Voronezh

Voronezh (English)
Воронеж (Russian)
-  City[1]  -

View of Voronezh
Voronezh
Location of Voronezh in Voronezh Oblast
Coordinates: 51°40′18″N 39°12′38″E / 51.67167°N 39.21056°ECoordinates: 51°40′18″N 39°12′38″E / 51.67167°N 39.21056°E
Coat of arms
Flag
City Day Second Sunday of September
Administrative status (as of December 2011)
Country Russia
Federal subject Voronezh Oblast[1]
Administratively subordinated to Voronezh Urban Okrug[1]
Administrative center of Voronezh Oblast,[1] Voronezh Urban Okrug[1]
Municipal status (as of October 2005)
Urban okrug Voronezh Urban Okrug[2]
Administrative center of Voronezh Urban Okrug[2]
Mayor[3] Gusev Alexander (acting)[3]
Representative body City Duma
Statistics
Area 601 km2 (232 sq mi)[4]
Population (2010 Census) 889,680 inhabitants[5]
- Rank in 2010 15th
Population (January 1, 2014 est.) 1,014,610 inhabitants[6]
Density 1,480/km2 (3,800/sq mi)[7]
Time zone MSK (UTC+03:00)[8]
Founded 1585[9] or much earlier[10]
Postal code(s)[11] 394000–394095
Dialing code(s) +7 473
Official website
Voronezh on WikiCommons

Voronezh (Russian: Воронеж; IPA: [vɐˈronʲɪʂ]) is a city and the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast, Russia, Eastern Europe, located on both sides of the Voronezh River, 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway which connects European Russia with the Urals and Siberia, as well as the Caucasus and Ukraine. It is also the center of the M4 highway (Moscow–Voronezh–Rostov-on-Don). Its population in 2014 was estimated to be 1,014,610;[6] up from 889,680 recorded in the 2010 Census.[5]

History

Etymology and origins

The toponym Voronezh was first mentioned in the Hypatian Codex in 1177, but human settlement on the site is attested since the Stone Age by archeological finds. Recent findings may push the settlement's foundation date as far back as the 4th century CE.[10] The current official version, however, states that the present city was founded in 1585 by Feodor I as a fort[9] protecting the Russian state from the raids of Crimean and Nogay Tatars. The city is named after the river, itself named after an earlier city destroyed by the Mongol invasion, whose name in turn was borrowed from a place name in the Principality of Chernigov, derived from the Slavic personal name Voroneg.[12]

The comparative analysis of the name "Voronezh" was carried out by the Khovansky Foundation in 2009. The comparative method involves the search for etymological sources not only in Russian, but also in other Indo-European languages: Anatolian, Balto-Slavic, Germanic, Italic, Hellenic, Indo-Iranian, Celtic, Armenian and others. According to the "nominalistic method" proposed by Max Müller, the origin of the name "Voroneg" and the name of a bird "voron" (raven) should be considered in relation to the Indo-European eponyms: Uranus, Varuna, Phoroneus, Bran the Blessed and so on. Comparative analysis suggests the origin of the Indo-European toponyms and hydronyms Varanasi, Varna, Verona, Voronezh from the Indo-European root «*var» and connects with this root the origin of names of ancient water deities.[13]

17th–20th centuries

A monument to Peter the Great
Center of Voronezh at night

In the 17th century, Voronezh gradually evolved into a sizable town, especially after Tsar Peter the Great built a dockyard in Voronezh where the Azov Flotilla was constructed for the Azov campaigns in 1695 and 1696. This fleet, the first ever built in Russia, included the first Russian ship of the line, Goto Predestinatsia. The Orthodox diocese of Voronezh was instituted in 1682 and its first bishop, Mitrofan of Voronezh, was later proclaimed the town's patron saint.

View of Voronezh in the 18th century

Owing to the Voronezh Admiralty Wharf, for a short time, Voronezh became the largest city of South Russia and the economic center of a large and fertile region. In 1711, it was made the seat of the Azov Governorate, which eventually morphed into the Voronezh Governorate.

