of the Grand-Duchy of Finland, ruled by the Grand Dukes of Finland, who were the Tsars of Russia, (1812–1917).
Even though all of Finland was part of the Russian Empire, a customs border was located at Terijoki. A valid Passport was needed for crossing the border between Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland.
Vladimir Lenin managed to travel over the border in secrecy to Finland in 1907. Later on 3 April 1917, he returned through the Terijoki border control disguised as a heater of a Finnish Railways - Finlyandsky Rail Terminal locomotive.
With completion of the Riihimäki-St. Petersburg railroad in 1870, Terijoki become a popular summer resort, and was frequented by St. Petersburg's upper class until closure of the border during the Russian Revolution (1917).
When the Republic of Finland gained independence on 6 December 1917, Terijoki became a part of it, and remained so until it was occupied by the Soviet Union during the Winter War (1939-1940). It was regained by Finland in 1941 during the Continuation War (1941-1944), but then was then occupied again by the Red Army during the later stages of the same war and anexed to the Soviet Union in 1944.
During the Winter War Terijoki become known as the seat of Otto Ville Kuusinen's Finnish Democratic Republic.
After the Second World War its original Finnish population was displaced by people moved from Russia. At the turn of the century, the town's population was estimated to have been a few thousand, rising to above 50,000 in summer.
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