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Petrozavodsk

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Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia in Russia.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view

The city sits right on the western shore of Lake Onega. It is a large place with about 280,890 people living there as of 2022.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station

The city serves as a main center for the Prionezhsky District. It is also a very important hub for travel in the region. Many roads and train lines meet here to connect people to other places.

The city grew because of a need for heavy metal goods. In 1703, Prince Menshikov started a settlement called Petrovskaya Sloboda. He did this for Tsar Peter the Great. The Tsar needed a factory to make cannons and anchors.

Petrozavodskchurch
Petrozavodskchurch

These items were for the Baltic Fleet during the Great Northern War. Later, Catherine the Great helped the industry grow again. She set up a new iron foundry near the Lososinka River in 1773. This new factory was called Alexandrovsky.

History has given the city many different names over the years. It was once called Shuysky Zavod because of the nearby Shuya River. After Catherine the Great made it a city, it became Petrozavodsk. This name combines "Peter" and "zavod," which means factory.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square

During World War II, Finnish forces used the name Äänislinna. This was a Finnish translation of an old Swedish name, Onegaborg. Even though some maps used the name Kalininsk, it was never an official name.

There are many beautiful landmarks to see in the city today. The center has a famous area called Round Square.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square

You can also visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was built in 1832. The city has a long waterfront called an embankment.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view

It features many stone sculptures and beautiful granite. You can even take a fast boat from the harbor to the island of Kizhi.

40-th Regatta Onego-2011
40-th Regatta Onego-2011

The city is also home to the Petrozavodsk State University.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img34 University
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img34 University

Petrozavodsk is well-connected to many other famous parts of Russia. It is 412 km away from Saint Petersburg.

Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station

It is also 1,010 km away from Moscow. The city has its own airport for travelers.

Airport Petrozavodsk Besovets 2020
Airport Petrozavodsk Besovets 2020

People can also use trolleybuses or buses to get around. The weather here stays relatively mild for its location. This is because of the air from the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby lakes. The large lakes help keep the temperatures from getting too extreme.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Petrozavodskchurch.jpg
Petrozavodskchurch.jpg
File:Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square.jpg
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img53 Lenin Square.jpg
File:Lenin Avenue 2, Petrozavodsk.jpg
Lenin Avenue 2, Petrozavodsk.jpg
File:Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img34 University.jpg
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img34 University.jpg
File:Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view.jpg
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img26 aerial view.jpg
File:Airport Petrozavodsk Besovets 2020.jpg
Airport Petrozavodsk Besovets 2020.jpg
File:Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station.jpg
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img36 Railway station.jpg
File:Petrozavodsk(1) Общественный транспорт.jpg
Petrozavodsk(1) Общественный транспорт.jpg
File:40-th Regatta Onego-2011.JPG
40-th Regatta Onego-2011.JPG
File:Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img18 Music Theatre.jpg
Petrozavodsk 06-2017 img18 Music Theatre.jpg
File:ФестивальВоздух.jpg
ФестивальВоздух.jpg
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