In the 19th century, Voronezh was a center of the Central Black Earth Region. Manufacturing industry (mills, tallow-melting, butter-making, soap, leather, and other works) as well as bread, cattle, suet, and the hair trade developed in the town. A railway connected Voronezh with Rostov-on-Don in 1868 and Moscow in 1871.

During World War II, Voronezh was the scene of fierce fighting between Russian and combined Axis troops. The Germans used it as a staging area for their attack on Stalingrad, and made it a key crossing point on the Don River. In June 1941, two BM-13 (Fighting machine #13 Katyusha) artillery installations were built at the Voronezh excavator factory. In July, the construction of Katyushas was rationalized so that their manufacture became easier and the time of volley repetition was shortened from five minutes to fifteen seconds. More than 300 BM-13 units manufactured in Voronezh were used in a counterattack near Moscow in December 1941. In October 22, 1941, the advance of the German troops prompted the establishment of a defense committee in the city. On November 7, 1941, there was a troop parade, devoted to the anniversary of the October Revolution. Only three such parades were organized that year: in Moscow, Kuybyshev, and Voronezh. In late June 1942, the city was attacked by German and Hungarian forces. In response, Soviet forces formed the Voronezh Front. By July 6, the German army occupied the western river-bank suburbs before being subjected to a fierce Soviet counter-attack. The city was completely under Axis control by July 24. This was the opening move of Case Blue.

Until January 25, 1943, parts of the Second German Army and the Second Hungarian Army occupied Voronezh. During Operation Little Saturn, the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, and the Voronezhsko-Kastornenskoy Offensive, the Voronezh Front exacted heavy casualties on Axis forces. On January 25, 1943, Voronezh was liberated after ten days of combat. During the war the city was almost completely ruined, with 92% of all buildings destroyed.

1950s–2000s

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1926120,000—    
1939344,000+186.7%
1959447,000+29.9%
1970660,000+47.7%
1989[14]886,844+34.4%
2002[15]848,752−4.3%
2010[5]889,680+4.8%
2014[6]1,014,600+14.0%
Note: 1926–1970 and 2013 are population estimates; 1989 is the Soviet Census; 2002 and 2010 are сensus urban population only; 2013 is total population estimates, including rural population.

By 1950, Voronezh was rebuilt. Most buildings and historical monuments were repaired. In 1950–1960, new factories were established: a tire factory, a machine-tool factory, a factory of heavy mechanical pressing, and others. In 1968, Serial production of the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic plane was established at the Voronezh Aviation factory. In October 1977, the first Soviet domestic wide-body plane, Ilyushin Il-86, was built there.

In 1989, TASS published details of an alleged UFO landing in the city's park and purported encounters with extraterrestrial beings reported by a number of children. A Russian scientist that was cited in initial TASS reports later told the Associated Press that he was misquoted, cautioning, "Don't believe all you hear from TASS," and "We never gave them part of what they published",[16] and a TASS correspondent admitted the possibility that some "make-believe" had been added to the TASS story, saying, "I think there is a certain portion of truth, but it is not excluded that there is also fantasizing".[17][18]

Between 1991 and 2000, the city, suffering from high unemployment rates, became a part of the Communist-voting region known as Russia's "Red Belt".

2010s

In 2010, at the seminar "New technologies - the basis of modern communication systems" concern "was presented Constellation system equipment mobile broadband fourth generation« AstraMAX Group and co-production company Runcom Technologies.[19]

From 10 to 17 September 2011, Voronezh celebrated its 425th anniversary. The anniversary of the city was given the status of a federal scale celebration that helped attract large investments from the federal and regional budgets for development.[20]

On December 17, 2012, Voronezh became the fifteenth city in Russia with a population of over one million people.[21]

Today Voronezh is the economic, industrial, cultural, and scientific center of the Central Black Earth Region.

Administrative and municipal status

Voronezh is the administrative center of the oblast.[1] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Voronezh Urban Okrug—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1] As a municipal division, this administrative unit also has urban okrug status.[2]

City divisions

Administrative districts of Voronezh

The city is divided into six administrative districts: Kominternovsky (3), Leninsky (4), Levoberezhny (6), Sovetsky (5), Tsentralny (2), and Zheleznodorozhny (1).

