Fort-Shevchenko
Fort-Shevchenko | ||
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Fort-Shevchenko from the air | ||
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Fort-Shevchenko | ||
Coordinates: 44°31′N 50°16′E / 44.517°N 50.267°E | ||
Country | Kazakhstan | |
Province | Mangystau Province | |
Population (2009)[1] | ||
• Total | 4,888 | |
Time zone | +5 (UTC+5) |
Fort Shevchenko (Russian: Форт-Шевченко) is a military-base town and administrative center of Tupkaragan District in Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea. Primary industries include fishing and the extraction of stone. Population: 4,888 (2009 Census results);[1] 3,624 (1999 Census results).[1]
History
The city was founded as a military stronghold by the Imperial Russian Navy. Until 1857 it was known as Novopetrovskoye (Новопетровское) and from 1857-1939 as Fort Alexandrovsky (Форт-Александровский). It was named for Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who was assigned to military service here during his exile. Today the town is used by the Kazakhstan Navy as a base.
The coat of arms of Fort Alexandrovsky was approved October 22, 1908, along with other arms of the Transcaspian field: It is black and silver depicting the fortress and two fish.
There are several landmarks of significance; Shevchenko Memorial Museum, National History, and ethnographic museums. The Shevchenko Memorial Museum opened in 1932 near where he had been hiding. There are also some remnants of the fortress, a monument to Shevchenko and a state grave of Civil War heroes.
31 km from the city is the necropolis Beysenbay and up the coast the site Bautino.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Население Республики Казахстан" (in Russian). Департамент социальной и демографической статистики. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
External links
Media related to Fort-Shevchenko at Wikimedia Commons
Coordinates: 44°31′N 50°16′E / 44.517°N 50.267°E
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