Alushta

Alushta
Алушта
Aluşta
City

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Coat of arms
Alushta

Location of Alushta within Crimea

Coordinates: 44°40′2″N 34°23′52″E / 44.66722°N 34.39778°ECoordinates: 44°40′2″N 34°23′52″E / 44.66722°N 34.39778°E
Country Russia/Ukraine[1]
Republic Crimea
Municipality Alushta Municipality
Area
 • Total 6.983 km2 (2.696 sq mi)
Elevation 50 m (160 ft)
Population
 • Total 28,418
 • Density 4,264.78/km2 (11,045.7/sq mi)
Time zone MSK (UTC+3)
Postal code 98500 — 98519
Area code(s) +380-6560
Former name Aluston ('till the 15th century)
Website http://www.alushta.crimea.ua/

Alushta (Ukrainian and Russian: Алу́шта; Crimean Tatar: Aluşta; Greek: Alouston) is a city of regional significance on the southern coast of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine claimed by Russia as the Republic of Crimea. It serves as the administrative center of Alushta Municipality, one of the regions Crimea is divided into. Founded in the 6th century AD by Emperor Justinian, today it is a resort town. It is situated at the Black Sea beach line on the road from Hurzuf to Sudak, as well as on the Crimean Trolleybus line. Population: 28,418 (2013 est.)[2].

The area is notable for its rocky terrain due to its proximity to Crimean mountains. There are also vestiges of a Byzantine defensive tower and a 15th-century Genoese fortress of which the city name has derived. The town was called Aluston (Αλουστον) in the Byzantine Empire, and Lusta during the Genoese rule. Adam Mickiewicz dedicated two of his Crimean Sonnets to Alushta.

15th century Genoese tower in Alushta.

In 1910, 544 Jews lived in Alushta, consisting about 13% of the town population. In 1939, they consisted only 2.3% of the town overall population, numbering 251 individuals. On 4 November 1941, the Germans occupied the town and on 24 November 1941, a unit of sonderkommando 10b shot to death 30 Jews along with captured communists and partisans. In early December 1941, about 250 Jews from Alushta were shot to death by sonderkommando 11b in the park of trade union sanatorium no. 7, which is today in the local center for children and creativity.[3]

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Alushta is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ This place is located on the Crimean Peninsula, most of which is the subject of a territorial dispute between Russia and Ukraine. According to the political division of Russia, located on the peninsula are the federal subjects of the Russian Federation (the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol). According to the administrative-territorial division of Ukraine, located on the peninsula are the Ukrainian divisions (the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city with special status of Sevastopol).
  2. ↑ "Чисельність наявного населення України (Actual population of Ukraine)" (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ↑ The murder of the Jews of Alushta during World War II, at Yad Vashem website
  4. ↑ "Sadraudzības pilsētas". jurmala.lv. Retrieved 26 April 2014. (Latvian) (English)
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