Economy

In the city are such companies as:Voronezh Aircraft Production Association, Sozvezdie (headquarter, JSC Concern “Sozvezdie”), Verofarm (pharmaceutics), Voronezh Excavator Plant etc.

On the territory of the city district government Maslovka Voronezh region with the support of the Investment Fund of Russia is implementing a project to create an industrial park" Maslowski "to accommodate more than 100 new businesses, including transformer factory of Siemens. September 7, 2011 in Voronezh opened Global network operation center of Nokia Siemens Networks, which was the fifth in the world and first in Russia.

Transportation

Air

The city is served by the Voronezh International Airport, which is located north of the city and is home to Polet Airlines. Voronezh is also home to the Pridacha Airport, a part of a major aircraft manufacturing facility VASO (Voronezhskoye Aktsionernoye Samoletostroitelnoye Obshchestvo, Voronezh aircraft production association) where the Tupolev Tu-144 (known in the West as the "Concordski"), was built and the only operational unit is still stored. Voronezh also hosts the Voronezh Malshevo air force base in the southwest of the city, which, according to a Natural Resources Defense Council report, houses nuclear bombers.

Rail

Since 1868, there is a railway connection between Voronezh and Moscow.[22] Rail services form a part of the South Eastern Railway of the Russian Railways. Destinations served direct from Voronezh include Moscow, Kiev, Kursk, Novorossiysk, Sochi, and Tambov.

Climate

Voronezh experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold winters and short, warm summers.

Climate data for Voronezh
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)		 11.0
(51.8)		 18.4
(65.1)		 28.5
(83.3)		 35.7
(96.3)		 38.9
(102)		 40.1
(104.2)		 40.5
(104.9)		 31.9
(89.4)		 26.5
(79.7)		 18.1
(64.6)		 12.2
(54)		 40.5
(104.9)
Average high °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 2.9
(37.2)		 13.8
(56.8)		 21.1
(70)		 24.4
(75.9)		 26.6
(79.9)		 25.5
(77.9)		 18.9
(66)		 10.9
(51.6)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 11.5
(52.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.1
(21)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 20.5
(68.9)		 19.2
(66.6)		 13.3
(55.9)		 6.9
(44.4)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −5.0
(23)		 6.9
(44.4)
Average low °C (°F) −8.8
(16.2)		 −9.3
(15.3)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 3.6
(38.5)		 9.3
(48.7)		 13.2
(55.8)		 15.2
(59.4)		 13.7
(56.7)		 8.7
(47.7)		 3.6
(38.5)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 −7.6
(18.3)		 2.9
(37.2)
Record low °C (°F) −36.5
(−33.7)		 −36.2
(−33.2)		 −32.0
(−25.6)		 −16.8
(1.8)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 5.0
(41)		 0.4
(32.7)		 −5.2
(22.6)		 −15.2
(4.6)		 −25.1
(−13.2)		 −33.4
(−28.1)		 −36.5
(−33.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 41
(1.61)		 37
(1.46)		 33
(1.3)		 38
(1.5)		 46
(1.81)		 74
(2.91)		 62
(2.44)		 52
(2.05)		 61
(2.4)		 50
(1.97)		 46
(1.81)		 44
(1.73)		 584
(22.99)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 19
(7.5)		 27
(10.6)		 30
(11.8)		 12
(4.7)		 1
(0.4)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 2
(0.8)		 5
(2)		 11
(4.3)		 107
(42.1)
Avg. precipitation days 9 7 7 8 7 9 10 7 8 7 10 11 100
Avg. snowy days 16 15 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 14 65
Average relative humidity (%) 84 82 77 66 61 67 68 67 73 79 85 85 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 62.0 87.6 124.0 183.0 266.6 285.0 285.2 254.2 186.0 111.6 45.0 37.2 1,927.4
Source #1: Pogoda.ru.net,[23] World Meteorological Organization (UN)[24]
Source #2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun only)[25]

Education and culture

The city has seven theaters, twelve museums, a number of movie theaters, a philharmonic hall, and a circus. It is also a major center of higher education in central Russia. The main educational facilities include:

and a number of other affiliate and private-funded institutes and universities. There are 2000 schools within the city.

