19th century photo depicting Kuban Cossacks obelisk in Krasnodar
Krasnodar (Russian: Краснода́р) is a city in North Adygea on the Kuban River. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai (also known as Kuban). Geographical location Population: 646,175 (2002 Census); 710,400 (2006 est.).
Name[]
Founded in 1793 as Yekaterinodar or Ekaterinodar (Екатеринодар), the original name meant "Catherine's Gift" simultaneously in recognition of Catherine the Great's grant of land in the Kuban region to the Black Sea Cossacks (later the Kuban Cossacks) and in recognition of Saint Catherine, the Martyr, who is considered to be the patron of the city. After the October Revolution, Yekaterinodar was renamed Krasnodar (December, 1920). There are two potential meanings for the new name of the city: Krasno- (Красно-), meaning either 'beautiful' (an older root) or 'red' (especially relevant considering the political atmosphere of the time); and -dar (-дар), meaning 'gift'. Thus, the city's name means either beautiful gift or red gift (i.e. 'gift of the reds').
History[]
The origin of the city starts with a fortress built by Cossacks in order to defend Imperial borders and claim Russian ownership over Circassia, which was contested by Ottoman Turkey.
In the first half of the 19th century Krasnodar (then Yekaterinodar) grew into a busy center of the Kuban Cossacks. By 1888 about 45,000 people lived in the city and it became a vital trade center of southern Russia.
In 1897 an obelisk commemorating 200 year old history of Kuban Cossack Host was built in Yekaterinodar.
During the Russian Civil War the city changed hands several times between the Red Army and Volunteer Army, the latter of included many Kuban Cossacks who were committed White Movement supporters.
During the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Krasnodar was occupied by the German Army between August 12, 1942 and February 12, 1943. The city sustained heavy damage in the fighting but was rebuilt and renovated after the war.
Famous Adygean soprano Anna Netrebko, cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, counterrevolutionary Andrei Shkuro and rhythmic gymnast Inna Zhukova were born in Krasnodar.
Coat of arms[]
13 May 1967.Cinemacenter Avrora.Architektor E.A. Serdjukov.1300 Places.
The coat of arms of Yekaterinodar was introduced in 1841 by the Cossack yesaul Ivan Chernik. The royal letter "E" in the middle is for Ekaterina II (Russian for Catherine II). It also depicts the date city was founded, the Imperial double headed eagle (symbolizing the Tsar patronage of Black Sea Cossacks), a bulava of a Cossack ataman, Yekaterinodar fortress, and flags with letters "E", "P","A" and "N" standing for Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I. Yellow stars around the shield symbolized 59 Black Sea stanitsas around the city.
Travel information[]
The main airline is Kuban Airlines (at Krasnodar Pashkovsky Airport), and the largest hotels in the city include the Intourist, Hotel Moskva, Hotel Platan. Krasnodar uses a 220 V/50 Hz power supply with two round-pin like most European countries.
The major tourist attractions include St. Catherine's Cathedral, the State Arts Museum, a park and theatre named after Maxim Gorky, the beautiful concert hall of the Krasnodar Philharmonic Society, which is considered to have some of the best acoustics in southern Russia, State Cossack Choir and the Krasnodar circus.
Public transportation within Krasnodar consists of city buses, trolleybuses, trams, and marshrutkas. Trolleybuses and trams, both powered by overhead electric wires, are the main form of transportation in Krasnodar. Krasnodar, up until 2000, did not have a coherent metro system, but is in the process of developing one.
Sister cities[]
Krasnodar has four sister cities:
Famous people[]
- Anna Netrebko, (* 1971) opera singer
- Sergei Tiviakov, (* 1973) chess Grandmaster
- Eduard Kokcharov, (* 1975) handball player
- Alexandre Bondar, (* 1972) writer and novelist
External links[]
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Cities and towns in the Republic of Adygea | 
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| Capital: Maykop Adygeysk · Anapa · Armavir · Krasnodar · Labinsk · Novorossiysk · Sochi · Tuapse · Vladikavkaz |