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Volgograd,
mostly know as former Stalingrad, is a large city in the South
of Russian Federation. Now the population of the city is about
1'000'000 people. This is a very long city. Its
length now is about 90 km and it's about 8 km wide. The entire
city stands on the right (western) bank of the longest river
in Europe, the Volga river.
Because
of its location on the trade crossways pretty soon city became
a trade and industrial center in that area. In 1920-th city
became the country's center of tractor building. 1-st tractor
in Russia was built in Stalingrad Tractor Plant, which also
played very important role in Stalingrad Battle, producing and
repairing tanks even when it's being shelled. Also the biggest
steel-producing plant, called "Red October" is
located in Volgograd.
The city was founded in 1589 as a fortress and was called
Tsaritsyn. Its purpose was to defend the southern boundaries
of Russian Empire. In 1925 Tsaritsyn was renamed Stalingrad,
which is the best known name of the city.
In 1961 Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd. Because of its
historical past, city has very many monuments, built in
commemoration of its defenders. The most known of them is
Mamayev Hill. On the of the hill, which for some reason is
called Mamayev (Mamay's) there a complex of monuments. On the
very top of it, there's a huge statue. Mother Russia
is 52 meters high statue of a woman, which represents Russia
itself in WW II, which for Russian people was Great Patriotic
War. The complex has already celebrated its 25-th aniversary.
And, interesting fact, this statue is almost exactly twice as
tall as all-known Statue of Liberty in New York City!
City
has very dry climate. Its like a semidesert.
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