Novosibirsk, West Siberian economic region, Russia

🇷🇺 Novosibirsk is the administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast in Russia. It is located in the south-western part of Siberia on the banks of the Ob River.

Novosibirsk was founded in 1893 on the Ob River crossing point of the future Trans-Siberian Railway, where the Novosibirsk Rail Bridge was constructed. Originally named Novonikolayevsk, the city grew rapidly into a major transport, commercial, and industrial hub. The city was ravaged by the Russian Civil War but recovered during the early Soviet period, and gained its present name in 1926. Under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, Novosibirsk became one of the largest industrial centres of Siberia. Following the outbreak of World War II, the city hosted many factories relocated from the Russian core.

Novosibirsk is home to numerous Russian corporations, the neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as the world-renowned Novosibirsk Zoo. It is served by Tolmachevo Airport, the busiest airport in Siberia.

History Novosibirsk was founded on the right side of the Ob, near an area traditionally inhabited by Chat Tatars (Chertovo gorodishche [ru]). The Russian town originated on 30 April 1893 at the future site of a Trans-Siberian Railway bridge crossing the great Siberian river, the Ob, and in 1895 became known as Novonikolayevsk (Новониколаевск), in honor both of Saint Nicholas and of the new reigning Tsar, Nicholas II. It superseded Bolshoye Krivoshchyokovo village, located on the opposite side of the Ob, which was founded in 1696 and was resettled in 1893 due to the construction of the Novosibirsk Rail Bridge. The bridge, completed in the spring of 1897, made the new settlement a regional transport hub. The importance of the city further increased with the completion of the Turkestan–Siberia Railway in the early 20th century. The new railway connected Novonikolayevsk directly with Central Asia and the Caspian Sea.

At the time of the bridge's opening, Novonikolayevsk had a population of 7,800 people. The settlement developed rapidly. Its first bank opened in 1906, and a total of five banks were operating by 1915. In 1907, Novonikolayevsk, now with a population exceeding 47,000, was granted town status with full rights for self-government. During the pre-revolutionary period, the population of Novonikolayevsk reached 80,000. The city had steady and rapid economic growth, becoming one of the largest commercial and industrial centres of Siberia. It developed a significant agricultural-processing industry, as well as a power station, iron foundry, commodity market, several banks, and commercial and shipping companies. By 1917, the city had seven Orthodox churches and one Roman Catholic Church, along with several cinemas, forty primary schools, a high school, a teaching seminary, and the Romanov House non-classical secondary school. In 1913, Novonikolayevsk became one of the first places in Russia to institute compulsory primary education.

The Russian Civil War of 1917–1923 took a toll on the city. Wartime epidemics, especially typhus and cholera, claimed thousands of lives. In the course of the war, the Ob River Bridge was destroyed. For the first time in the city's history, the population of Novonikolayevsk began to decline. The Soviet Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies of Novonikolayevsk took control of the city in December 1917. In May 1918, the Czechoslovak Legion rose in opposition to the revolutionary government and, together with the White Guards, captured Novonikolayevsk (26 May 1918). The Red Army took the city in 1919, retaining it throughout the rest of the Civil War.

Novonikolayevsk began reconstruction in 1921 at the start of Lenin's New Economic Policy period (1921–1928). The city formed part of Tomsk Governorate and served as its administrative centre from 23 December 1919 to 14 March 1920. Between 13 June 1921 and 25 May 1925, it served as the administrative centre of Novonikolayevsk Governorate [ru], which was separated from Tomsk Governorate. The city received its present name on 12 September 1926, -Novosibirsk, which, in the Russian language, translates roughly as "New Siberian [town]".

After the Soviet Union abolished governorates in 1929, the city served as the administrative centre of the Siberian Krai until 23 July 1930, and of West Siberian Krai until 28 September 1937, when that krai was split into Novosibirsk Oblast and Altai Krai. Since then, it has served as the administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast.

The Monument to the Heroes of the Revolution, erected in the centre of the city in 1922, became one of the chief historic sites (essentially every child had to visit the monument on school field-trips during the Soviet years). Neglect in the 1990s while other areas were redeveloped helped preserve it in the post-Soviet era.

During Stalin's industrialization effort, Novosibirsk secured its place as one of the largest industrial centres of Siberia. Several massive industrial facilities developed, including the 'Sibkombain' plant, specialising in the production of heavy mining equipment. Additionally, a metal-processing plant, a food-processing plant, and other industrial enterprises and factories were built, as well as a new power station. The great Soviet famine of 1932–33 resulted in more than 170,000 rural refugees seeking food and safety in Novosibirsk. They were settled in barracks at the outskirts of the city, giving rise to slums. Reflecting international recognition of its rapid growth and industrialization, in the US media Novosibirsk was referred to as the "Chicago of Siberia".

