Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg is a major city and the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Ural Federal District in Russia.

It sits on the Iset River, positioned between the Volga-Ural region and Siberia. Because of this location, the city serves as a strategic connection between Europe and Asia. It is the largest city in the Ural Federal District and the fourth most populous city in Russia.

Roughly 1.5 million people live in the city. The total urban agglomeration reaches up to 2.2 million residents. Many call it the "third capital of Russia." This title comes from its high ranking in economy, culture, transport, and tourism, trailing only Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Long before the modern city existed, humans occupied this region.

Archaeological evidence shows settlements dating back to the Mesolithic period, between 8000 and 7000 BC. A Neolithic settlement from 6000 to 5000 BC at Isetskoe Pravoberezhnoye I contains stone processing workshops. Workers there used over 50 different types of rocks and minerals to create tools like grinding plates and anvils. During the Chalcolithic Period, the Gamayun peninsula held workshops for stone tools and dwellings of the Ayat culture. Later, the Koptyak culture lived here around 2000 BC. They produced dishes decorated with bird images and practiced early metallurgy. The Tent I site contains the only known Koptyak culture burials in the Ural Mountains.

Initial Russian settlements appeared in the late 17th century near the Uktus River.

In 1702, the Uktus state ironwork plant was established, marking the first ironworks in the modern city's boundaries. However, the plant struggled due to a lack of water in the Uktus River and a devastating fire in 1718. To solve industrial issues, Emperor Peter the Great sent a delegation to the Urals in 1720. This group included mining specialist Johann Blüher and statesman Vasily Tatishchev. Tatishchev decided it was more profitable to build a new, larger plant on the Iset River. He chose a location rich in ore and forest, just 7 versts from Uktus.

Construction of the new plant began in 1721, but Tatishchev was removed from his leadership role by a decree from the Collegium of Mining.

In 1722, the Emperor sent mining engineer Georg Wilhelm de Gennin to take over. De Gennin supported the project, and construction on the Iset River resumed on March 12, 1723. The city was officially founded on November 18, 1723, when the plant's bloomery successfully ran its trip hammers.

The city was named after Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great. It was built using a regular square plan. The center contained ironworks and residential buildings, all protected by fortified walls. This design allowed the city to function as both a manufacturing center and a frontier fortress.

As trade grew, Yekaterinburg became a vital transit point via the Siberian Route, which became operational in 1763. This made the city a "window to Asia" for commerce. In 1781, Catherine the Great granted the city official town status. By 1807, it was confirmed as the only "mountain city" in Russia, serving as the capital for mining and smelting. The city also experienced a massive economic boom through precious metals. From 1820 to 1845, Yekaterinburg was responsible for mining 45% of the world's gold. Additionally, until 1776, the Yekaterinburg mint produced 80% of all coins used in the Russian Empire.

The 20th century brought profound political changes and tragedy to the region. Following the October Revolution, the deposed Romanov royal family was sent into exile here. They were imprisoned in the Ipatiev House. In July 1918, the Bolsheviks murdered the Romanov family at this location.

In 1924, after the Soviet Union was formed, the city was renamed Sverdlovsk. This was in honor of the Bolshevik leader Yakov Sverdlov.

During the Soviet era, the city became a heavy industry powerhouse. A tram network was completed in 1929, and the Sverdlovsk Metro eventually opened in April 1991. The city officially reclaimed its historical name, Yekaterinburg, in September 1991.

Today, Yekaterinburg is a modern economic and cultural hub.

The 21st century has seen a population and economic boom, leading to the construction of some of Russia's tallest skyscrapers. The city is famous for its constructivist architecture and is known as the "Russian capital of street art." It also serves as a major administrative center for the military and science. The headquarters of the Central Military District are located here, alongside the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Yekaterinburg even hosted matches as a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.