Sports

Club Sport Founded Current League League
Rank 		Stadium
Fakel Voronezh Football 1947 Russian Second Division 3rd Tsentralnyi Profsoyuz Stadion
Energy Voronezh Football 1989 Women's Premier League 1st Rudgormash Stadium
Buran Voronezh Ice Hockey 1977 Higher Hockey League 2nd Yubileyny Sports Palace
VC Voronezh Volleyball 2006 Women's Higher Volleyball League A 2nd Kristall Sports Complex

Religion

Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Voronezh

Orthodox Christianity is the prevalent religion in Voronezh.

Notable people

International relations

Source:[26]

Date   Sister City
1968 Czech Republic Brno, Czech Republic[27][28]
1989 Germany Wesermarsch, Lower Saxony, Germany
1991 United States Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
1992 China Chongqing, China
1995 Bulgaria Sliven, Bulgaria
1996 Spain León, Castile and León, Spain[29]


References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Law #87-OZ
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Law #66-OZ
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Moe-online.ru. (Russian)
  4. ↑ База данных показателей муниципальных образований.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Voronezh Oblast". Federal Statistical Service.
  7. ↑ The value of density was calculated automatically by dividing the 2010 Census population by the area specified in the infobox. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox does not necessarily correspond to the area of the entity proper or is reported for the same year as the population.
  8. ↑ Правительство Российской Федерации. Федеральный закон №107-ФЗ от 3 июня 2011 г. «Об исчислении времени», в ред. Федерального закона №248-ФЗ от 21 июля 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в Федеральный закон "Об исчислении времени"». Вступил в силу по истечении шестидесяти дней после дня официального опубликования (6 августа 2011 г.). Опубликован: "Российская газета", №120, 6 июня 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Federal Law #107-FZ of June 31, 2011 On Calculating Time, as amended by the Federal Law #248-FZ of July 21, 2014 On Amending Federal Law "On Calculating Time". Effective as of after sixty days following the day of the official publication.).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Историческая хроника (DOC) (in Russian). Муниципальное учреждение культуры Централизованная библиотечная система города Воронежа Центральная городская библиотека имени А. Платонова. 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Воронеж может оказаться намного старше (in Russian). Вести. August 19, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  11. ↑ http://www.e-adres.ru/postcodes/3800347/
  12. ↑ Е. М. Поспелов. "Географические названия мира". Москва, 1998. Стр. 104.
  13. ↑ Лазарев А. "Тайна имени Воронежъ". Воронеж, 2009. — 200 с.
  14. ↑ Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров" [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года[All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ Russian Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек" [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ Dahlberg, John-Thor (October 11, 1989). "Voronzeh Scientist Quoted by TASS Casts Doubt on UFO Landing Story". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "UFO lands in Russia? Writer now waffles". United Press International. October 10, 1989. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  18. ↑ Fein, Esther B.; Times, Special To The New York (11 October 1989). "U.F.O. Landing Is Fact, Not Fantasy, the Russians Insist". The New York Times. p. 6.
  19. ↑ Воронеж получил мобильную связь 4G (рус.). Connect.ru. Проверено 8 сентября 2011. Архивировано из первоисточника 24 января 2012.
  20. ↑ Интерактивная карта подготовки к 425-летию основания Воронежа (рус.). Сайт администрации города Воронеж (31.08.11). Проверено 24 января 2011
  21. ↑ В Воронеже родился миллионный житель
  22. ↑ Train Station in Voronezh (Russian)
  23. ↑ "Pogoda.ru.net" (in Russian). Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  24. ↑ "World Weather Information Service – Voronezh". United Nations. June 2011. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  25. ↑ "Climatological Information for Voronez, Russia". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  26. ↑ Рациональная маршрутная сеть. "Воронеж: официальный сайт администрации городского округа". Voronezh-city.ru. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  27. ↑ "City of Brno Foreign Relations - Statutory city of Brno" (in Czech). 2003 City of Brno. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  28. ↑ "Brno - Partnerská města" (in Czech). © 2006–2009 City of Brno. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  29. ↑ "Ciudades y pueblos se benefician del hermanamiento con otros territorios". Larazon.es. Retrieved 2011-09-16.

Sources

Further reading

External links