Tram rails were laid down in 1934, by which time the population had reached 287,000, making Novosibirsk the largest city in Siberia. The following year the original road bridge over the Ob River was replaced by the new Kommunalny bridge.

Between 1941 and 1942, the Soviets crated up and relocated more than 50 substantial factories from western Russia to Novosibirsk in order to reduce the risk of their destruction through war, and at this time the city became a major supply base for the Red Army. During this period the city also received more than 140,000 refugees.

The rapid growth of the city prompted the construction during the 1950s of a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 400 megawatts, necessitating the creation of a giant water reservoir, now known as the Ob Sea. As a direct result of the station's construction, vast areas of fertile land were flooded, as were relic pine woods in the area; additionally, the new open space created by the reservoir's surface caused average wind speeds to double, increasing the rate of soil erosion.

In the 1950s, the Soviet Government directed the building of a centre for scientific research in Novosibirsk, and in 1957 the multi-facility scientific research complex of Akademgorodok was constructed about 30 km (19 mi) south of the city center. The Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (formerly the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union) has its headquarters in Akademgorodok, and the town hosts more than 35 research institutes and universities, among them Novosibirsk State University, one of the top Russian schools in natural sciences and mathematics. Although it possesses a fully autonomous infrastructure, Akademgorodok is administered by Novosibirsk.

On 2 September 1962, the population of Novosibirsk reached one million. At that time, it was the youngest city in the world with the population exceeding one million. Novosibirsk took fewer than seventy years to achieve this milestone. On 8 June 1965, the city was the scene of a dramatic aerial stunt when Lieutenant Valentin Privalov flew his MiG-17 under the October Bridge; an image which purportedly showed the event was later found to be a photocollage. In 1979, work began on the Novosibirsk Metro Transit System, culminating in the opening of the first line in 1985.

On 1 August 2008, Novosibirsk was in the centre of the path of a solar eclipse, with a duration of 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

Geography: Administrative status Novosibirsk is the administrative centre of the oblast and, within the framework of administrative divisions, it also serves as the administrative centre of Novosibirsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the City of Novosibirsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the City of Novosibirsk is incorporated as Novosibirsk Urban Okrug.

City districts • Dzerzhinsky (Дзержинский) • Kalininsky (Калининский) • Kirovsky (Кировский) • Leninsky (Ленинский) • Oktyabrsky (Октябрьский) • Pervomaysky (Первомайский) • Sovetsky (Советский) • Tsentralny (Центральный) • Zayeltsovsky (Заельцовский) • Zheleznodorozhny (Железнодорожный)

Demographics

According to the 2021 Russian census, the population of Novosibirsk is 1,633,595. This is an increase compared to the 2010 census, when the population of the city was 1,473,754.

People from over eighty ethnicities and nationalities reside in Novosibirsk. The largest groups are Russian, Tajik, Tatar, Uzbek, Ukrainian and Kyrgyz.

Economy Novosibirsk is a large industrial center. The industrial complex consists of 214 large and average-sized industrial enterprises. These produce more than two-thirds of all industrial output of the Novosibirsk region. Leading industries are aerospace (Chkalov's Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant), nuclear fuel (Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant), turbo and hydroelectric generators (NPO ELSIB), textile machinery (Textilmach), agriculture machinery (NPO "Sibselmash"), electronics components and devices production (Novosibirsk Factory and Design Bureau of Semiconductor Devices NZPP, OXID Novosibirsk Plant of Radio components), and metallurgy and metalworking (Kuzmina's Novosibirsk Metallurgical Plant, Novosibirsk Tin Plant OJSC, and JSC Plant of Rare Metals).

According to the television station RBC, Novosibirsk took third place in 2008 in the list of Russian cities most attractive to businesses (in 2007 it was placed thirteenth).

The Rich Family multi-national retailer was founded in Novosibirsk in 2002 and continues to maintain their headquarters in the city. Before the relocation of its headquarters to Ob, S7 Airlines had its head office in Novosibirsk.

The headquarters of a number of large Russian companies are located in Novosibirsk: • RATM Holding • Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association Plant (NAPO) (a subsidiary of Sukhoi) • Belon • Center of Financial Technologies • Siberian Coast Food Company (until 2009) • NETA IT Company (retail, system integrator, software sales) • Parallels IT Company (software for virtualization) • Inmarko Food Company • Siberian Food Corporation • Electro-vacuum plant (the largest glass bottle factory in the Asian part of the country) • NPO NIIIP-NZiK • 2GIS.

Culture: Music Several contemporary classical violinists, such as Vadim Repin, the late Alexander Skwortsow, Natalia Lomeiko, and Maxim Vengerov, are natives of Novosibirsk. Also born in the city were punk legend, poet and singer-songwriter Yanka Dyagileva, tragic punk rocker Dmitry Selivanov, folk/folk-rock singer Pelageya Khanova, and cellist Tatjana Vassiljeva. The career of poet and singer-songwriter Tatyana Snezhina was connected with Novosibirsk.

The city possesses the Novosibirsk State Conservatory, named in honor of the composer Mikhail Glinka; Novosibirsk State Philharmony, home to Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Russian Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments, and other musical groups; Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater; and several notable music venues.

Education Novosibirsk is home to the following institutions of higher education: • Novosibirsk State University (1959) • Novosibirsk State Technical University (1950) • Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management (1929) • Novosibirsk State Agricultural University (1936) • Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Design and Arts (1989) • Novosibirsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (1930) • Novosibirsk State Medical University (1935) • Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University (1935) • Novosibirsk State Theater Institute (1960) • Novosibirsk State Conservatory named after M.I. Glinka (1956) • Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (1967) • Novosibirsk Military Institute named after I.K. Yakovlev of the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation (1971) • Novosibirsk Institute of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (1935) • Siberian State Transport University (1932) • Siberian State University of Water Transport (1951) • Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies (1933) • Siberian State University of Telecommunications and Informatics (1953) • Siberian Institute of Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (1991) • Siberian Institute of International Relations and Regional Studies (1998) • Siberian University of Consumer Cooperation (1956) • Siberian Academy of Finance and Banking (1992)

Additionally, there are more than 50 vocational schools in Novosibirsk.

Akademgorodok is a remote part of Novosibirsk dedicated to science. It houses the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and is the location of Novosibirsk State University and Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School. All other higher education institutions are located in the central part of the city of Novosibirsk on both banks of the Ob river.

The Quality Schools International QSI International School of Novosibirsk, previously located in Akademgorodok, opened in 2008.

Libraries There are many libraries in Novosibirsk. The most significant libraries are the following: • State Public Scientific & Technological Library • Novosibirsk State Regional Scientific Library • Novosibirsk Regional Special Library for the blind and visually impaired • Novosibirsk Regional Youth Library • Novosibirsk Regional Children's Library

Theatres • Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (1945) • Novosibirsk Regional Puppet Theatre (1933) • Novosibirsk State Drama Theatre "Old House" (1933) • Novosibirsk State Academic Drama Theatre "Red Torch" (1932), directed by Timofey Kulyabin since 2015 • Novosibirsk Academic Youth Theatre "Globe" (1930) • Novosibirsk Musical Theatre (1959) • Novosibirsk City Theatre under the direction of Sergey Afanasiev (1988) • Novosibirsk Drama Theatre "On the left bank" (1997) • Novosibirsk Studio Theatre "First Theatre" (2009)

Philharmonic Novosibirsk State Philharmonic Society was founded in 1937. It holds about 60 concerts per month using the following halls: • Arnold Kats State Concert Hall (2013) • Philharmonic Chamber Hall (1985)

Culture: Museums • Novosibirsk State Art Museum • Novosibirsk State Museum of Local Lore • Museum of Cossacks glory • Novosibirsk museum of railway equipment named after N.A. Akulinin • Museum "Siberian Birch Bark" • Nicholas Roerich Museum • Museum of the Sun • Historical and Architectural Museum in the open air • Siberian Memorial Art Gallery

Planetariums • Small Novosibirsk Planetarium (1952) • Large Novosibirsk Planetarium (2012) was awarded in 2015 as the best social infrastructure object in Russia.

Annual festivals, forums and conferences • Siberian Snow Sculpture Festival • Transsiberian Art Festival • Monstration • Festival of children's animation films "Firebird" • Festival of Youth Subcultures "ZNАКИ" • Siberian Astronomical Forum • Documentary Film Festival "Meetings in Siberia" • Festival of Russian Music "Pokrovskaya autumn" • SibLegalWeek • Sib Jazz Fest • Science Fiction Festival "White Spot" • Poetry Festival "Very New Miracle" • International Christmas Festival of Arts.

Cinemas 16 cinemas, including Cinema Park which supports IMAX and IMAX 3D.

Circus Modern building of the Novosibirsk Circus was built in 1971.

Zoo The Novosibirsk Zoo is a world-renowned scientific institution as well as a popular tourist attraction.

The zoo has over 11,000 animals from 738 species and is an active participant in thirty-two different captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Since 2016, the Center of oceanography and marine biology "Dolphinia" has been part of the zoo.

On average, around 1.5 million people visit the zoo each year.

Children's railway Small West Siberian Railway is the children's railway located in Zayeltsovsky Park.

It has 5 stations: Zayeltsovskiy Park, Razyezd Lokomotiv, Sportivnaya, Razyezd Eltsovskiy, Zoopark.

The railway is operational in summer.

Botanical gardens Central Siberian Botanic Garden is located in Akademgorodok.